Do Not Sleep on this Hawkeye team..........

[IowaNiceHawk]

Still could be a very, very GOOD year, just need some help from another
BIG10 team.

The Irrational Hawk one Twitter layed this out:

Irrational Hawkeye‏@IrrationalHawk




Iowa team stat time!
National ranks for the Hawks. GOOD! Total Defense: #5 Scoring Defense: #6 Team Sacks: #12 YUCK! Total Offense: #82 Scoring Offense: #95

 

[UncleChesterton]

I just don’t see where the Wisconsin losses- sufficient to generate a 2 game swing- are coming from. This is a team with 5 losses in the last 32 games, as follows:

BYU
OSU- 2 losses including CCG
Michigan
PSU- in CCG

2 of these losses were in Conference title games, although they do play Michigan and PSU this year while we only play PSU but do have Maryland to deal with.

Wisconsin isn’t likely to lose to Rutgers, Illinois, Purdue or Mn, either.

 

[justinjdry]

I just don’t see where the Wisconsin losses- sufficient to generate a 2 game swing- are coming from. This is a team with 5 losses in the last 32 games, as follows:

BYU
OSU- 2 losses including CCG
Michigan
PSU- in CCG

2 of these losses were in Conference title games, although they do play Michigan and PSU this year while we only play PSU but do have Maryland to deal with.

Wisconsin isn’t likely to lose to Rutgers, Illinois, Purdue or Mn, either.

Never say never.

 

[grayhair81]

I am not looking at this season in terms of them winning the west. I think that is highly unlikely barring significant injuries to the Badgers. I hope that doesn't happen, btw. I am hoping to see these young starters continue to grow. I have not been this excited about the potential of Iowa football since 2009. That is what makes Saturday sting so badly. That was the first time since, well, 2010 I thought the Hawks were as good, and even possibly better, than Wisconsin. They just have to find a way to play an entire game and finish things out. I have said 9-3 since summer. I still think that or 10-2 are very possible. Either of those is a big step in the right direction. My biggest wish is to seem them perform well against a top-15 team in a bowl game. Go Hawks.

 

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

Wisconsin is more than capable of losing to any or all of the following teams on the road this season: PSU, Michigan, Northwestern, Purdue. The Badgers could win all those games, but anyone who thinks they definitely will is delusional. Personally, I think Wisconsin loses at least to PSU and Michigan. We see "impossible" upsets every Saturday. Army took Oklahoma to OT last Saturday, for example, and Old Dominion...which didn't even have a football team ten years ago...scored 49 points in beating #13 Virginia Tech...with a backup QB.

So I'm not buying "the season is over" line. Not by a long shot.

 

[HawkSTL]

I think at Michigan and PSU are more likely than not losses for Wisconsin. I also think Wisconsin could lose against Purdue or Northwestern. This Wisconsin team has to play clean to win because its defense is not elite (prior year's teams had more margin for error). A blown coverage or two or untimely turnovers against a team like NW or Purdue could be a loss.

If Iowa is 11-1 my bet is they are in Indy. If Iowa is 10-2 my bet is they are in a New Years 6 bowl or the Citrus bowl with an outside shot at Indy. There is plenty to play for.

 

[Iowahawkeyes1993]

I’m saying 8-4

 

[Hawkeyeinsoutherncalifornia]

Seriously.. completely delusional... 8-0 for 2 straight seasons has only been done by Ohio State in recent past..

 

[Hawkeyeinsoutherncalifornia]

I say 11-1 or 10-2 if Iowa goes 10-2 they could possibly be back in Indy and if they can upset PSU (that’s going to be extremely difficult) they will be back in Indy this year and I think Iowa ends up with a better overall record than Wisconsin does this year

 

[Hawkfan5220]

I'm guessing 9-3, but hoping for 10-2.

 

[Douglas C. Neidermeyer]

Nebraska just might get their "S" together and make a statement in the Oct 6 game at Madison.



Oh, well. I tried.

 

[El Simbolo]

Besides the obvious Mich & PSU games, I think PU is next mostly like to beat Wisconsin (though it’s still technically unlikely)

 

[Suterman]

WIsconsin is not going to fall apart and lose 3 or 4 games in the B1G. Sorry, not buying it. I do think they COULD lose 2 which means we have to run the table. I hope we do but I don't think we will. I'm sticking with 9-3 and probably the Holiday Bowl which would be a pretty good season.

 

[H4wkfan4life]

If Iowa is 11-1 my bet is they are in Indy. If Iowa is 10-2 my bet is they are in a New Years 6 bowl or the Citrus bowl with an outside shot at Indy. There is plenty to play for.

I think pride is more than enough motivation.....

 

[kcgolfer]

Our defense is not as good as the first three games against pretty weak teams showed. Our pass defense is almost horrible. Hornibrook picked it apart all night. Looks like another 8-4 or 7-5 team to me. Of course, Nebraska would take that right now.

 

[yrunvs]

I need to be informed here. I thought in order to win the Big 10 west you need to have the best record against the other Big 10 west opponents. Where does wins and losses against Big 10 East opponents come in?

 

[dekhawk]

Hawks end up 8-4. That was a huge loss.

 

[Hawkdogwoof]

Worried about our first road game of the year, has been very comfortable surroundings so far. A little scary this weekend. Win this one then the Hawks should be ok heading to PSU.

 

[takai]

The only team I see us losing to at this point is Penn State. I just can't see us losing to Purdue, Minnesota, or even Nebraska. The only other team I'd be wary about is Northwestern who always seems to have our number for some damn reason.

