HaydenHawk56
Well-Known Member
Bowl projections and analysis: Who replaces Bama in the playoff field?
Another week of thrills and chills means another shake-up in our bowl projections, including a new look for the playoff field.
ESPN is projecting Iowa is in the National Title Game vs Georgia
- Thread starter HaydenHawk56
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Luftgekuehlt67
Well-Known Member
The publicity is worth its weight in gold, but that's so much of a stretch I think I pulled my hamstring just reading it.
Seriously, the dividends this will pay in terms of recruiting cannot be overstated, but we've got a lot to shore up on the offensive side of the ball before I'm taking a NCG appearance as a realistic outcome.
People will *not* like me saying this, but it is my honest opinion - barring an injury to Petras (though Goodson going down would make things tricky, too), the West is all but ours, I think. I think we could afford to lose just about anyone else and likely still roll to best in the West. The trick as far as the CFP goes is we can't afford a single let down L.
Big Ten Championship game would likely be us vs either OSU or Michigan, me thinks. Right now, I'd give us a puncher's chance against either of those two, but we'd need a bit of luck, I think. Even if we were #1 going into that game (which feels surreal to even type, but I think is not an unrealistic possibility), if we were to lose, I think The Most Esteemed Committee would probably drop us to 5+ like a hot potato.
Once into the CFP...yeah, who knows, it's really down to match-up in that first round. We could be face to face with a buzz saw, a paper tiger, or anything in between.
Seriously, the dividends this will pay in terms of recruiting cannot be overstated, but we've got a lot to shore up on the offensive side of the ball before I'm taking a NCG appearance as a realistic outcome.
People will *not* like me saying this, but it is my honest opinion - barring an injury to Petras (though Goodson going down would make things tricky, too), the West is all but ours, I think. I think we could afford to lose just about anyone else and likely still roll to best in the West. The trick as far as the CFP goes is we can't afford a single let down L.
Big Ten Championship game would likely be us vs either OSU or Michigan, me thinks. Right now, I'd give us a puncher's chance against either of those two, but we'd need a bit of luck, I think. Even if we were #1 going into that game (which feels surreal to even type, but I think is not an unrealistic possibility), if we were to lose, I think The Most Esteemed Committee would probably drop us to 5+ like a hot potato.
Once into the CFP...yeah, who knows, it's really down to match-up in that first round. We could be face to face with a buzz saw, a paper tiger, or anything in between.
JoeyLabasForPresident
Well-Known Member
I like the Koolaid.
MikeyLikesIowa
Well-Known Member
Could you imagine how this game would go? The final score could be 5-2.
DJI9424
Well-Known Member
Does ESPN actually believe Iowa is #2? Absolutely not, they are just stirring the pot, hoping to get more clicks to their website. ESPN is in the business of generating hype, they are a whore for attention (and money).
If Iowa does not run the table on their B1G schedule, they will jettison Iowa, offering some lame excuse like they never believed in their scheme.
If Iowa does not run the table on their B1G schedule, they will jettison Iowa, offering some lame excuse like they never believed in their scheme.
ssckelley
Well-Known Member
There is no anti Iowa bias, if Iowa doesn’t run the table then they don’t deserve to be in the CFP.
JoeyLabasForPresident
Well-Known Member
Totally depends on the options. A one loss B1G champ should be in over a two loss Big 12 champ. Obvious edge case.
ssckelley
Well-Known Member
I would agree if the rest of our schedule was stronger.
JoeyLabasForPresident
Well-Known Member
Right, but imagine playing in a conference where every team is the Big Ten West sans Iowa.
okeefe4prez
Well-Known Member
PSU's season is ovah. They'll lose two more. Every one of Iowa's "quality wins" will look less stellar when the season is done.
Clifford and Dotson are PSU's offense as their OLine run blocking and running looked dead. Mich, MSU, and OSU all have better run games and OSU has an outstanding passing game. But PSU may have the best defense of all 4 of them. But you all know a team up north who can run the ball on their opponents have a better chance of winning.
ssckelley
Well-Known Member
Of course, Iowa destroyed half their team! Didn’t you see all the players that went down to injury? Thank gawd they have a bye week or they may not have been able to field a team.
GesterHawk
Well-Known Member
How much damn KFC are you all going to make me sacrifice??
okeefe4prez
Well-Known Member
Unpopular opinion, but I think OSU is soft in the trenches and will likely win the east, but will stumble along the way.
