I also agree! I'm the most excited I've been all year for a game. On paper and in my head I think Iowa will lose. However, I can't ignore the undeniable optimism I feel in my gut for some reason.
10 reasons to feel optimistic:
1. We are at home.
2. We haven't seen our Hawks play in a game yet this year where we were supposed to lose. Every other game has felt a bit underwhelming against a team maybe we should beat. I think we'll play more motivated and looser as an underdog.
3. We were left for dead after the MN game by most. This is a bit like getting an onside kick with 1:00 left and down by a TD. New life!
4. Wisconsin will be riding a huge high after their win last week. Hard to carry that kind of energy from game to game. In other words, what goes up, must come down effect. They were laughing and having a good time at the end of the Nebraska game. Almost as if to say, " this is too easy!" Well, maybe it was...
5. Their main weapon, Gordon, will be hearing all the hype in overdrive now. Hard for a 22 year old not to start drinking their own kool-aid.
6. How many times have we seen a situation like this play out in college football (especially this year) where a team has a huge win the week before and go on the road and "lay an egg" the next week.
7. Despite the general sentiment on this board the last few weeks, I believe most Iowa fans will come out pumped on on Saturday.
8. Wisconsin has not played in this kind of hostile road environment yet this year (at NW, at Rutgers, at Purdue).
9. We have lost the last 2 home games vs. Wisconsin. Law of averages says it won't be a 3rd in a row.
10. We had a stabilizing win vs. Illinois last Saturday to give the team the flame of confidence it needs.
I think Wisconsin is probably the better team. I just think this situation favors the Hawks and I can picture us ambushing them! I'll be there pumped and ready! Let's go Hawks! Nothing to lose!
