Oddsmakers at online wagering leader Sportsbook.com expect a close contest when the Kent State Golden Flashes and Iowa State Cyclones open their football season at Cyclone Stadium in Ames, Iowa Thursday night having installed ISU a slim -4.0 home favorite . The football game will not be televised.
It wouldn’t be an understatement to say, the Iowa State Cyclones football team got roughed up in 2006 going 4-8 (1-7 Big XII). It was so bad the administration decided a coaching change was needed and Gene Chizik , the Texas Longhorns defensive coordinator was brought in. Perhaps it is Chizik’s expertise in coaching defense that wooed ISU officials and boosters. Before Texas, Chizik was the defensive coordinator at Auburn where his defenses were virtually un-penetrateable. If ISU can make its defense look like anything other than a sieve, it will be an improvement. Last year the ISU defense allowed oppontents to complete 72.5 percent of their passes, he highest completion rate allowed among 119 NCAA Division 1 programs.
Chizik will send his Cyclones into battle for the first time Thursday night at home against the Kent State Golden Flashes of the Midwest Athletic Conference (MAC). Kent State is pinning its hopes for a winning football season on quarterback Julian Edelman .
Kent State coach Doug Martin says Edelman’s performance is the key to winning. “I really believe we have the best quarterback in the Mid-American Conference,” Martin said. “I feel he’s getting ready to take a giant step forward.” The 6-foot, 198-pound Edelman earned second-team MAC honors last season after passing for 1,859 yards and rushing for 658.The down side to Edelman’s numbers is he threw more interceptions (11) than touchdowns (10).
“I think what we saw with Julian is he was either really good, or he was really average because of turnovers,” Martin said. “This is the year he needs to step up and have a consistent, high level of play. If he can do that, we could be a special team.”
Senior quarterback Bret Meyer , with 36 career starts under his belt, will lead the Cyclones offense against the Flashes. Meyer completed 56.4 percent of his passes for 12 touchdowns however he had a tendency to turn the ball over, throwing a dozen interceptions. Meyer’s top receiver from last year Todd Blythe is a dangerous threat to any defense. Blythe has more than 2,300 receiving yards for an average of 18.7 yards per catch. In 2006 Blythe caught 34 passes and scored eight touchdowns.
Prediction: I expect the Cyclones to find a way to win this game and I base that on my knowledge of head coach Gene Chizik. The man is a great motivator and will get every ounce of effort from his players in front of the home fans. The ISU football program has only one way to go and that is up; beginning Thursday night.
