One game at a time...but at Wisc, Illini at home, at NW then bye week:

[SlabHawk]

Would you take 2 - 1 at this point in the next three? That would put us at 6 - 1 (2 - 1) heading into the bye week (I think that is a good, timely bye week this year) with the last 5 all very winnable if CJ and others stay healthy. Or, are you in Camp Greedy and demand 3 - 0? I want the Hawks to take this game this weekend but have to remember in the back of my mind that we 'may' be favored in all of the remaining games after this weekend (Neb may be a 2 - 4 point fav in Lincoln if they are playing well at that point. I fully expect that they will still be in the thick of things in the West the last couple of weeks of the season).

If you pack a D, good special teams, and good QB you can win at home or on the road. Iowa has all three and the health of the team will likely dictate how magical of a season we can have.

 

[StormHawk42]

I'm thinking the Hawks are looking at 9-3, which is a helluva lot better than what I thought we were going to be this year. So yes, I'd be cool with 2-1 over the next 3, but the one loss better not be to Illannoy.

I still think we're going to get tripped up by a lesser team, probably best chance is Indy. Hopefully not though. Call it guarded optimism.

 

[ichawk24]

I'd take 2-1. Hopefully we win this weekend.

 

[Ray Kinsella]

I think Illinois at home is a win, so the question is would I accept a guaranteed win at UW or NU at the expense of a guaranteed loss.

I'm willing to risk going 0-2 in those games with the chance of going 2-0, so, no, I wouldn't take 2-1.

 

[swihawk]

I'll hope for 3-0 and I'll take what I get. Doesn't matter what I want or will accept. I don't play, I am at the mercy of the team and the football Gods.

GO HAWKS!!

 

[whatsup12579er]

There isn't a game on the schedule that Iowa can't win. That is both extremely exciting and incredibly nerve-racking. Iowa has avoided the first 2 potential pitfalls (ISU, Pitt). Can they overcome 4 more? Wisc, NW, Minn, Nebby are potential losses. Ill, Maryland, Ind, Purdue shouldn't give the Hawks much of a fight. Worst case scenario right now looks to be 8-4...

 

[SWIowahawks]

This probably won't be a popular response but I would take 2-1 with the loss being to Illinois. Ya it would be a terrible first loss on the season but beating NE and Wisconsin would put us ahead in winning the division.

 

[Recruiting Violation]

Would you take 2 - 1 at this point in the next three? That would put us at 6 - 1 (2 - 1) heading into the bye week (I think that is a good, timely bye week this year) with the last 5 all very winnable if CJ and others stay healthy. Or, are you in Camp Greedy and demand 3 - 0? I want the Hawks to take this game this weekend but have to remember in the back of my mind that we 'may' be favored in all of the remaining games after this weekend (Neb may be a 2 - 4 point fav in Lincoln if they are playing well at that point. I fully expect that they will still be in the thick of things in the West the last couple of weeks of the season).

If you pack a D, good special teams, and good QB you can win at home or on the road. Iowa has all three and the health of the team will likely dictate how magical of a season we can have.

Unless North_estern loses to both Minnesota and Michigan (which is certainly possible), we're likely to be a slight dog on 10/17. I think North_estern, even if they lose a game to either Minny or Michigan will still be a ranked team at that point.

To respond to your question, though, I think I'd say yes, but with the right to change my answer by Saturday evening. I really expect us to win this Saturday, as I believe things are coming together at the right time for this team while Wisconsin is a bit uncertain right now. They are a fringe top-25 team with less impressive wins than us to this point. I think we're catching them at a good time. So back to my mention of reserving the right to change my mind. If we win Saturday, I will then expect us to win the next two games. By extension, I would then expect us to win the next 2 against Maryland and Indiana. I won't try to predict the Minnesota game yet, as I think they'll be a lot better by then (and hopefully we'll be better too). There's a lot of football to be played, and I may change my Rose-y (yes, that was intentional) outlook in the next few weeks.

 

[SDHawkDoc]

2-1. Absolutely I'd take that.
Any scenario is good in that set up. Even the least likely, losing to illanoy and beating both wisky and nw, is a great outcome.

