Which team will have the luck of the Irish in six days? Every college football fan wants to know—regardless of which team you root for. It’s the first game of the season. We’re all itching for football season to start. Saturday at noon eastern time, all eyes will be on Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Here’s the must-know information for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Kansas State Wildcats.
Iowa State Cyclones
Iowa State is coming in loaded with talent from last year, and leading the charge will be veteran quarterback Rocco Becht. As a freshman he set Iowa State’s single game passing yards record, and now as a junior he’s bringing more experience to the table than most teams have at QB. While everybody has offseason rust to knock off, Becht shouldn’t have as much as most players. His decision making is imperative.
On the receiving end of the ball the Cyclones don’t return either of their two leading receivers from last season, as Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins were both drafted to the Houston Texans. To make up for it, ISU got Chase Sowell (East Carolina) and Xavier Townsend (UCF). Townsend and Becht already have chemistry as they have been friends for years. Expect Townsend’s stats to improve drastically with a more competent passer getting the ball to him.
The running back room should also be a strength for the Cyclones, with Carson Hansen and Abu Sama III both returning. Hansen should be locked in as the starter. He’s a do it all kind of running back, and when speed is paramount, Sama can outrun most players on the field.
The biggest offensive question for the Cyclones will be in the trenches. The previous two seasons have been less than stellar for the Iowa State O-Line, but this is also the most experienced of a line they’ve had in a while. If they’ve improved, then this Iowa State offense could be a powerhouse. Because every play is dependent on the line, their success will likely correlate to the team as a whole.
On the defensive side of the ball, expect to see some changes, but not for lack of experience. As Cyclone fans know well, last year’s linebackers were riddled with injuries, leaving it up to a few healthy freshmen and sophomores to do the job.
If injuries plague the linebackers of the Cyclones this year as much as they did last year, it will certainly raise some questions, because it was uniquely bad last year. There will be more talent on the field when the Cyclones are on defense than last year.
The D-Line and secondary return some instrumental pieces, namely Jeremiah Cooper, Jontez Williams, and Domonique Orange. Cooper has shown flashes of talent, and with more help around him he’ll have the opportunity to shine. Williams is a pick machine. He reads quarterbacks like a book. Orange has arms that are bigger than most men’s legs, and in terms of raw strength he is difficult for any offensive lineman to overcome.
Kansas State Wildcats
The big talking points for Kansas State going into this season on the offensive side of the ball are Avery Johnson and highly touted tight end Linkon Cure. Cure is an unproven commodity however, and how he will fare against experienced Iowa State linebackers and secondary is a big question mark for the wildcats.
K-State fans will be quick to tout Avery Johnson because of his mobility, and there’s no doubt he has star potential. I question his ability to stay in the pocket and throw the football. I’ve seen many equate Johnson to being a running back that takes snaps, and that’s not exactly inaccurate. He threw for over 2,700 yards last season, which is respectable, but only at a 58% completion rate, which will give the Cyclones opportunities to stall K-State drives.
Last year K-State’s defense was good, but not great. They do retain some key pieces and boosted some with the transfer portal. They should be an improved unit on that side of the ball, just like the Cyclones. Austin Romaine should be one of the best linebackers in the Big 12 this season, and if ISU leans heavily into their ground game that will be an advantage for K-State.
The K-State D-Line, led by edge rusher Cody Stufflebean, will be a solid unit. They held their own in a 3-3-5 set last year, and there’s no reason to believe this year will be any different. K-State should have the advantage in the ground game.
The secondary is a different story for K-State. They only return one starter from last year’s unit, and the inexperience could prove to be a potential weak point against strong passing attacks, which I anticipate the Cyclones to have.
How The Game Will Go
FanDuel’s odds have the Wildcats favored to win, with the spread at -3.5 and the Cyclones money line set at +128 as of the time of writing this. The O/U is set at 49.5.
Considering the Cyclones bring more experience to the table, in week zero I’m inclined to trust the more proven commodity. The most important offensive pieces for the Wildcats have big question marks or are untested at the NCAA level. I’m inclined to pick the Cyclones to not only cover the spread, but to win outright.
The O/U is a bit more difficult to predict in week zero, but because I do expect defensive improvements from both teams, I’m leaning towards the under.
Final score prediction: ISU 27, K-State 21.
Bonus prediction: K-State will try to win the game with a touchdown in the closing seconds of the fourth quarter, but Jontez Williams will seal the game for the Cyclones with an interception. The Iowa State fans in attendance will celebrate with the 287th trip to the Guinness Brewery following the game.
Head over to Screen Skinz to rep your favorite sports team with a team branded screen protector and showcase your fandom this football season!