Iowa State Cyclones 2010 College Football Predictions – BCS Odds 2011: Head Coach Paul Rhoads inherited a 2-10 team last season and shocked everyone by guiding the Cyclones to a 7-6 record and bowl win over Minnesota. Depsite last year's solid finish, odds makers are not expecting a repeat performance from Iowa State. 2010 College Football Predictions at BetUS.com have the Cyclones listed at +1200 moneyline odds to win the Big 12 North, leaving them behind the other five teams in the division.
Gene Chizik seemingly left the Iowa State football program in shambles when he took the head coaching job at Auburn as 
the Cyclones had gone a miserable 5-19 in his two year tenure. However, Paul Rhoads, who ironically came to Ames after serving as the defensive coordinator at Auburn, proved last season that the Iowa State cupboard was not totally bare. The Cyclones went 3-1 in non-conference play and 3-5 in Big 12 action, including a stunning 9-7 win over North champion Nebraska in Lincoln.
Rhoads welcomes 12 starters and 42 lettermen back to Ames this season. Among the returnees are quarterback Austen Arnaud, running back Alexander Robinson, and safety David Sims. Arnaud threw for 2015 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior while finishing second in rushing with 561 yards and eight scores. Robinson ran for a team high 1195 yards at 5.2 yards per clip and added nine touchdowns (six rushing, three receiving).
With Arnaud and Robinson still on campus, the Cyclones will improve on last season's 20.5 point per game average.
Iowa State's defense, which held opponents to an average of 21.8 points and 416 yards per game in 2009, loses its top three tacklers as well as it leading sacker. The defensive line and linebacking core is a major question mark for Rhoads as just two starters from those two groups return. The secondary will be the strength of the unit with Sims, who had 88 tackles and five interceptions a season ago, still patrolling the defensive backfield.
Iowa State has a brutal non-conference schedule this year having to face Northern Illinois, Iowa and Utah. The Cyclones also get a double dose of trouble in Big 12 play with road games at Oklahoma and at Texas.
2010 College Football Predictions: 3-9 Overall, 1-7 Conference, Sixth Place Big 12 North
BetUS.com Iowa State Cyclones 2010 College Football Predictions – BCS Odds 2011:
Odds to Win the Big 12 North +1200 (six of six)
Odds to Win the Big 12 Championship +3000 (12 of 12)
BCS Odds 2011 (National Championship) +25000
Bet your 2010 College Football Predictions at online sportsbook BetUS.com and receive up to 155% in Cash Bonuses and start winning today!
