RSSBot
News Junkie
Iowa State and Colorado each had opportunities for big wins on Saturday, though Colorado's chance to seize that opportunity was quite a bit larger.Each will have to wait another week for their second wins.
Colorado trails future Pac-10 conference mate California 31-0 at halftime, clearly taking a step backward from last week's 24-3 win over Colorado State.
Meanwhile, The Streak for Iowa State has been extended to 16 quarters. That's how long it's been since Iowa State scored a touchdown against the rival Hawkeyes, although they beat Iowa in 2007 15-13 by using five field goals.
I figured both teams would lose this week, but the manner in which both are doing it comes as a definite surprise.
Iowa State is just 1-of-7 on third down and has 86 yards of offense compared to 284 for the Hawkeyes. Austen Arnaud hasn't made the costly mistakes that cost the Cyclones last year, but he's completed just 8 of 19 passes and has an interception.
Colorado's Tyler Hansen has also completed fewer than 50 percent of his passes (8-of-17), and has two interceptions, including one for a touchdown. He's also been sacked four times, a bad sign for an offensive line that needed to improve for Colorado to do the same from a 3-9 season last year. The Buffaloes gave up a league-most 43 sacks a year ago, 11 more than any team in the Big 12.
This, despite starting two of the best offensive linemen in the Big 12 in guard Ryan Miller and left tackle Nate Solder. It looks like the optimism oozing out of both programs will be put on hold after this week.
More...