2012 Game by Game predictions

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nickhawk

Well-Known Member
I am not as doom and gloom as most fans seem to be heading into this season.

I know that the D-line, RB and Receiver play and overall depth will be a concern, but based on the schedule that we face, I still think that a very good season is on tap.

My game by game take:

Northern Illinois: 1st game jitters expected and NIU has proven to be a team capable of an upset, but Hawks leave Soldier Field with a victory.

Game prediction: Hawks win 27-23 Overall Record: 1-0

Iowa State: Hawks need to start fast and prevent the Clones from getting any early momentum.
Game prediction: Hawks win 31-20 Overall Record: 2-0

UNI: Home game against a Division II opponent – Hawks will score early and often and hold off a late rally.
Game prediction: Hawks win 37-27 Overall Record: 3-0

Central Michigan: Offense puts up big numbers in final tune up before Big 10 play.
Game prediction: Hawks win 38-23 Overall Record: 4-0

Minnesota: Hawks get Floyd back after 2 lackluster performances against the Gophers.
Game prediction: Hawks win 34-24 Overall Record: 5-0

At Northwestern: Hawks continue to struggle against the Cats.
Game prediction: Hawks lose 34-24 Overall Record: 5-1

At Indiana: Hawks get their only Big 10 road win of the season.
Game prediction: Hawks win 37-27 Overall Record: 6-1

Penn State: Home cooking helps Hawks start a new winning streak over PSU.
Game prediction: Hawks win 24-20 Overall Record: 7-1

At Michigan State: MSU exposes our D-line and runs away with a victory.
Game prediction: Hawks lose 31-13 Overall Record: 7-2

Purdue: Hawks win a tight one.
Game prediction: Hawks win 31-30 Overall Record: 8-2

At Michigan: Denard has a huge day rushing and the Hawks go down hard.
Game prediction: Hawks lose 34-10 Overall Record: 8-3

Nebraska: Vandenberg and Keenan Davis have huge Senior days to propel Hawks to upset win.
Game prediction: Hawks win 27-24 Overall Record: 9-3
 
I don't see the PSU or Nebby wins with this defense. Both are run oriented offenses and our D is going to better suited to fight the pass this year, but not the run.
 
nickhawk said:
I am not as doom and gloom as most fans seem to be heading into this season.

I know that the D-line, RB and Receiver play and overall depth will be a concern, but based on the schedule that we face, I still think that a very good season is on tap.

My game by game take:

Northern Illinois: 1st game jitters expected and NIU has proven to be a team capable of an upset, but Hawks leave Soldier Field with a victory.

Game prediction: Hawks win 27-23 Overall Record: 1-0

Iowa State: Hawks need to start fast and prevent the Clones from getting any early momentum.
Game prediction: Hawks win 31-20 Overall Record: 2-0

UNI: Home game against a Division II opponent – Hawks will score early and often and hold off a late rally.
Game prediction: Hawks win 37-27 Overall Record: 3-0

Central Michigan: Offense puts up big numbers in final tune up before Big 10 play.
Game prediction: Hawks win 38-23 Overall Record: 4-0

Minnesota: Hawks get Floyd back after 2 lackluster performances against the Gophers.
Game prediction: Hawks win 34-24 Overall Record: 5-0

At Northwestern: Hawks continue to struggle against the Cats.
Game prediction: Hawks lose 34-24 Overall Record: 5-1

At Indiana: Hawks get their only Big 10 road win of the season.
Game prediction: Hawks win 37-27 Overall Record: 6-1

Penn State: Home cooking helps Hawks start a new winning streak over PSU.
Game prediction: Hawks win 24-20 Overall Record: 7-1

At Michigan State: MSU exposes our D-line and runs away with a victory.
Game prediction: Hawks lose 31-13 Overall Record: 7-2

Purdue: Hawks win a tight one.
Game prediction: Hawks win 31-30 Overall Record: 8-2

At Michigan: Denard has a huge day rushing and the Hawks go down hard.
Game prediction: Hawks lose 34-10 Overall Record: 8-3

Nebraska: Vandenberg and Keenan Davis have huge Senior days to propel Hawks to upset win.
Game prediction: Hawks win 27-24 Overall Record: 9-3
Click to expand...

Someone has taken advantage of the holiday.
 
I'm not going to try to predict the last seven games but I continue to hold firm like I have for months now that Iowa will open up 5-0. Book it.
 
Iowa will beat NW this year. NW has no running backs,and a bad offensive line. Colter is a shaky passer,but a good runner. Tackle him and we will be fine. Their defense lost 9 key contributors,and it was bad last year. Iowa 31 NW 20.

It think Nebraska has too much for Iowa this year. Otherwise, I can see the rest of these picks as reasonable.
 
