Iowa Opens -5 @ Indiana
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Disagree. I think Hawkeyes take care of business in Bloomington and win going away, should cover with a double digit point margin of victory IMO.
"Win going away." You arent Ohio State. The football gods owe IU some breaks and I think they get them this Saturday.
If Iowa can run the ball (i.e. 200 yds+), I have no fear of the Hoosiers. If it's a passing game, I am very concerned.
Indiana has a great home field advantage. The sleepy atmosphere is like a giant pink locker room.
If OP thinks we will lose it is almost a given you should bet on the opposite
Indiana has a better than average offense. So this game scares me because of Iowa’s injuries at LB and CB. Iowa will have to score at least 31 to win this game.
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anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba
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Indiana's the team that should be scared. My goodness, people. Iowa has a defense, AND it has a passing game that will open up the run. Don't worry. Be happy. Iowa will, in fact, play its first clean game of the season on Saturday, unfortunately for Indiana because, when Iowa's offense/special teams stop giving the opposition 14 points a game, it's gonna be a lot easier for the Hawkeyes to blow people away.
Maybe not, but we sure stomped their asses last year. Lol
I'm not saying that Indiana necessarily has the better team, but their recruiting has really caught up with a lot of the Big Ten. They have the 19th youngest team in the country which is exciting because they played OSU close for 3 qtrs and really dont lose anybody after the season. Most of their best players are Freshmen and Sophomores. This is the time to play them. You probably wont want to in a year or two. But this is a big game because its homecoming and it's a chance to get some kind of "name win". IU just flipped a big time RB commit from OSU today and they are probably chomping at the bit to go out and get a big win to really continue the recruiting momentum. I've seen a lot of these games in the past where Indiana would just roll over and let Ferentz dominate with Ferentz ball. That's not going to happen with Tom Allen. He is as good of a motivator as we have ever had here and hes Phil Parker level as the DC. Offenses are pretty even but I think you guys have a better D-line. That's just my opinion.
I respect the optimism, but Indiana’s best recruiting finish the last five years has been the 10th best class in the Big Ten, and this year’s class only has 3 recruits ranked in 24/7’s Composite Top 800 recruits. Allen is going to have to prove that he can develop guys, because that level of talent isn’t going to scare anybody in the Big Ten (outside of maybe Rutgers).
Furthermore, Indiana has been playing ranked teams close for 3 quarters for years now. That is nothing new, and I have seen nothing to suggest that they are all of the sudden going to start finishing those games off.
Scares you? No games should scare anyone.
This is the ultimate toss up game. I do see Iowa winning if they are near full strength.
This is the ultimate toss up game. I do see Iowa winning if they are near full strength.
First Indiana can beat Iowa. Why? Less about your team and more about our style of play and inconsistency in execution. That leaves teams in games that have no business being in a game but also helps us hang with teams at times we should not.
Now, in terms of your optimism on Indiana the reality is if I have heard this song and dance 1000 times. In the East alone you’d be lucky to be the 4th or 5th best program. There’s no way you are out recruiting and out performing OSU, Michigan and PSU. Same is true against MSU & from the East Wisconsin & Nebraska the majority of years. NW football has a lot more to offer than Indiana football. I’m not even tossing Iowa into this which does also. Flipping a single OSU RB is not a big deal when OSU probably has 5 guys as good if not better to choose from. Football requires 2 deep at every single position. A couple of recruiting hits or group of young guys is not enough. You simply do not have the support or program infrastructure for football to sustain much long term. Allen is going to find this reality out.
Basketball is different than football.
The only scary thing is Indiana's due for some lucky breaks. Their football program is cursed, like our BBall program. But every now and again the blind squirrel finds an acorn.
Indiana has a more dangerous O than Minnesota ... but arguably doesn't have a D that is quite that good.
A lot will boil down to player execution and how well each team adjusts to each other.
It's definitely a game that Indiana could win ... but I also like Iowa's chances. Of course, just as others indicate ... Iowa's injuries and personnel shuffling on the D definitely gives me some cause for concern.
