This is a hard one to pick, in a season that's hard to pick in general. Texas looked good on offense early in the season, then much less so of late. Is this due to an injury to Sam that's affecting his accuracy? The defense has gotten much better to make up for it. Don't know that much about ISU - they looked good against OSU early in the year, but then it's hard to say how good OSU is either after their mid season swoon. A danger to Texas is the 2 weeks off, combined with the usual slow start under Herman. If Texas due to rust (more possible due to lack of Spring playing time?) gets behind by 10-14 points after the 1st Quarter, will Texas be able to make up for it, if Sam isn't that accurate? ISU isn't a team that Herman has had lots of problems with - he's 2-1 against them so far. But going against him is that of the mid to bottom 6 teams in the B12 (Baylor, TT, W VA, ISU, KU, KSU) he's always lost at least one from them. He's 3-0 so far, so is the law of averages going to catch up with him? I'd guess something like the TCU game - other team goes out to a lead, Texas claws back, then it's a battle to the end. ISU 35 - Texas 31.
I have to keep reminding myself that not one single player on ISU's roster was recruited by Texas. Coaching matters. However, I'll go out on a limb. Texas 28 ISU 17
Iowa St is a good team with good discipline. They beat OU. They will give you 60 minutes of football. It will be a close game. They are better than Ole Miss, Arkansas, Tennessee, and probably Kentucky. Worse than Auburn, Florida, and Georgia. I say Texas athletes will show up and scrape one out in OT—38-31 Texas.
I don't predict scores because there are just too many variables. However, I think our Defense plays well and makes the difference. Longhorns win.
ISU 31 UT 24 Longhorns try to tie the game in the last few seconds but Sam throws his second interception.
Toss up. ISU dreams about beating the big names while we're lackadaisical against little names who aren't totally pathetic.
This looks like a set up for another TH beat yourself performance. 3 week layoff vs a team clicking on all cylinders. Texas will have 3x the penalty yardage. ISU 31 Texas 23
ISU 31 TEXAS 24 ISU HAS A VERY GOOD QB WHO WILL HURT TEXAS WITH HIS FEET AND ARM. ISU has a very good RB. ISU has a BIG TE. ISU's defense is as good or better than anyone Texas has played this year. IF Texas brings its A game for 4 qtrs they can win, but seriously...when has that happened ????????
Tough one. Two weeks off is a mixed blessing - more time for bumps and bruises to heal, but also more time to lose continuity (flow of the game under game conditions). Texas defense is playing better - and I think that makes the difference in a close game. And the big plus of Dicker the kicker. Texas 31 ISU 28
I will be wearing the burnt orange and pulling hard for the Horns, my heart says the defense is getting a lot better and that the offense will find a way to score enough points to win.......... But my head says Iowa State is better coached, better disciplined and will be better prepared to make in game adjustments so I cant escape thinking it will be: Iowa State 31 Texas 24
Texas 31 ISU 24 I want to believe that the two weeks off led to some healing for the D and Sam. All of them have to know this is their biggest game of the year so far. Let's see TH repeat his pre-Georgia pre-Utah type magic.
I read everybody's predictions above. I changed my prediction at least 3 times as I read the various rationales for the picks. It's a tossup. So I tossed it up to see which way the wind blew. It blows to a defensive struggle with Purdy's feet giving ISU a couple of touchdowns. And then it blows to Sam getting well over the past two weeks and getting the Horns a couple of touchdowns. So it comes down to a field goal or two. I say Dicker kicks two field goals & that's the difference. Horns 20 Clones 17
I just don't trust Herman when it counts. And I think ISU is primed for this one. This Horns team has made so many mistakes to lose games or keep them close this season. Do I expect that to change? Cyclones 34 Horns 27
No one knows. Do we really hold them to 17 points? I doubt it. Do we score 38? I doubt it. I see this as going down to the wire or OT. So....do we kick the FG to win, or do they? Do we convert the two point conversion in OT, or do they? I have no idea.
I stopped predicting game scores after the TCU debacle. However, I will offer my .02 that I have a hunch ISU will win a close game on Friday. ... hope I am wrong.