Hello football fans!!!
Where do I even start?
THIS IS IOWA STATE WEEK(END)!!!
That’s one way.
THIS IS THE BIGGEST GAME FOR THE IOWA FOOTBALL PROGRAM IN AT LEAST THE LAST 2 YEARS.
That’s another way.
Why do I think this is such a big game? I can’t come up with a reason to say that this ISN’T a big football game for our program! Here are a few thoughts on why:
Ferentz should be fired if he loses this game (unless we win the Big Ten).
I don’t even like typing that stuff because I think so much of the man, but even he knows that this game is a huge interview for his job security. We’ve had 3 straight disappointing seasons, with 2 losses to Iowa State during that time. (NOT GOOD.) Ferentz would be 3-7 against Iowa State if he loses this game. (REALLY BAD.) And he makes as much money as anybody in the country. (GOOD…for him only.)
Even if we go a mediocre 4-5 after this game, with a win over Iowa State we’d finish at 7-5 with a bowl invitation. I believe most Iowa fans – while a little disappointed – would take that this year.
But 7-5 or even 8-4 with a loss to Iowa State? NO WAY. Not good enough. I’d be willing to bet that Ferentz feels the heat on this game more than any other since he’s been the head man at Iowa….and with good reason.
The only way I’d be “OK” with a loss is if we win the Big Ten…but that’s close. By the time the game starts on Saturday, I guarantee that I’d rather have a win that day then a Big Ten title. I will be that insane by 10:55AM on Saturday.
We could still go 4-8 this year – this is a HUGE swing game.
I know my prediction at the beginning of the year looks a little silly after the way we’ve played in the first two games. But that’s been against Maine and FIU; we still don’t know much about the true make-up of this team. And look around the Big Ten! Missing Meeechigan this year is not a good thing, Wisconsin and Penn State look great, and Indiana, Purdue, and pretty much every other team in the Big Ten has improved. We still have a LOT of work to do. And losing to Iowa State with a road game next weekend could throw us into a tailspin that this very young team will not be able to respond to.
This needs to be treated as a bigger game.
I think – I PRAY – that this message has finally sunk into the concrete-wall-thick-skull of Kirk Ferentz. I know I’m being tough on Ferentz, but with regards to this game…quite honestly…I don’t freaking care. Until he rips off 3 or 4 straight wins against the Clones and proves that he hates them as much as I/we do, he hasn’t done enough.
In fact, I didn’t like how he answered Ashley “Hot-Ass” Russell’s question after the FIU game. She asked: “Are you looking for revenge against your rival next week?” Of course Ferentz isn’t going to give Iowa State bulletin-board material – I get that – but he went on to say that “Iowa State is a big game just like any other.” WHAT!?!??? Are you kidding me!?!??? I’d lose to Indiana 10x before I lose to Iowa State again.
Then I heard that DJK got into a little hot water this week after he admitted that the Hawks had been practicing Iowa State plays since camp. And even though I’d rather the Iowa State coaches and players didn’t know that, I’M GLAD THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING THAT. I hope that means that if we’re lucky enough to get up big on Iowa State that Ferentz keeps his foot on the gas and runs up the score. He owes to us Hawkeye fans, methinks. Obviously I doubt that happens.
Even More on This Rivalry
I’m trying to cut down on swearing – both on my blog and in life – because it is an inarticulate way of expressing your opinion. However, I FUCKING HATE IOWA FUCKING STATE. This is NOT a friendly rivalry (Sorry Mags – I disagree!) Listen…they’re still our little brother. We’ve won 5 Big Ten Championships since I’ve been on this planet (30 years) while Iowa State hasn’t even sniffed ONE. We’re 36-19 against them all-time in the series. The Iowa State football program has about as many memorable moments and big wins in the last 30 years as I have assholes. So tell that stupid Iowa State fan that exact same thing when dealing with him this Saturday (and they’re not all stupid, by the way…I’m talking about THAT GUY). And if it’s a fat, middle-aged woman that’s yelling at you and your brother to quote “Take that back to Iowa City you pompous pricks” then there’s not really anything you can do to compete with somebody that’s on that level of retardation.