I see Iowa sitting at 8-4 or 9-3 ... Losses to MSU, Michigan, (maybe) Nebraska. A fourth loss could sneak against a NW or Indiana (games we should win so hopefully the mentality/approach will be different and we will stop losing games we should win). This is a very favorable schedule (of course, so was last year).

I do think we will be just fine on the dline front. It may take time to get settled on a regular rotation; players will have to make adjustments with a new coordinator on both sides of the ball (and new coaches in general). But I think the talent is there. Our dbacks will be our strength; our linebackers will be improved. Our Oline will be solid; Vandy will have a good senior season; we will find a running back(s) platoon; CJ will end up all Big 10 (the guy is flatout talented and Davis knows it and knows he will need to depend a lot on the tight ends this year); and we will find a nice receiver rotation.

We should get six wins at a minimum just for putting our helmets on (not being overconfident; simply stating we have a very favorable schedule). I think this team will show something that has been lacking the past few seasons: getting better as the season progresses.

Yes, we could just as easily finish 7-5 ... But I don't see it this year. I see a program that will be getting back on track this season; I see an injection of a new attitude with the players and the new coaches. I see Kirk being re-energized.

I think 8-4 or 9-3 is very realistic. If our schedule was tougher this year, I would lean more toward the 7-5 or 6-6. The only home game we may lose is Nebby. PSU and ISU will not leave Iowa City with wins.

Of course, anything I just wrote (or anyone else writes) really means nothing at this time of year. But hey, it is fun to project and I do think we will see a different Iowa team, and a different program moving forward.
 
Last edited:
nickhawk said:
I am not as doom and gloom as most fans seem to be heading into this season.

I know that the D-line, RB and Receiver play and overall depth will be a concern, but based on the schedule that we face, I still think that a very good season is on tap.

My game by game take:

Northern Illinois: 1st game jitters expected and NIU has proven to be a team capable of an upset, but Hawks leave Soldier Field with a victory.

Game prediction: Hawks win 27-23 Overall Record: 1-0

Iowa State: Hawks need to start fast and prevent the Clones from getting any early momentum.
Game prediction: Hawks win 31-20 Overall Record: 2-0

UNI: Home game against a Division II opponent – Hawks will score early and often and hold off a late rally.
Game prediction: Hawks win 37-27 Overall Record: 3-0

Central Michigan: Offense puts up big numbers in final tune up before Big 10 play.
Game prediction: Hawks win 38-23 Overall Record: 4-0

Minnesota: Hawks get Floyd back after 2 lackluster performances against the Gophers.
Game prediction: Hawks win 34-24 Overall Record: 5-0

At Northwestern: Hawks continue to struggle against the Cats.
Game prediction: Hawks lose 34-24 Overall Record: 5-1

At Indiana: Hawks get their only Big 10 road win of the season.
Game prediction: Hawks win 37-27 Overall Record: 6-1

Penn State: Home cooking helps Hawks start a new winning streak over PSU.
Game prediction: Hawks win 24-20 Overall Record: 7-1

At Michigan State: MSU exposes our D-line and runs away with a victory.
Game prediction: Hawks lose 31-13 Overall Record: 7-2

Purdue: Hawks win a tight one.
Game prediction: Hawks win 31-30 Overall Record: 8-2

At Michigan: Denard has a huge day rushing and the Hawks go down hard.
Game prediction: Hawks lose 34-10 Overall Record: 8-3

Nebraska: Vandenberg and Keenan Davis have huge Senior days to propel Hawks to upset win.
Game prediction: Hawks win 27-24 Overall Record: 9-3
Click to expand...

are_u_on_drugs.jpg
 
I need to see them play a couple games first. If Garmon is the real deal that would change my opinion on this season dramatically.
 
8-4 is doable. Like a lot of Hawkeye teams, it depends on how beat up they are by the end of the season, as depth is always an issue for Iowa.
 
Almost every unit in 2012 will be better imo than the 2011 version. There is no need to even debate that OL, TEs, QB, LBs, and DBs will be better. That leaves DL, RB, and WR -- imo these spots also will be improved/better due a synergistic (yes, I said that) combination of personnel and schemes.

If any *one* of the following were to happen, that should be enough to cement 9 wins in the regular season:

(1) Vandenberg elevates his mental game against the blitz to average level (basically doesn't panic as long as protection is holding).
(2) 4 of 5 top Linebackers stay healthy
(3) Alvis and C.Davis are both healthy enough to contribute

If 2 or more of the above materialize, the possibilities are tantalizing. We definitely have weak links but we also have experience (with said weak links) to build upon.

Other thoughts:

This year I expect that Iowa won't suffer from the effects of lop-sided TOPs. The combination of a good OL, decent tight-ends, a senior QB and Davis' schemes (from what I can surmise from his interviews) will do the trick on offense. An aggressive scheme will concomitantly keep the D from prolonged exposure -- we will give up big plays occasionally but on the positive we won't wear down either.
 
