Cyclones focused on Kansas State, not bowl watch

AMES - With one week remaining in college football's regular season, bowl projections are on par with reading tea leaves or picking a number out of a hat.

Most will miss their mark.

“I tell you what, if (we) went and got a six pack of beer and a handful of darts, we'd probably be about as accurate as they are right now.” said Iowa State football coach Paul Rhoads, whose team (6-5) is bowl eligible for the second time in three seasons.

True enough. But that won't halt speculation.

As of Sunday night, four high-profile forecasters - representing CBS Sports, ESPN, and Scout.com - figure the Cyclones will play in either the Dec. 28 Military Bowl in Washington, D.C., the Dec. 31 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco, or the Jan. 2 TicketCity Bowl in Dallas.

There's one “consensus” pick (from one of two ESPN soothsayers and Scout.com): The TicketCity Bowl.

The opponent? Purdue.

“I want to go somewhere warm,” said ISU safety Ter'Ran Benton, who nabbed his third interception in four games in last Saturday's 26-6 loss at No. 9 Oklahoma. “I want to go to the South or the West. Other than that, just taking it day by day.”

The dart throwing, er, educated guessing will pick up - and likely become more accurate - as the action plays out Saturday, including ISU's game at No. 16 Kansas State.

For the Cyclones, who are 11.5 point underdogs, an upset win could enhance warm-weather opportunities.

ISU has not won as many as seven regular season games since 2005, so whatever the bowl destination - Dallas, New York City, or San Diego - reaching that goal is important.

“It means a lot, just to see where the program has been and to see it now and where it's going,” said cornerback and future NFL Draft pick Leonard Johnson, who endured a 10-game losing streak as a freshman. “That's the biggest thing. Just seeing the progress and seeing everything unfold before your eyes.”

One thing the Cyclones won't see transpire is the decision-making process among bowl dignitaries. But, again, that won't hinder the on-air and online guessing games, which turn into message board debates and water cooler what-if sessions.

“I understand why they do it,” Rhoads said. “There's a lot of things going on behind the doors of those bowl selection people and communication with universities and so forth. They're going to take who they want to take for the reasons they're taking them, not because of what the prognosticators are picking.”

Besides, plenty can change between now and Dec. 4 - the de facto “Selection Sunday” for bowl-bound teams.

“I'm sure as a team or as an offense, we'll do something, for one, to celebrate, and for two, to get to know where (we're) going and who we're playing against,” said ISU quarterback Jared Barnett, who fell to 3-1 as a starter against the Sooners. “But we're not looking toward that week yet. We're focusing on Kansas State.”

Bad message

On Sunday, Kansas fired football coach Turner Gill after two seasons. Gill's Jayhawks went 5-19, but three years - and $6 million - remain on his contract.

“I think it's bad for the profession,” Rhoads said when asked what that indicates about job security among FBS head coaches. “I think it's bad for collegiate athletics. I think there are many things going on that are sending the wrong message about what collegiate athletics are all about. And it's one of them, but it's just one of them.”