Still…you can ask both of my older brothers and they’ll tell you the same thing: A little brother can be very annoying. And that’s what we have here in the Iowa State Cyclones:
2002 – Could have been undefeated.
2005 – Knocked us out of the top 25 and helped the tailspin.
2007 – Induced me into a drunken stupor where I made an ass of myself in front of the entire family of my ex-girlfriend so that they hated me forever and ultimately helped our break-up.
Hurumph.
WEEK 2:
Iowa State Cyclones @ Iowa Hawkeyes (11:00 AM, BTN-HD, Line: 13.5)
Iowa State has a lot of talent – there’s a good chance that they’ll have more talent than us when we go to LAmes next year. I have not been able to see them play this year, since I haven’t been able to see them in person and their games are never on TV until they play us.
This is what I’ve gathered from my spys and from reading up on them online:
ISU Has Two Good QB’s
Austen Arnaud is the thrower and Philip Bates is the runner. They’re both dangerous – and most Hawk fans are more concerned about the runner, Bates, than Arnaud. Just look at the FIU game; when FIU brought in their more mobile QB, they immediately started moving the ball. Will Chizik see this and give Bates more reps, even though Arnaud has received more reps in the first two games?
ISU Is Scoring a Lot of Points
44 against SDSU, and 48 against Kent. If you think that’s not a big deal, then check your excitement on our offense against Maine and FIU. They have talent, I’ve already talked about their QB’s, and their top receiver – RJ Sumrall – will make more than one play on Saturday.
ISU Forces Turnovers
ISU has forced 6 turnovers in their first two games. Have I ever mentioned how big turnovers are in college football?…especially in a rivalry?
ISU Is Having Troubles Stopping the Run
SDSU rushed for 180 yards, and Kent rushed for a whopping 243. That is a huge problem in college football, high school football, the NFL, on Madden ’09, Tecmo Super Bowl, and on that old game where you put the crappy plastic football players on the field and turned on the vibrator thing and they move everywhere.
ISU Is Athletic but Inexperienced
Some would say that they’re even more inexperienced than last year, since they are now playing even more young/inexperienced guys that were red-shirted or sitting last year. Hopefully this shows up to hurt the Cyclones since this is the first big road game for many of their players, including both of their starting QB’s. (And if you can remember, that’s the excuse that Ferentz used with Christensen after we lost on the road to Iowa State last year.)
Game:
(First off – weather could play a role – it’s looking like 50/50 for rain right now.)
I don’t have any doubts about or defense – I think it will be solid on Saturday.
My biggest questions for the Hawks are on offense, and more specifically:
Will we continue to have success running the ball against Iowa State?
How will Rick Stanzi respond in his first start – especially when it’s against Iowa State?
Will O’Keefe keep up the aggressive play-calling?
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Iowa will run the ball on Iowa State…but not right away. This game will have the same start that it always has: the defenses on both sides will be flying everywhere, making it tough on the offense to move the ball. Only a gimmick play by either team (I actually think O’Keefe might have something up his sleeve, am I crazy?) or bad turnover will put points on the board. I don’t see Arnaud taking the ball and throwing all over us right away (lead pipe lock now that he will) and I don’t think Iowa State will be able to run the ball right away either.
For once, Iowa fans will feel that we’re matching Iowa State intensity at the very beginning.
1st Quarter Iowa 0 Iowa State 0
Iowa State will get on the board first, with a slippery TD run by Philip Bates, making me as nervous as Paris Hilton around the pope, and making me curse myself that I didn’t bet on Iowa State or put more money on them. (I haven’t made up my mind on that yet. I’m either betting on Iowa State or staying away. No need to temp the gambling Gods by betting on the Hawks on this one.)
But Iowa shows their moxy by ripping off 14 unanswered points with a Shonn Green TD run and Brandon Myers TD reception from Rick Stanzi. Iowa State then forces a bad INT from Rick Stanzi, and returns it into Iowa’s territory but can’t put a TD on the board, and settles for a FG.