 

[HawkGem11]

Wisconsin is more than capable of losing to any or all of the following teams on the road this season: PSU, Michigan, Northwestern, Purdue. The Badgers could win all those games, but anyone who thinks they definitely will is delusional. Personally, I think Wisconsin loses at least to PSU and Michigan. We see "impossible" upsets every Saturday. Army took Oklahoma to OT last Saturday, for example, and Old Dominion...which didn't even have a football team ten years ago...scored 49 points in beating #13 Virginia Tech...with a backup QB.

WIscy isn't the only team that could lose all their road games the way KF coaches his teams!
So I'm not buying "the season is over" line. Not by a long shot.

 

[Hawks_Rock_12]

Worried about our first road game of the year, has been very comfortable surroundings so far. A little scary this weekend. Win this one then the Hawks should be ok heading to PSU.

Hawks have a bye this weekend.

 

[Hawks4Life86]

Our defense is not as good as the first three games against pretty weak teams showed. Our pass defense is almost horrible. Hornibrook picked it apart all night. Looks like another 8-4 or 7-5 team to me. Of course, Nebraska would take that right now.

He was able to pick it apart since their run game was so successful since their OL is loaded with AA.

 

[El Simbolo]

I need to be informed here. I thought in order to win the Big 10 west you need to have the best record against the other Big 10 west opponents. Where does wins and losses against Big 10 East opponents come in?

Overall big ten record is what matters, so games against East count the same as division games.

 

[VodkaSam]

Wisconsin doesn’t lose to unranked teams (Big Ten or OCC). Never have under Chryst, and they beat a boatload of ranked teams as well. They are 3-0 in bowl games under Chryst. I think Wisconsin only gets stronger through the season.

Saturday night was our West Division Championship game, and we blew it.

 

[BigDelHawk]

WIsconsin is not going to fall apart and lose 3 or 4 games in the B1G. Sorry, not buying it. I do think they COULD lose 2 which means we have to run the table. I hope we do but I don't think we will. I'm sticking with 9-3 and probably the Holiday Bowl which would be a pretty good season.

Would we have to run the table? If we lose to PSU, and Wisconsin loses to MI and PSU, wouldn't the loss to BYU push us into the Championship Game?

 

[hawksby90]

Would we have to run the table? If we lose to PSU, and Wisconsin loses to MI and PSU, wouldn't the loss to BYU push us into the Championship Game?

No, non-conference games don't count towards the Big Ten division champion. We could've lost all 3 non-conference games and still won the Big Ten west if we went undefeated in Big Ten play

 

[Iowahawkeyes1993]

I’d be really happy with this team if they go 9-3 win the bowl game finish 10-3.

 

[hawksby90]

Not sure why so many are writing this season off. Wisconsin this year has looked much more beatable than in previous seasons. Their defense looked confused and out of place against what's been a pedestrian Iowa offense. How exactly do you think the Badger defense will fare against the more explosive offenses of Penn State and Michigan...? Also, I give Hornibrook tons of credit for that last drive, but in the first 3 quarters, he made questionable throws that are picked off by any other team with better corners than us. And as for Iowa, our defensive line consistently pressured Hornibrook and even Taylor against what's considered the best offensive line in the country. Imagine how good they can be against the top teams remaining on our schedule. Not to mention that Stanley's looking to get his confidence back and our 3 headed running attack performed nearly as well as Wisconsin who has a potential Heisman winner in their backfield. Don't sleep on this team...

 

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

Wisconsin doesn’t lose to unranked teams (Big Ten or OCC). Never have under Chryst, and they beat a boatload of ranked teams as well. They are 3-0 in bowl games under Chryst. I think Wisconsin only gets stronger through the season.

Saturday night was our West Division Championship game, and we blew it.

Uh, BYU would beg to differ. And this Wisconsin team is not last year's team and so and so on. I'm willing to let it play out and see what happens. But again, anyone who thinks Wisconsin will win out hasn't been paying attention.

 

[Harbinger273]

I like and think the scenario where we do not win the West, go 9-3, and get our 10th win in a solid bowl game is most plausible. Would love to see a return to the Holiday Bowl like the mid 80's.

 

[Suterman]

I like and think the scenario where we do not win the West, go 9-3, and get our 10th win in a solid bowl game is most plausible. Would love to see a return to the Holiday Bowl like the mid 80's.

I agree that this is the most plausible scenario. While we COULD run the table, I just don't see it. We lost 5 B1G games last year and while I think this is a MUCH better Hawkeye team all in all, I think we will lose 2 more and have a great chance at 10 wins with a bowl victory.

 

[83Hawk]

Not sure why so many are writing this season off. Wisconsin this year has looked much more beatable than in previous seasons. Their defense looked confused and out of place against what's been a pedestrian Iowa offense. How exactly do you think the Badger defense will fare against the more explosive offenses of Penn State and Michigan...? Also, I give Hornibrook tons of credit for that last drive, but in the first 3 quarters, he made questionable throws that are picked off by any other team with better corners than us. And as for Iowa, our defensive line consistently pressured Hornibrook and even Taylor against what's considered the best offensive line in the country. Imagine how good they can be against the top teams remaining on our schedule. Not to mention that Stanley's looking to get his confidence back and our 3 headed running attack performed nearly as well as Wisconsin who has a potential Heisman winner in their backfield. Don't sleep on this team...

Where was all this so-called pressure on Hornibrook??? I didn't see it. Iowa barely pressured him at all on Saturday.

 

[Bearhawk0505]

Lots of young pieces on this team and I would not count them out, but I think next year could be a potentially great year and we could be the favorite in the west. I think we are in for a good run of Iowa football.