Matt Belinson, sports editor (1-0)

Iowa State 20, Iowa 24

This is one of the biggest games Iowa State and the Hawkeyes have ever played in — so the pick, in turn, has weighed on me heading into the weekend.

That said, I like Iowa in this game. I believe the Cyclones’ opener, while missing some key pieces, was more wobbly than what I’ve come to expect out of the gate. I never got the sense the offense was about to score on a given drive and it was a concern that missing Charlie Kolar would take so much juice out of the offense.

I can’t see a dramatic step being taken against a defense like Iowa that made Michael Penix Jr. look horrific and a defense that has won the turnover battle over the last four meetings.

This game will be close, as most CyHawk games are, but I think the Cyclones end up dropping their sixth-straight against their in-state rivals.

Sam Stuve, assistant sports editor (1-0)

Iowa State 24, Iowa 21

While the week one results are not that encouraging, I still think the Cyclones are capable of putting together a win against a top 10 opponent. There’s been a couple years where the Cyclones and Panthers played a close game or the Cyclones lost, but then turned around and played a close game against Iowa or beat Iowa.

I’m thinking this will be the case this year and that Iowa State will come out on top in a close one.

In week one, Iowa and Iowa State had polar opposite types of wins. Iowa’s was a 28 point win over a top 20 opponent in Indiana, while Iowa State struggled to put away Northern Iowa, only winning by six. 

Iowa’s defense was excellent, limiting Indiana to six points, and scoring two touchdowns on interceptions. I expect Iowa’s defense to be good again this week, but not as good as it was in week one. 

I think Iowa State’s offense will eventually get the running game going with Heisman contender Breece Hall and open up the game through the air with fellow Heisman contender Brock Purdy. Mix in the potential return of two-time All-Big 12 tight end Charlie Kolar and Iowa State’s offense could be a lot to handle come Saturday.

This is usually pretty close and I expect nothing less this year. Iowa’s running game, good offensive line and tough defense should threaten Iowa State’s offensive attack and tough defense, but ultimately I think Iowa State will find a way to win and end the five game Cy-Hawk losing streak. 

James Powell, assistant sports editor (1-0)

Iowa State 21, Iowa 17

I don’t think I need to tell anyone that this is the biggest CyHawk game to date, but I believe it’s one of Matt Campbell’s biggest, if not the biggest, game overall of his tenure so far. It’s the one thing anyone can go to if they want to tarnish what Campbell has built, it’s that he’s never beaten Iowa.

That being said, I think Campbell and Co. surely saw what we all saw from the Northern Iowa game, and that’s the fact that they won’t get away with that level of performance on Sept. 11. I think they’ll open up the playbook, with Brock Purdy throwing at least two of the touchdowns for Iowa State, and all of Ames will rejoice in the fact that the Cyclones will end their five game losing streak against the Hawkeyes.

Kylee Haueter, editor in chief

Iowa State 49, Iowa 7

Unlike Matt Belinson, I am a tried and true believer in Iowa State. Now listen, I know we didn’t look the best against UNI, but we were missing a couple of key players. They kept that playbook shut tight and they’re definitely going to open it up this weekend. 

In addition, Iowa State (and Iowa too, for that matter) is going to be pumped up going into this weekend. Both teams are ranked in the top-10. Both teams are chomping at the bit to play one another. The crowd is going to be hyped and the energy will be unmatched. 

My pick might seem a little exaggerated but let’s be honest, they don’t say “she moves her body like a Cyclone” for nothing.

I wanted the score to be 49 to zero but I thought I might as well give Iowa a pity touchdown. Just for funsies. And before you ask, no, I don’t have any legitimate reason for hating Iowa other than I am an Iowa State student. 

I know my friends at Iowa are going to be mad at me for this pick, but you all know that you would do the same thing. No hard feelings!

Either way, I’m looking forward to an exciting game Saturday and I’m sure you all are as well.