Iowa @ Iowa State preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 11, 2010 ) Iowa State 7, Iowa 35

THE STORY: Iowa hasn’t just beaten Iowa State the last three times; the Hawkeyes won by a combined score of 87-15. Saturday could bring more humiliation to the host Cyclones, who escaped with a 20-19 comeback win over Northern Iowa in their opener. New quarterback Steele Jantz threw three interceptions while completing just 45 percent of his throws, and both of Iowa State’s lines emerged banged up. Iowa rolled over Tennessee Tech 34-7 despite losing three starting defensive linemen and two standout safeties from last year’s squad. While Iowa is the state’s premier program, these teams have split the last four meetings at Jack Trice Stadium.

TV: FSN. LINE: Iowa -7

ABOUT IOWA STATE (1-0): DT Stephen Ruempolhamer (knee) and OT Kelechi Osemele (ankle) are expected to play, and DT Cleyon Laing will return from his one-game suspension for violating team rules. DE Roosevelt Maggitt, however, is out with a knee injury. Jantz, a junior-college transfer, struggled early but led two fourth-quarter TD drives, possibly a good omen.

ABOUT IOWA (1-0): New QB James Vandenberg looked good in the opener, hitting 13 of 21 throws for 219 yards. But sophomore RB Marcus Coker fumbled twice and was held to 41 yards. CB Shaun Prater, the team’s top defensive player, had an 89-yard interception return and could add to his career total of seven picks against Jantz.

EXTRA POINTS
1. Iowa leads the all-time series 39-19, including a 16-7 record in games in Ames.

2. Cyclones coach Paul Rhoads is 13-13 in his third season at the helm.

3. Iowa senior WR Marvin McNutt Jr. ranks third on the school’s all-time list with 18 career TD catches. He caught scoring passes of 88 and 19 yards in the opener.

PREDICTION: Iowa 27, Iowa State 13 – The Cyclones were pushed around up front by Northern Iowa. That doesn’t bode well for their chances against the state’s big boys.