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Tulsa-Iowa St Capsule

Sports

August 31st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Tulsa (8-5 in 2011) at Iowa State (6-7 in 2011), 2:32 p.m. (Fox Sports Net)

Line: Tulsa by 1½

Series Record: Iowa State leads 1-0

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Tulsa is one of just two teams from non-BCS leagues the Cyclones will face this season, so they’ll be in rough shape if they lose. The Golden Hurricane could gain a measure of respect after losing to Big 12 schools Oklahoma and Oklahoma State in 2011.

KEY MATCHUP

Iowa State QB Steele Jantz vs. Tulsa’s secondary. Jantz reclaimed the starting job in the offseason, but he completed just 53.3 percent of his passes in 2011. The Cyclones will be in trouble if Jantz can’t complete more than half his passes against Tulsa.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Iowa State: RB James White. The junior has a chance to be a breakout star in the Big 12 this season. He’ll get plenty of touches on Saturday as the Cyclones ease Jantz back into the starting role.

Tulsa: H-Back Willie Carter. Tulsa wants to get the ball in Carter’s hands as much as possible after he scored nine touchdowns in 2011.

FACTS & FIGURES

Iowa State beat Tulsa 27-6 at Skelly Field in 1961 in the only other meeting between the schools. The Cyclones team captain was John Cooper, who later went on to coach Ohio State…Tulsa went 7-1 in Conference USA last season and 1-4 outside of the league…Iowa State’s season-ticket base over just over 38,000 is the largest in school history.