 

[LuteHawk]

We play one game at a time.....We want to beat Wisconsin
this Saturday in Madison. This should be the focus of the
team and fans. Anything else is mere speculation.

 

[icu81222]

I think if Iowa wins Saturday, they beat Illinois and NW to go 3-0 in that stretch.

However, if I had to say the result was 2-1, I would much rather beat Wisconsin and lose to Northwestern.

Why? Well, NW is pretty offensively challenged and they are more likely to stumble IMO. A win vs Wiscy provides a bit of a cusion IMO.

But I do think Nebraska has circled Wisconsin for quite some time and this could finally be their year to take them down.

 

[whatsup12579er]

I don't want Iowa to lose to Illannoy. I am going to that game.

 

[jerbob36]

Nobody saw us at 6-1 heading into the bye (not many at 5-2 either), so while 7-0 is preferred, I will be happy with 6-1.

 

[thewop]

Would you take 2 - 1 at this point in the next three? That would put us at 6 - 1 (2 - 1) heading into the bye week (I think that is a good, timely bye week this year) with the last 5 all very winnable if CJ and others stay healthy. Or, are you in Camp Greedy and demand 3 - 0? I want the Hawks to take this game this weekend but have to remember in the back of my mind that we 'may' be favored in all of the remaining games after this weekend (Neb may be a 2 - 4 point fav in Lincoln if they are playing well at that point. I fully expect that they will still be in the thick of things in the West the last couple of weeks of the season).

If you pack a D, good special teams, and good QB you can win at home or on the road. Iowa has all three and the health of the team will likely dictate how magical of a season we can have.

I'd take 2-1, but if I were offered 2-1 to skip the next 3 games, I'd decline. We can go 3-0!

 

[FranklinHawk]

We play one game at a time.....We want to beat Wisconsin
this Saturday in Madison. This should be the focus of the
team and fans. Anything else is mere speculation.

Thanks
Lute.
Great
Insight

 

[Recruiting Violation]

We play one game at a time.....We want to beat Wisconsin
this Saturday in Madison. This should be the focus of the
team and fans. Anything else is mere speculation.

Lute, honest question. Why should this Saturday's game be the focus of both the team and the fans? Obviously, we want the team to be focused. What reasoning do you have for wanting the fans equally focused? Thanks in advance.

 

[thirdandpunting]

Thanks
Lute.
Great
Insight

Y'know, I'm just happy to be here
and hope I can help the ballclub.
I just want to give it my best
shot and good Lord willing,
things'll work out... gotta play
'em one day at a time, Y'know...

 

[hexumhawk]

I would take 2-1 for sure as I think Wisky and NW will be 1 and 2 on our toughest game schedule.

 

[theIowaHawk]

I don't demand or settle for anything. I'm in that weird camp that likes to watch the games for what they are, outcome not predetermined.

If there were a way to "guarantee" an undefeated season, it would be boring. Like fast forwarding through life.

Enjoy the ride.

 

[soybean]

I think if Iowa wins Saturday, they beat Illinois and NW to go 3-0 in that stretch.

However, if I had to say the result was 2-1, I would much rather beat Wisconsin and lose to Northwestern.

Why? Well, NW is pretty offensively challenged and they are more likely to stumble IMO. A win vs Wiscy provides a bit of a cusion IMO.

But I do think Nebraska has circled Wisconsin for quite some time and this could finally be their year to take them down.

I thought that very thing in August, now I want to see how Bucky plays against us. I'm starting to suspect Nebraska aint gonna be all that in 2015.

 

[icu81222]

I thought that very thing in August, now I want to see how Bucky plays against us. I'm starting to suspect Nebraska aint gonna be all that in 2015.

I just think UN is schizophrenic. They could lose to someone like Iowa State but beat someone like.....Iowa.....They can fluctuate that far.....

 

[The Sleeping Dog]

No reason to be greedy. We have a team with a lot of undergraduate starters, CJB chief among them. I thought this gang was a 4-5 win squad at best. Now I'm thinking 7 is the floor and 8 is more likely. We finish reg season 8-4 we will have improved from last season and that's pretty big given the meltdown at the end of the season.

 

[The Sleeping Dog]

Barring key injuries between then and now, we will beat Northwestern.