Cyclones vs. Jayhawks

When Iowa State has the ball

This will be a battle of bad - statistically speaking. The Cyclones have the Big 12's least productive offense in terms of yards per game at just 311.0. On the flip side, Kansas ranks last in the league in scoring defense (33.9 ppg) and has allowed 159 points in its last three games to Kansas State, Baylor and Texas A&M.

This looks like the perfect time for the Cyclone offense to improve on those numbers.

ISU was efficient last week in its win over Texas. The numbers weren't huge, aside from tailback Alexander Robinson's rushing total of 120 yards and two touchdowns. The senior seems over his foot injury or at least is able to play through the pain well enough.

Kansas defends the pass much better than it does the run, which means Robinson, Shontrelle Johnson and Jeff Woody had better be carrying the ball a lot today. The Jayhawks don't get to the passer much. They have just six sacks this season, fewest in the Big 12. That's good news for ISU, which may be missing starting center Ben Lamaak because of a knee injury.

Advantage: Iowa State

When Kansas has the ball

The Jayhawks' quarterback play hasn't been great this season in the first place, but now they'll be without their top two guys in Jordan Webb (shoulder) and Kale Pick (concussion). It'll be transfer Quinn Meachem getting his first career start, leading an offense that's averaging just 16.1 points a game.

KU also will be thin at running back with Deshaun Sands and part-timer D.J. Beshears serving one-game suspensions. Freshman James Sims will be the man. Sims leads the team in rushing with 375 yards and two touchdowns.

Meachem will be looking for top receiving threat Daymond Patterson, who is doing his best to fill the void left by the departures of Kerry Meier and Dezmon Briscoe, who torched ISU a year ago in a loss at KU. The Cyclones should be able to add to their league-leading number of take-aways (19) against the newcomer. They are tied with Nebraska for the most interceptions among Big 12 teams after hauling in three last week at Texas.

Advantage: Iowa State

Special teams

The Cyclones have been strong in the kicking game most of the season. Punter Kirby Van Der Kamp continues to impress and is averaging 45.6 yards per kick now, with a good number of his 43 punts traveling more than 50 yards and/or being downed inside the opponents' 20-yard line.

Kansas hasn't shown much with its kicking game. Senior kicker Jacob Branstetter has attempted just six field goals this season, making three. He is 25 of 37 for his career. Missing kick returner Beshears will be big. He ranks second in the league with a 27.8-yard average.

Advantage: Iowa State

The scoreboard

Iowa State is sky high after its win at Texas last week and with four games left to play has good reason to be at its best being two wins away from bowl eligibility. Kansas is going in the opposite direction having been worked over by its last three opponents.

It's not been a fun start to the Turner Gill era. A third-string quarterback under center on top of a general lack of confidence in themselves doesn't lend itself to a very rosy outlook today for KU.

This one could get ugly if the Cyclones start fast.

Iowa State 37, Kansas 13

- Eric Petersen