A lot will boil down to player execution and how well each team adjusts to each other.
It's definitely a game that Indiana could win ... but I also like Iowa's chances. Of course, just as others indicate ... Iowa's injuries and personnel shuffling on the D definitely gives me some cause for concern.
IA's defense managed to give up 200+ passing yards to a pretty challenged team. It looks like Iowa will be dealing with a lot of injuries as well. We'll see how they do; hopefully you're prescient.
Indiana put up 300 yards on MSU and 400 yards on OSU. Michigan State arguably would have piss-pounded them had they not had 4 turnovers.
Part of my impression is that a big part why the coaches were willing to play 2 TR FR corners versus the Gophers was because they were trying to do their very best to give Hankins and Ojemudia enough opportunity to heal up.
If the Hawks continue to use Hooker as an OLB ... he's now had a whole game playing at the spot. So that at least gives him a bit more experience ... so he'll play better at the spot the next time he's called upon to do so.
The bigger intrigue will be how Phil and Seth work out how they're handling the LB situation. I would guess that Welch gets the nod at the MIKE spot in the first half ... and then Phil will have the option to insert Jones in the game.
I'm not saying that anybody should be scared of Indiana. But when you see them Saturday, you will see a big difference in the size, speed, and depth on our roster. I dont pay a ridiculous amount of attention to recruiting rankings. I look at offer lists. And it's a heck of a difference when your whole roster is full of guys with multiple power 5 offers and not multiple MAC offers. Yeah, flipping (1) 4 star RB from OSU may not be a big deal. But when it's the best recruit you've ever landed(yes it's not signing day), it looks good. That's on top of flipping a 4 star QB from FSU. Flipping 2 LBs from Tennessee. Flipping Larry Tracy from you guys. Landing Beau Robbins. The Freshman class at Indiana is the best I have ever seen here, which is why most of them are in the 2 deep. And most of them are playing well. Stevie Scott. Reese Taylor. Ronnie Walker. Jaylin Williams. Devon Matthews. All of these guys are going to be really good players in the Big Ten. Indiana is never going to pass up OSU or the other 3 big programs in the East. But all you need to do is get 1 or 2 wins a year against those guys and I think they eventually they will. I wont be shocked if this team is ranked next season.
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anon_01irjibf16qqj
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Great statement. I would think we'll win if we rush for 200 yards and pass for over 300 yards. But if we are held under 500 total yards than we could be in trouble.
I’m betting it will be a close game if Iowa wins.
If Indiana wins it could be by 10-17pts. Our injuries on the defensive side of the balls are concerning. Our offense will have to run the ball more and control the clock. If we try and get into a track meet it will end bad for Iowa.
If Indiana wins it could be by 10-17pts. Our injuries on the defensive side of the balls are concerning. Our offense will have to run the ball more and control the clock. If we try and get into a track meet it will end bad for Iowa.
FPI ranks:
Iowa:
Indiana gives me more concern than Minnesota did (given Minnesota was missing some of their top players). Additionally, given the variability in college football, it's tough to get too comfortable with any game. However, the past few weeks it looks like Stanley is getting more comfortable with the weapons at his disposal, and it was encouraging to see Iowa score 48 points on a day when they struggled to run the ball. I see Iowa winning a close game.
Iowa:
- Overall: 19
- Offense: 39
- Defense: 13
- Overall: 57
- Offense: 49
- Defense: 58
Indiana gives me more concern than Minnesota did (given Minnesota was missing some of their top players). Additionally, given the variability in college football, it's tough to get too comfortable with any game. However, the past few weeks it looks like Stanley is getting more comfortable with the weapons at his disposal, and it was encouraging to see Iowa score 48 points on a day when they struggled to run the ball. I see Iowa winning a close game.
I don't think Iowa shoots itself in the foot with turnovers for a third straight game. If they can avoid those sorts of turnovers, they will be victorious.
