The weather could slow everybody down. The Ames forecast calls for 58 degrees, a 53% chance of rain and 10 mph wind. That's not a washout, but a wet ball tends to help the team that would rather run and shorten the game. Right now that sounds like Iowa State's best chance.
Murray State59-0
One result stands out as a common opponent: both teams beat West Virginia. Oklahoma State won 41-24 in Morgantown. Iowa State won 45-42 at home. That's the version of the Cyclones they need on Saturday, the one that can trade touchdowns at Jack Trice. They haven't found it since, and they've lost 2 straight by a combined 50-13.
The injury report hurts Iowa State's passing game the most. C. Pabst is expected to miss the rest of the season, J. Bailey has been out since the start of September, and D. Overby is questionable with a knee injury. That's 3 receivers, and it helps explain the Cyclones' lack of scoring. Oklahoma State is missing OG J. Sexton and TE O. Hammond, but the offense has kept producing without both of them.
Iowa State is 1-3 in the conference and needs a win at home to stop the slide. Oklahoma State is 3-1 and has been the most explosive offense in its last 5 games. Rain is the one thing that could flatten that difference. If Raynor gets nothing going again early, a wet night in Ames could get away from the Cyclones fast.