Sirius 91 Thinks Iowa can make the playoff
- Thread starter H8IAST8
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WinOneThisCentury
Well-Known Member
Yep, then we destroy Alabama and hammer Oklahoma for the National Championship. Sounds about right.
NCHawker
Well-Known Member
I think this will be what we call an "8-4 or 9-3" team but with a better record. Of course when it happens, and I'm watching, I'm believing everything I see and rationalizing why they'll beat an SEC team with the same record. That is why we need to get Alabama on the schedule.
imported_ankle23
Well-Known Member
get them and/or any other sec teams on the schedule when it matters - january. ferentz has a pretty good record in that scenario.
Iowa's schedule is very manageable. Their 2 toughest games of the year are probably their last two games of the year at home vs. Wisconsin and Nebraska. I know that the road games at Pitt and Minnesota may be considered toss ups, but I don't think I am crazy to say that the Hawks have a realistic shot at possibly starting out 10-0 with Wisconsin coming into Kinnick. You don't have to agree with me, but show me a game on this year's schedule before the Wisconsin game that the Hawks shouldn't be favored to win. Injuries and luck will have a lot to to with outcomes, but I think this year could be special.
ArvadaHawk
Well-Known Member
You're right. If Iowa does win the B1G championship game, they likely will have beaten WUs, kNU and O$U in succession. On top of that, they would likely have less than 2 losses. That could get them in, particularly, since I believe the $Ec is overrated as a conference. But, since E$ecPN is the mouthpiece for that cheatin' bunch, they'll have all their talking heads explaining why a 3 loss $EC team is more deserving than a 1 loss B1G team. Because, of course, it will be important to remind everyone how O$U has choked in all recent big stage games. That just really, really matters in 2014.
?Actually, I'd like to agree with you. But somehow we have managed to find ways to pull defeat out of the jaws of victory one way or another. The early season game at Pitt feels eerily like 2008, which was one of those "woulda, coulda, shoulda" games. Northern Illinois at home last year showed it doesn't have to be a road game either.
One thing about Iowa - KFz teams have shown through the years that the only way we will be really good is if we stay relatively healthy and get some surprisingly good answers to some positions where we have question marks - like place-kicker and quality depth on the defensive back seven.
thejumper5
Well-Known Member
Iowa would have to be 13-0 to make the playoff. There's no way the a 1-loss Hawkeye team gets into the playoffs with this year's schedule.
H8IAST8
Well-Known Member
If Iowa is 12-1 and wins their last 3 vs. ranked Wisconsin, Nebraska and OSU we could still make the tournament.
tm3308
Well-Known Member
If we lose to anyone not named Wisconsin, Nebraska, Michigan State or Ohio State, we ain't getting into the playoff. Any team that loses to any of the other teams on our schedule doesn't deserve that, and the pollsters will kill us for it.
ArvadaHawk
Well-Known Member
There is still the possibility that Iowa's offense is a juggernaut, this season. If Iowa wins in dominating fashion, and loses a shootout to either WUs or kNU, but still wins the B1G championship game, they could still get in. But this points to my frustration with KF's offensive philosophy of "don't lose the game on offense." This doesn't allow for the appearance of being a dominant team.
The $EC is way overrated this season and a 1 loss (championship game loser, let's say) is not more deserving than a 1 loss B1G championship game winner, even if that is Iowa with their schedule; if they play dominant football the entire season. With a 4 team playoff, the B1G should not be the conference left out between the $EC, ACC, Pac12, Big 12 and B1G. Just shouldn't happen.
I would argue that with Iowa's schedule, KF really has no choice but to let it all hang out, on offense, and try to score in the 30's and 40's all season long. If this is their only chance at making the playoff, then that is how the season should be game planned. Otherwise, if Iowa plays the same old, same old conservative offense, winning games in low scoring fashion and by 3 to 10 points, you're effectively not playing to make the playoffs.
INTIMIDATORHawk
Well-Known Member
The schedule seems really easy, and unlike 2012 Iowa has more talent, depth and experience. 10-0 is certainly possible. Not likely, but definitely possible.
Last year the BIG had some teams that could be "scary good" at times...OSU, MSU, Wisconsin. Iowa played them all tough. This year, the BIG doesn't look to have any teams that are as good as last year. Should be a down year for the conference. If ever opportunity could fall from the sky, land on your face and start to wiggle, this is the year! Iowa has a ridiculously favorable schedule. Can the Hawks capitalize on the circumstances this time around? We all know how 2012 turned out, but since then Iowa has restocked the cupboards with talent, found some play-makers at key positions and Greg Davis has seemingly been given a little bit more leeway with the offense to be successful.
Last year the BIG had some teams that could be "scary good" at times...OSU, MSU, Wisconsin. Iowa played them all tough. This year, the BIG doesn't look to have any teams that are as good as last year. Should be a down year for the conference. If ever opportunity could fall from the sky, land on your face and start to wiggle, this is the year! Iowa has a ridiculously favorable schedule. Can the Hawks capitalize on the circumstances this time around? We all know how 2012 turned out, but since then Iowa has restocked the cupboards with talent, found some play-makers at key positions and Greg Davis has seemingly been given a little bit more leeway with the offense to be successful.
H8IAST8
Well-Known Member
If we lose early in the year on the road to a conference division champion or runner up (Pitt) we will still be in the conversation with 1 loss. Pitt has an equally easy schedule. They avoid FSU, Clemson and Louisville. None of this is likely, especially after losing Savage, but it is still a possibility.
tm3308
Well-Known Member
If I had wheels, I'd be a wagon.
guffus
Well-Known Member
Anything is possible in college football. It's not like it would defy the law of physics if Iowa made the playoff. Mich State went from 7-6 to 13-1 in 1 season and the consensus is that MSU would have made the 4 - team playoff last year.
With all that said. It's not likely. It is much more likely Iowa goes 8-4 this year than 12-1.
With all that said. It's not likely. It is much more likely Iowa goes 8-4 this year than 12-1.
ArvadaHawk
Well-Known Member
Until the season has played out and a champion has been crowned, it's all IF. I'm not sure what you're comment means.
tm3308
Well-Known Member
It's pretty simple. If making the playoff hinges on Ferentz opening things up in a big way offensively, then there's really no point discussing it. Because that's extremely unlikely to happen. Just like it's unlikely that I'm about to suddenly grow wheels and become a wagon.
ArvadaHawk
Well-Known Member
But a lot less likely than you already being a smart*ss. Got it. Hey look, I get it, KF is one of the most conservative college coaches there is, today. I outlined how it "could" happen. But you're right, it isn't likely that he, all of a sudden, will allow the OC to open up the offense. But, that was part of my point. I'm glad you picked up on it. That is what Iowa fans are left with; a coach that isn't willing to take a risk to go for it. But couldn't you had found a different approach in responding than being a pure smart*ss?
tm3308
Well-Known Member
Where's the fun in that?
