Hello Football Fans!
Happy Halloween!
Another week of work (busy one for me – part of the reason for the delay – along with Comcast internet service sucking dog balls)…and another week listening to the talking heads around the country use the phrase “ugly win” with the Hawks. I don’t even know what that really, REALLY means. I feel like Bobby Knight when he was asked if his team had their “game face” on at a press conference (skip to 2:41):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Onfzet1xxs
But SOME guys have actually DONE THEIR JOB and dug a little deeper. An expert:
Iowa has road victories at Penn State, Wisconsin and Iowa State — all teams with winning records.
In fact, Iowa has played only one sub-.500 team — Arkansas State — and the Hawkeyes’ opponents have a .633 winning percentage (38-22) that is by far the best of any team in ranked in the AP top 10.
Florida’s opponents are 26-24 (.520), same as Texas’. Alabama’s opponents are 28-29 (.491).
As for road victories, Alabama has played only two road games (at Kentucky and at Mississippi). Florida scored a big road win at No. 9 LSU. The Gators’ other trips were to Kentucky and Mississippi State. Texas’ road games were at Wyoming and Missouri.
Maybe they should just call Iowa’s wins “quality” instead of “ugly”.
Do I want a blow-out this weekend? Sure. But I really just want a win. Ya know…the thing that we already have eight of this year!?!?!
———-
In Line at the Bank
Completely random thing here: I was in line at the bank on Wednesday morning. There was a guy in front of me. He was about 60 years old, white dude, gigantic bushy eyebrows, dressed like a semi-hobo, and his body would be best described as Charlie Weiss-esque. His name was Carl (heard that when he was talking to a very nervous teller).
While still in line, Carl turned around and looked right into my eyes. Actually he looked through my eyes and into my suddenly uncomfortable soul. I was dressed in business casual as I was on my way to a meeting. He slowly looked me down to my shoes, paused, then looked went right back up to my eyes. By the time he got back to my eyes, I was giving serious consideration to do my banking later that day.
As he stared directly into my eyeballs…I was a deer caught in head-lights. So I just gave him a smile – the type of nervous smile you would have when half of your vehicle is going to successfully balance over a cliff (like you see in the movies). If I had a Romulan cloaking device, I would have used it.
Carl says all of the following with little pause in between, and with absolutely no acknowledgement from me:
“I’ve had a crazy day.”
“I have a heart murmur.”
“…(inaudible mumbling)…both socially and professionally you have to watch out for that.”
“…I believe my brother is trying to kill me.”
Must be Halloween week!
———-
Also
On the way back from my health club last night…did I slam on my brakes – sending notebooks and bags flying – because a black cat walked accross the street and I was afraid of jinxing myself and the Hawks before I drove down to Iowa today? – you’re damn skippy I did.
———-
Indiana Hoosiers @ #4 Iowa Hawkeyes
11:00 AM / ESPN / Line: Iowa by 17.5
All nervous thoughts in Hawkeye-land this week have been born from injuries. At the top of the list is Adam Robinson, a loss that really hurts. A-Rob had really come into his own, and had his best day against Michigan State. So it would figure that’s the game that he would get hurt and be out the rest of the regular season. We also lost Dace Richardson for the next four games, and Colin Sandeman is out for awhile to clear the cobwebs. Amazingly, the guy that left in the stretcher – Brett Greenwood – is the guy who was back in the line-up before the Hawks even got back to Iowa City.
With Adam Robinson out, this obviously puts more pressure on/ups the work-load of true frosh Brandon Wegher. Do we like Wegher? Sure. I just don’t like him carrying the mail all day long. The help that he make get will possibly come from a dump-truck-like RB – Brad Rodgers. The good news is that the coaches like him enough to bring him along to Michigan State – even telling him to be ready to be called on – even before Robinson went down. We’ll see.
As long as we don’t have to predominately rely on Cliff Claven – aka Paki O’meara – I will hold out hope.
—–
Because I’m such a committed journalist (or am I a journalist that should be committed?) – I watched two whole Indiana games this week from the Big Ten Network. Here is the scope:
They run about 3 different types of offenses: 1) Pro-style, 2) Wildcat, 3) Pistol. All 3 add up to look like some kind of crappy offense that you’d see them run at ‘Addison-Hancock HS’ or any other small Iowa school in SW Iowa. Yuck. I hate it, and it makes me wonder if college football is dying faster than the morals in Los Angeles.
Where was I?
OK…so when they’re in the ‘Pro-style-throwing-offense’ their QB is #4 Ben Chappell. He is…serviceable…I guess.
When they’re in the ‘Wildcat-Pistol-running-offense’ (I freely admit that I’m not even sure what the Pistol is) their QB is #5 Mitchell Evans. Strangest thing about this guy? He’s whiter than me. Go figure.
