Iowa State Cyclones - NCAA Football Odds, Lines & Betting

The Cyclones were 4-2 in October and looking good. But then the meat of the Big 12 schedule came along and pretty soon they were riding a six-game losing skid to a 4-8 record. Gene Chizik takes over in his first season as Iowa State head coach, and he inherits 10 returning starters, five on each side of the ball.  Bret Meyer always gives the Cyclones a chance to win with his big arm and willingness to stand in the pocket. Iowa State had the nation’s 44th-ranked passing attack in 2006, and that trend will continue as long as Meyer is on campus.  Meyer was sacked over three times a game in 2006, which was 109th in the NCAA, and only two starters are back from that group. 

Receiver Todd Blythe has been with Meyer for the past three years, and he will be expected to be the No. 1 target once again (presuming the O-line gives Meyer enough time to throw). The defense was 102nd in the nation in total defense, and it lost a big part of that unit up front in Brent Curvey and Shawn Moorehead.  The secondary is also returning only two starters, and this does not bode well for an inexperienced and under-sized defensive line that will have trouble putting pressure on the opposing quarterback. Alvin Bowen led the nation in tackles last season, and the linebacking corps should be the saving grace of the Cyclones in 2007. 

Special teams will have all of their major players back from last season, which is a bonus for Chizik, who has enough to worry about already.  Iowa State’s schedule is manageable except for a four-game stretch in the middle of the season that sees the Cyclones travel to Nebraska and Texas Tech, before hosting Texas and Oklahoma.  If Meyer can stay healthy, the Cyclones can reach .500 this season.

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