Matt Belinson, sports editor (6-5)

Iowa State 28, TCU 24

Here we are. The end of the regular season is upon us.

All of our pick records indicate just how upside down this season has been. Each of us sit with at least four incorrect picks. What a season — on so many levels.

But let’s leave our records aside and look at this TCU game in a vacuum. 

I think TCU might be a sneaky bad team in this league. I don’t care about beating Baylor a few weeks ago. That’s nice. Iowa State beat Oklahoma State.

However, this week, I think Iowa State is the better team and will win on Saturday.

The final score will be close. And I think I’m done predicting decisive Iowa State victories, at least this season.

Sam Stuve, assistant sports editor (7-4)

Iowa State 31, TCU 17

Coming into this season, I had the TCU game as a potential trap game for Iowa State. Well, with how this season has progressed, I don’t really think that anything is really a “trap game” anymore. 

For Iowa State fans, Friday’s game will be the last time they get to see players in Ames like Chase Allen, Charlie Kolar, Mike Rose, Greg Eisworth, O’Rien Vance, Enyi Uwazurike, and will likely be the last time they get to see Brock Purdy and Breece Hall play at Jack Trice Stadium.

I think that TCU will keep this game close throughout, but the Iowa State stars take over in the fourth quarter. I’m seeing a positive sendoff in this one for many players who have been a part of the longest stretch of sustained success, in program history.

James Powell, assistant sports editor (6-5)

Iowa State 38, TCU 13

Well, at least I’m not alone in last place anymore.

I don’t see a way Iowa State loses this game, for so many reasons. The most important being that they’re flat-out better in most aspects. Another being that none of the 23 seniors want to end their Jack Trice Stadium experiences with a loss.

I think Breece Hall gets his record, and Iowa State waltzes their way to their bowl game with a convincing victory and closes the season at 7-5.

Kylee Haueter, editor in chief

Iowa State 30, TCU 27

I was going to say that we were going to lose… but I just couldn’t do it. 

Now, before you spam my email inbox with hate messages, just hear me out. 

I love the Cyclones, I really do. But, they have broken my heart the last couple of games. We just haven’t played as well as we could have. 

I think that we are absolutely a better team than TCU, assuming we play up to our potential. But I also think TCU could sneak up on us.

We’ve seen it multiple times this season— we go into a game thinking it will be an easy win and then… something like West Virginia happens. Granted, there were some REALLY bad calls in that game, but you and I both know that we did not play up to our potential in that game. 

Even so, I have a glimmer of hope.

My team may make me sad but at the end of the day, it’s still my team and I am not going to give up on them.