Athlon Prediction

**cycloneace55** · 06-16-2008, 09:47 AM

OK so over the weekend I picked up the Athlon Sports NCAA Football preseason magazine. I quickly scanned the pages to find Iowa State and found them with a preseason ranking of 82nd in the nation. While I can't argue this ranking I am not really happy about it. Though on further review they have the Iowa Hawkeyes ranked at 38th. Yeah thats what I thought too, 38th are they kidding? I read the writeup they did and could not find the support for this ranking. They seemed to think the QB was special in some way but I think they just love the big 10 since I thought most of the Big 10 teams were over rated.

**Rogue52** · 06-16-2008, 09:50 AM

Big 10 teams are overrated in every sports media outlet in the United States.

**kingcy** · 06-16-2008, 09:56 AM

Iowa's QB is ok, I thought he did good against ISU. His line is a problem and signs dont point to it being much better. Iowa will always be overrated, for some reason. It will take a lot ISU to get respect, for clear reasons.

**brianhos** · 06-16-2008, 09:57 AM

Iowa has a ridiculously easy schedule this year, they should easily cruise into a bowl game, so I think their 38th is about right.

**CYdTracked** · 06-16-2008, 09:57 AM

We won 3 games last year and lost several key contributors to graduation on both sides of the ball, what did you expect to see us rated at?

**Cyclonesrule91** · 06-16-2008, 10:17 AM

Who gives a rip about preseason rankings. All they are are the opinions of this guy or that guy. I have never put much faith in them.

On the flip side though, I would much rather finish better then where some joker ranked us preseason like I think ISU has the chance vs. finishing worse (or much worser hopefully) then a preseason ranking like EIU is destined just like most years. Although looking at it through an objective person it would be hard to argue with the rankings.

By the way, that is intentional bad grammar in the quotes, for all you critiquers out there.....

**hobbsfan27** · 06-16-2008, 10:20 AM

Iowa is always overated in every thing besides wrestling.

**Cyclonestate78** · 06-16-2008, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by hobbsfan27

Iowa is always overated in every thing besides wrestling.

I couldn't agree with you more. There is some lovefest with EIU and the Big Ten in general in the national media. I guess that is what makes it so satisfying to watch Big Ten teams go out and get punked on the field. Ohio State getting trounced by Florida and LSU, Michigan falling to Texas in the Rose Bowl a few years back, Iowa getting manhandled by USC in the Orange Bowl.... or the 2000 Big Ten co-champs Northwestern get blasted by Nebraska in the Alamo Bowl 66-17. It's priceless.

**Cy Heavy** · 06-16-2008, 11:56 AM

Originally Posted by brianhos

Iowa has a ridiculously easy schedule this year, they should easily cruise into a bowl game, so I think their 38th is about right.

They'll still find a way to go 6-6
Our ranking is about right, I envision anywhere from 4-6 wins for us and I think we'll breakout in 2009.

**DJK15** · 06-16-2008, 12:03 PM

Maine - W
FL Int'l - W
ISU - W
@ Pitt - L
Northwestern - W
@ MSU - L
@ Indiana - W
Wisconsin - W
@ Illinois - L
PSU - L
Purdue - W
@ Minnesota - W

Hawks go 8-4 this season.

**Rogue52** · 06-16-2008, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by DJK15

Maine - W
FL Int'l - W
ISU - W
@ Pitt - L
Northwestern - W
@ MSU - L
@ Indiana - W
Wisconsin - W
@ Illinois - L
PSU - L
Purdue - W
@ Minnesota - W

Hawks go 8-4 this season.

You're assuming that Iowa City has figured out Northwestern and Indiana...

**SeattleClone** · 06-16-2008, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by cycloneace55

OK so over the weekend I picked up the Athlon Sports NCAA Football preseason magazine. I quickly scanned the pages to find Iowa State and found them with a preseason ranking of 82nd in the nation. While I can't argue this ranking I am not really happy about it. Though on further review they have the Iowa Hawkeyes ranked at 38th. Yeah thats what I thought too, 38th are they kidding? I read the writeup they did and could not find the support for this ranking. They seemed to think the QB was special in some way but I think they just love the big 10 since I thought most of the Big 10 teams were over rated.

He is special, in a short-bus kind of way.

**kingcy** · 06-16-2008, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by Rogue52

You're assuming that Iowa City has figured out Northwestern and Indiana...

And ISU and Mid Major schools.

**hoosman** · 06-16-2008, 12:48 PM

Phil Steele's magazine has us as rated 82nd. He had a huge amount of backup data. I've seen us now predicted as 81, 82, and 81.

He says we were dead last in punt returns (2.3 yards/catch) and were 115th in special teams play last year.

We should be one of the 10 ten most improved rushing teams this year but our passing game will be very weak (last in B12).

We were one of the least injured teams last year, and PS says this is an anomaly which will catch up with us this year. Conversely, we had a negative turnover margin last year and that should even itself out this year.

I think our QBs will need to be effective from day one because the caliber of defensive play only gets tougher as we move into the conference schedule, so they won't be gaining much advantage even if they do progress in their skills.

He also pointed out that we lost all our road games last year and we have pretty tough home games this year.

I wish I could say he was being biased, but he appears to be very methodical in his predictions. I am citing his details from memory - so they might be a little fuzzy.

However, I still am hopeful that if we minmize injuries (again), have a breakout year with QBs, and attain mediocrity in special teams, we should be able to improve our record by 2-3 games this year.

I am looking forward to September. Go Clones.

**AirWalke** · 06-16-2008, 04:44 PM

Phil Steele doesn't have a bias, but he can be off on some predictions, and dead-on with others. I love the magazine though, because a lot of it is just pure stats and numbers... no fluff and full-page pictures of players from top 10 teams, like Athlon is often victim of.