PHOENIX — For Iowa State safety David Sims, the formula for bowl success isn’t that complex.

“If we play good defense, we’ll have a shot at the win,” Sims said. “It’s not complicated.”

But executing it may be.

The Cyclones’ defense has been hit or miss all season, and they will need it to be on if ISU is to pick up its first bowl win since 2004 against Minnesota on Dec. 31 in the Insight Bowl (5 p.m., WOI).

“We’ve learned a lot about them, and we have to bring it all together if we are going to win,” Sims said.

The Golden Gophers (6-6) aren’t the most potent offense. They haven’t scored an offensive touchdown in two games and they don’t have their best playmaker, wide receiver Eric Decker. He underwent season ending surgery to fix a torn ligament in his left leg in November.

Even though they average only 21.6 points, linebacker Jesse Smith still calls them dangerous. The Golden Gophers run a balanced offense -- they ran it only 48 more times than they threw it -- and try to use the ground game to set up the pass.

“They try to bait you by running the ball, running the ball and then they go play action,” Smith said. “They like to go play action on first down. They get linebackers sucked up in the run and they throw it right over the top.”

The Golden Gophers also like to use quarterbacks Adam Weber and MarQueis Gray at the same time.

Weber starts and has thrown for 2,321 yards to go with 12 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Gray was one of the most coveted quarterbacks in the 2008 class and the Golden Gophers line the freshman up all over the field.

He primarily runs the ball, having gained 231 yards on the ground. But he’s also been a threat in the receiving game, catching four passes for 21 yards, and has thrown 13 times as well.

The Cyclones (6-6) spent plenty of time preparing for the two-quarterback sets this week and ISU coach Paul Rhoads believes simplicity is the easiest way to defend it.

“When you are facing something like that, it’s not about tricks and gimmicks,” Rhoads said. “It’s just about being sound and making sure every gap is covered and every player’s up-field shoulder is covered as well.”

“When they have two quarterbacks who can run and throw really well, you got to be in the right gap at the right time,” Smith said. “Just a little bit of a hole and they can slip through it.”

Minnesota will also line Gray up in a Wildcat formation, but defensive tackle Nate Frere doesn’t think the latest craze in college football will be a problem.

“It’s nothing we haven’t seen before,” defensive tackle Nate Frere said. “It’s something we’ve prepared for.”

And with nearly a month to get ready for the Golden Gophers, the Cyclones are confident they’ll be able to handle whatever Minnesota throws at them.

“We got a scheme,” Smith said. “If we do things right, you stop them.”

Bobby La Gesse can be reached at (515) 663-6929 or rlagesse@amestrib.com