Interesting read from Athlons 2018 West Predictions

[Hawkeyeinsoutherncalifornia]

Iowa, Northwestern or Purdue: Which Team is Wisconsin's Biggest Threat?

Considering none of those three teams ranked inside of Athlon's top 25 for 2018, it's hard to call any a threat to win the division. But if a team could surprise and win the West, it's likely to be Iowa. The Hawkeyes catch the Badgers in Iowa City and won't have to play Ohio State, Michigan or Michigan State in crossover play. Quarterback Nate Stanley returns after throwing 26 touchdowns last fall, and Iowa's defensive line is among the best in the conference. Purdue gets the nod over Northwestern for third in Athlon's projected standings. That's largely due to the uncertainty surrounding quarterback Clayton Thorson for the Wildcats. Thorson suffered a significant knee injury against Kentucky in the Music City Bowl, putting his status in question for the opener. The first game of the year is critical for Northwestern. Purdue hosts the Wildcats on Aug. 30, in a matchup that could decide who finishes behind Iowa in the West. The Boilermakers have to rebuild a defense that limited opponents to just 20.5 points a game last fall. However, coach Jeff Brohm's offense should take a step forward behind quarterbacks David Blough and Elijah Sindelar, along with a solid stable of running backs.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

Iowa, Northwestern or Purdue: Which Team is Wisconsin's Biggest Threat?

Considering none of those three teams ranked inside of Athlon's top 25 for 2018, it's hard to call any a threat to win the division. But if a team could surprise and win the West, it's likely to be Iowa. The Hawkeyes catch the Badgers in Iowa City and won't have to play Ohio State, Michigan or Michigan State in crossover play. Quarterback Nate Stanley returns after throwing 26 touchdowns last fall, and Iowa's defensive line is among the best in the conference. Purdue gets the nod over Northwestern for third in Athlon's projected standings. That's largely due to the uncertainty surrounding quarterback Clayton Thorson for the Wildcats. Thorson suffered a significant knee injury against Kentucky in the Music City Bowl, putting his status in question for the opener. The first game of the year is critical for Northwestern. Purdue hosts the Wildcats on Aug. 30, in a matchup that could decide who finishes behind Iowa in the West. The Boilermakers have to rebuild a defense that limited opponents to just 20.5 points a game last fall. However, coach Jeff Brohm's offense should take a step forward behind quarterbacks David Blough and Elijah Sindelar, along with a solid stable of running backs.

Ahh there ya go. Feed those try hards bulletin board material to try and finish ahead of Iowa.

No f***ing thanks.

 

[Melrose_Place31]

I will be in IC this year for what I hope is a night game as well as a thrashing of Wisconsin. Everyone is talking about how good Alex Hornibrook is....I beg to differ. He was good down the stretch last season, but here's a look at Hornibrooks 2nd season as a start and Stanley's first. I think Wisconsin missed out on recruiting him by getting in too late, and glad he's ours. Not to say Stanley won't take a step backwards under Ferentz, because QBs tend to, but the sky is the limit for this kid.

Hornibrook (year 2):

CMP ATT YDS CMP% YPA LNG TD INT SACK RAT ADJ QBR
175 284 2386 61.6 8.40 61 21 15 20 146.0 74.0

Stanley (year 1):

CMP ATT YDS CMP% YPA LNG TD INT SACK RAT ADJ QBR
188 336 2338 56.0 9.96 70 26 6 22 135.4 55.9

 

[Melrose_Place31]

I will be in IC this year for what I hope is a night game as well as a thrashing of Wisconsin. Everyone is talking about how good Alex Hornibrook is....I beg to differ. He was good down the stretch last season, but here's a look at Hornibrooks 2nd season as a start and Stanley's first. I think Wisconsin missed out on recruiting him by getting in too late, and glad he's ours. Not to say Stanley won't take a step backwards under Ferentz, because QBs tend to, but the sky is the limit for this kid.

Hornibrook (year 2):

CMP ATT YDS CMP% YPA LNG TD INT SACK RAT ADJ QBR
175 284 2386 61.6 8.40 61 21 15 20 146.0 74.0

Stanley (year 1):

CMP ATT YDS CMP% YPA LNG TD INT SACK RAT ADJ QBR
188 336 2338 56.0 9.96 70 26 6 22 135.4 55.9

Well those stats were aligned when I posted it, but you can figure it out.

 

[HawkIDrummer]

Strange the Purdue and NWestern meet before anybody else in the conference even plays a non-con game. WTH?

 

[BondHawk]

Strange the Purdue and NWestern meet before anybody else in the conference even plays a non-con game. WTH?

Teams that play in high school football stadiums tend to play on nights when high school football teams do. August 30th is a Thursday. Bring a canned good or a bar of soap for the locker room and you get in free.

 

[paladinhawk]

If Stanley is able to make reads / decisions quickly against Wisconsin I like Iowa's chances. He seemed to be really rattled last year. Hopefully playing at home will be a big help.

 

[KuwaitHawk]

If Stanley is able to make reads / decisions quickly against Wisconsin I like Iowa's chances. He seemed to be really rattled last year. Hopefully playing at home will be a big help.

Plus coming off the big win the weekend before..................

 

[Birky]

Teams that play in high school football stadiums tend to play on nights when high school football teams do. August 30th is a Thursday. Bring a canned good or a bar of soap for the locker room and you get in free.

