How the West looks going into full conference play

[NorthKCHawk]

While some conference games have already occurred, we are moving out of the noncon this week, and we have enough of a sample size to draw some conclusions as to who is favored to win the West. My thoughts:

Dog shit: Nebraska, NW, Illinois (in order of worst piece of stinky shit to least). In a world that makes sense, these are three wins.

In the hunt because they usually are, but sure don't look like a championship team: Iowa and Wisconsin.

Might have their bad luck out of the way already: Purdue

Class of the division so far: Minny

I think 6-3 wins the West and it a 4 team race. Looking at early results and schedules, Minny is the clear favorite right now. They have played lights out and they have both Iowa and Purdue at home, and their two hardest games are MSU and PSU on the road. I see them losing both of those games and either to Iowa or Wisky. Purdue looks second best to me. They have a lot of offense and not much defense. 6-3, but lose head to head against Minny. Iowa and Wisconsin seemed to have the opposite issue, with Iowa being the most unbalanced team in the country (and a tough schedule). I say each goes 5-4.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

It's a race to be the best of the worst!

 

[HawkGold]

While some conference games have already occurred, we are moving out of the noncon this week, and we have enough of a sample size to draw some conclusions as to who is favored to win the West. My thoughts:

Dog shit: Nebraska, NW, Illinois (in order of worst piece of stinky shit to least). In a world that makes sense, these are three wins.

In the hunt because they usually are, but sure don't look like a championship team: Iowa and Wisconsin.

Might have their bad luck out of the way already: Purdue

Class of the division so far: Minny

I think 6-3 wins the West and it a 4 team race. Looking at early results and schedules, Minny is the clear favorite right now. They have played lights out and they have both Iowa and Purdue at home, and their two hardest games are MSU and PSU on the road. I see them losing both of those games and either to Iowa or Wisky. Purdue looks second best to me. They have a lot of offense and not much defense. 6-3, but lose head to head against Minny. Iowa and Wisconsin seemed to have the opposite issue, with Iowa being the most unbalanced team in the country (and a tough schedule). I say each goes 5-4.

If you asked the fan base of other teams across the Big, where do you think they would put Iowa? I seriously don't think in the upper group. Maybe Dog Doo Doo they don't want to play?

 

[MelroseHawkins]

If you asked the fan base of other teams across the Big, where do you think they would put Iowa? I seriously don't think in the upper group. Maybe Dog Doo Doo they don't want to play?

But ironically, most the fan bases and especially coaches of other teams respect Iowa and wish they could have the success Iowa has had. They realize Iowa is always a tough out.

 

[HawkGold]

But ironically, most the fan bases and especially coaches of other teams respect Iowa and wish they could have the success Iowa has had. They realize Iowa is always a tough out.

You honestly think people respect Iowa after this? Maybe not want to play Iowa, but respect? Seriously the program is getting into Husker territory. Something is very very wrong.

 

[InGoodCo]

You honestly think people respect Iowa after this? Maybe not want to play Iowa, but respect? Seriously the program is getting into Husker territory. Something is very very wrong.

Iowa is 45-19 since 2017 - nothing is very very wrong. Except for the guy trying to compare it to another program that is 20-40 over the same time period. If you think Iowa isn't one of the most respected programs in college football because of their consistency, development and competitiveness as a program then I'm not sure we watch the same sport.

 

[HawkGold]

Iowa is 45-19 since 2017 - nothing is very very wrong. Except for the guy trying to compare it to another program that is 20-40 over the same time period. If you think Iowa isn't one of the most respected programs in college football because of their consistency, development and competitiveness as a program then I'm not sure we watch the same sport.

The O problems this year and last.... epic. Come to grips with it.

 

[InGoodCo]

The O problems this year and last.... epic. Come to grips with it.

It's pretty obvious who needs to come to grips with it. You're telling us we're losing when we're really winning. It's not hard to debunk.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

You honestly think people respect Iowa after this? Maybe not want to play Iowa, but respect? Seriously the program is getting into Husker territory. Something is very very wrong.

Yep.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

I think most fan bases would put Iowa exactly in the middle of the West. And, Iowa is a lot closer to the good side than the dog shit side. Yes, the offense stinks, but we have an elite defense and excellent special teams. The dog shit teams don't have elite anything.

For all the Sky is Falling crowd, again, we won the West and 10 games last season. We are 2-1 right now with a narrow loss to our P5 instate rival. It feels like some on this Board want to just quit and not play the rest of the schedule. Iowa can win any game on its schedule except for Ohio State. The wins might be 10-7, but a win is a win. I would not bet Iowa to win the West again, but that would not be shocking at all.

Have some perspective. Iowa football is more than just the first two games of this season.

 

[Fryowa]

No one here--present company included--knows a goddamned thing about Iowa football until we're at least 2 games into this year's conference schedule.

We play a garbage B10E team, and then a really good B10E team. That will give us an idea but until then trying to gauge Iowa is worthless as hen shit on a pump handle.

And for god's sake can we STOP DICK RIDING FLECK???

Minnesota's wins are against the most terrible teams in the country. Minnesota's opponents so far this year:

0-10 combined, outscored 396-99 combined. Minnesota also has a loooooooong history of looking like a prom queen but turning into Lindsay Lohan by the end of the season. Minnesota ain't shit, folks.