They do have speed. Indiana’s speed RB is #28 Darius Willis. The dude IS fast, and I’d love to have him on our team right now. However, I do not consider him a RB yet. He’s just a straight-line guy. If you make him move and break tackles…he’s just not there yet.
They also have speed with #2 Tandon Doss – a WR that also takes a lot of long hand-offs – and #17 Ray Fisher – a punt and kick returning specialist. If you give either of these guys a crease, they are gone.
On the flip-side, the Indiana defense is…OK. They have pretty good defensive line – led by DE #57 Jammie Kirlew – but it doesn’t get enough pressure to save Indiana’s abysmal d-backs. Indiana is 101st in pass defense.
—–
Game
I hate that we’re missing Adam Robinson. We all do. However…everything else that I see falls under one category: “Advantage Hawks”. Although Indiana’s defense will come up with a sack and tackle for loss here and there that will make a few of our drives sputter out…I am not impressed with Indiana. What will be interesting so to see if O’Keefe and Ferentz let Stanzi go to town? I believe it’s time. We have the WRs and TEs…and we DON’T have the RBs. IF they do and IF Stanzi doesn’t throw the ball directly to an Indiana LB/DB…the offense will be fine. Don’t forget, this is the same defense that gave up 28 straight points against Northwestern to lose the game.
Our defense will handle Indiana’s offense. Why? Because although Indiana DOES have big play capabilities, Norm Parker does NOT give up big plays. Additionally, I don’t believe Indiana has the personnel to be patient and put together long drives. Does the Wildcat/Pistol kinda scare me? I guess a little, but it’s not like Freddy Krueger is chasing after me scared, either.
I say Indiana breaks off two big plays on offense and one on special teams – one resulting in a TD and 2 FGs.
Iowa 29 - Michigan State 13
—–
Week 9 “Precarious Predictions”
YTD NCAA Record 38-41-2
Last Week 6-4 (‘Ugly wins’ count here too)
Iowa ATS 3-4-0
SATURDAY
Big Ten
Purdue @ #19 Wisconsin
11:00 AM / ESPN2 / Line: Wiscy by 7
I have much respect for Indiana, although I believe Wisconsin is better overall. This game looks closer than a TD to me.
Purdue + the points.
Meeechigan @ Illinois
2:30 PM / ABC / Line: Wolverines by 7
Would it surprise me to see Meeechigan blow out Illinois by 28? No. And I hope that’s what happens. However, at SOME point Illinois has to put something together, and it’s not like Meeechigan has looked like world beaters lately.
Zooker + the points.
Michigan St @ Minnesota
7:00 PM / BTN / Line: Sparty by 3.5
This looks so easy, I’m scared of it. I KNOW that Sparty is better – but will they pull themselves off the turf on the road and get the win? I say yes. I don’t trust Minnesota without Adam Decker.
Sparty covers.
Big Ten Game of the Week (I guess):
#12 Penn State @ Northwestern
3:30 PM / ESPN / Line: Penn St by 17
I understand why this line is so high – Northwestern looked only 1 point less crappy that Indiana last week. And I think I like it. If we lose – this is by far the best team in the Big Ten right now.
However, big game last week (Meeechigan) + big game next week (OSU) + big home dog = trap cover.
Northwestern + the points.
Around the Country:
Iowa State @ Texas A&M
11:30 AM / ? / Line: Nebraska by 17.5
This game was supposed to be a no-brainer, then Nebraska went and took a poop, while ISU came out with a surprise good showing against Baylor. Some say this is a match-up nightmare for ISU and that there’s just too much history on the ‘skers side. I just think Nebraska’s offense is horrible.
Iowa State + the points.
Oklahoma @ #25 Kansas
2:30 PM / ? / Line: A&M by 6
This is as big of an ISU fan as you will EVER find me. However, I don’t like ISU going on the road after an emotional – and extremely lucky – big game. I hope I’m wrong, but:
A&M covers.
#3 Texas @ #14 Oklahoma St
7:00 PM / ABC (or) ESPN2 / Line: Texas by 9.5
I would like this at 17. Texas will throttle them. BET THIS GAME.
Texas covers.
National Game of the Week:
#5 USC @ #10 Oregon
7:00 PM / ABC (or) ESPN2 / Line: USC by 3
Not that Oregon shouldn’t expect to win at the ‘Zoo, but this is not as good of a match-up as it’s getting made out to be. USC will score a lot of points, so it will be up to Oregon to match that. That’s certainly possible, as USC’s defense has looked downright pedestrian the past two weeks.
However, USC is putting together right now as Matt Barkley is stepping up his game. I hate it. I hate USC. I hate the possibility of these mother-FU%CKERS jumping over us…but I’m not betting against Pete Carroll in a big game.
HURUMPH…
USC covers.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO HAWKS!
-Jeffrey the Greek!
Posted by Jeff Buch 
