Cyclone and Hawkeye fans have spent much of this week trash talking and forming arguments about why their team is better, but looking at the recent history of the Cy-Hawk game shows it’s virtually a tossup.

Three of the last four games have been won by a field goal and the other was won by a whopping six points. The road team has won the last three match ups.

Iowa owns the all-time series record 40-22, but that’s counting a dominating stretch of 15 straight wins. In recent years, regardless of success within conference play, the Cy-Hawk showdown has proved highly competitive.

Last season’s game was claimed by the Cyclones, courtesy of Cole Netten’s foot and an untimely Iowa timeout. Given the closeness of the last four outings, that just may be the scenario yet again.

Netten, however, had a shaky season opener, hitting on only one of his three attempts.

The Cyclones offense also struggled at times in their first game of 2015 against Northern Iowa. Iowa State started on the right side of the 50-yard line four times in the first half and only produced 10 points to show for it.

They figured it out in the second half, but what happens when the Cyclones face a Big 10 defense instead of an FCS defense? Opportunities to start in enemy territory can’t be squandered.

The same question can be asked of how the Cyclones’ defensive unit will fair against an Iowa offense that by all accounts is superior to that of UNI.

The ISU defense shut down a UNI offense that had lost former Cyclone killer running back David Johnson to the NFL and played three quarterbacks while mustering just a single touchdown.

That likely won’t be the case against Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard.

Iowa didn’t play a perfect game in week one either, but like the Cyclones, they looked solid. When the two teams meet up Saturday afternoon in Ames, it’ll likely be yet another close game that could come down to whoever has the ball last.

It’s a toss up, but the road team has won the series the last three match ups and it wouldn’t be surprising if Iowa finds a way to continue that streak.

Prediction: Iowa 31, Iowa State 28