Hello Football Fans!
I know it’s been a tough week (on many fronts)…but there’s still hope (on many fronts).
We can still have a good year- we are still a good team. I’m not just saying that to be a cheerleader in order to you keep reading my blog (because the numbers have been down)! Something tells me that the Hawks actually winning games is better for my blog’s numbers than the BS that I write. It’s kinda like trying to get a girlfriend with a good personality – it helps but it sure works better if you’re not fugly. I miss the days from ‘02-’04 when we were all really funny and looked like Brad or Angelina. Now it feels like we’re all on the cast of “The Biggest Loser” – well before any of the weight comes off. But don’t fret – we can still drop the weight and get that extra skin surgically removed.
And I’m not even talking about Parker or O’Keefe.
We’re running the ball and we’re stopping the run. Trust me – there are many, many teams with a 4-2 or even 5-1 record that we’d beat. But we’re giving away the ball at an alarming rate. And they’re not the type of turnovers where you say “Darn! We coulda went up by 21 if we didn’t throw that pick!” Nope…it’s the “OHMYGOD THAT FREAKING KILLED US!” type. These typically happen in the red zone or deep in our own territory to give the other team a FG.
How did a pretty good Saints team lose to a pretty bad Vikings team last Monday night?…even though the Saints had 100 more yards on offense and scored two TD’s on special teams? Because they turned the ball over FOUR TIMES. Doesn’t matter if it’s the NFL, College, High School, or a video game…if you turn the ball over you don’t typically win the game. I partly blame myself for not bringing it up every week so reverse the jinx. I even tempted fate last week by saying that I didn’t think we’d turn the ball over this week.
The good news is that last week Ferentz didn’t have any poop bubbles that gave him a gut-ache; he kept Stanzi in the whole game. I thought Stanzi looked good – except when he looked really bad. Hey folks – we wanted this young QB to play and this is what we’re gonna typically get: bad INT’s and stupid fumbles. All of that is palpable if you throw a nice pass fairly often – and that’s exactly what Stanzi is doing. I’d have to say that 98.1% of Hawk fans want Stanzi in there over Jake, and I’m certainly one of them. I just hope the last two weeks (along with the ISU game) are enough experience for Stanzi to move forward. Simply put, I hope he plays the same minus the turnovers.
Week 7:
Iowa Hawkeyes @ Indiana Hoosiers (11AM, BTN) Line: Iowa by 5)
I’m not sure if I’ve even been more clueless trying to predict a line on a game than I was on this one. I mean…the Hawks have lost three games in a row…but they’ve all been by 5 points or less. This game is on the road…but the Hawks have a better record. I still don’t know if I hate this line or love it.
I cannot figure out this Hoosiers team. They play well offensively…until they don’t. The give up passing yards like crazy and do OK against the run…until the next team torches them on the ground. The have a good offense, and it all runs through Kellen Lewis. He’s a dual-threat guy, and you KNOW how we suck against those guys.
GAME:
OK. I always harp on politicians because they’re so full of shit and they’ll give you an answer even thought they don’t know sheee-it. So I’m going to freely admit that I don’t have any idea what to expect. Here are the pro’s and con’s going through my head about our ability to win this game:
* PRO - Our defense is playing well.
* CON - But not against this type of offense.
* PRO - Shonn Greene will run all over these guys.
* CON - Rick Stanzi will turn it over.
* PRO - Indiana isn’t that good.
* CON - They never are when we play them…but we still seem to get beat by ‘em.
My gut feeling is that we’re going to put it all together and blow them out. But then all the CON’S thoughts above creep into my head. We really need this win. If we don’t get it, I’m not sure we can put things together to make a bowl run. So the last time I really, really, REALLY wanted a win (ISU) I predicted a loss to help fight the Football Gods. And since I don’t know what the hell to expect on Saturday:
Indiana Hoosiers 28 – Iowa Hawkeyes 24
Week 7 “Precarious Predictions”
YTD NCAA Record 19-15-6
Last Week 3-2-1
Iowa ATS 3-1
I know the Iowa season is zapping some of your fire from your college football gut. DON’T LET IT! GAMBLE ON THESE GAME SO YOU CARE ABOUT THEM!
Games of note:
Thursday
Clemson @ #21 Wake Forest – 6:30PM / ESPN-HD / Line: Wake by 2.5
Not a bad Thursday night game! Can Clemson get things back on track? Does a win at Wake really signify that? I don’t know…I just know that both of these team are coming off of disappointing losses and I’m SICK of losing money on betting against the home team on Thursday nights.
Wake covers.
Saturday
Minnesota @ Illinois – 11:00AM / ESPN-HD / Line: Illinois by 12
Don’t look now…but the Minnesota Gophers are pretty good. In the least…they’re not that bad. However…winning at home against bad teams and winning on the road against pretty good teams is usually the last hurdle a re-building program will take. I don’t think they’re there yet, and I think Illinois getting back home will really recharge them.
Illinois covers.
Purdue @ Ohio State – 2:30PM / ABC-HD / Line: OSU by 19
Shhhh…we’re still Ohio State. (But we’ll keep it a secret for another few weeks.) I was a little surprised when I saw the line this high.
Purdue and the points.
#21 Michigan State @ Northwestern – 2:30PM / ESPN2-HD / Line: MSU by 2
In the “Battle of We Just Beat Iowa” - I could see this game going a few different directions. It’s hard for me to think that Northwestern will slow down Sparty…but there’s THREE bigger things weighing on my mind: 1) Northwestern is at home, 2) Northwestern is coming off a bye, 3) Sparty is beat up after our game.
Northwestern covers.
Notre Dame @ #22 North Carolina – 2:30, ABC-HD, Line: NC by 8.5
I still don’t believe in Notre Dame…ESPECIALLY when they’re on the road.
UNC Covers.
#17 Oklahoma State #3 Missouri – 7:00, ESPN2-HD, Line: Missouri by 14
Tough line (seems high), but as of right now…I’m not sure you should pick against Missouri until somebody slows them down. The best pick here is probably the OVER – as ridiculously high as it is (78) – because these are 2 of the best offenses in the country.
Missouri covers.
The biggest thing for me is that I don’t think Colt McCoy can do everything in this game…which is precisely what he’s done so far this year. Along with Missouri’s Chase Daniel, these are the two best QB’s in the country. I like the fact that Sam Bradford (Oklahoma) will be able to do more by doing less.
Also…I think Bob Stoops and Oklahoma have a Texas-sized chip on their shoulder this year.
Sooners covers.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO HAWKS!
-Jeffrey the Greek!
Posted by Jeff Buch 
