Upset special

[KFsdisciple]

The odds that any team goes undefeated are pretty low even the best teams...

I expect Iowa to be the team every week until the season ends to be on upset alert. Comes with the territory.

We don't have the cache of a blue blood and a history of losing a game or two we shouldn't....

I say let's enjoy the ride and hope we keep proving the experts wrong... Because every week there will be a national guy picking us to lose against an inferior opponent.

 

[Gridiron24]

If we get to play a team that is expected to destroy us (and there are a handful of them in college football that probably could), I'd say we've had a pretty good season.

 

[ROCKY MOUNTAIN HAWK]

Not sure anybody could destroy us with our D. Losing Ott may be the difference though.

 

[GunnerHawk]

With our attrition on both lines, this game concerns me. Especially because we lost OTT who is being replaced by a red shirt freshman who is 240 lb. If I were NW o-coordinator, I would run it to Hesse's side 20 times.

NW's d-line is their strength, just don't see Cannery going off against them like he did last week.

Hope I'm wrong but we just don't have the depth to sustain. Hopefully after a bye week we get some guys back.

Almost forgot, it is a home game for the Cats, they are celebrating the 85 team's return I believe, they will be anxious to redeem themselves from last week, and we generally have bad mojo up there.

 

[hawkeye54545]

Is losing@ Northwestern really an upset?

 

[SeaBassWins]

Not sure anybody could destroy us with our D. Losing Ott may be the difference though.

You are high.

 

[Hawkfan_08]

Is losing@ Northwestern really an upset?

No, I think it's hard to say losing on the road against a ranked team with these injuries would be a big upset.

I am sure they will be ready to play though and hopefully walk out of Evanston with a W along with their closest 20 k friends in black and gold. I will try to do my part

 

[markfromj]

Is losing@ Northwestern really an upset?

Yes. We are favored, by 2.

 

[trippnschmidt]

Yes. We are favored, by 2.

So not really then.

 

[TankHawk]

Yes. We are favored, by 2.

That line has moved quite a bit and is virtually a pick em now.

 

[markfromj]

So not really then.

No, really, then. We are favored. When the favored team loses, it is an "upset". Pretty simple.

 

[ichawk24]

I don't consider a road team favored by 2.5 points losing as an "upset". YMMV.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

With our attrition on both lines, this game concerns me. Especially because we lost OTT who is being replaced by a red shirt freshman who is 240 lb. If I were NW o-coordinator, I would run it to Hesse's side 20 times.

NW's d-line is their strength, just don't see Cannery going off against them like he did last week.

Hope I'm wrong but we just don't have the depth to sustain. Hopefully after a bye week we get some guys back.

Almost forgot, it is a home game for the Cats, they are celebrating the 85 team's return I believe, they will be anxious to redeem themselves from last week, and we generally have bad mojo up there.

Hesse has been surprisingly effective against the run. He's been smart enough to focus on JUST doing his job ... and working hard. Defending the run is all about leverage and gap responsibility.

Where Hesse is more likely to be a liability is against the pass. He's simply not the experienced edge rusher that Ott is. Furthermore, Ott has a more mature body - more size and strength. Those assets were making him really tough for O-linemen to block. I firmly believe that Hesse WILL get there ... but it will still take a year (or so) before he really becomes a more effective pass-rusher.

Anyhow, Thorson has mobility - so you don't want to be stupid in over-pursuing the QB - because he can then burn you with his legs. Hence, the very fact that Hesse has been focusing on doing his job SHOULD reap benefits against mobile QBs (because he won't make the mistake of trying to do too much - thereby getting himself out of position).

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

I don't consider a road team favored by 2.5 points losing as an "upset". YMMV.

That is Vegas trying to get as much money bet on both sides so that they can come out on top.

The majority of prognosticators that I have seen are picking Northwestern on this one.

 

[butch25uni]

With our attrition on both lines, this game concerns me. Especially because we lost OTT who is being replaced by a red shirt freshman who is 240 lb. If I were NW o-coordinator, I would run it to Hesse's side 20 times.

NW's d-line is their strength, just don't see Cannery going off against them like he did last week.

Hope I'm wrong but we just don't have the depth to sustain. Hopefully after a bye week we get some guys back.

Almost forgot, it is a home game for the Cats, they are celebrating the 85 team's return I believe, they will be anxious to redeem themselves from last week, and we generally have bad mojo up there.

Why are they celebrating the 3-8 NW team that lost to #1 Iowa by 39 points? Yes I know you meant the 95 rose bowl team but hoping an 85 type NW team shows up.

 

[LuckyNed]

The odds that any team goes undefeated are pretty low even the best teams...

I expect Iowa to be the team every week until the season ends to be on upset alert. Comes with the territory.

We don't have the cache of a blue blood and a history of losing a game or two we shouldn't....

I say let's enjoy the ride and hope we keep proving the experts wrong... Because every week there will be a national guy picking us to lose against an inferior opponent.

Losing to Ohio State in the CCG wouldn't be that big of an upset.