2017 Gridiron Staff Picks: Week 11

Brian Mozey

Every week during the year, Brian Mozey, Aaron Marner, Jack MacDonald and a special guest make their predictions for the Iowa State football game. Here are their predictions for the No. 24 Cyclones’ week 11 game against No. 12 Oklahoma State at 11 a.m. on ABC/ESPN2. 

Brian Mozey, Sports Editor (5-4)

Winner: Oklahoma State 

Score: 45-35

This is one of the biggest games for Iowa State this season. This game will determine the Cyclones’ chances of playing in the Big 12 Championship title game. 

Oklahoma State has been on a roll and has an elite quarterback with Mason Rudolph. I think it’ll be Rudolph’s day on Saturday. It’ll be a high scoring day, but I think Rudolph will break through and earn the win for the Cowboys.

This Saturday day will be a special day with senior day and the last home game for the Cyclones. It’ll be a close game all four quarters, but Oklahoma State will be too much for Iowa State this Saturday and Iowa State will drop to 6-4 overall and 4-3 in the Big 12. 

Aaron Marner, Assistant Sports Editor (4-5)

Winner: Oklahoma State

Score: 28-27

I’m gonna start by patting myself on the back.

Last week, I picked West Virginia to win by four. Guess what? West Virginia won by four! I’m not saying I can see the future — clearly my record suggests I can’t — but sometimes I luck into decent picks.

That’s what going to happen this week, too. I think Oklahoma State’s offense is too much for the Cyclones to handle. The Cowboys have either the best or second-best offense on the Cyclones’ schedule, and Iowa State’s defense showed holes early in last week’s game.

Oklahoma State is going to hit some big plays, and I don’t think Iowa State’s offense can keep up.

Jack MacDonald, Assistant Sports Editor (4-5)

Winner: Iowa State

Score: 24-17

I know last weekend was a disappointing loss for Iowa State, but we can’t forget how dominant they were in the weeks prior to the West Virginia game. And the defense was still dominant in that loss. It’s the offense that needs to find their groove. 

If both the offense and defense can get into a rhythm before halftime, maybe, just maybe there is another upset looming in the friendly confines of Jack Trice Stadium. Despite the loss, the defense continued to shine and held the No. 7 scoring offense in the nation to only 20 points, roughly 20 points below their average of 40.2.

The real kicker for the Cyclones is that it is senior day for the Cyclones. If that doesn’t motivate the 22 seniors to leave it all on the field, then I don’t know what would.

Emily Clement, Digital Editor

Winner: Iowa State

Score: 24-21

I know last week’s loss was a tough one, but I truly think the players got into their heads a little bit. I mean, who wouldn’t when you’re ranked No. 14 after years of not being ranked at all? I think even the fans got a little too ahead of themselves and expected a lot more from the team last weekend.

Now, I am absolutely not taking away from what they have done this season, and that is why I have them winning against Oklahoma State. Everyone can run into a little bump in the road, but I think they are over that now and can fight their way back up.

I think their dominance from the games before West Virginia will shine through and they’ll have their No. 14 (or something close) team back.