Cyclones vs. Buffaloes

When Iowa State has the ball

The offense is coming together nicely after a rough stretch midway through the year.

Quarterback Austen Arnaud has completed 37 of 58 passes (63.8 percent) for 371 yards the last two weeks and has rushed for 122 more yards. He's got two games left in the regular season and badly wants this team to return to the postseason and cap off his career.

Just as Arnaud is heating up, ISU's ground game is hitting its stride. Tailback Alexander Robinson has been over the 100-yard mark each of the last three weeks as the Cyclones have averaged 196 yards during that same span.

Colorado has a respectable run defense, so ISU might have more success throwing the ball. Tight end Collin Franklin has been shutout in the first half the last two weeks, but Arnaud has been able to find ways to get him the ball after halftime.

The Cyclones will need to take advantage of scoring opportunities when they can. Colorado leads the Big 12 in time of possession.

Advantage: Iowa State

When Colorado has the ball

The Buffs are one of the league's lowest scoring teams, but have shown they can move the ball and have a couple of really talented players.

Tailback Rodney Stewart ranks third in the Big 12 and 15th nationally with 101.3 rushing yards a game. Stewart also is a threat to catch the ball out of the backfield, having caught 22 passes this season. Receiver Scotty McKnight likely will become the first CU player to lead the team in receiving four straight years. McKnight (40 receptions, 481 yds, 4 TDs) was Tyler Hansen's go-to-guy before the quarterback was hurt. He's also that for Cody Hawkins now that the senior is the Buffs only healthy quarterback.

The Cyclone defense has been stout the past two weeks, allowing Kansas just 268 total yards and Nebraska 314 a week ago. They continue to come up with take-aways and linebackers Jake Knott and A.J. Klein haven't slowed down much and rank second and third, respectively, in tackles per game.

Advantage: Even

Special teams

Both teams can't be feeling too confident in their kicking game right now.

ISU's Grant Mahoney has missed six of his last seven kicks, though all of the kicks (including his only make, a 57-yarder) have been from at least 45 yards out. Colorado's Aric Goodman is 6 of 10 so far this year and over his career has been wildly inconsistent. Goodman is 50 percent for his career (21 of 42). He is strong on kickoffs, though, with 25 of his 35 kickoffs this season resulting in opponents starting inside their own 25-yard line.

The Buffs' kick coverage is the best in the league. Their net punting? No so much. CU is second to last with a net of 35.0 yards per attempt. Freshman Kirby Van Der Kamp is having a standout first season as ISU's starter.

Advantage: Iowa State

The scoreboard

This should be an entertaining game offensively. Both teams give up a ton of points and rank near the bottom of the league in scoring defense and yards allowed.

Historically, Colorado has dominated the series and won 22 of the last 26 games. ISU has won four times since 2000, the year of its only win in Boulder in the last quarter century.

The Cyclones know this is a game they should win and desperately want to win to become bowl eligible. Missouri comes to Ames next weekend and ISU would rather be playing for bowl positioning not eligibility.

The Buffs are down and an early knockout punch could put them in a familiar state of mind, regardless of who is coaching the team.

Iowa State 37, Colorado 27

- Eric Petersen

Game guide

• Teams: Iowa State (5-5, 3-3) vs. Colorado (3-6, 0-5)

• Where: Folsom Field (53,613), Boulder, Colo.

• When: 12:30 p.m. today

• Kickoff forecast: Mostly sunny and 57

• TV: Fox College Sports

• Radio: KGYM-AM (1600)

• Spread: ISU by 2 1/2

• Series: Colorado leads, 48-15-1

• Coaches: Paul Rhoads is 12-11 in his second season at Iowa State. This will be the first game for Colorado's Brian Cabral, the interim coach after Dan Hawkins was fired Tuesday.