That is going to start happening with a little more regularity in the conference. Iowa has, or did have a season opener scheduled against Rutgers(?) sometime in the next few years. Maybe it was changed?

Edit: 2019 second game is against Rutgers.

 

[BondHawk]

That is going to start happening with a little more regularity in the conference. Iowa has, or did have a season opener scheduled against Rutgers(?) sometime in the next few years. Maybe it was changed?

Correct, but it is still on a Saturday and in the month of September.

 

[mikesright]

If Stanley is able to make reads / decisions quickly against Wisconsin I like Iowa's chances. He seemed to be really rattled last year. Hopefully playing at home will be a big help.

If you watched the game closely, Stanley played ok versus Wisconsin last year. Our WR’s dropped something like 10 passes and our running game never got going. He’ll be just fine. We do need the players around him to step it up considerably.

 

[DogBoyRy]

I will be in IC this year for what I hope is a night game as well as a thrashing of Wisconsin. Everyone is talking about how good Alex Hornibrook is....I beg to differ. He was good down the stretch last season, but here's a look at Hornibrooks 2nd season as a start and Stanley's first. I think Wisconsin missed out on recruiting him by getting in too late, and glad he's ours. Not to say Stanley won't take a step backwards under Ferentz, because QBs tend to, but the sky is the limit for this kid.

Hornibrook (year 2):

CMP ATT YDS CMP% YPA LNG TD INT SACK RAT ADJ QBR
175 284 2386 61.6 8.40 61 21 15 20 146.0 74.0

Stanley (year 1):

CMP ATT YDS CMP% YPA LNG TD INT SACK RAT ADJ QBR
188 336 2338 56.0 9.96 70 26 6 22 135.4 55.9

He was average many games, horrible in the big 10 championship game, then really good in the bowl game. So be’ll play like tom brady against us.

 

[Hawk fan in MN]

If you watched the game closely, Stanley played ok versus Wisconsin last year. Our WR’s dropped something like 10 passes and our running game never got going. He’ll be just fine. We do need the players around him to step it up considerably.

We also could not pick up a blitz last year against Wisconsin if I remember right. Stanley didn't have much time to throw

 

[HawkIDrummer]

Correct, but it is still on a Saturday and in the month of September.

Do not like...especially under Kirk's regime. His teams are frequently not ready to go on opening day... likes to use the non-cons as tune up games.

 

[Birky]

Do not like...especially under Kirk's regime. His teams are frequently not ready to go on opening day... likes to use the non-cons as tune up games.

Well, it will be an on-con, so maybe it will change his tune.

 

[iahawkeyes17]

Strange the Purdue and NWestern meet before anybody else in the conference even plays a non-con game. WTH?

New plan going forward with Delaney. Have a conference game in week 1, 2 and 3 unlike previous years. SEC has done it and been successful as other conferences are doing more of too. Last year had OSU and Indiana open up season on Thursday night week 1. As another poster said we play Rutgers in week 2 in 19'. 2021 we open the season at home vs Indiana.

 

[HawkIDrummer]

Well, it will be an on-con, so maybe it will change his tune.

New-Kirk?

 

[EpenesaEpenesa]

I will be in IC this year for what I hope is a night game as well as a thrashing of Wisconsin. Everyone is talking about how good Alex Hornibrook is....I beg to differ. He was good down the stretch last season, but here's a look at Hornibrooks 2nd season as a start and Stanley's first. I think Wisconsin missed out on recruiting him by getting in too late, and glad he's ours. Not to say Stanley won't take a step backwards under Ferentz, because QBs tend to, but the sky is the limit for this kid.

Hornibrook (year 2):

CMP ATT YDS CMP% YPA LNG TD INT SACK RAT ADJ QBR
175 284 2386 61.6 8.40 61 21 15 20 146.0 74.0

Stanley (year 1):

CMP ATT YDS CMP% YPA LNG TD INT SACK RAT ADJ QBR
188 336 2338 56.0 9.96 70 26 6 22 135.4 55.9

Hornibrook reminds me of Stanzi. Short memory, tough kids that can look unbelievable one minute and then just make some of the most god awful throws and decisions you’ve ever seen a quarter later. Both a part of teams that won a lot of games

 

[kceasthawk]

New-Kirk?

Well done, nothing wrong with a Hogan's hero's reference.......

 

[HawkIDrummer]

Well done, nothing wrong with a Hogan's hero's reference.......

 

[DaCDiggity]

Strange the Purdue and NWestern meet before anybody else in the conference even plays a non-con game. WTH?

Last year I think Indiana and osu opened the season

 

[Tim Dodge Rules]

The Wisc game will definitely be a night game, right?
I mean, it has to be.
If it isn't, I'm gonna be upset.

 

[scotthawk1964]

Well those stats were aligned when I posted it, but you can figure it out.

Good, I thought I had drank to much cough syrup and wasn't seeing it straight.

 

[kceasthawk]

I see NOTHINGGGGGGG.........

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

The Wisc game will definitely be a night game, right?
I mean, it has to be.
If it isn't, I'm gonna be upset.

2:30 it is then....

 

[pink shizzle]

Bring a canned good or a bar of soap for the locker room and you get in free.

I'm not sure why I found this so funny, but I did. Thank you.

 

[kceasthawk]

I'm not sure why I found this so funny, but I did. Thank you.

Yea, if it was Penn State, you'd want to be careful with that bar of soap.....