**Official Illinois State @ Iowa Prediction Thread**

[IowaHawkeyeFBnBB4Life]

It's official because of the stars. Now with that being said, it's officially game week so what does everybody think.

My take...

-I think we will see Illinois State blitz, blitz, and blitz
-I think our tackles will struggle
-I think Tre Roberson and his scrambling could give our defense fits
-I think we will see CJ show off his arm a time or two
-I think our run game will struggle due to our tackle play
-I think ultimately we will see more of the same on offense

I am not prepared to write Iowa off or Kirk Ferentz off, I definitely would like to see changes made. However, this is the least optimistic I've been in quite some time. I think Iowa will do some good things and have some big struggles. I feel like Iowa will have a few big plays and give us hope, but ultimately I think Illinois State will snatch one late from Iowa.

Illinois State - 27
Iowa - 21

I see Iowa leading 21-17/21-20 mid 4th.

Ferentz will give us more of the same and show he hasn't changed that much by saying "clean things up", "give Illinois State credit", "I thought we practiced well", etc...

 

[TankHawk]

I think Ott and Meier are going to destroy ISU's new tackles and Roberson will be lucky if he is able to finish the game. The Iowa D comes up with 4 turnovers and although the offense struggles at times, the Hawks come out with a 31-10 victory.

 

[clickhere 01]

Iowa- 31
Ilinois State- 10

 

[hawkeyefan76]

Hawks roll--

42-10

Defense too much for ISU o-line

 

[83Hawk]

I have no prediction because, for the time in a long time, I have no idea what to expect out of this team.

 

[StormHawk42]

ISU is breaking in a lot of new guys on O and their D isn't great. I would hope our DL can eat their OL for lunch and not have the LB's worry too much about Roberson.

Also, it'll be 90 degrees on Saturday. Idk enough about ISU to know about their depth but one would think the team with 30 more scholarship players would have a superior depth advantage.

No blowout though. Hawks win 31-21.

 

[spiderland]

We will have at least one 3rd and 7 where no receiver runs past the sticks.

 

[studed]

I am going to look at the last 3 season openers
2014 iowa wins 31-23 over northern iowa
2013 iowa lost to northern ill 30-27
2012 iowa beats northern ill 18-17
don't know how people are picking a blowout.
24-23 iowa

 

[Chris.Christie]

I guarantee that this will be a competitive game in the 4th quarter. Not really sure who will come out on top, but no outcome would surprise me other than Iowa blowing them out. That almost never happens, and ISU is a quality team (possibly the best in all of FCS).

Iowa could lose this game and still win 7 or 8 because because there are probably 5 or 6 teams on the schedule worse than Ill St (including next week in Ames).

 

[KuwaitHawk]

Iowa by 8

 

[millah_22]

23-17 Iowa. A little closer than we'll all want it to be.

 

[Hawk80]

Iowa's D will open a few people's eyes, shutting down Illinois State. Four Iowa RB's roll for over 300 yards combined. Iowa 31-20

 

[Hawkeye_311]

Iowa 27
Ill St. 17

 

[lenoxhawks]

FG either wins or loses it at the end. Ill State 17 Iowa 16

 

[hawkfanmb]

With a TD against the Third string in the fourth quarter, I think Iowa defense wins the day. Iowa 27 ISU 7!

 

[rfgiowa]

Iowa 26
Ill St. 23

 

[Airbhghater]

27-24 Illinois State. I see them getting out to a 10-3 lead. Eventually making it 24-10....Then Iowa will frantically start being aggressive and tie it, only to see Illinois State get a field goal at the end. Similar to our Central Michigan game a couple years ago...and the brutal Purdue loss from three years ago...and the equally brutal loss to one of the worst Iowa State teams last season(although they would be 12-0 if those poor babies didn't play such a difficult schedule).

 

[The_Joker13]

Iowa-24
ISU-21

 

[iammrhawkeyes]

31-27 Hawks. Tough game.

 

[Chris.Christie]

Four Iowa RB's roll for over 300 yards combined.

LOL

 

[nu2u]

Iowa will beat the spread. By how much, I don't know.

 

[Jonesingforhawkeyes]

NO CONEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The HAWKEYES win in a blow out 31-3. I do not see Illinois St. getting the ball on our side of the field with their OL and our D until late in the 3rd when we have 2nd and 3rd stringers in.

 

[Jonesingforhawkeyes]

DK will have 3 picks by the end of the 3rd, 1 will be a pick 6

 

[J_Heater]

Iowa 29
Illinois St 16

Think Iowa controls the ball all day with Daniels/Canzeri up the middle.

