Zane Douglas, sports editor (7-2)

Iowa State 24, West Virginia 9

I’ll say this pretty much every week about Big 12 teams and it won’t stop here — West Virginia is not a bad team and should not be considered a pushover in this conference.

The Mountaineers have given up the least points of any team in the Big 12. Their strength is in their defense, but where their defense is a strength, their offense leaves a lot to be desired.

Only Kansas has scored less points than West Virginia in the Big 12, and against a dynamic defensive unit like Iowa State’s, that isn’t ideal.

I think the Mountaineers push into Cyclone territory a few times and get stopped and held to a field goal attempts on most of those occasions.

I could see the pass rush for West Virginia giving the Cyclones exterior offensive line fits, but it won’t be enough to help out the Mountaineer offense.

Iowa State takes this one by a couple touchdowns and clinches a spot in the Big 12 Championship.

Matt Belinson, assistant sports editor (5-4)

Iowa State 27, West Virginia 17

Iowa State will clinch a spot to the Big 12 Championship on Saturday. It’s a crazy sentence to write, but I think it’s going to become a reality.

West Virginia is a fine team, I would say smack dab in the middle of the conference. I think it will give Iowa State an early fight but won’t have the firepower to match Iowa State for this whole game.

Keep an eye on Iowa State’s offensive line in pass protection, an area where it has looked shaky at times this season. The Stills brothers for the Mountaineers are a force, so if they get going, West Virginia could very well be in this game.

But it’s already been a historic season, and I see no reason why the Cyclones won’t take care of business Saturday. 

Stephen McDaniel, assistant sports editor (7-2)

Iowa State 31, West Virginia 14

Black uniforms? Check. Senior Night? Check. Cementing its spot in the Big 12 Championship game with a win? Check. Give me Iowa State on this one.

The Cyclones have so much to play for Saturday with the seniors who have been staples of this team for years stepping in Jack Trice Stadium for the last time.

Not only that, but West Virginia is coming into Ames on an extended bye week after having its game against Oklahoma postponed and will have to try to stop an Iowa State team that’s been hot and playing for all the right reasons.

West Virginia is by no means a bad team, it’s just that Iowa State is a much better team right now and has more riding on this game than West Virginia does.

Iowa State’s offense will hit its stride, and the Cyclone defense will continue to lockdown the opposing offense as it punches its ticket to Arlington, Texas.

Zach Martin, columnist (5-3)

Iowa State 42, West Virginia 6

So, here we are. The final week of the Big 12 season. I can’t believe we got here. I’m sure a lot of people who cover the conference can’t believe we got here.

And I can’t believe I’m about to write the following sentence.

By winning over West Virginia at Jack Trice Stadium, Iowa State is booking its trip to the Big 12 Championship game.

While the Mountaineers present a defensive challenge the Cyclones most definitely can’t overlook, it’s one dimension in a three-prong game.

West Virginia has broken the 30-point threshold three times — two times against conference foes — while Iowa State has done that six times. Offensive goes to the latter.

Will special teams decide the game? Probably not. As long as the Cyclones don’t waste red zone opportunities and settle for field goals, this game shouldn’t be close.