THIS!…IS…SPARTA!!!

Hello Football Fans! (Sorry for the delay – crazy work week.)

“Life is all about how you handle plan B.”

- Anonymous

The only thought that I’ve continuously had going through my head since Saturday is this: That woulda been sooooocool if we pulled that off.  Ya know?  I have to admit that when we were up 17-3, absolutely GOUGING the Wildcats on the ground with Shonn Greene…I turned to Dick Galligan (with Shlitz still running through my veins) and said: “IT’S OVER!  We’re KILLING them!”  Ooops.  3 turnovers later (with the two we already had) we lost the game.

The point I’m trying to make is that I would have obviousy took the blowout win over the loss, but giving them five (5!) turnovers and STILL having the chance to win the game on the goal-line…if…IF we pulled that off…that would have been AWESOME!!!  I think this could have been a spring-board game like Purdue was in 2002.  But we didn’t.  So it wasn’t.

The fact are this – since the Warren Hallowaycatch in the Capital One Bowl – we are 2-9 in games that are decided by 6 points or less.  Switching that around to just 6-5 (a four game difference) would have given us wins (let’s just say) 0ver: 1) Texas in the Alamo Bowl in 2006, 2) ISU last year, 3) Wisconsin last year, 4) Pitt (or) Northwestern this year.  That would make a HUGE difference in our program and our overall feeling towards it.  Instead…we’re left with a very, VERY empty feeling for the next 8 games.  Leaving Kinnick on Saturday was like leaving the biggest funeral ever.  (Which was probably topped last night while people filed out of Wrigley Field.  Hurumph.)

We’re still a good team. I honestly think that and I believe that most Iowa fans do too.  Also, from the comments I read after the game and this week, our football team believes it as well.  I already list the things that we’re doing well last week – and we did them on Saturday again!  But all of that is thrown out the door like a Jake Christensen bounce-pass when you turn the ball over 5 times.

Week 5:

Iowa Hawkeyes @ Michigan State Spartans (11AM, ESPN2) Line: MSU by 6.5

This line started at 8 and has worked it’s way down 6.5…I think many people around the country see what I see: This is a good match-up for the Hawks.  They run the ball – we stop the run.  We can’t stop team from throwing on us – their QB is struggling.   Mix in the fact that Michigan State’s defense looked like ca-ca-poo-poo…there’s reason to believe that we can pull this off.

The real question to me is this: Does Michigan State and Mark Dantonio change things up offensively?  After last week it’s fairly obvious that we struggle against a patient, short, deliberate passing game.  Michigan State doesn’t do that – they run the ball, and run the ball, and run it some more.  The big story line for this game will be Michigan State’s Javon Ringeragainst our Shonn Greene.  They’re #1 and #2, respectively, in the Big Ten in rushing – and are #2 and #4 NATIONALLY in rushing!

Game:

This is the game that I expect – and it doesn’t take a brain scientist or a rocket surgeon to figure it out:  Run, run, run…take a shot in the passing game when you get the chance…then run some more.  If one team busts a play on special teams (or fumbles the bally away…hurumph) that team will win.  Same goes for the team that creates turnovers – I just don’t expect that this week.  I think we’ll hold onto the ball after last week.  Defensively, WE NEED TO FORCE THEM INTO 2nd and 3rd AND LONGS!  But I don’t think we’ll force any turnovers (as we haven’t been able to get to the QB all year) and we’ll be focusing on Ringer all day in the first place.

Michigan State 31 – Iowa 27

Week 5 “Precarious Predictions”

YTD NCAA Record  16-13-5

Last week              6-3-1

Iowa ATS                2-1

Other Good Games:

#6 Penn State @ Purdue (11am, ESPN, Line: Penn State by 14)

I think Penn State is due for a clunker – although they still win.  Purdue is a better team than they showed last week.

Purdue and the points.

Illinois @ Meeechigan (2:30PM, ABC, Line: Meeechigan by 2)

I still don’t believe in Illinois – although it makes me nervous that Meeechigan will have a let-down after last week’s emotional game.  But you could say the same for Illinois, and they’re on the road.

Meeechigan covers.

# 4 Missouri @ Nebraska (8pm, ESPN, Line: Missouri by 10.5)

I’m surprised that Nebraska served up that shitburgerthat they did last weekend – my new buddy (and co-worker/Nebraska fan Russ) tells me that the Cornhuskers look better, but still don’t look good.  I just have a feeling that they’ll play better at home this week.

Nebraska and the points.

#23 Oregon @ #9 USC (7PM, ABC, Line: USC by 16)

I don’t know why this line is THIS high.  I get that Oregon’s QB is hurt, and that this game is at USC, and that they’re hotter than a hornet after last week but….wait…that’s why that line is so high.

USC covers.

Game of the Week:

#14 Ohio State @ #18 Wisconsin (7PM, ABC, Line: OSU by 1)

The 1 point line tells me that the Guidos are as confused by this game as I am.  My quick-shootin’ feeling telss me this: Wisconsin was a little over-rated going into that Meeechigan game last week.  Also, I think OSU should have started TerellPryor (I’ll never spell his name correctly) the first week of the season; he’s amazing and he makes them a better team.  Also, Beanie Wells is back and ready to kill.  However, Camp Randall has been a tough place for the mighty Buckeyes to visit over the years.

I just don’t think Wisconsin is as good as people think – and OSU is a little better than people think.

OSU covers.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GO HAWKS!

-Jeffrey the Greek!