Good lord man slow the roll. How about your team just go out and become relevant for the first time since Reagan was president before throwing out the "won't want to play them in a year or two" card? At least when Nebraska fan says this, they do have a history in our lifetimes of playing dominant-level football.
You do realize that the rest of the league continues to recruit, develop and improve? Fine and dandy that you are the 19th youngest team. Here are the seniors starting for Iowa:
Offense
Fullback (one of few teams in America who uses a fullback and we never, ever have any difficulty finding a replacement)
LG
Center
Slot WR
Defense
3 guys on the d-line in the 8-man rotation. 5-star AJ Epenesa is playing 1/3 of the snaps behind one of the seniors and still has 4 sacks this year. More 4-star talent is redshirting this year and all of Iowa's best guys in the rotation return.
Senior MLB was starting but he got hurt Saturday, out for a few weeks. The junior behind him is suspended for first half for targeting.
Senior free safety
That's it. There could be a couple of juniors that leave early (most assuredly Fant, the TE will). But the lion's share of Iowa's best players are juniors, sophomores, freshmen. Two true freshmen started at corner against Minnesota due to injuries to the starters (neither of whom is a senior) One of them Brents from Indy, thank you very much. He's very good.
Allen was a good hire and like him as a coach. Indiana should feel good about this week's game. They are at home and they are playing Iowa and not Ohio State. Many a good/talented Iowa team has come into Bloomington and either escaped by the skin of their teeth (2002, 2010, 2015 all come to mind) or lost. The QB is good and he'll have the opportunity to make plays if his line gives him time. But if Indiana wins this weekend, it would be the first time they beat anyone with a pulse this year. 10 point win over FIU (99 Sagarin), 7 point win over Rutgers (153, my god are they bad), 4-point win over Virginia at home (58, nice win) and Ball State (118) don't scream of a team ready to take the next step. Iowa's schedule strength so far hasn't been a killer, but has been decent (26), while Indiana's strength of schedule is 53 even with Ohio State and Michigan State already played. Iowa already has a double-digit win over Iowa State, who is better than any Indiana win, and a 17-point win at Minnesota, which is right behind Indiana in Sagarin at 60.
Can I know ahead of time if Jackson will block anyone this week, and also if Nate plans on throwing to--not "in to"--coverage again?
Indiana would seem to have a better QB than Minny which means our 12-year-old corners will get abused again. Yes, they ended up with INT's in crucial moments, but let's be honest; someone throwing better balls beats us last game.
Indiana would seem to have a better QB than Minny which means our 12-year-old corners will get abused again. Yes, they ended up with INT's in crucial moments, but let's be honest; someone throwing better balls beats us last game.
I know Iowa has the better team and program. I'm not delusional. I also dont think Indiana is the #57 team in FPI. That's pretty low. I would have them more in the 40s but that might be my bias talking.
You don't think we can eek out 16 pts against a defense that is statistically worse than Minnesota? I could see a let down, and potentially loss, but that seems pretty pessimistic.
Indiana's short passing game has given Iowa fits in past years, and with the injuries, etc. in our back 7 this could become a real problem for us. Quick routes will decrease the impact of our pass rush too. I would expect we'll stop the run.
This will be a close game and imo our offensive line needs to show up for us to get the W. We don't have game breakers at runningback. They need some consistent holes to be effective. I think we get a W, but it's far from a given. As always turnovers and giving up big chunk plays can swing any game.
This will be a close game and imo our offensive line needs to show up for us to get the W. We don't have game breakers at runningback. They need some consistent holes to be effective. I think we get a W, but it's far from a given. As always turnovers and giving up big chunk plays can swing any game.
Better Iowa teams than this one has struggled at Indiana. Iowa's weak link on defense is the passing game...which is Indiana's strength. If the front 4 can pressure Indiana's QB, and if the offense moves the ball like it did against Minnesota, then the Hawks should win this one.
They CANNOT fall behind early because, as another poster mentioned above, they will not be able to catch up.
They CANNOT fall behind early because, as another poster mentioned above, they will not be able to catch up.
You might want to stick to politics, there Butch, that's what you're good at.
