In one of the final weeks of the season, the Kansas Jayhawks head to Ames, Iowa, for a clash with Matt Campbell and the Iowa State Cyclones. Both teams find themselves out of the hunt for Arlington, with Iowa State entering at 6-4 (3-4 Big 12) and Kansas at 5-5 (3-4 Big 12), but there’s still plenty to play for.
Iowa State is favored by 4.5 points, and the over/under is set at 55.5 points. Here are two key players to watch in this game, followed by the top storylines for each team, and a prediction from Heartland College Sports.
Two Key Players to Watch
Jalon Daniels, Kansas Quarterback
There are a million different ways to evaluate a team. Some can be dominant through the air, some on the ground, and some led by their defense. Kansas relies on Jalon Daniels to be the spark, their flame, and their extinguisher at times, and he’ll have his hands full on Saturday. Despite playing in a hostile environment dubbed one of the nation’s best, the Cyclones’ defense is a shell of itself, and Daniels could be in for a big day.
Someone in the Receiver Room, Iowa State
While it’s relatively unfair to expect Iowa State’s production in the receiver room to be on par with the previous room that featured two 1000-yard pass catchers now in the NFL, it has been nowhere near as effective. Iowa State’s leading receiver, Brett Eskildsen, has more than 400 receiving yards through the air, but that’s not been enough as the team continues to deal with setbacks in the passing game. Someone has to step up.
Top Storylines
Three Games, Still Counts as a Streak
There’s a lot of talk about Farmageddon (Iowa State vs. Kansas State) and the Sunflower Showdown (Kansas vs. Kansas State), but the matchup between Kansas and Iowa State the last few years has been incredible to watch. In the past three seasons, Kansas is 3-0 against the Cyclones, and that’s going to be on the mind of everyone on the football field when kickoff starts.
Get Rocco Right
It’s not a stretch to say Rocco Becht has regressed pretty significantly from this time last year to now. That said, it’s easier for me to wash that notion off, considering the talent he lost last year, and the amount of injuries sustained in Ames this fall. Still, Becht has to do better, and this will be one of the easier defenses he’s faced this season, to boot.
Prediction: Iowa State 34, Kansas 33
Man, oh man, is this one tough to call! I like both of these teams a lot, but I feel like the chip on the shoulder of Rocco Becht is going to come out, and the Cyclones will get right. Expect a high-flying game, with both sides trading shots until a costly turnover seals it in the end.
