Iowa vs Alabama

[fifteenandoh]

Schedule Comparison:

Alabama plays 3 non Power 5 teams:
W. Kentucky (12-2)
Kent St. (3-9)
Chattanooga (9-4) <<<<<<<< Division I-FCS

Alabama's only Power 5 non Conference game is against a 6 loss team a year ago.

of Alabama's 9 games against Power 5 teams...
only one team won 10 games a season ago.
Ole Miss (10-3)

Alabama avoids playing :
Florida (10-4)
Georgia (10-3)

{remember... the SEC only had four 10+ win teams a year ago
BigTen had six 10+ win teams a year ago}

Iowa, on the other hand, plays only 2 non Power 5 teams:
Miami of Ohio (3-9)
North Dakota State (13-2) five-time defending NCAA Division I-FCS National Champions (2011–2015)

Iowa plays 10 games against Power 5 teams.

Iowa plays 3 Power 5 teams who won 10 games a season ago.
Northwestern (10-3)
Wisconsin (10-3)
Michigan (10-3)

Summary:
Iowa plays a much more difficult schedule than Alabama.
the beautiful thing about the BigTen is that there are many teams that are capable of winning the Conference.
the SEC, on the other hand, only has one team.
the BigTen is far and away the most interesting of all conferences in College Football.

and with all the changes at the University of Iowa in the last couple years, there exists the possibility of a Big Ten Title run this season, as well as a National Championship Title run.
look at the upgrades and the personnel... look at the history... and look at who we have on the field for us this year.

 

[Backinthe515]

C'mon man. Do you watch football? I'm black and gold thru and thru but the SEC is a way harder schedule. The reason they don't have a bunch of 10 win teams is they all beat the hell out of each other. Sometimes instead of numbers use your eyes.

 

[H4wkfan4life]

I think the LSU Wiscy game will prove you wrong, but we shall see........

BTW you can't base SOS on last years teams....

 

[hawkeyeinboise]

I think the LSU Wiscy game will prove you wrong, but we shall see........

BTW you can't base SOS on last years teams....

I really hope Wisconsin wins this game and then gets beat up in the Big 10 and LSU goes on to win the SEC. I would just love to hear the ESPN spin at the end of the season.

 

[Farleyhawk]

I think the LSU Wiscy game will prove you wrong, but we shall see........

BTW you can't base SOS on last years teams....

But you have to base SOS on something since no games have been played yet this year?? In all reality I suppose you can't judge SOS until the season is over, but what fun is that!!?

 

[Gridiron24]

Come on, man. I've been watching Hawkeye games my entire life and bleed black and gold, but we would get destroyed by Alabama.

 

[DarkThunder#61]

C'mon man. Do you watch football? I'm black and gold thru and thru but the SEC is a way harder schedule. The reason they don't have a bunch of 10 win teams is they all beat the hell out of each other. Sometimes instead of numbers use your eyes.

That is what they want you to believe. Fact is, there were a lot of teams that were both sloppy and inconsistent last year in the SEC. There is nothing special about your run-of-the-mill SEC team compared to other conferences.

 

[Roy-munson]

I really hope Wisconsin wins this game and then gets beat up in the Big 10 and LSU goes on to win the SEC. I would just love to hear the ESPN spin at the end of the season.

Last year when northwestern beat Stanford at the end of the year the spun it, since it was a 9 o'clock kick off for California It didn't really count.. They will have the ability to spin it any way they like..

 

[PHXIowaClub]

LSU is going to beat the living hell out of Wisconsin. SEC football > All other conferences.

 

[WORTHYWISH]

The SEC is so superb, that a horrible Florida team made the SEC champ game. Take Alabama out of the SEC and that conf isn't any better than any P5 conf.

 

[WORTHYWISH]

LSU is going to beat the living hell out of Wisconsin. SEC football > All other conferences.

Sarcasm?

 

[Pepperman]

This reminds me a lot of the thread we had (also completely out of left field) where we decided we were better than Ohio State all of the sudden.

 

[Backinthe515]

The SEC is so superb, that a horrible Florida team made the SEC champ game. Take Alabama out of the SEC and that conf isn't any better than any P5 conf.

Not sure if serious. Look at what you said there. I.e. if you take the best team out of the best league they would only be as good as the other 4 best leagues. Hell, there are many who think the b10 is the 4th best league (sec,12,pac,b10,acc) if you took our Bama equivalent (osu) out we would be 5th by a mile.

