Cover Photo: Ben Queen/USA Today
Morgantown, West Virginia – The West Virginia Mountaineers (3-5, 1-4) travel to Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa to face the Iowa State Cyclones (3-5, 0-5) in the battle of the two worst teams in the Big 12 Conference.
Here’s how our experts think the game will play out today:
Joshua Kerns, Writer, The Voice of Morgantown
I think this will be a close one, but Iowa State will have the upper hand. It is a defensive versus offensive matchup, and even though Iowa State does NOT have a good offense, they will still be able to score points against this defense. If Iowa State State can hold JT Daniels and the West Virginia offense under 20 points, and have more than 100 rushing yards, then the Cyclones have the clear advantage.
Iowa State 24 West Virginia 18
Clark Johnson, Senior Writer, The Voice of Morgantown
I’m not falling for this again. I love this team, I always will, but I’m just losing confidence. West Virginia hasn’t performed well on the road under Neal Brown. I see no reason why that will change today. Cyclones win by double-digits.
Iowa State 24 West Virginia 10
Brad Smith, Publisher, The Voice of Morgantown
Iowa State has the #1 defense in the Big 12 Conference right now and although their offense hasn’t been spectacular so far this season, quarterback Hunter Dekkers and the Cyclones’ passing attack will be able to take advantage of West Virginia’s very poor defensive secondary.
The Mountaineers will be without their two top running backs, CJ Donaldson (out for the season) and Tony Mathis, Jr., and inexperienced sophomore Justin Johnson, who has rushed 65 times for 285 yards and 3 touchdowns this season. In addition, the Mountaineers will be without starter(s?) on the offensive line and it could be a pass-blocking nightmare for JT Daniels.
Iowa State will get up early and roll. Could losing to an 0-5 Iowa State finally be enough for Shane Lyons to pull the trigger and fire Neal Brown? Stay tuned!
Iowa State 34 West Virginia 14
