1) This season going in we had legitimate concerns with our offense having really only Akrum and Vandenburg returning and a seasoned offensive line .
Our defense returned and was expected to be very good.
I think for the most part that has been what we have seen. Our offense has played well in a few games but remains inconsistent. Our defense has done well and in several games has allowed us to be competitive i.e Penn State, Michigan State and today at Northwestern.
2) If you believe the above is true than you realistically should believe that Iowa would win 3 non conference games and 4 Big Ten Games.
Illinois- Win expected because Illini are well just really bad.
Purdue- Is improved but still not a good football team and we play them at Iowa
Minnesota- An inexperienced young team with a new coach and several question marks and we play them at home.
You would be correct to assume Penn State, Ohio State and away at Wisconsin would be tough games to win.
That leaves Michigan State, Northwestern and Nebraska on the road . I think that one win against these three teams would of been a reasonable expectation .
So 7-5 Right?
Unfortunately we now not only have to win against Minnesota and Purdue which I still believe we will do but we have to win either against Ohio State or in the road against Wisconsin or Nebraska to meet that minimum expectation .
I think anything less than 7-5 we should consider unacceptable for this year.
The Northwestern game today was a huge loss... an unacceptable loss.
Our defense returned and was expected to be very good.
I think for the most part that has been what we have seen. Our offense has played well in a few games but remains inconsistent. Our defense has done well and in several games has allowed us to be competitive i.e Penn State, Michigan State and today at Northwestern.
2) If you believe the above is true than you realistically should believe that Iowa would win 3 non conference games and 4 Big Ten Games.
Illinois- Win expected because Illini are well just really bad.
Purdue- Is improved but still not a good football team and we play them at Iowa
Minnesota- An inexperienced young team with a new coach and several question marks and we play them at home.
You would be correct to assume Penn State, Ohio State and away at Wisconsin would be tough games to win.
That leaves Michigan State, Northwestern and Nebraska on the road . I think that one win against these three teams would of been a reasonable expectation .
So 7-5 Right?
Unfortunately we now not only have to win against Minnesota and Purdue which I still believe we will do but we have to win either against Ohio State or in the road against Wisconsin or Nebraska to meet that minimum expectation .
I think anything less than 7-5 we should consider unacceptable for this year.
The Northwestern game today was a huge loss... an unacceptable loss.