Halftime Iowa 14 Iowa State 10
Of course Iowa State has the ball to start the 2nd half (hurumph!) And they go down the field and score with a TD from Austen Arnaud to RJ Sumrall. The Hawks offense moves the ball, as Shonn Greene has success running, but two straight offensive series come to a halt when Rick Stanzi can’t move the chains on 3rd and long.
3rd Quarter Iowa 14 Iowa State 17
Iowa State scores again, this time a FG, making it 20-14. Iowa drives all the way to the 8-yard line, but can’t punch it in, and settles for a FG making it 20-17 with about 8 minutes left in the game. Iowa State moves the ball, but cannot score, giving the ball back to us with a little less than 5 minutes in the game. Now it’s nut-cuttin’ time for Rick Stanzi and the offense, as we need a FG to tie or a TD to take the four point lead.
Stanzi gets us to the 15 yard line (mostly off of one big play to DJK) but we cannot score the TD. Decision time for Ferentz: do we go for it and the get the first down, or do we kick a FG and send it into OT at home? Of course Ferentz elects for the FG.
32-yard-field goal to tie the game….MISSED. (Did you forget about our young kickers? I haven’t.)
Iowa Hawkeyes 17 - Iowa State Cyclones 20
REMINDER: It’s BLACKOUT SATURDAY – so wear your dark Hawkeye gear!
A loss means Hawk fans will try to burn down Kirk Ferentz’s house. And I might drive to my ex-girlfriend’s mom’s house, take off my bottoms, and sleep on their lawn for old times’ sake. It won’t be a pretty sight for any Hawkeye fan.
And if I’m incorrect? Baby…I’m gonna be “Bangkok Dangerous”. PARTY TIME IN IOWA CITY!!! You see…Michael Peddicord is getting married in a few weeks, and his older brother Dan is rolling the dice by having the bachelor party the day of the Iowa/Iowa State game. Feast or famine!
“Precarious Predictions” Week 3
YTD Record 4-6-1
Last Week 3-2-1
Iowa ATS 0-1
That stupid FG at the end of the Florida/Florida State game made it an unbelievable push and stopped me from having a nice 4-2 weekend. Still…more wins than losses is the goal.
Games of note – “REDEMPTION SATURDAY FOR THE BIG TEN”
(Friday)
#13 Kansas @ #19 South Florida 7PM / ESPN2 / Line: South Florida by 3
USC/Ohio State is drowning out everything because this is a good game! I don’t like betting against these teams when they play a home game at night on national TV. Does ESPN2 count?
South Florida covers.
(Saturday)
UCLA @ #18 BYU – 2:30PM / Line: BYU by 7.5
I wasn’t really that impressed by BYU in that Tennessee game, they got lucky.
BYU to cover.
#16 Oregon @ Purdue – 2:30 PM / ABC-HD / Line: Oregon by 8
Purdue and Curtis Painter are taking this game very seriously…but I don’t think they’re ready for this big a step-up in competition.
Oregon covers.
Meeechigan @ Notre Dame – 2:30 PM / NBC-HD / Line: Meeechigan by 1.5
Without a doubt the worst two teams these storied football programs have ever put on the field on the same day. However…this is still a big game for both programs BECAUSE of that. Which program is going up? Which is still going down? (heheheh) This game will start to answer those types of questions.
I can only go off what I saw on Saturday with Notre Dame – and that was a team that looked HORRIBLE against a poor Sand Diego State team (sorry Coach Long). All Meeechigan has to do is play a little better on offense and they’ll win this game easily. The only thing that I’m scared of is Charlie Weiss having sandbagged it last week to get ready for this game. But that would mean Fat Chazz did some coaching and I just can’t see that.
Meeechigan covers.
#10 Wisconsin @ #21 Fresno State – 9:30 PM / ESPN2 / Line: Wisconsin by 1.5
Listen – I get the line. The Big Ten is down and Fresno State is a good team; there’s a reason why they’re ranked #21 in the country. Pat Hill is a great coach and they have a lot of talent.
But come on. 1.5 points? Not enough. This is a GOOD Wisconsin team! I watched them on Saturday and they looked bad in the first half…and STILL came back to KILL Marshall 51-14.
