Yep, it's largely the "find ways to lose regardless of opponent" aspect that keeps me from declaring ISU would be something like 7-4 right now vs. Iowa's schedule.
I think 6-6 would be reaslistic, though, even with our flaws. Northwestern is horrible, we'd have to try really hard to lose that. And if ISU played Frost-version Nebraska (that is, in September-ish) that's probably a win.
RU, UW, Minnesota, those could depend on what point in the season it occurred, maybe we'd eke out one of them, or we'd have it within grasp and not finish the job (more likely)
Only saving grace vs. UM and UW is that they can't get out of their own way either.
Being fundamentally sound is the difference.