5.Purdue Boilermakers (Nov 21, TBD)
Purdue is 1-6 and is 0-3 in the Big Ten. Purdue has just been plain awful under third year head coach Darrell Hazell. Hazell has five wins as head coach, with three of them being against FCS foes, and one Big Ten conference game, in 2014 at Illinois.
Purdue has had three different quarterback start at least 3 games. They have a bad punting game, below average defense, and an average offense.
But, if Iowa goes 10-0 into this game with a chance to clinch the Big Ten West, this could be a trap game with a road trip to Nebraska up next. Purdue will most likely come in 1-9, and play with nothing to lose, inculding the possibility that Hazell will lose his job after this season. But, I think Iowa will come out big winners in this game.
4. Maryland Terrapins(Oct 31, 2:30 CT)
This is Iowa's first game after the bye. Maryland comes in at 2-5 and 0-3 in the Big Ten East. Maryland has struggled mightily this year as expected, and former head coach Randy Edsall got fired after the Terps fell to 2-3 after getting beat by the Ohio State Buckeyes.
The Terps have had struggles stopping teams from putting points on the board all season, allowing 34.1 points against, which is ranked 107, just behind Purdue. They will go against Iowa's 44th ranked offense and 20th ranked rushing offense.
Maryland's offense isn't very good either. Led by Perry Ellis, they have the 104th ranked pass offense against Iowa's 59th ranked rush defense.
As in the Purdue game, I think that the Hawkeyes will win easily at home.
3.Minnesota Golden Gophers(Nov 14, 7:00 CT)
The legendary Floyd of Rosedale will be fought for under the lights at Kinnick Stadium this year. Minnesota has had a tough schedule this year. They almost beat 2. TCU at home, and it's not getting any easier. This game will be the end of a gauntlet three week stretch that goes 15 Michigan, at 1 Ohio State, and at 10 Iowa. The Gophers are going to have a tough time going bowling this year, already being at 4-3 and 1-2 in the Big Ten.
Minnesota will also have an interim head coach, after seizures from epilepsy caused Jerry Kill to retire, leaving Tracy Claeys the job for the rest of the season.
Minnesota is a fairly strong defensive team, but is a very poor offensive team, averaging 20.4 points a game, including getting shoutout at Northwestern, a team Iowa beat 40-10 on the road.
I expect this one to be pretty close, but I think Iowa has more talent and the home field advantage at night is huge. I think Iowa will win.
2. @Indiana Hoosiers(Nov 7, TBD)
You know you have a favorable remaining schedule when the Indiana Hoosiers are one of your toughest opponents remaining. Indiana is 4-4 and 0-4 in the Big Ten East. So, another team that has struggled badly in the Big Ten. That includes a blown 25 point lead with 20 minutes left over lowly Rutgers at home.
Indiana's offense goes through the running back, the transfer from UAB Jordan Howard. But, him and quarterback, Nate Sudfeld have missed some time and need to both be healthy if the Hoosiers are going to have a chance. It will be an interesting matchup between Iowa's stout run defense.
But, Indiana cannot stop teams from scoring. And with Iowa's great run game and C.J Beathard, this is a good matchup for Iowa. I expect Iowa to win this game not handily, but it shouldn't be closer than two scores.
1. @Nebraska Cornhuskers(Nov 27, TBD)
This has been a down year for the Cornhuskers. They are 3-5 and 1-3 in the Big Ten. But, four of those losses came in the opposing team's last drive, including on a hail mary in the first game of the season against BYU.
Coming into this game, most likely Nebraska will be 5-6 fighting to just get into a lowly bowl game. But this is still a tough game. If Iowa comes into this game 11-0, Nebraska would not let their rivals come in without a fight.
Nebraska is really not good at anything, their defense isn't the Blackshirt defense it used to be, and the offense, led by Tommy Armstrong, Jr., who doesn't really fit into new head coach Mike Riley's scheme.
I expect this game to be a low scoring battle that the Hawkeyes should win, and go into the Big Ten Championship at 12-0 with a great bowl game clinched and a big upset away from playing in the College Football Playoff.
2. @Indiana Hoosiers(Nov 7, TBD)
You know you have a favorable remaining schedule when the Indiana Hoosiers are one of your toughest opponents remaining. Indiana is 4-4 and 0-4 in the Big Ten East. So, another team that has struggled badly in the Big Ten. That includes a blown 25 point lead with 20 minutes left over lowly Rutgers at home.
Indiana's offense goes through the running back, the transfer from UAB Jordan Howard. But, him and quarterback, Nate Sudfeld have missed some time and need to both be healthy if the Hoosiers are going to have a chance. It will be an interesting matchup between Iowa's stout run defense.
But, Indiana cannot stop teams from scoring. And with Iowa's great run game and C.J Beathard, this is a good matchup for Iowa. I expect Iowa to win this game not handily, but it shouldn't be closer than two scores.
1. @Nebraska Cornhuskers(Nov 27, TBD)
This has been a down year for the Cornhuskers. They are 3-5 and 1-3 in the Big Ten. But, four of those losses came in the opposing team's last drive, including on a hail mary in the first game of the season against BYU.
Coming into this game, most likely Nebraska will be 5-6 fighting to just get into a lowly bowl game. But this is still a tough game. If Iowa comes into this game 11-0, Nebraska would not let their rivals come in without a fight.
Nebraska is really not good at anything, their defense isn't the Blackshirt defense it used to be, and the offense, led by Tommy Armstrong, Jr., who doesn't really fit into new head coach Mike Riley's scheme.
I expect this game to be a low scoring battle that the Hawkeyes should win, and go into the Big Ten Championship at 12-0 with a great bowl game clinched and a big upset away from playing in the College Football Playoff.
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