What do you guys see as the toughest game left on your schedule? Or maybe, which game will decide the West Division? How do you see it playing out on your side of the conference?
Question for Hawkeye Nation?
- Thread starter MichiganVictory
- Start date
Michigan the toughest game. Wisconsin game will decide the division.
Wisconsin... just like last year... is our top competitor...
Minnesota and Northwestern are contenders...
Nebraska and Illinois have outside shots... its important that we win all 5 of those games, imo.
Minnesota and Northwestern are contenders...
Nebraska and Illinois have outside shots... its important that we win all 5 of those games, imo.
I got my eyes on Nebraska right now. That game on Black Friday is going to be the game that decides the west. It will be the game that makes Iowa vs. Nebraska a true rivalry.
Michigan is probably the overall toughest game on the schedule, but Iowa can lose that game and still win the west.
Michigan is probably the overall toughest game on the schedule, but Iowa can lose that game and still win the west.
Northwestern is not a contender.
Michigan is by far the toughest opponent on the schedule.
There's a lot of football left to be played but I would say Wisconsin and Nebraska are the only serious threats to Iowa repeating as West champions. I'm not taking the Goofers seriously until they prove otherwise.
There's a lot of football left to be played but I would say Wisconsin and Nebraska are the only serious threats to Iowa repeating as West champions. I'm not taking the Goofers seriously until they prove otherwise.
I think Nebraska will have a better record this year, but I don't trust their defense or Armstrong's ability to take care of the ball for them to be better than 8-3 entering Black Friday. If Iowa can beat Wisconsin, the West will be clinched for all practical purposes with two games remaining.
Wisconsin might be the best competition in the West, but won't be in contention. No way they come out of @MSU, @UM, OSU with less then 2 losses. That in itself will exclude Wisconsin. Nebraska and Minnesota are our biggest contenders.
Nebraska game will determine the west. My guess is both teams come into black friday with 1 loss. Iowa's against Michigan and Nebraska against Ohio State. Even if Nebraska comes in with 2 losses and Iowa 1 obviously that means that as Neb will wins the west if they beat Iowa. I think they could lose up in Wisconsin. Nebraska's rest of their schedule is very weak. They have figured out how to limit Tommy's ability to beat them. Call running plays. Their defense is much better, especially in the back 7. Their line is better and their backfield is talented. They will be a tough out. Iowa is better but Nebraska is way better than their 5 win season last year.
Wisconsin cannot survive that schedule without 2 or more losses
Northwestern is bad
Minnesota is a notch below the top 3
Illinois will be sneaky good but just a year or two ahead of where they will start to make some noise.
Purdue, well, they are the Iowa State of the Big Ten
Wisconsin cannot survive that schedule without 2 or more losses
Northwestern is bad
Minnesota is a notch below the top 3
Illinois will be sneaky good but just a year or two ahead of where they will start to make some noise.
Purdue, well, they are the Iowa State of the Big Ten
Iowa's lines are what wins the West.Wisconsin schedule and Nebraska still not convincing me we can run when we have too, points to the Hawks 2 games in.QB for Iowa or Nebraska get hurt and all bets are off.Just my opinion.
If Tommy Armstorng gets hurt that might be an advantage for Nebraska.
jNW? They're 0-2 with losses to Western Michigan and Illinois State, both at home.
The only issue is that the game is in Minneapolis. We've had some good teams play like sh** up there. I'm just hoping for more performances like in 2013 where it was never in doubt because of our defense.
Contenders, after two games, are us, WI, MN, and NE.
WI-like others have said, as good as they've performed so far, it's hard to see them getting through their first half of the schedule with fewer than 2 losses. If they do, they become the favorites to me.
MN-I'll believe it when I see it. I don't think their coach has the chops to overcome their program-level dereliction.
NE-I fully trust and expect Tommy to be Tommy, but you never know. Even so, they probably will be a contender.
The safe bet right now is last game vs. Nebraska. Too many factors would need to line up for anyone to wrap it up before that.
WI-like others have said, as good as they've performed so far, it's hard to see them getting through their first half of the schedule with fewer than 2 losses. If they do, they become the favorites to me.
MN-I'll believe it when I see it. I don't think their coach has the chops to overcome their program-level dereliction.
NE-I fully trust and expect Tommy to be Tommy, but you never know. Even so, they probably will be a contender.
The safe bet right now is last game vs. Nebraska. Too many factors would need to line up for anyone to wrap it up before that.
You will probably be the toughest. Injuries/suspensions/etc can change things in a day....so hard to say 2 months from.
The WI/MSU(MI/OSU) WI/NE WI/IA IA/NE are all games that can/will affect the west.
If WI can't win at least 1 game in the MI/MSU/OSU games then they're done. If they can win at least 1, then they clearly still have a shot.
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