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FACTS & STATS: Faurot Field (68,349) -- Columbia, Missouri. Television: Local. Home Record: Iowa State 2-1, Missouri 2-0. Away Record: Iowa State 1-1, Missouri 0-3. Neutral Record: Iowa State 0-0, Missouri 0-0. Conference Record: Iowa State 0-2, Missouri 0-2. Series Record: Missouri leads, 60-34-9.

GAME NOTES: The Iowa State Cyclones will whip into Columbia this weekend for a Big 12 matchup with the Missouri Tigers, who are still searching for a conference win after dropping the last two games.

Iowa State is coming off a 49-26 loss to No.20 Baylor, the second straight week the Cyclones fell to a ranked opponent in the Big 12 (Texas). Iowa State has won in dramatic fashion in 2011, as it has trailed in the fourth quarter in all three of its wins.

All three of Missouri's losses have come against ranked teams this season, including last weekend's 24-17 setback against Kansas State in Manhattan. Missouri has played one of the toughest schedules in the country to date, and the challenge of the Big 12 schedule will be daunting heading into the back- end of October and into November. Missouri has won nine straight games at Faurot Field, which stands as the third longest streak in school history.

Missouri leads the all-time series with Iowa State, 60-34-9, including a 14-0 win last season in Ames.

Steele Jantz leads the Iowa State offense, passing for over 1,100 yards this season with 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions through five games. Jantz has developed many contributors in the passing game, completing passes to 11 different receivers so far in 2011. His most reliable target has been Darius Reynolds, who has caught 26 balls (six touchdowns), and is averaging 97.6 yards per game. Reynolds had a break-out game against Baylor, hauling in seven catches for 178 yards and two touchdowns. The running game has proven that Iowa State is far from a one-dimensional offense, averaging 149.2 yards per game. James White has been a durable player out of the Cyclones' backfield, averaging 64.6 yards per game, and ran for a season-best 148 yards and one score against Baylor last weekend.

The Iowa State defense has struggled to stop the run so far in 2011, ranking 104th nationally with 202 yards allowed per game. The Cyclones are looking to stop the bleeding after also giving up 37 and 49 points to Texas and Baylor, respectively, in the past two weeks. The Cyclones allow 419.2 yards and 33.2 points per game, and are nearly dead-last in turnover ratio (-1.60), with only seven takeaways through five games. Jake Knott is eighth in the country in tackles per game (11.8), while linebacker A.J. Klein has returned two interceptions for touchdowns this season.

Missouri fell into an early 10-0 hole in the first quarter against Kansas State last weekend, which included an interception thrown by quarterback James Franklin on the first play of the game, and that set up Kansas State's first touchdown. Franklin settled in after that, throwing for 214 yards, and hasn't made many mistakes to begin the season. His touchdown to interception ratio 7-2, and not only has he passed for 1,199 yards, but he has also run for 306 and five touchdowns. Missouri's offense is a dangerous group, ranking 17th nationally in total offense with 478.8 yards per game, and 14th in rushing with 225 yards per contest. Henry Josey is 11th in the country in rushing at the moment, putting up 117.6 yards per game with five touchdowns this season. Six different players have caught touchdown passes for the Tigers, and T.J. Moe leads the team with 26 catches for an average of 63.4 yards per game. The unit isn't without its warts however; the Tigers have just 11 touchdowns in 20 red zone trips, and are converting just 29 percent of its third downs (20- of-68).

The Tigers' defense held Kansas State to a modest 286 yards of total offense, though the unit was on the field for over 38 minutes as the Wildcats dominated the time of possession with the run. Missouri gave up nearly 600 yards of total offense to Oklahoma two weeks ago in a 38-28 loss, but still held the Sooners to just 144 yards rushing on 39 carries. The Missouri run defense is 25th nationally, giving up 104.4 yards per game, and 30th in total defense with 336.8 allowed per game. Missouri gets 2.2 sacks per game and 7.6 tackles for loss, which has helped in the turnover margin (.60). Opponents are converting just 33 percent of third downs (23-of-70).

Iowa State owns the better record, and its offense showed what it was capable of with the early season win over Iowa. But the last two weeks have proven that the Cyclones are not making strides defensively against the gifted offenses of the Big 12. Missouri must overcome a slow start and not repeat what happened last week against Kansas State. This team has underachieved despite having a tough slate through five games.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Missouri 42, Iowa State 27