 

[TheGuy9]

C'mon man. Do you watch football? I'm black and gold thru and thru but the SEC is a way harder schedule. The reason they don't have a bunch of 10 win teams is they all beat the hell out of each other. Sometimes instead of numbers use your eyes.

You have bought into the myth. While Alabama is always going to be a top 5 team, the SEC has done a great job with marketing itself as a great conference. Case in point, is the University of Missouri. They leave the Big 12 where they have been mostly a mid to low tier team and after one year go to two straight conference championship game. Prior to those 2 years in the almighty SEC they had 4 seasons where they won more than 10 games since 1960.

 

[spbc7]

Since Northwestern and Wisconsin both won ten games last year, they're both better than Tennessee and LSU? Nice

 

[fifteenandoh]

I do not see any reason for the Iowa Hawkeye football team to fear Ohio State or Alabama....
we've beaten Nick Saban before and Michigan State is better than Ohio State.
when we play good... we can beat anybody.

Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God,
which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;
but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord,
nor of me his prisoner:
but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God

 

[Historicames]

But you have to base SOS on something since no games have been played yet this year?? In all reality I suppose you can't judge SOS until the season is over, but what fun is that!!?

SOS is meaningful only for the top 10 schools as you get to the end of the season. It really is a meaningless stat for anyone else. I have yet to see SOS actually make a difference or be a predictor of how good or not as good a team is when it comes to the post season.

 

[terrehawk]

LSU is going to beat the living hell out of Wisconsin. SEC football > All other conferences.

So arguably the projected #1 or 2 team in the SEC beats the B1G team projected to be anywhere from the 5th-7th best team in the B1G and that is supposed to prove that the SEC is so much more awesome than the rest of the country?

Puleeeeeaaaase...

This is how we get the SEC myth. Lap it up minions

 

[fifteenandoh]

SOS is meaningful only for the top 10 schools as you get to the end of the season. It really is a meaningless stat for anyone else. I have yet to see SOS actually make a difference or be a predictor of how good or not as good a team is when it comes to the post season.

in Football, the same size is too small to use SOS as a useful tool.
I'm not entirely opposed to using many different methods when it comes to evaluating teams... but... the one thing that would solve all the problems....

that would be 4 Conferences... and the winners of each Conference play in the College Playoffs.

I think the non Power 5 Conferences should split off and do the same.

 

[terrehawk]

This reminds me a lot of the thread we had (also completely out of left field) where we decided we were better than Ohio State all of the sudden.

I believe the OP was talking about schedule strength not that Iowa is better than Bama.

I could be wrong though

 

[fifteenandoh]

I believe the OP was talking about schedule strength not that Iowa is better than Bama.

I could be wrong though

no no... you're right... and you're wrong...

Iowa does play a tougher schedule imo... and I gave my reason for why I believe that....

but... Iowa is better than Alabama.... I'll never play the role of the homosexual coward and proclaim in front of God and everybody... that Iowa just can't compete with those great big bullies in Alabama....

I'm not wired that way... and I'm real careful not to pick on people who are wired that way....
obviously there is a good number of people here on this message board who is like that..
so I won't dig at them...

but I'm firmly convinced that there is a possibility that many people are going to be utterly shocked when this season concludes...

people were shocked at 12-0 last season.

imagine if..... that's ain't nothing compared to what's about to happen this season.

 

[CyCity]

Schedule Comparison:

Alabama plays 3 non Power 5 teams:
W. Kentucky (12-2)
Kent St. (3-9)
Chattanooga (9-4) <<<<<<<< Division I-FCS

Alabama's only Power 5 non Conference game is against a 6 loss team a year ago.

of Alabama's 9 games against Power 5 teams...
only one team won 10 games a season ago.
Ole Miss (10-3)

Alabama avoids playing :
Florida (10-4)
Georgia (10-3)

{remember... the SEC only had four 10+ win teams a year ago
BigTen had six 10+ win teams a year ago}

Iowa, on the other hand, plays only 2 non Power 5 teams:
Miami of Ohio (3-9)
North Dakota State (13-2) five-time defending NCAA Division I-FCS National Champions (2011–2015)

Iowa plays 10 games against Power 5 teams.

