Breakdown of 2011 FB Schedule

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nickhawk

Well-Known Member
When I break down the 2011 Football schedule, I classify the games in 1 of 4 categories:

1. Games the Hawks should win (SW)
2. Games the Hawks probably will lose (PL)
3. Toss up game that I think the Hawks will win (TU-W)
4. Toss up game that I think the Hawks will lose (TU-L)

Using that criteria, here is how I would breakdown the 2011 Football Schedule:

Non Conference Slate: 4-0
Week 1 – Tennessee Tech (SW) – Hawks should win big
Week 2 – at Iowa State (SW) – Expect the Hawks to win by at least a TD
Week 3 – Pittsburgh (SW) – Could be a close game but expect a Hawk victory
Week 4 – Louisiana Monroe (SW) – Hawks should win big

Big 10 Slate: 5-3
At Penn State (TU-L) – Tough game especially right outta the gate
Northwestern (TU-W) – I hope we beat the Cats by 30+ and run it up
Indiana – (SW) - Need to beat this team big in Kinnick
At Minnesota (SW) – Prove that last year was a fluke – get the pig back
Michigan (TU-W) – Lotta points in this game but Hawks win
Michigan State (TU-W) – MSU will be solid, but Hawks win at home
At Purdue (TU-L) – Hawks don’t play well at Purdue – trap game
At Nebraska (PL) – Toughest game on the Schedule

Overall, I think there will be quite a few close games and I think the Hawks record in games decided by 7 points or less will determine the difference between a good and a possibly great season. I see most of the preseason mags predicting either a 7-5 or 8-4 season for the Hawks, and I think the Hawks will get back to overachieving this season.

I have the Hawks pegged at 9-3 overall and 5-3 in the Big 10.
 
nickhawk said:
When I break down the 2011 Football schedule, I classify the games in 1 of 4 categories:

1. Games the Hawks should win (SW)
2. Games the Hawks probably will lose (PL)
3. Toss up game that I think the Hawks will win (TU-W)
4. Toss up game that I think the Hawks will lose (TU-L)

Using that criteria, here is how I would breakdown the 2011 Football Schedule:

Non Conference Slate: 4-0
Week 1 – Tennessee Tech (SW) – Hawks should win big
Week 2 – at Iowa State (SW) – Expect the Hawks to win by at least a TD
Week 3 – Pittsburgh (SW) – Could be a close game but expect a Hawk victory
Week 4 – Louisiana Monroe (SW) – Hawks should win big

Big 10 Slate: 5-3
At Penn State (TU-L) – Tough game especially right outta the gate
Northwestern (TU-W) – I hope we beat the Cats by 30+ and run it up
Indiana – (SW) - Need to beat this team big in Kinnick
At Minnesota (SW) – Prove that last year was a fluke – get the pig back
Michigan (TU-W) – Lotta points in this game but Hawks win
Michigan State (TU-W) – MSU will be solid, but Hawks win at home
At Purdue (TU-L) – Hawks don’t play well at Purdue – trap game
At Nebraska (PL) – Toughest game on the Schedule

Overall, I think there will be quite a few close games and I think the Hawks record in games decided by 7 points or less will determine the difference between a good and a possibly great season. I see most of the preseason mags predicting either a 7-5 or 8-4 season for the Hawks, and I think the Hawks will get back to overachieving this season.

I have the Hawks pegged at 9-3 overall and 5-3 in the Big 10.
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I'd give Northwestern a toss-up loss. Persa is back, and until proven otherwise, they have our number.
 
Tennessee Tech (W) obviously
@ Iowa State (win?) better
Pittsburgh (win?) new staff
Louisiana Monroe (W) obviously
@ Penn State (win?) track record
Northwestern (win?) I'm really tired of losing to these nerds
Indiana (W) new staff
@ Minnesota (W) seriously
Michigan (W) new staff
Michigan State (W) track record
@ Purdue (win?) good game
@ Nebraska (loss?) good game

10-2 or 9-3 ... lose 1 or two of the ? games
 
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That is actually a nice schedule. Some tough games in there but it really sets up nice for the Hawks. Could have a good year IMO
 
Penn st, Northwestern, Michigan, and Nebraska the toughest games and IMO we take 2 and lose 2. I'm thinking a 9-3/10-2 season.
 
