That seems pretty optimistic. Iowa will probably be favored in 3 or at most 4 games this year.
Maine - easy win
Florida International - easy win
ISU - loss. As I've posted before, unless we turn the ball over on our end of the field, this one will be easy. I am greatly encouraged by the strength reports from our training camp that we will be able to push people around on offense, and Iowa's offense is impotent.
Pittsburgh - loss. First road game for Iowa at a team that beat West Virginia while Iowa was losing to Western Michigan.
Northwestern - win. Not big, Iowa won't score enough points to beat anyone big, but Northwestern looks like they're reverting to the Northwestern of old.
Michigan State - loss. Road game and MSU is a hungry team with with a chance at a good bowl game; they also have a 2nd year coach who now has had his system in place for a year.
Indiana - loss. May be closer than it's been in past years since IU lost Hardy, but Iowa cannot defend spread offenses with mobile QB's and strong passing attacks.
Wisconsin - loss. This game is usually close regardless of what the matchup looks like on paper but Wisconsin has won 2 in a row and is much better than Iowa.
Illinois - loss. Illinois recruited a LOT of talent and were young last year. They should be even better in 2008 although it might not show because their schedule is brutal with a lot of tough games, but Iowa is not one of them.
Penn State - loss. This game was a joke last year, about as competitive as a pee-wee team playing a college team. Even if it's closer this year, it won't be close. Iowa is eliminated from bowl eligibility. The
www.firekirkferentz.com website records a record number of hits.
Purdue - loss. Boilermakers will be in a drive for a bowl game for Tiller's retirement year. This game was also a joke last year, see above.
Minnesota - win. This is the one team keeping Iowa and Northwestern out of last place in the Big Ten. Thank God there was nothing to the rumors of us considering Tim Brewster to be our coach. That guy is a wacko.
That's a 4-8 season. The Michigan State and Indiana games are the ones to watch that could get Iowa to 5-7 or 6-6 and a minor bowl game. It would be ugly if those teams were replaced with Michigan and Ohio State on the schedule. Real ugly.