Iowa plays 3 Power 5 teams who won 10 games a season ago.
Northwestern (10-3)
Wisconsin (10-3)
Michigan (10-3)

Summary:
Iowa plays a much more difficult schedule than Alabama.
the beautiful thing about the BigTen is that there are many teams that are capable of winning the Conference.
the SEC, on the other hand, only has one team.
the BigTen is far and away the most interesting of all conferences in College Football.

and with all the changes at the University of Iowa in the last couple years, there exists the possibility of a Big Ten Title run this season, as well as a National Championship Title run.
look at the upgrades and the personnel... look at the history... and look at who we have on the field for us this year.

Alabama avoids playing :
Florida (10-4)
Georgia (10-3)

Iowa avoids playing:
Michigan State (12-2)
Ohio State (12-1)

Iowa plays 1 Power 5 team ranked in the preseason top 25. Alabama plays 4

 

[Packer54]

I believe LSU will beat up on Wisconsin but they would have to beat up on Ohio State to prove the best of the sec is better than the best in the big 10. It can certainly play out different as the season unfolds but right now you are looking at the #1 or 2 in th SEC going up against the #5 or so in the big 10.

 

[Steve Waite]

Alabama avoids playing :
Florida (10-4)
Georgia (10-3)

Iowa avoids playing:
Michigan State (12-2)
Ohio State (12-1)

Iowa plays 1 Power 5 team ranked in the preseason top 25. Alabama plays 4

You had me until you used preseason rankings. Lol.

 

[CyCity]

You had me until you used preseason rankings. Lol.

I would say preseason rankings carry more weight than how many games a team won last year. Tennessee didn't win 10 games last year but they're going to be really good this year

 

[JRHawk2003]

When there are absolutely no academic consideration whatsoever, and you load up 3-4 absolute cupcakes. It makes for a winning formula. Its not to say that they don't get great players. They do.

I am not sure why Saban is considered the greatest coach. Put him at Vandy and see how he does. Pat Fitzgerald or even our captain do far more with a lot less to start with.

Alabama is like OSU. Born on 3rd base and think they hit a home run.

 

[fifteenandoh]

Alabama avoids playing :
Florida (10-4)
Georgia (10-3)

Iowa avoids playing:
Michigan State (12-2)
Ohio State (12-1)

Iowa plays 1 Power 5 team ranked in the preseason top 25. Alabama plays 4

Wisconsin and Northwestern not ranked in these preseason polls serves as evidence that there is a bias among those who vote in these polls....

I don't believe anyone who votes has an absolute understanding of all 128 FBS football programs..

I believe some of them might even get paid to vote a certain way.

and I do believe that the only logical way to rank teams in the preseason is by using the records they concluded with last season.

I don't know if people don't like using logic because often times it conflicts with their worldview.... or maybe... some people aren't smart enough to use logic.

not sure...

but these polls are just for entertainment purposes.... that's all...
its fantasy land stuff....
to be fair to everybody, you should let the young men on the field determine who is the best.

one other thing.... I haven't noticed anybody bring this up yet...

I've heard some speculate.... what if Alabama has one loss to LSU and LSU wins the SEC Championship.... should the SEC have 2 teams in the College Playoffs...

well... we saw this scenario play out last season.... except... it wasn't the SEC...

it was the Big Ten.

we had 11-1 Ohio State.....
and we had 12-1 Iowa Hawkeyes

neither got invited to the College Playoffs...

so using logic... no... an 11-1 Alabama team that doesn't even win their Division, let alone Conference.... should NOT be invited...

as a fan.... I want to see 4 Conference Champions in the College Playoffs.... because I believe it is fair for those young men who compete... and win their Conference Championship.

it wouldn't be fair to exclude a Conference Champion because of ESPN Contracts with the SEC... and because it would be an opportunity for ESPN to make lots more money....

That wouldn't be fair to the young men who actually play the game.

 

[CyCity]

Wisconsin and Northwestern not ranked in these preseason polls serves as evidence that there is a bias among those who vote in these polls....

I don't believe anyone who votes has an absolute understanding of all 128 FBS football programs..

I believe some of them might even get paid to vote a certain way.

and I do believe that the only logical way to rank teams in the preseason is by using the records they concluded with last season.

I don't know if people don't like using logic because often times it conflicts with their worldview.... or maybe... some people aren't smart enough to use logic.

not sure...

but these polls are just for entertainment purposes.... that's all...
its fantasy land stuff....
to be fair to everybody, you should let the young men on the field determine who is the best.

one other thing.... I haven't noticed anybody bring this up yet...