No I have not taken advantage of the weed holiday and I am not on drugs. I think 9 wins is a realistic possibility so if u don't agree post the losses that u see happening that I don't and we can compare at the end of the year instead of posting one sentence jabs and coming across as total d-bags. Peace.
 
nickhawk said:
No I have not taken advantage of the weed holiday and I am not on drugs. I think 9 wins is a realistic possibility so if u don't agree post the losses that u see happening that I don't and we can compare at the end of the year instead of posting one sentence jabs and coming across as total d-bags. Peace.
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Putin-Medvedev-he-mad.jpg
 
Hawkfromnorwalk said:
I'm not going to try to predict the last seven games but I continue to hold firm like I have for months now that Iowa will open up 5-0. Book it.
Click to expand...

Me too. I'm even with the op thru 6-1 with the following corrections ...

MSU and PSU come before NwU and Indy. I think Iowa will split MSU and PSU to be sitting at 6-1 and going to NwU.

This is where the wheels come off as the Hawks struggle to finish 6-6 / 7-5.
-- MSU and PSU will torment Iowa's run D and both will be emotional slugfests. Then it's on the road to NwU. It doesn't matter if NwU has no running back -- they haven't for a couple seasons. Colter (aka, Persa II) will do what NwU always does to Hawks -- hang around. It will be crappy weather in Evanston. Iowa won last year so it's back to losing a couple to them (even though they shouldn't). 6-2
-- Indiana is back-to-back roadie and Iowa has barely escaped them too many times. This has all the trappings for Indy gets its "signature" win. I say it's 50/50 so either 6-3 or 7-2.
-- Purdue is going to be a tough prep for this defense and will put all the pressure on the weakness of the DL (who will struggle to get pressure, anyway, let alone against the quick-passing, dink-dunk attack) and the LB's (who are not great in space or the underneath routes). It's at home but it won't be easy. 6-4 or 7-3 or 8-2.
-- No way 'laces goes 0-fer in his career against Iowa, especially against this D where the DE's are going to be undersized, 1st year players trying to contain him. As Thunderhawk mentioned with Nebraska ... 6-5 or 7-4 or 8-3.
-- Nebraska (see above) 6-6 or 7-5 or 8-4.

I see 30% chance of 6-6, 50% chance of 7-5, 20% chance of 8-4.
 
Nope, not mad, just like reading legit responses rather than snarky one line replies. If I was mad I would post something like don't mess with the bull if u don't want the horns or dont mess with Texas. Ghost - go ahead and post a pic of George W. Bush making devil horns with his fingers - I am sure u have that pic in your arsenal!
 
nickhawk said:
Nope, not mad, just like reading legit responses rather than snarky one line replies. If I was mad I would post something like don't mess with the bull if u don't want the horns or dont mess with Texas. Ghost - go ahead and post a pic of George W. Bush making devil horns with his fingers - I am sure u have that pic in your arsenal!
Click to expand...

No brah, I'm going to stand back to teh alpha male. I don't want teh horns.

As to le OP, of teh 9 wins you posted, one is a certain loss (Nebraska), one is probably going to be a loss (Penn State), and two wouldn't surprise me if we lost (ISU and Minnesota).
 
ISUer and all the other cyclone fans are predicting an undefeated season and a national title game win ....so how could we beat them this year? ;)
 
JHHawk said:
Iowa will beat NW this year. NW has no running backs,and a bad offensive line. Colter is a shaky passer,but a good runner. Tackle him and we will be fine. Their defense lost 9 key contributors,and it was bad last year. Iowa 31 NW 20.

It think Nebraska has too much for Iowa this year. Otherwise, I can see the rest of these picks as reasonable.
Click to expand...

You do realize they have the top recruit in the country from 2010 Colter can throw to now. He's 6'6", 215lb and will be a beast to handle. They don't need a RB with him. Prater will be the best WR in Big Ten.
 
Chicago is as far as we travel during the 1st 5 weeks of the season....and that one may as well be a home game. I don't see any way, barring a major injury, that we drop any of those 1st 5 games. I don't know that there's a team in the country that starts off as easy as we do in the first 5 games. You couldn't ask for a better starting schedule with a new coaching staff, an inexperienced DLine, and a QB that plays like Joe Montana at home and Joe Mantegna on the road.

After that, it's a crap shoot. The interesting thing will be to see how we handle the momentum assuming we do start 5-0. Momentum in college football does crazy things (see Hawkeyes circa 2009). The unfortunate thing is that we go into the bye week in week 6. In a year like this, with the home dates frontloaded and the schedule so soft in the first 5 weeks, it's too bad we don't have that bye week a few weeks later.

I still say 8-4 is the floor this year.
 
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