 

[jdw10224405]

Hawks 23-20 in typical cardiac fashion.

 

[Chris.Christie]

Iowa 29
Illinois St 16

Think Iowa controls the ball all day with Daniels/Canzeri up the middle.

The real question that people want to know is, will you actually watch the game? That seems to be a fairly iffy proposition with you.

 

[cidsports]

UNI beat Illinois State at home fueled by 3 interceptions, a KOR for a TD and 19 yard PR average.

Both teams have new players from 2014. Both teams have questions and similar strengths.

Ultimately, Iowa is going to be better than 2014, so they should win.

Is it 38-27? I don't know, but Iowa should win another season opener under KF.

This isn't Northern Illinois. Iowa has a new #1 at QB, RB and WR. This is good.

peace

 

[takai]

CJ Beathard starts a little awkward, but finds his groove sometime in the second half for a 24-14 win.

 

[TDJ7]

I won't get worked up either way. Same as it has been since the 2011 season.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

Both teams are breaking in new OLINE which could cause some issues in the first half. Iowa has the better defense, but Il State has the better offense with their QB & RB being studs.

I think it is a competitive game at half 17-10, but I look for the hawks to pull away in the 2nd half. I think Ill state is good, but they will have the #1 ranking on their backs and are breaking in a few new guys in key positions.

Iowa 31
Il St 20

 

[Quintana]

i don't care the scores or how they do it, as long as iowa ends up 2-0 vs. ISU to start the season.

 

[Hawkirish]

hawks win 31-13 with decent running game and a couple big passes against Brock's blitzes. TE's could have big game.

 

[J_Heater]

The real question that people want to know is, will you actually watch the game? That seems to be a fairly iffy proposition with you.

Seriously, that's the question people want to know? Of all the things going on with Iowa football you and "these" people whoever the hell they are want to know if I will watch it.

Well since you ask, as of right now, no I won't watch it live. Cell signal is good enough to follow along on Gamecast but thats it. Depends on the fires in Eastern Washington and the air quality. Every Labor Day for 15 years we go up to our summer home on Lake Roosevelt. We fish, we swim, we pull fun tubes. It's a tradition, kind of like your coming here to bitch about everything.

I'm not sure which is more sad, the idea that you give a shit whether or not I watch the game this weekend and make a point of letting people know that I miss a few games each year or this idea that you think I should feel guilty for spending that time doing what I love. Don't you think that's kind of lame? Well I guess I already know the answer that.

Cheers. Have fun this weekend and be safe.

 

[soybean]

34-13 Iowa. The Hawkeyes will have three scoring drives in each half...the Redbirds will have three for the whole game.

 

[BubsFinn]

I know absolutely nothing about Illinois State. Iowa 24, Illinois State 20. Hawkeyes score TDs in the 1st (2) and 4th (1) quarters, and a field goal in the 2nd. Scoreless in the 3rd.

 

[QChawks]

Ugly game. Turnovers galore.

King's pick 6 in 4th qtr the difference.

21-17 hawks

 

[David1979]

Hawks 31 Illinois State 13.

Illinois State lost a ton on offense from last year's team and although they have a good QB and great RB it won't be enough against Iowa's D. Ott, Meier, and Johnson will eat their OL alive. The improved LB play will show. Roberson is a better runner than passer and Iowas secondary is really strong so I can't see him doing well through the air.

Iowa will keep TEs in to help block because the strength of ISU's D is their DEs. I think Iowa will be able to run between the tackles in this one and eventually overpower ISU and their undersized DT (255) and small LBs. Then CJB will be able to connect on a couple deep PA passes to put the game away.

Iowa will be ready for this game and will play with a chip on their shoulder. The Illinois State team of last year would have been scary but not this team. Iowa wins easily.

 

[cedarvalleykid14]

From here it seems like Iowa should feature quick-hitting running plays and 3-step drops, rollouts, and moving pockets in the first half. Few things frustrate a defense more than quick plays that negate the rush. Drop back passes would seem to play into the opponents' hands by exposing Iowa's most obvious weakness. The only drop back action in the first half should be to set up screens and QB draws. Once the Hawkeyes establish dominance, some drop back passing could be worked in during the second half.

Should Iowa play smart in this fashion, the young tackles can build confidence and CJ has a better chance of staying healthy. And after all, that's a coach's primary job: put your players in the best position to be successful.

So making the HUGE presumption that Iowa will coach smart, I'll take the Hawkeyes, 45-13. Iowa should make it clear that this ain't the FCS.

 

[PHXIowaClub]

Ugly game that Iowa holds on to win 24-21

 

[RiverCityHawk]

Iowa 35
ISU 17