I've heard some speculate.... what if Alabama has one loss to LSU and LSU wins the SEC Championship.... should the SEC have 2 teams in the College Playoffs...

well... we saw this scenario play out last season.... except... it wasn't the SEC...

it was the Big Ten.

we had 11-1 Ohio State.....
and we had 12-1 Iowa Hawkeyes

neither got invited to the College Playoffs...

so using logic... no... an 11-1 Alabama team that doesn't even win their Division, let alone Conference.... should NOT be invited...

as a fan.... I want to see 4 Conference Champions in the College Playoffs.... because I believe it is fair for those young men who compete... and win their Conference Championship.

it wouldn't be fair to exclude a Conference Champion because of ESPN Contracts with the SEC... and because it would be an opportunity for ESPN to make lots more money....

That wouldn't be fair to the young men who actually play the game.

The SEC is the best conference in college football. There's not as much bias as you think. Look who Iowa played last year compared to who Alabama played

 

[Backinthe515]

It's been too long since some of you fellas have watched football on Saturdays. CANNOT WAIT FOR THE SEASON TO START!!

 

[fifteenandoh]

The SEC is the best conference in college football. There's not as much bias as you think. Look who Iowa played last year compared to who Alabama played

the SEC was the best conference in football last year.

that's no guarantee for this year.

 

[CyCity]

the SEC was the best conference in football last year.

that's no guarantee for this year.

I'm pretty confident it will be for the foreseeable future. Alabama's schedule will be much more difficult than Iowa's this year

 

[JRHawk2003]

When you don't have the handicap of caring about academics...its a lot easier to stay on top....

 

[swagsurfer02]

The SEC won like 8 national championships in 10 years.

 

[fifteenandoh]

The SEC won like 8 national championships in 10 years.

2011 National Championship game:
Alabama 21
LSU 0

the system is rigged.

 

[swagsurfer02]

2011 National Championship game:
Alabama 21
LSU 0

the system is rigged.

Who did you want Alabama to play?

 

[fifteenandoh]

Who did you want Alabama to play?

lol.... I don't think Alabama deserved to play in that game.

an 11-2 Big Ten Champion Wisconsin Badger team would have been my first choice to play 13-0 LSU

my other choices would have been:

Pac 12 Conference Champion Oregon Ducks (11-2)
ACC Conference Champion Clemson Tigers (10-3)
Big12 Conference Champion Oklahoma State Cowboys (11-1)

remember... Alabama was 11-1 and did not even win their Division that year.... and... Alabama had already played LSU that year...

but when you place 2 SEC teams into the National Championship game.... what are the chances of somebody ,other than an SEC team, winning the National Championship?

I don't have my calculator on me... perhaps somebody smarter than me can come up with those numbers.

 

[swagsurfer02]

lol.... I don't think Alabama deserved to play in that game.

an 11-2 Big Ten Champion Wisconsin Badger team would have been my first choice to play 13-0 LSU

my other choices would have been:

Pac 12 Conference Champion Oregon Ducks (11-2)
ACC Conference Champion Clemson Tigers (10-3)
Big12 Conference Champion Oklahoma State Cowboys (11-1)

remember... Alabama was 11-1 and did not even win their Division that year.... and... Alabama had already played LSU that year...

but when you place 2 SEC teams into the National Championship game.... what are the chances of somebody ,other than an SEC team, winning the National Championship?

I don't have my calculator on me... perhaps somebody smarter than me can come up with those numbers.

Um Alabama beating LSU clearly shows they should've been in the game.

 

[iahawkeyes17]

2011 National Championship game:
Alabama 21
LSU 0

the system is rigged.

And that system is no longer in place genius.

This is just a dumb arguement rational fans know Alabama is better and was better last year hence them killing msu and beating Clemson. Best part of this time of the year for every school the optimism is flowing high for all fan bases and more so for some fans for each school...

 

[doughudd]

I really hope Wisconsin wins this game and then gets beat up in the Big 10 and LSU goes on to win the SEC. I would just love to hear the ESPN spin at the end of the season.

Ahhh Stanford vs NW

 

[fifteenandoh]

Um Alabama beating LSU clearly shows they should've been in the game.

it was the 2nd time they played... anybody could have won that game.
that's not the point...
the point is... Alabama did not DESERVE to be in that game... they did not even win their Division, let alone their Conference.

not sure if you read that part.