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 Cyclones’ week nine game against TCU at 2:30 p.m. on ABC/ESPN2. 

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Brian Mozey, Sports Editor (5-2)

Winner: TCU

Score: 21-14

Iowa State is ranked for the first time since 2005. It has been a long time since Iowa State has been a part of a ranked vs. ranked game. I don’t think they’ll be able to prevail. 

The Cyclones are definitely a team to keep eyes on heading into the last few weeks of the regular season, but the TCU Horned Frogs are possible National Championship contenders. 

Iowa State has been able to prove its worthy of a spot in the top 25 and they will continue to this homecoming weekend. The Cyclones will keep it close, so they can maintain a spot on the top 25, but the Horned Frogs will come out with the victory and continue the undefeated season. 

Aaron Marner, Assistant Sports Editor (3-4)

Winner: TCU

Score: 27-17

Iowa State has a chance to enter November in a first place tie for the Big 12 with the head-to-head tiebreaker advantage over Oklahoma and TCU.

Wait, what? The only thing standing in the way of that ridiculous statement coming true is Saturday’s game vs. No. 4 TCU. If Iowa State can pull off the upset, it might be a bigger win than the win at then-No. 3 Oklahoma earlier this year simply because of the Big 12 ramifications.

I don’t think the Cyclones will pull it off. Gary Patterson doesn’t like to lose on the road. TCU is 11-4 (73 percent) in road Big 12 games since the start of 2014, so Jack Trice Stadium might not make for much of an advantage.

TCU is the favorite on Saturday for a reason. Give me the Horned Frogs by a couple scores.

Jack MacDonald, Assistant Sports Editor (3-4)

Winner: Iowa State

Score: 24-21

I have lost sleep over this decision, and of course because of studying for exams. But, nonetheless, I am confident that Iowa State can upset TCU. For starters, this is the first time Iowa State has been ranked since 2005 and if that doesn’t give you all the momentum in the world, then I don’t know what does. 

And then there is the fact that it is homecoming week. If I were an Iowa State football player, I would be all jacked up and ready to rough up some Horned Frogs. Statistically, Iowa State has the defensive edge, which proved to be very important in the Texas Tech win. 

TCU may have the offensive advantage, but time and time again Kyle Kempt has proven to us that he is no joke. This will be a close one, but the Cyclones come out victorious. 

Tristan Wade, News Editor of Academics 

Winner: TCU

Score: 38-34

There’s no doubt the Cyclones have been in a roll the last few weeks, propelling themselves into the top 25, but I think TCU will spoil homecoming this weekend.

Iowa State’s offense has looked great since the Texas game, and I think that will continue for them this weekend. But I think TCU’s offense will just be too much for Iowa State, especially if they continue from their rolling of Kansas last weekend.

Iowa State will put up a good fight, and it might be one of their better fought losses of the year, but at the end of the day the Horned Frogs are just too good.