Wisconsin is ready for this game! The only thing that worries me is the really, really late start that Fresno State will be better prepared for. But unless Rutgers has a great offense that Fresno State shut down (I don’t think so – I think Rutgers just has a bad offense) and unless the Wisconsin O-Line forgets to get off the airplane…I like this spread.
Badgers cover.
Game of the Week:
#5 Ohio State @ #1 USC – 7:00 PM / ABC-HD / Line: USC by 11.5
OK…OK…I get it…Ohio State looked like crap against Ohio last week. And USC looked amazing against Virginia two weeks ago. ANYBODY that says “No way Ohio State can even CHALLENGE USC after the way they looked last week!” hasn’t really paid attention to college football in their entire life. Teams look like crap ALL THE TIME and then look like world-beaters the next week. These are NOT professionals – they’re 19-22 year old kids that read the internet/newspapers then get big heads. They lose focus, then the next thing you know they’re down at home against an inferior opponent.
“College football is a game of emotion.” is what Kirk Herbstreit says all the time. How much more emotion do you think Ohio State will bring to the table on Saturday night? Mark my words – you will see an entirely different Buckeye team this weekend.
YES – Ohio State has looked like crap against the SEC the last two years. But last year’s game against LSU was a game – it’s not like they got out-classed. But they looked pretty sharp against Texas those two years they played them, beating them on the road and nearly beating the Vince Young-lead-eventual-BCS-Champs the other year. And has everybody forgotten they beat the most talented Miami team of all-time? How does this just get swept under the rug? 2002 wasn’t 2002 years ago.
And how many pats on the back has USC received in the past two weeks? For WHAT? Blowing out Virginia? Is this the same Virginia team that’s returned a whopping 8 starters? Is this a Virginia team that needed a late interception to seal a victory against Richmond last week? PUH-lease…that win wasn’t anymore impressive for USC than Iowa beating FIU last weekend.
If there’s a talking point to bring up, here it is: Can Todd Boeckman handle the pressure that’s about to be thrown at him? I’m not so sure. And if it’s true that Beanie Wells isn’t going to play or be healthy…that makes me doubt things too.
I don’t even need to put any money on this game to want to watch it – I’ll be screaming for the Big Ten…err…Ohio State. I just don’t think there’s enough there for Ohio State to pull it off – losing Wells absolutely kills them. Only the “X” Factor is if Terrelle Pryor can do amazing things. But an 18-year-old in his first road game? At QB? No way.
USC covers.
N ational F ootball L eague
Well, well, WELL! How things can change in the opening weekend?!?!?!!!!
- Tom Brady? OUT
- Indianapolis and Peyton Manning? Shaky!
- Chargers and Merriman? Hurt!
- Da Bears? ALIVE and kickin’!
- The Vikings? STILL THE VIKINGS.
- Chad “Ocho Cinco” Now Chad looks mentally ill. (That’s not a joke.)
- C’mon Vince Young!!!?!?! You’re killing my Super Bowl pick – grow up!
The NFL is a journey, and I’ll have more as things go on. This weekend is a college weekend.
“Precarious Predictions” Week 2 YTD NFL Record 2-3
Packers @ Lions NOON FOX Line: Packers by 3
Packers cover.
Giants @ Rams NOON FOX Line: Giants by 9
Too many points for a road team with this many question marks.
Rams and the points.
Pats @ Jets 3:15 BCS Line: Jets by 1.5
Ummm…I want to see this big swing in power in the AFC East before I believe it.
Pats and the points. (“Patriots and the points?!?!?! When is the last time that’s happened!!!)
Steelers @ Browns 7:15 NBC Line: Steelers by 6.5
I do think the Cowboys made the Browns look worse than they actually are, but they have a LOT of holes, and I think the Steelers are almost as good as the Cowboys, if not AS good.
Steelers cover.
Monday Night Football
Eagles @ Cowboys 7:30 ESPN Line: Cowboys by 7
I like the Cowboys against almost any spread until I see a crack. The Eagles are a good team.
Cowboys cover.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO HAWKS!
-Jeffrey the Greek!
Posted by Jeff Buch 
