The Iowa-Iowa State rivalry comes to a climax this weekend with the men's basketball game on Saturday and the wrestling meet on Sunday. I'll provide a few of my thoughts on the upcoming weekend and what I expect to see.

Both the Iowa and Iowa State basketball teams are coming from different directions as we head into this game. Iowa State suffered an embarrassing 35-point loss at Drake. Drake has a good ballclub, but Iowa State should never lose to Drake by that margin. Iowa is coming off its best performance of the year with a 7-point win at Northern Iowa. It is highly unlikely that Iowa will shoot the ball as well as they did Wednesday night, but if they can own the boards like they did against Eric Coleman and UNI they should be competitive. If Tony Freeman can play at least 20 solid minutes again, and with the return of Jeff Peterson, I think Iowa's guards will be an even bigger force against ISU's struggling guards. The key for Iowa is limiting turnovers. Having Freeman and Peterson back gives Iowa two of its best ball handlers. They will also allow Justin Johnson to get open for shots because he wont have to run the point. I expect Iowa to play well, but Iowa State isn't just going to step aside. I expect the Cyclones to come out ready to play. Practice for them probably wasn't very fun this week and never count our Hilton Magic. I think this will be a close game with Iowa State coming out on top.

For the first time in as long as I can remember, this weekend's Iowa-Iowa State wrestling meet is garnering more attention than the basketball game. The top-ranked Cyclones are coming off an impressive win at formerly top-ranked Minnesota. Cael Sanderson has lead a quick turnaround of the Cyclone program. Iowa has yet to be tested due to only 4 dominant dual wins at the St. Edward Duals two weeks ago. Coach Tom Brands has the Hawkeyes on the way back and this is one of the most anticipated meets of the year. I will give my weight-by-weight break down of what I expect to see.

(Iowa vs. ISU)
125-#5 Charlie Falck (7-0) vs. Mark Kist (7-2)
This one goes to Charlie Falck major decision

133-#20 Joe Slaton (9-0) vs. #4 Nick Fanthorpe (10-0)
This one is interesting. My heart would like to pick Slaton (proud Kennedy alum), but a close one will go Nick Fanthorpe.

141-Dan LeClere (6-3) vs. #12 Nick Gallick (7-3)
LeClere went 2-2 at St. Edwards so it will be interesting to see how he wrestles. Alex Tsirtsis probably wont wrestle but you never know. Decision to Gallick.

149-#5 Brent Metcalf (7-1) vs. #13 Mitch Mueller (9-2)
Metcalf lost for the first time in years (I think) at St. Edwards. This one will be close and it might depend some on how the meet is going, but Metcalf wins a close one.

157-#15 Ryan Morningstar (4-1) vs. #4 Cyler Sanderson (10-0)
Sanderson is coming off an upset of C.P. Schlatter in a match were he wrestled really well. Morningstar had one of his best matchs of the year in last year's Iowa-ISU dual with an upset of #1 Trent Paulson. Sanderson in a close one.

165-Jake Kerr (4-2) vs. #6 Jon Reader (11-0)
Top-ranked Mark Perry wont wrestled due to NCAA suspension after being DQ'd in the St. Edward's duals. Jake Kerr had beat Reader once before, but I look for a Reader win with possible bonus points.

174-#17 Jay Borschel (7-2) vs. Aron Scott (2-2)
Joy Borshcel major decision

184-Phil Keddy (8-0) or Chad Beatty (5-3) vs. #1 Jake Varner (7-0)
Who wrestles here for Iowa might depend on how the meet is going. Varner is a very dangerous wrestler and a very good pinner. I think Phil Keddy wrestles to not give up the pin. Varner gets a decision.

197-Phil Keddy (8-0) or Rick Loera (5-3) vs. #16 David Bertalino (8-1)
Bertalino gets a decision

Hwt-#7 Matt Fields (8-0) vs. #4 David Zabriskie (10-0)
This should be a great match. If they start at 125, this match could decide the whole meet which would be very exciting. Matt Fields has really improved over last year and seems to be injury-free. Zabriskie had a nice win at Minnesota. It will be cose, but I think Fields comes over the hump and gets a huge win in turning around his career.

So that brings us to a final score of 18-14 Iowa State. It's gonna be a hell of a meet folks.

A lot people (especially Cyclones) have been looking forward to this one since last year's dual meet in Iowa City. I would really like this to become a home-and-home every year. Wrestling lives in Iowa and it needs to be showcased to the nation. The atmosphere in Iowa City last year was awesome and I would expect the same at Hilton on Sunday. I'll provide a post-game and meet analysis (or something like that) on Sunday or Monday. And perhaps my take on the Heisman race tomorrow.