cidsports: Cy-Hawk Game in Ames, as College Football Saturday hits Week 2 of the 2011 season

On the news of Brent Greenwood's collapse and apparent heart attack, the Cy-Hawk football game between #22 Iowa Hawkeyes (1-0) @ Iowa State Cyclones (1-0) has a little different meaning on Saturday in Ames. Further, on Sunday, we celebrate the tenth anniversary of 9/11, which postponed the Cy-Hawk game back in 2001, along with all of college football that historic week in our history.

So, what should we expect during the 59Th game of the Iowa-Iowa State series in Football?

Both teams have new quarterbacks under center. Of course, ISU's JUCO transfer Steele Jantz is facing his first Cy-Hawk game. Iowa junior QB James Vandenberg is in his fourth season at Iowa and played briefly in Ames in '09 in a mop up role, after departed QB Ricky Stanzi lead Iowa over Iowa State 35-3. Look for more offense in '11 from the Cyclones.

In the running game, Iowa is without '11 leading rusher true freshman Mika'll McCall (9 for 61 yards), who was lost for the season in Iowa's win over Tennessee Tech 35-7, due to a broken ankle. ISU's running game may be limited to a fleat footed QB, however, with Iowa's revamped defensive line, ISU coach Paul Rhoads will likely try to establish a running game, because Iowa's DC Norm Parker would love to see ISU become one demenional. Iowa's lead RB is sophomore Marcus Coker, who rolled Missouri for over 200 yards in the 2010 Insight Bowl, but looked rusty in the season opener.

The passing game for Iowa looked very well with Vandenberg in Week 1. On the flip side, Jantz was only 18-40 for 187 yards in ISU's 20-19 late minute win over Northern Iowa last week. Jantz also threw three interceptions. Turnovers are typically huge in a rivalry game.

As Paul Rhoads mentioned this week, the offensive line is often a key to victory in any football game. We can't forget the importance of the defensive line, as well. Iowa would appear to have a better O-Line, though ISU has some good parts, but will they have the chemistry needed? Is Iowa's O-Line ready for prime-time in Week 2? Iowa's 2002 O-Line is considered Iowa's best under coach Kirk Ferentz, but in Week 2 at Miami-OH in 2002, the Hawkeyes had to grind out a 29-24 win.

Iowa senior DT Mike Daniels had his first sack of 2011, last week vs. FBS' Tennessee Tech. Senior DE Broderick Binns had a huge play at Arizona in 2010, but didn't start most of the season. Those two Hawkeyes must anchor a young group of players in new roles for Iowa. ISU has some experience in the D-Line, but the Cyclones finished 5-7 in 2010 and defense was not strong in last year's 7-35 loss to Iowa in Iowa City.

Injuries have hit both Iowa and Iowa State in the linebacker corp over the past two seasons. Health could play a role in this year's game. The stronger unit on Saturday may be a huge part in determining the final outcome.

Both Iowa and Iowa State have some new parts in the secondary. Iowa's ability to force turnovers has been a big part of the Hawkeyes' success, including a +4 in '10 and +3 in '09. Iowa beat ISU in 2003 in Ames and turnovers played a key role in Iowa's 40-21 win.

In closing, another key area will be special teams. In Dan McCarney's first win over Iowa, in J. Hayden Fry's final season in 1998, a blocked punt fueled an Iowa State avalanche. Coaching should be solid on both sidelines. Kirk Ferentz and Paul Rhoades are fine representatives for both programs.

Our Prediction in the Cy-Hawk Game:

#22 Iowa 35, Iowa State 21
11:00 a.m. on FSN (HD) / Mediacom

A look around the rest of College Football for Week 2:

