Iowa Football Preview, Prediction: Hawkeyes Hoping to Solve Wisconsin
- Thread starter RobHowe
- Start date
BlackNGold1982
Well-Known Member
Nice column, Rob. You just omitted the part integral for a defensive stalemate: who has the better of the two punters.
Luftgekuehlt67
Well-Known Member
I think this one could be a classic. Ferentz did very well against Wisconsin early in his tenure - I think we did something like 5 in a row against them at one point - but Wisconsin has pretty decisively taken the upper hand in the series. I'd love to wrestle some parity back into the rivalry, but Wisconsin has a knack for out-Iowaing Iowa. Put less charitably, Iowa is in some ways like a poor man's Wisconsin.
Let's hope for a good game, chances are it'll be a close one. Normally, I'd hope for Kinnick to give us the edge but, with the covid situation, I think home field advantage is somewhat diluted. One factor that I do think works in Iowa's favor though - this will be our 8th game, but only Wisconsin's 5th. I think Iowa could possibly show themselves to be the more polished team.
Let's hope for a good game, chances are it'll be a close one. Normally, I'd hope for Kinnick to give us the edge but, with the covid situation, I think home field advantage is somewhat diluted. One factor that I do think works in Iowa's favor though - this will be our 8th game, but only Wisconsin's 5th. I think Iowa could possibly show themselves to be the more polished team.
NCHawker
Well-Known Member
Yep, KF did well early on in his tenure. But if we're honest the Iowa program sort of went into neutral for a while. MSU and WIsconsin passed Iowa up. I think maybe we're showing a resurgence at Iowa now.
The Yahoo! sports podcast said good things about Iowa and they all thought Iowa could win and Forde thought maybe Iowa wins by a TD comfortably. I hope he's right but the guy can't predict games worth a darn.
The Yahoo! sports podcast said good things about Iowa and they all thought Iowa could win and Forde thought maybe Iowa wins by a TD comfortably. I hope he's right but the guy can't predict games worth a darn.
I have a feeling that this game isn't going to be pretty.
Luftgekuehlt67
Well-Known Member
Yeah, I think that has been the single biggest deciding factor in tipping the series in Wisconsin's favor. More years than not they tend to have an NFL caliber RB and, more years than not, we don't.
Luftgekuehlt67
Well-Known Member
I was curious to see if the numbers supported my impression. Yeah, I think they do.
From the 2000 draft through the 2020 draft:
- Iowa has had 75 players drafted
- Wisconsin has had 85 players drafted
Given that's over a 2 decade window, that's actually pretty good parity in terms of talent (I was braced for a bigger Wisconsin advantage, I don't know about you guys).
However, in terms of specifically the RB position, get this:
- Iowa has had 2 RBs drafted (Shonn Greene and Ladell Betts)
- Wisconsin has had 8 RB and 2 FBs drafted
So, Wisconsin is going 4:1 (or 5:1 if you want to throw in FBs) against us in terms of producing NFL RB talent.
It's too bad because one would think, with our reputation for solid OL play, that attracting quality RB talent would sort of follow on naturally...but that doesn't seem to happen for us.
I think Goodson has the potential to be an NFL pick, especially if he continues to bulk up.
NCHawker
Well-Known Member
I listened to the Wisconsin podcast with BHGP representative. It was painful to listen to. Ill informed and poorly articulated analysis of the hawkeyes by the BHGP guy. Now I know why I don't listen to that one and several other Iowa podcasts. Nothing worse than listening to a breathless nervous adolescents give an analysis.
Last edited:
WinOneThisCentury
Well-Known Member
This has been a tough game for Iowa. Sure, there was one mismatched blowout a few years ago in Madison, right after we thumped OSU...so we probably went in there thinking we turned a corner...not a good way to approach this game.
The reality is that all these game are close physical battles. No team has really dominated the other on the scoreboard. They have had Taylor and Gordon run up and down the field on us...but we could have won all those games despite the yardage on the ground. What's stood out to me in the games the past few years, is how Wisconsin, when they really needed a play to happen, or a critical play at a critical time...they have ALWAYS made the play.
An example, a few years ago, we had driven up and down the field against them to get to the red zone early in that game...and each time a Wisconsin defender made an absolutely great play on 3rd down to save a touchdown. Go back to last year...Stanley's 2 pt conversion...great play...although the officials helped there as they got in Sargents way...as he had the safety block.
It's really been uncanny. In order for Iowa to win...someone has to make the play at the crucial time...and break this streak of it always happening for Wisconsin.
The reality is that all these game are close physical battles. No team has really dominated the other on the scoreboard. They have had Taylor and Gordon run up and down the field on us...but we could have won all those games despite the yardage on the ground. What's stood out to me in the games the past few years, is how Wisconsin, when they really needed a play to happen, or a critical play at a critical time...they have ALWAYS made the play.
An example, a few years ago, we had driven up and down the field against them to get to the red zone early in that game...and each time a Wisconsin defender made an absolutely great play on 3rd down to save a touchdown. Go back to last year...Stanley's 2 pt conversion...great play...although the officials helped there as they got in Sargents way...as he had the safety block.
It's really been uncanny. In order for Iowa to win...someone has to make the play at the crucial time...and break this streak of it always happening for Wisconsin.
I agree with everything you said. But I would point out that had Stanley made that 2-point conversion, following that on the next Wisconsin drive (which ended the game), Taylor had a long run down to about the 10-15 yard line. Had they needed to, they could have kicked what would have been a pretty easy FG. As close as we were, they are still a step better almost all the time it seems.
Northside Hawk
Well-Known Member
They like to isolate receivers, and occasionally a running back, on our Leo linebacker. They know they can go to it whenever they need to convert a critical third down.
That's how they scored the go ahead touchdown late in the 2018 game. Danny Davis was isolated on our Leo, possibly Niemann at the time, got a step on him, and scored.
That's how they scored the go ahead touchdown late in the 2018 game. Danny Davis was isolated on our Leo, possibly Niemann at the time, got a step on him, and scored.
