2-Minute Drill - Iowa State vs. Tulsa

Tulsa Rush Offense vs. ISU Rush Defense

The Golden Hurricane ranked 26th in rushing offense last season at 191.7 yards per game and return their two top rushers, Ja'Terian Douglas and Trey Watts. The Cyclones counter with all-Big 12 linebackers A.J. Klein and Jake Knott and what they hope is a more effective D-line. Advantage: Tulsa

Tulsa Pass Offense vs. ISU Pass Defense

New Tulsa play-caller Cody Green “won” in Ames for Nebraska in 2010, but mostly sat in the second half while Rex Burkhead ran roughshod over the Cyclone defense out of the wildcat. ISU must pressure Green, nullifying dangerous weapons such as Willie Carter and Bryan Burnham. (Slight) advantage: Tulsa

ISU Rush Offense vs. Tulsa Rush Defense

Tulsa's rush defense was surprisingly good last season, allowing just 128 yards per game (ranking 33rd nationally). But ISU's backfield quartet of James White, Shontrelle Johnson, Jeff Woody and DeVondrick Nealy - with a handful of Steele Jantz scrambles mixed in - will be hard to contain. Advantage: ISU

ISU Pass Offense vs. Tulsa Pass Defense

Golden Hurricane gave up gobs of yards last season - 286 per game, but also faced the likes of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Boise State and Houston. If Jantz has improved his short passing game, screens and slants, expect Jarvis West and Aaron Horne to have big games. (Slight) advantage: ISU

Special Teams

Tulsa features a true freshman kicker in Daniel Schwarz who eventually fielded (and spurned) offers from LSU, Texas and Alabama. As of Thursday, ISU had not announced whether Edwin Arceo (jr.) or Cole Netten (true fr.) would kick. Push in return game. Decided edge in punting for Cyclones with Kirby Van Der Kamp. Advantage: ISU

Intangibles

Home field advantage, most obviously, favors the Cyclones. So does being dubbed the underdog again - by a point or two - by Vegas oddsmakers. Never underestimate the power of being underestimated, particularly for Rhoads-coached teams, which have thrived in the role. Advantage: ISU

Tulsa will win if ... Steele Jantz is forced into mistakes. The Golden Hurricane will likely be punching at the ball with extra ferocity if Jantz carries, while attempting to confuse him with their coverages. How good was his preparation? We'll see when he faces the latter situation.

ISU will win if ... Cody Green is forced into mistakes. Tulsa's new starter underwhelmed as a highly-touted Nebraska Cornhusker, but did win four games as a starter in two seasons. Green is saying most of the right things with the Golden Hurricane. But overconfidence could lead to gross miscalculations.

Prediction: ISU 42, Tulsa 28.

Three things to watch

The all-important PAT. There's been intrigue surrounding anything with the word “kick” in it for ISU, given the fall camp-long battle between junior walk-on Edwin Arceo and true freshman Cole Netten for the starting job. Arceo will handle kickoffs. As for PATs and field goals? Stay tuned.

Tulsa's Willie Carter. Fun to watch, except for Cyclone fans if he does too much, Carter is one of the nation's most explosive H-backs. He looks like a fullback, but led the Golden Hurricane last season with 61 catches for 868 yards. Reportedly, ISU recruited him, too.

ISU's Ricky Howard. The 6-4, 263-pound senior entered fall camp third on the depth chart at tight end. He's now on top of it, impressing coaches and teammates alike with his all-around game. “He's from California, which is cool, too,” Cyclone quarterback and fellow Californian Steele Jantz said.