Big Game Hunting: Iowa’s year in the Big Ten West? Iowa State doesn’t care as Cy-Hawk showdown approaches

Sports Illustrated wrote heading into the season that Iowa State had its best team in two decades and would contend for the Big 12 title. Many other national outlets and prominent columnists had the Cyclones in their preseason top 25s and made similar forecasts.

CBS Sports went all-in on ISU’s fourth-year-coach, too, describing Matt Campbell — who’s still a couple of months shy of 40 — as “brilliant.”

Which brings us to a brief digression: If former Illinois athletic director Mike Thomas was going to hire the school’s next head coach from Toledo before the 2012 season, he should’ve taken a chance on Campbell — then an outstanding offensive coordinator — rather than tab Campbell’s goofball boss, Tim Beckman.

But here we are. The Cyclones fell out of the AP poll after needing three overtimes to beat Northern Iowa in their lone outing of the season. Perhaps a bit of overconfidence set in? Looking at it through Bears-colored glasses, maybe it was just that hard to play a first game without former star running back David Montgomery.

Now comes the real deal: No. 19 Iowa (-3) at Iowa State (3 p.m., FS1), a huge nonconference test for each team. ESPN’s “College GameDay” traveling circus will be in Ames. Rarely, if ever, has the Cy-Hawk Trophy clash taken on such importance.

The Hawkeyes have won four straight in the annual series, but their last visit to Jack Trice Stadium was both thrilling and terrifying, ending in a 44-41 overtime victory. Since then, Campbell’s program has made its most meaningful progress on the defensive side of the ball. Nobody’s getting close to the 40s in this one.

It’s a fascinating coaching matchup given Campbell’s age and counterpart Kirk Ferentz’s standing — in his 21^st season at Iowa — as the dean of college football coaches. A big game is old hat to Ferentz, 64, who looks like he could still suit up and play. Or at least coach forever.

“If you’re distracted by whatever — surroundings, things that are being written, nice things that are being written about you or negative things — all that stuff is counterproductive to moving forward,” Ferentz said.

Speaking of moving forward, the Hawkeyes were my preseason pick to unseat reigning champ Northwestern in the Big Ten’s West division. After their solid 2-0 start, I’m sticking with it.

But I also went game-by-game through every Big Ten team’s schedule in the process of making my picks, and Iowa-Iowa State got the old red-pen treatment — meaning a loss for the Hawkeyes. I’m sticking with that, too. Cyclones, with the advantage of an extra week to prepare for this one, make a late defensive stop and give Campbell a signature “W.”

In other Week 2 action:

Sometimes, a Big Ten-rich menu is in order.

No. 6 Ohio State (-16½) at Indiana (11 a.m., Fox-32): Each squad is 2-0 entering its league opener, but we’ve learned next to nothing about the Hoosiers, who’ve feasted on patsies and could be without quarterback Michael Penix; his status will be a game-time decision. How will Buckeyes QB Justin Fields handle a road environment? OSU pulls away in the second half and covers the hefty number.

Pittsburgh (+17) at No. 13 Penn State (11 a.m., Ch. 7): Under fifth-year coach Pat Narduzzi, who was the architect of some great Michigan State defenses earlier this decade, the Panthers (1-1) are capable of making a typically potent offense sputter. But the Nittany Lions (2-0) have a “D” that’s going to utterly wreck some people. Nits cover thanks to one or more defensive touchdowns.

Arizona State (+14) at No. 18 Michigan State (3 p.m., Fox-32): The Spartans (2-0) still can’t believe they gagged away a 10-point fourth-quarter lead in last year’s 16-13 loss in Tempe. Revenge? Yeah, probably. The Sun Devils (2-0) can really crank up some high-level defense, but their offense has albatross potential. Sparty by 10.

TCU (-2½) at Purdue (6:30 p.m., BTN): Horned Frogs coach Gary Patterson said this week that his team is used to dealing with athletes like Boilermakers receiver/superhero Rondale Moore. Um, that’s a no, Coach. TCU (1-0) has a top secondary and maybe the Big 12’s best all-around defense, but the Boilers (1-1) have one-of-a-kind Moore. Upset.

My favorite favorite: Washington (-21) vs. Hawaii (6:30 p.m., Pac-12 Network): The Huskies (1-1) will be dying to play again after a fluky loss to Cal. The Rainbow Warriors have clutch home wins over Arizona and Oregon State, but they’re not in Kansas anymore.

My favorite underdog: Kentucky (+8½) vs. No. 9 Florida (6 p.m., ESPN): The Wildcats controlled last year’s big win over the Gators with their running game. They’ll just have to do it again, especially after a season-ending injury to QB Terry Wilson. Which team gets to 3-0? UK uglies it up in an upset.

Last week: 6-4 straight-up, 6-4 vs. the spread.

Season to date: 15-5 straight-up, 13-7 vs. the spread.

THE LOCALS

EASTERN MICHIGAN AT ILLINOIS

The facts: 11 a.m., BTN, 890-AM.

The records: EMU 1-1, Illinois 2-0.

The storyline: Illini quarterback Brandon Peters has thrown seven touchdown passes already. If that doesn’t sound like a big deal, consider that the team leaders in that department in 2017 (Jeff George Jr.) and 2018 (A.J. Bush) combined for a whopping 13. Defensively, the Illini have impressed — thanks in large part to USC transfer Oluwole Betiku Jr. — with 11 sacks and 24 tackles for loss. The Eagles are a step up in competition, though. They’ve gone bowling in two of the last three seasons, which is a lot more than Illinois can say for itself.

The line: Illini by 7.

Greenberg’s pick: Illinois, 34-24.

NEW MEXICO AT NO. 7 NOTRE DAME

The facts: 1:30 p.m., Ch. 5, 1000-AM.

The records: New Mexico 1-0, Notre Dame 1-0.

The storyline:It took Bob Davie five seasons to win 35 games as Notre Dame’s coach. His 2001 firing was no surprise. His next victory, whenever it comes, will be his 35^th with the Lobos. Have we mentioned this is Davie’s eighth season at the school? There simply is no scenario in which the vastly overmatched Lobos give the Irish a game.

The line: Irish by 35.

Greenberg’s pick: Notre Dame, 45-14.

UNLV AT NORTHWESTERN

The facts: 2:30 p.m., BTN, 720-AM.

The records: UNLV 1-1, Northwestern 0-1.

The story line:It’s Hunter Johnson’s job from here on out, and UNLV is the perfect opponent for a quarterback who could use a fun three hours. The Rebels have struggled in recent years to be competitive in the Mountain West, with their defense routinely reduced to a welcome mat. A fun three hours for Johnson? A fun three hours for everyone in purple.

The line: Wildcats by 18½.

Greenberg’s pick: Northwestern, 38-10.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS AT NEBRASKA

The facts: 7 p.m., FS1, 560-AM.

The records: NIU 1-1, Nebraska 1-1.

The storyline:There are a bunch of Huskies who can vividly recall the feeling of walking off the field in Lincoln after a 21-17 victory in 2017. You can get there are Huskers who still feel the hurt, too. If it comes down to talent, the Huskies won’t have much of a shot to pull off another upset. But if it comes down to toughness, well, Nebraska has been lacking in that department for a while now.

The line: Huskers by 14.

Greenberg’s pick: Nebraska, 24-20.