Dienhart says

[uihawk82]

This could also be an interesting game between the mad-hatter and KF as far as in game decisions. You never know when one of these coaches will make a goofy call.

In 2012 Dantonio directed the spartans to totally blow an end of first half scoring drive which was great for the hawks.

 

[hawkeyebob62]

Prep vs. Oklahoma was solid, but Vandenberg and the WRs greatly disappointed, and the Defense got worn out at the end of the game.

It didn't help that Coker was gone by then, either, or that OL had guys at less-than-100%

 

[Camhawk]

Dienhart is a blowhard. LSU won't know what hit them. Bring on the ***** cats!

 

[doclee]

Question: does anyone know if their #2 QB as the new starter is a really good, elusive, fast runner? the kind that gives the hawks fits.

That used to be the case. Now, not so much.

 

[doclee]

I am not sure LSU is better than sparty or the buckeyes.

MSU, OSU and probably, WI are all better than, or in the same ballpark as LSU. (JMHO)

 

[JHHawk]

MSU, OSU and probably, WI are all better than, or in the same ballpark as LSU. (JMHO)

This is the part that I think he is off the rails .....he basically is saying that LSU, Mizzou,Auburn and Bama are all better than any team in the Big Ten....and he is writing for BTN? BS! So, he is saying that if there was a four team playoff this year, #4 MSU would not merit a spot ahead of any of the SEC teams....he is wrong.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

The beautiful thing about the SEC argument is that we get to refute it on the field every year in our head to head bowl games. If Iowa beats LSU, Wisky beats South Carolina, and Nebraska beats Georgia on New Years Day, then the B10 has something to say. I certainly wish the top two teams in the SEC were meeting the top two teams in the B10...that would be fun. That being said, these are good matchups to see where the conferences are. Unfortunately the SEC has a few built in excuses with Murray and Mettenberger out for the bowl games. I respectfully say, tough ****.

 

[ColoradoHAWKEYE]

I did amend in later post to "biggest challenge", but if you listened (since he was on via phone), it was clear he doesn't expect us to win.

Not sure how the injured/out QB will figure. Not even sure if it already IS being figured into the odds. Once the line is released, you can "sort" of guess. Once betting starts and the lines moves (assuming it will by a half-poin to one and a half points either way leading up to the game), it's tough to tell what impact it has.

I know I NEVER bet football for money, and I would NEVER bet against the Hawks. But it doesn't mean I would always bet ON them, either, when real money involved

Best I can see is most lines opened at LSU -8...went to -7 1/2...and now are down to -7 (with a fairly low 49 O/U).

*of course, there are varying lines depending on which oddsmaker you're looking at.

 

[olddude]

Injuries are part of the game, lord knows we have went into a few bowls limping.

 

[ATLHawkeye]

Question: does anyone know if their #2 QB as the new starter is a really good, elusive, fast runner? the kind that gives the hawks fits.

From all I've read, it sounds like he's more of a dual threat then Mettenberg was. However, he's only taken about 10 snaps in college, so I don't expect him to be the difference. I expect them to let their running backs do most of the work.

 

[MiniMoeHawk]

Pretty sure we didn't have a chance against LSU the last time either. How could Iowa beat the defending national champions? I agree with Matt Roth

 

[hawkeyebob62]

Best I can see is most lines opened at LSU -8...went to -7 1/2...and now are down to -7 (with a fairly low 49 O/U).

*of course, there are varying lines depending on which oddsmaker you're looking at.

You think that O/U is high? I'm "betting" that oddsmakers and bettors don't think we can score.

 

[blubberhawk]

BTN senior writer Tom Dienhart says that the LSU-Iowa game is a mismatch. Says LSU has too much for the hawks.

Tom who?

I watched most of the LSU/Arkansas game. LSU pulled the win out of their a** in the last minute. Arkansas is the Purdue of the BIG.
LSU is very beatable.

 

[Camhawk]

Tom who?

I watched most of the LSU/Arkansas game. LSU pulled the win out of their a** in the last minute. Arkansas is the Purdue of the BIG.
LSU is very beatable.

This.

 

[NCHawker]

LSU's running back is a lot like Carlos Hyde. I don't know about their OLine but if they can pound the rock anything like Northwestern did in the 2nd half against Iowa they can cause a lot of trouble for the Hawks. Nebraska ran the ball reasonably well but shot themselves in the foot a lot. With an OK running game LSU can rely on an average passing game.

==============
This was a mailbag question on ESPN today about rankings.
Greg from Atlanta writes: As an Iowa fan living in Georgia, I'm wondering how an 8-4 Georgia team gets ranked and an 8-4 Iowa team doesn't? Now, I'm not saying Iowa deserves a ranking, because 4 wins shouldn't get you in the top 25. But, Georgia lost to Vandy and needed double OT to beat Ga Tech. They also struggled with teams they should have throttled and fell far below expectations. Iowa played two teams tough that will both play in BCS bowls. Is this just more bias against the Big Ten? If so, will that bias ever go away?

Brian Bennett: I don't think this is a case of anti-Big Ten bias as much as it is probably pro-SEC sentiment. Iowa is a tough case and a team I debated putting in my final Top 25 for a while before ultimately deciding against it. Barely. The Hawkeyes' four losses are all highly respectable -- Michigan State, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. But you shouldn't get credit for just losing to good teams. Iowa's best wins are over Minnesota, Michigan and Nebraska, with two of those on the road. Very solid, but not spectacular.

Georgia's in a similar boat in terms of "good" losses, including Clemson and Missouri. The Dawgs also lost on the road to Auburn thanks to a miracle play at the end. They have also beaten South Carolina and LSU, two wins better than anything Iowa can claim, and the team was decimated by injuries this season.

I think the Hawkeyes are good, and they have some nice momentum after winning their final three games. That's why I'm really looking forward to seeing how they play against LSU. Iowa definitely ends the season in the Top 25 with a win over the Tigers in the Outback. And given the wide-open nature of next year's West Division, at least on paper, Iowa could emerge as one of the preseason favorites in that division in 2014.

 

[ICHawk24]

Nebraska ran the ball reasonably well but shot themselves in the foot a lot.

Abdullah averaged 3.7 per carry, his lowest of the season. He totaled 85 yards, his lowest of the season. Nebraska averaged 2.4 per carry, their lowest of the season. They totaled 89 yards, their lowest of the season.

Iowa allowed the 17th fewest rushing yards and 19th lowest average per carry in the country.

 

[Saginawbay]

Let's not forget every "expert" had Iowa finishing last in legends this year as well.

 

[NCHawker]

Ever since OSU got boatraced in the NC games by FLA and LSU a permanent perception has been etched in the mind of the average SEC fan. First there is the vicarous attachment to whomever won a NC (7 in a row), Then there is SEC bravado, then there is "our team played the NC champ touger than OSU, then there is transferance from year to year. So LSU fans (and most fans of other SEC teams) belive that their team would boatrace OSU or MSU or anyother big ten team every year. This built in premise of superiority is real. So any time an SEC team loses to a big ten team, its a fluke, the team wasn't motivated, etc. It can never be acknowledged that the better team won because of what I said above.

 

[ICHawk24]

I look forward to the excuses that LSU wasn't motivated in their loss to Iowa.

 

[JHHawk]

From what I can tell, Jennings, the frosh QB, is similar to FSU QB, Winston. Very fast, with a great arm. All he lacks is experience. I think if he is on his game, he could rip Iowa up....lets hope we keep him confused.