8-4, Florida bowl trip

How well the non-con goes will determine the rest of the year.....At some point the NW game has to become a must win situation this can't continue.
 
tm3308 said:
I'd give Northwestern a toss-up loss. Persa is back, and until proven otherwise, they have our number.
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I need to take a look at their roster to see who is back and who is not before I put an 'L' beside that game. This game has to be a point of emphasis, whether the coaching staff admits it publicly or not I don't care. To stomach another loss to NW will be brutal and I am speaking just as a schmuck fan.
 
Why is Nebby a loss? Tell me what they have that makes everyone think we will lose that game. I am not saying we won't trip up on a game or two but I think we will own Neb.
 
RADMAN said:
Why is Nebby a loss? Tell me what they have that makes everyone think we will lose that game. I am not saying we won't trip up on a game or two but I think we will own Neb.
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Taylor Martinez and his ability to throw the football or the lack there of.


The Iowa O ability to put up points and the overall health of the D at that point of the season.
 
trj said:
I need to take a look at their roster to see who is back and who is not before I put an 'L' beside that game. This game has to be a point of emphasis, whether the coaching staff admits it publicly or not I don't care. To stomach another loss to NW will be brutal and I am speaking just as a schmuck fan.
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Persa, Ebert, and Dunsmore are all back. That trifecta kills us. I'm not saying we'll lose, but I'm not chalking up wins against Northwestern again, until we start beating them again.
 
Penn State has the best overall combo of talent, experience, and coaching continuity of all our opponents. When you combine that with the fact that the game is @ PSU ... that game probably gives me the most concern.

Past Penn State, I'd probably give the nodd to Nebraska due to the quality of their D ... however, I wouldn't put Michigan State state very far behind them. Michigan State is absolutely loaded with talent on their roster and while their coaches suck when it comes to discipline ... they definitely can coach football.

Then Northwestern and Michigan are about on the same level in my eyes. Both are capable of beating Iowa, but that doesn't mean that they will. I like Iowa's chances of beating Northwestern IF the Iowa D can remain adequately healthy. Iowa's LBs and secondary will arguably be able to match-up better against Northwestern's passing game ... and that will make things harder on Persa. In my estimation, Brady Hoke is one heck of a coach and he has a terrific record of turning programs around (he did a great job at both Ball State and San Diego State). The problem that Hoke might not be quite as used to is managing the egos that you face at Michigan. Michigan is pretty loaded with talent, however, I'm curious about how much of a transition they'll be dealing with on both sides of the ball. Michigan is rather an unknown in my book ... although they're definitely NOT a team I'd overlook.

Pitt is definitely a team who Iowa shouldn't overlook either. Sunseri appears to be a QB capable of gunning the ball around. Also, the new Pitt coach benefits from the fact that Wanny definitely did NOT leave the cupboard bare .... Wanny and Co could definitely recruit.
 
RADMAN said:
Why is Nebby a loss? Tell me what they have that makes everyone think we will lose that game. I am not saying we won't trip up on a game or two but I think we will own Neb.
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Why would we own them? I think it depends on how their offense pans out and how healthy their D is at that point of the season. I'm not sure we can score many points on them.
 
tksirius said:
Those that think we lose to Penn St. must have been in a cave the last ten years.
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We've had a lot of success against them. But past performance really doesn't mean we will beat them. I've got no problem with people thinking that's a troublesome game. Because it is.
 
Unless KOK gets his head out, Iowa can't beat teams that score 20+ points unless our D scores. With all the veterans on the squad last year, we still struggled to move the ball, were predictable (again) and demonstrated 0 creativity. The play it safe approach works when you have a dominant defense, but we don't/
 
tm3308 said:
We've had a lot of success against them. But past performance really doesn't mean we will beat them. I've got no problem with people thinking that's a troublesome game. Because it is.
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You wont pencil the NW game in as a win until we beat them because of past performances but then say this? That doesnt make any sense.

Until proven otherwise I will put the NW game as a loss and the PSU game as a win.
 
I think we lose to PSU and beat NW.
I have them losing to PSU and Neb....and at ISU....9-3(6-2)...and playing OSU in Indy for the Big Ten title...unless the Big Ten grows some balls and bans the lying Tressel and OSU from the inaugural Big Ten Title game...as they should.
 
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