**Official Illinois State @ Iowa Prediction Thread**

[ddelzell]

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

It's funny because it's true!

 

[Pepperman]

I want to believe that the Hawks can roll easy in this one. I used to think that about teams like Ball State, Northern Illinois, Central Michigan, a 2-10 Iowa State team... but the bottom line is this:

Iowa will come out tight and without emotion, trying to out-execute Illinois State. Iowa probably won't take many chances, and will rely on superior depth and size to grind out an advantage over 60 minutes.

Illinois State will come out loose, free-wheeling, full of emotion, and taking chances where the Hawks might not expect them to. It is Illinois State's only chance to win the game, after all. For them, this is a no-lose situation.

I expect Iowa will hold on, probably scoring around 24-27 points, and Illinois State will be in the 20-23 range.

 

[Cougar63]

Heat bringing the heat.

 

[GrayHawk1957]

Illinois State 24 at Iowa 35.
-Not even going to think about the details. A win is a win. 1-0.

 

[meatloaf55]

Iowa 31 ISU 20.

That ain't no guess. That's what it's gonna be

 

[theIowaHawk]

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.

I'll go with this.

 

[Cougar63]

Iowa 31 ISU 20.

That ain't no guess. That's what it's gonna be

Okay, that's fine.

 

[KOKhawk]

Iowa - 38
Illinois St - 17

 

[iahawkeyes17]

Iowa 27
ISU 13

Ott and Meier abuse their new tackles and our secondary shuts down all the new receivers. And Iowa holds their drug dealer/RB Coprich under 100 yds rushing.

 

[CaliHawkFan]

Iowa 27
Illinois State 17

 

[IowaHawkeyeFBnBB4Life]

I definitely agree that Ott/Meier can have big days and beat their tackles. However, Roberson's ability to run is what concerns and you better believe he will run when the pocket breaks down.

 

[Lg2]

31-23 Iowa

 

[David1979]

Funny people are so scared of Roberson. He lost the starting job at Indiana. Yeah he is a very good FCS QB but that's FCS where he is a better athlete than most of the teams have. Let's see how he does against better competition and without his best receiving targets and 3 new OL.

 

[SPGroth]

Iowa 21
Illinois State 17

 

[anon_snp6dc585nnj4]

38-13 Hawks. Bunch of nancy's on here.

 

[Wingman137]

Iowa up 24-0 at half go into don't lose mode and pulls it out 27-21

 

[LarryMullenJr.]

We're 56 posts into this thread and nobody has posted the Clubber Lang
"Prediction? Pain."?!?!? What the heel people!

 

[Niko13]

Illinois St. 28
Iowa 24

We blow a 24-14 4th quarter lead

 

[icu81222]

The closer we get, the more I don't see how they are able to run on Iowa. Ain't happening.

UNI had (I believe) less than. 50 yards rushing last year. Sure, they torched us with Johnson out of the backfield but this LB group is much better than last year's and the secondary is going to be really good. That won't happen with ISU.

Iowa is better at every single position on the team except for OT and DT and our DT'S are going to be just fine.

The OT'S should be able to run block well enough. Much easier than pass blocking.

 

[StormHawk42]

100+ heat index on Saturday. Yikes.

 

[icu81222]

100+ heat index on Saturday. Yikes.

That too will heavily favor Iowa's defense. ISU appears to have really good depth on D though.

 

[Rustys Dad]

The skeptic in me wants to call this a close game. For some reason, I think Iowa comes out firing and puts Illinois State away early. I think Iowa will surprise many of us and dominate from the beginning and choke them out:

Iowa 35
Ill State 10

 

[IowaHawkeyeFBnBB4Life]

I don't see any way Iowa blows them out.

 

[PHXIowaClub]

Iowa 62
ISU 13

 

[bagdropper]

Something like 31-16 Iowa.

Illinois State is FBS, not the 85 Bears. I think at times they will give Iowa fits, but Iowa will win this game.

 

[SoDakHawk]

I could go homer and say Iowa rolls. Lots of good points brought up here, especially about Iowa's track record lately against MAC level, "inferior" teams. I really think this season is different. It started with KF coming out with a depth chart in January naming CJB the #1 QB. KF knows, he feels the heat. This year has a different feel. The Hawks aren't taking these games as "preseason" games. KF knows statements need to be made against Ill State, ISU, etc. This season is different.

I think Iowa handles this game, is in control start to finish, and wins going away by 20.

If not then KF hasn't gotten the message and change will be coming this off season.

Iowa 38 - Ill State 17

 

[SotaHawk87]

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.

All you need to know about their depth is their BACKUP LB started for Iowa as a 17 year old..

 

[Herkmeister]

31 Iowa
20 Ill State

Rough winter but I am back to my normal preseason optimism!!! Go Hawks & Get-R-Done Kirk.

 

[Hawk_4shur]

Just saw a Hawk chasing a squirrel in my backyard. Squirrel won.

ISU 21 - Hawks 20

 

[hawk eyedoc]

Illinois St 24
Iowa 16
Ferentz plays to the level of the competition generally. We get behind early and the offense struggles to catch up.

 

[Hawkeyeforlife77]

Iowa should win fairly easily. Last year, Illinois State may have won. Not this year. 31-16

 

[Cougar63]

This thread is fun.

 

[bagdropper]

Something like 31-16 Iowa.

Illinois State is FBS, not the 85 Bears. I think at times they will give Iowa fits, but Iowa will win this game.

Hmmm...the fits were second teamer fits, but I digress.

 

[Hawkirish]

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

Dam kicker was supposed to miss an XP.