 

[CP87]

While some conference games have already occurred, we are moving out of the noncon this week, and we have enough of a sample size to draw some conclusions as to who is favored to win the West. My thoughts:

Dog shit: Nebraska, NW, Illinois (in order of worst piece of stinky shit to least). In a world that makes sense, these are three wins.

In the hunt because they usually are, but sure don't look like a championship team: Iowa and Wisconsin.

Might have their bad luck out of the way already: Purdue

Class of the division so far: Minny

I think 6-3 wins the West and it a 4 team race. Looking at early results and schedules, Minny is the clear favorite right now. They have played lights out and they have both Iowa and Purdue at home, and their two hardest games are MSU and PSU on the road. I see them losing both of those games and either to Iowa or Wisky. Purdue looks second best to me. They have a lot of offense and not much defense. 6-3, but lose head to head against Minny. Iowa and Wisconsin seemed to have the opposite issue, with Iowa being the most unbalanced team in the country (and a tough schedule). I say each goes 5-4.

But Minny lost Autman-Bell for the season on Saturday. Two years in a row that a key cog to their offense goes down in the early-season. I think this one will actually hurt more than Ibrahim last year; while Mo is probably a better player, they had pretty good depth behind him. I am not sure if that is true for their WR.

 

[okeefe4prez]

And for god's sake can we STOP DICK RIDING FLECK???

I will not. The man has length and girth that make men twice his size look on with envy.

 

[Fryowa]

I will not. The man has length and girth that make men twice his size look on with envy.

If you had a choice between having girth or length, but not both, which would you choose and why?

And we all know you don't have either presently so you are forced to answer the question.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

Length. I can always do the Seinfeld counterclockwise swirl.

 

[InGoodCo]

Circumference doesn't count in a size war.

 

[BigD]

While some conference games have already occurred, we are moving out of the noncon this week, and we have enough of a sample size to draw some conclusions as to who is favored to win the West. My thoughts:

Dog shit: Nebraska, NW, Illinois (in order of worst piece of stinky shit to least). In a world that makes sense, these are three wins.

In the hunt because they usually are, but sure don't look like a championship team: Iowa and Wisconsin.

Might have their bad luck out of the way already: Purdue

Class of the division so far: Minny

I think 6-3 wins the West and it a 4 team race. Looking at early results and schedules, Minny is the clear favorite right now. They have played lights out and they have both Iowa and Purdue at home, and their two hardest games are MSU and PSU on the road. I see them losing both of those games and either to Iowa or Wisky. Purdue looks second best to me. They have a lot of offense and not much defense. 6-3, but lose head to head against Minny. Iowa and Wisconsin seemed to have the opposite issue, with Iowa being the most unbalanced team in the country (and a tough schedule). I say each goes 5-4.

You do realize that 5-4 in conference is Kirk’s average since he has been here??

Thus far this is one of the worst offensives I can remember since Kirk’s first season as head coach. I hope you are right as I would be very happy with eight wins this year. If the offensive line starts to get it together then eight wins is doable. With the offense so poor I would think 4-5 is more likely for a 7-5 record going into a bowl game. Also keep in mind the B1G boys are back on the schedule this year. That’s a bad combination (big boys and poorer than normal offense).

 

[NorthKCHawk]

You do realize that 5-4 in conference is Kirk’s average since he has been here??

Thus far this is one of the worst offensives I can remember since Kirk’s first season as head coach. I hope you are right as I would be very happy with eight wins this year. If the offensive line starts to get it together then eight wins is doable. With the offense so poor I would think 4-5 is more likely for a 7-5 record going into a bowl game. Also keep in mind the B1G boys are back on the schedule this year. That’s a bad combination (big boys and poorer than normal offense).

You do realize that we have already lost a game, right? If we go 5-4 in conference as I suggested, that would be 7-5.

I know the offense is bad. But the defense and special teams are historically good. And, the West is half dogshit and half dressed up dogshit.

 

[CP87]

You do realize that 5-4 in conference is Kirk’s average since he has been here??

Not really.

If you look at his entire career (23 seasons of B1G play, including his initial 0-8), his average is 4.8 - 3.5 (win% of 57.9%, slightly better than the 55.6% that 5-4 reflects).

If you look at the last decade, his average is 5.3 - 3.3 (61.6%).

If you look at the last 7 years (the most favorable because it includes the 8-0 from 2015), his average is 6 - 2.9 (67.7%).

If you look at the most recent 5 years, his average is 5.6 - 3.4 (62.2%).

If you look at the last 3 years, his average is 6.3 - 2.7 (70.4%).

There is no reasonable way to slice his career to reflect his recent or overall performance that results in a conference win% equivalent to 5-4.

You might quibble that his last decade win% (62%) is not distinguishable from your claim (56%). Basically, that is one extra conference win every 2 years. I would argue that it does matter over time, but concede that it is not enough to jump us from above-average to great. And I would also add that the most recent history (last 3 seasons) are substantially better.

 

[spliff45]

It would be just like Iowa to be a streak buster. Rutgers has lost 19 B1G games at home in a row