2015
Iowa State
College Football
Betting Preview
Schedule and Odds
Iowa State was not good last season en route to a 2-10 record and zero Conference wins. However, it’s a new season and there is some hope for the Cyclones to even reach a bowl Game this year. While that may be a stretch, they should be improved.
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One thing they have on their side is that Sam B. Richardson is back at quarterback and will actually be the most-experienced QB in the conference. That may not mean he’s the best one, but he did improve last year and more of that can be expected in 2015 if he can stay healthy (which he hasn’t been able to do). He finished with 21 total TDs and nine interceptions, while completing 56.3% of his passes in 2014. Running back is almost the opposite situation with Aaron Wimberly gone. No one really stepped up in the spring Game between Tyler Brown and Mike Warren so that spot will probably be a toss-up all season.
But at receiver, it looks a little better for Richardson despite losing top tight end E.J. Bibbs (8 TDs) and WR Jarvis West. D’Vario Montgomery and Allen LAzard are still there after combining for 89 receptions last year, and throw in the return of Quenton Bundrage, who missed 2014 due to injury, and this group looks solid. The offensive line is another good part to this offense with experience all around, with the starting five totaling 75 career starts.
The offense should look better and there’s no way the defense can get any worse from last year’s 38.8 points allowed per Game. Iowa State was dreadful on defense, highlighted by a 34-14 loss to North Dakota State in the opener.
The Cyclones were terrible at getting to the quarterback last year and that will likely still be a problem, but they did boost the interior with JUCO transfer Desmond Tucker coming in. After a good spring, the staff is psyched to have a run stopper like him in the middle. Levi Peters is back at linebacker after an Achilles tear and they also added another transfer in Jarnor Jones to the mix. The secondary is in a better position than the other two units with seniors Sam E. Richardson and Qujuan Floyd anchoring the crew as well as last year’s Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year in Kamari Cotton-Moya.
The Cyclones get the Hawkeyes at home this year and a win there would get them to two wins early in the season. Wins at Toledo and against Kansas in their Big 12 opener are also plausible. Iowa State could reach that Four-win mark early, but where will their other wins come from? The rest of their home Games come against TCU, Texas and Oklahoma State.
Iowa State will be better than a year ago, but it’s hard to see them reaching a bowl Game with a difficult Big 12 Schedule. That will require them to get three Conference wins. Both sides of the ball will be improved, but that probably won’t be enough to pull off the upsets needed.
2015 Iowa State Football Schedule
Sept. 5 vs. Northern Iowa
Sept. 12 vs. Iowa
Sept. 19 at Toledo
Oct. 3 vs. Kansas
Oct. 10 at Texas Tech
Oct. 17 vs. TCU
Oct. 24 at Baylor
Oct. 31 vs. Texas
Nov. 7 at Oklahoma
Nov. 14 vs. Oklahoma State
Nov. 21 at Kansas State
Nov. 28 at West Virginia