Central Michigan at Kentucky, 11:00 a.m. on ESPNU (HD)
Florida Atlantic at Michigan State, 11:00 a.m. on ESPN2 (HD) / espn3
#22Iowa at Iowa State, 11:00 a.m. on FSN (HD) / Mediacom
Oregon State at #8Wisconsin, 11:00 a.m. on ESPN (HD) / espn3
San Diego State at Army, 11:00 a.m. on CBSSN (HD)
South Dakota State at Illinois, 11:00 a.m. on BTN (HD)
Toledo at #15Ohio State, 11:00 a.m. on BTN (HD)
#16Mississippi State at #25 Auburn, 11:21 a.m. on SEC Network / ESPN-GP / espn3
Rutgers at North Carolina, 11:30 a.m. on SNY (HD) / ESPN-GP *2 / Raycom *3 (HD) / espn3
Norfolk State at #18West Virginia, 12:00 p.m. on RSPI (HD?) / MASN2 (HD?) / ESPN-GP / espn3
Northern Colorado at Colorado State, 1:00 p.m. on MTN (HD)
#1Alabama at Penn State, 2:30 p.m. on ABC (HD)
California at Colorado, 2:30 p.m. on CSCA / (FCSA / FCSP) (cable)
Cincinnati at Tennessee, 2:30 p.m. on ESPN2 (HD) / espn3
Eastern Illinois at Northwestern, 2:30 p.m. on BTN (HD)
Hawaii at Washington, 2:30 p.m. on (RSMW / RSNW) (HD?) / Oceanic PPV
Nevada at #7Oregon 2:30 p.m. on FX (HD)
New Mexico State at Minnesota 2:30 p.m. on BTN (HD)
North Carolina State at Wake Forest 2:30 p.m. on (FSS / SUN / FSPT) *5 / ESPN-GP *2 / espn3
Purdue at Rice 2:30 p.m. on CBSSN (HD)
#11 Stanford at Duke 2:30 p.m. ESPNU (HD)
TCU at Air Force 2:30 p.m. on Versus (HD)
#6 Virginia Tech at East Carolina 2:30 p.m. on FSN (HD) / Free SS preview
Rhode Island at Syracuse 3:30 p.m. on SNY / ESPN-GP / espn3 / (TWC / Cox RI) (cable)
#14 South Carolina at Georgia 3:30 p.m. on ESPN (HD) / espn3
North Dakota at Idaho 4:00 p.m. on ESPN-GP / espn3 / (SWX / Midco) (cable)
Southern Illinois at Ole Miss 5:00 p.m. on ESPN-GP *2 / PPV (MS & Memphis) / espn3
Texas State at Wyoming 5:00 p.m. on MTN (HD)
Ball State at #25 South Florida 6:00 p.m. on ALT-HD / ESPN-GP / (BHSN/ERTV) (cable) / espn3
#19 BYU at Texas 6:00 p.m. on ESPN2 (HD) (3D) / espn3
Fresno State at #12 Nebraska 6:00 p.m. on BTN (HD)
New Mexico at #10 Arkansas 6:00 p.m. on ESPNU (HD)
Northern Illinois at Kansas 6:00 p.m. on DirecTV - 623 / FCSC (cable)
UAB at #17 Florida 6:00 p.m. on Fox Sports South / ESPN-GP *2 / espn3
UTEP at SMU 6:00 p.m. on FSN (HD)
Virginia at Indiana 6:00 p.m. on BTN (HD)
Connecticut at Vanderbilt 6:30 p.m. on SNY-HD / ESPN-GP / (CST / CSS) (cable) / espn3
Utah at #21 USC 6:30 p.m. on Versus (HD)
Boston College at #20 Central Florida 7:00 p.m. on CBSSN (HD)
Notre Dame at Michigan 7:00 p.m. on ESPN (HD) / espn3
Northwestern State at # 3 LSU 7:00 p.m. on ESPN-GP *2 / PPV (LA) / espn3
San Jose State at UCLA 9:00 p.m. on FSW (HD) / FCSP (cable)

Games not yet scheduled for nationally available networks.

Alabama State at Eastern Michigan 12:00 p.m.
Central Arkansas at Louisiana Tech 6:00 p.m. on espn3
Charleston Southern at #4 Florida State on 5:00 p.m. espn3
Gardner Webb at Ohio 6:00 p.m.
Georgia Tech at Middle Tennessee 6:00 p.m. on espn3
Grambling at Louisiana Monroe 6:00 p.m. on espn3
Houston at North Texas 6:00 p.m. on espn3
Louisiana Lafayette at Kent State 6:00 p.m.
Maine at Pittsburgh 12:00 p.m. on espn3
Memphis at Arkansas State 6:00 p.m. on espn3
Morgan State at Bowling Green 6:00 p.m. on BCSN / espn3
Navy at Western Kentucky 6:00 p.m. on espn3
Nicholls State at Western Michigan 6:00 p.m.
Southern Miss at Marshall 2:30 p.m. on CSS (cable)
Stony Brook at Buffalo 5:00 p.m. on espn3 / TWCS (cable)
Temple at Akron 5:00 p.m. on espn3
Tulsa at Tulane 2:30 p.m. on CST (cable)
UNLV at Washington State 4:00 p.m.
Weber State at Utah State 7:00 p.m. on espn3
Wofford at Clemson 2:30 p.m. espn3

Quick Notes for Saturday of Week 2:

Alabama is 9-5 vs. Penn State and have won 4 of last 5 meetings! This would be a huge win for Joe Paterno's program, if the Nittany Lions can knock off Nick Saban's Crimson Tide!

South Carolina is only 5-11 in road openers and lost 37-41 the last time they played in Athens. Can Georgia's Mark Richt get it turned abound, after opening week loss vs. #5 Boise State?

Is Auburn a Top 25 team without QB Cam Newton? Mississippi State won in 2007 @ Auburn.

Does Michigan coach Brady Hoke get first win over Notre Dame as head coach. Many are predicting Notre Dame, but the Fighting Irish are not the same Irish of old. Neither is Michgian yet, but coaching change was a good start!