The Sweep *Hates* Week Zero

Photo by Flickr user throwra_uk. Licensed through Creative Commons.

Ah, the joys of Week Zero, that miraculous nonweek of the schedule that increasingly holds big-name teams clashing outside the country. Because nothing says "welcome back, America's favorite sport" like playing the first meaningful game overseas. There are a few minor stateside games involving schools that you weren't even sure played college football, but that's not what you're here for (is it? This is a new site, so I dunno), so let's get on with it.

Iowa State vs. Kansas State (11 am Central, Saturday, Eternally Showing Pat McAfee Network): This, specifically, is why I hate Week Zero, particularly when it comes wrapped in a gimmick like "let's play the game in Dublin." I mean, I love the thought of ISU fans being completely cut off from Natty Light, thus being forced to drink actual beer rather than a lightly-stained fluid that answers the question "is it possible for water to somehow lose its flavor?" That's just low-hanging comedy, though. There is an actual reason to hate this game, and this is it:

These two teams figure to be pretty good this season. K-State under Chris Klieman has turned into a consistent nine-win team. Meanwhile Matt Campbell has become something of the anti-Ferentz: he always has good quarterbacking but can never quite get over the hump. 

Both these teams have good reason to believe they can win this game. One of these teams is going to lose, and they're likely to spend the rest of the season believing that the universe did them dirty. At the end of the season it could even be the difference between a New Year's Day bowl ("Alexa, does anybody actually care about the New Year's bowls any more?" "Well, apparently you do.") and a bowl game in the early post-Christmas period that is named after a small regional restaurant chain, against a team that is on its third conference in eight years. (You may deduce from this that I don't believe either of these teams will make the playoff. That would be correct.)

The other nightmare scenario is that the winner gets massively overhyped (because, after all, these are two teams that figure to be pretty good this season) only for the loser to wind up going 6-6, making all the petals fall of this precious August flower of a publicity stunt conference game.

It will be a fun experience for the fans regardless. I grew up in Iowa and even though I'm a Hawkeye fan I have plenty of good friends who are Cyclone fans. Some are even going to the game. I just can't help but think that this game would have worked just as well at Arrowhead.

Are you actually going to talk about the game? -Ed.

Sorry, forgot I have a new editor. Everyone is calling this one close and I think that's accurate. In the end I think Iowa State's explosive-potential offense will not be enough to counteract K-State's ability to dominate on both lines, so the Wildcats will win. Wheat Farmers 26, Pig Farmers 23.