ISU keys to victory

1. Surprise, surprise. Special teams: Iowa State absolutely cannot afford to miss PATs and short field goals if it hopes to beat the Aggies on Saturday. It doesn’t look like Tony Yelk will be back for some time, so either the kicking improves, or Dan McCarney will have to start going for it on fourth down because the Cyclones can’t afford to be in the red zone and come away with nothing.

2. Make big plays on defense: Iowa State has the 104th-ranked offense in college football. A stat like that means the defense needs to score. A&M will spread the ball out on offense and try to mess with the ISU defense, so that will give the defense opportunities to force turnovers — but they have to capitalize on those opportunities. Also, containing quarterback Reggie McNeal will be key. He is a great all-around player, and shutting him down early is important.

3. Run the football: A&M held Kansas State’s Darren Sproles to 61 yards last week. Its rushing defense is 18th in the country, so if Stevie Hicks can get about four yards a carry, it will open up the passing game for the rest of the young ISU offense. A&M will show all sorts of blitz packages, but if Iowa State can run the ball successfully it will take A&M’s defense out of its game because it’s designed to stop the run.

A&M keys to victory

1. Spread it out and test the ISU secondary: Iowa State’s pass defense is ranked 86th in the country and hasn’t been tested too much this year. A&M needs to throw at the ISU corners and try to create one-on-one matchups.

2. Avoid turnovers: ISU has a brutal conference losing streak, and it’s Homecoming in Ames, so the Cyclones will be hungry. A&M needs to keep Iowa State from getting any confidence, and turning the ball over early will do exactly that. Turnovers are always key, especially when you’re on the road, so taking care of the ball will be big.

3. Come at Iowa State with same intensity as it did Kansas State: A&M came at Kansas State from everywhere on defense, blitzing linebackers, corners and safeties. If Texas A&M comes at the ISU offense with the same package, it will be a long day for the Cyclones.