Too much Kool-Aid

[NikeHawk21]

Just amazes me (well not really) how quickly the sentiment changes. Most people were predicting 7-5 or 8-4 at the beginning of the season but following one close home loss to PSU we are now destined for a rematch in the B1G title game?

If you didn't notice we could have easily lost to ISU, were losing to NT in the 2H, and are underdogs this weekend at MSU.

We have virtually no shot at winning the west unless we win out, which is very unlikely.

I don't say this to be a Debbie downer, overall, I think I've been presently surprised with the talent level on this team. We should have a fighters chance in every game, which hasn't always been the case in recent years.

With that said I think people need to temper their new found expectations a bit. I have to imagine the same people who are talking about a rematch with PSU are going to be the same people on here with the pitchforks if we lose to MSU this weekend.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

I can do or think whatever the hell I damn well want!

 

[MelroseHawkins]

Just amazes me (well not really) how quickly the sentiment changes. Most people were predicting 7-5 or 8-4 at the beginning of the season but following one close home loss to PSU we are now destined for a rematch in the B1G title game?

If you didn't notice we could have easily lost to ISU, were losing to NT in the 2H, and are underdogs this weekend at MSU.

We have virtually no shot at winning the west unless we win out, which is very unlikely.

I don't say this to be a Debbie downer, overall, I think I've been presently surprised with the talent level on this team. We should have a fighters chance in every game, which hasn't always been the case in recent years.

With that said I think people need to temper their new found expectations a bit. I have to imagine the same people who are talking about a rematch with PSU are going to be the same people on here with the pitchforks if we lose to MSU this weekend.

Signed..................

 

[mopkins]

I said 9-3 at the beginning of the year and I still stand by it. I thought Iowa would win one of PSU, OSU, Wisconsin. Almost nailed it on my first try, but still stand by it

I do think Michigan State is a lot bigger challenge than most fans think though. For some reason a lot of people seem to be taking Sparty for granted.

 

[proudhawkfan21]

My "hopes" of being an 8-4 team this year gained some momentum with the way we played PSU. I still hope for 8-4 and think its a better probability than before seeing us play well against higher level competition. Thats it for me. Ill still take 8-4 with outside shot at 9-3. Sorry, not sorry, OSU is still a 99.99% lock to be a loss. Wisconsin is close to a lock. The rest we can win out with a 1 game margin of error. Ill take it.

 

[DBAHawkFan]

Just amazes me (well not really) how quickly the sentiment changes. Most people were predicting 7-5 or 8-4 at the beginning of the season but following one close home loss to PSU we are now destined for a rematch in the B1G title game?

If you didn't notice we could have easily lost to ISU, were losing to NT in the 2H, and are underdogs this weekend at MSU.

We have virtually no shot at winning the west unless we win out, which is very unlikely.

I don't say this to be a Debbie downer, overall, I think I've been presently surprised with the talent level on this team. We should have a fighters chance in every game, which hasn't always been the case in recent years.

With that said I think people need to temper their new found expectations a bit. I have to imagine the same people who are talking about a rematch with PSU are going to be the same people on here with the pitchforks if we lose to MSU this weekend.

This happens every season. Usually it's more apparent with a loss, like last years PSU. Team was garbage, etc etc

Then we beat UM, and it was like the previous week didn't happen. We go back to being the bullies of the big10

I think 8-4 for this team. I'm accounting for the win against a team we shouldn't (OSU/WI), and a loss to a team we shouldn't lose (PU, NE).

It's all due to the scheme we play on both sides of the ball. Rarely do we click on either side at the same time. More times than not, the defense does enough. The games where the offense can move the ball, our defense can't stop anyone. We are left wondering what the identity of the team is

 

[judzeehawk]

Just amazes me (well not really) how quickly the sentiment changes. Most people were predicting 7-5 or 8-4 at the beginning of the season but following one close home loss to PSU we are now destined for a rematch in the B1G title game?

If you didn't notice we could have easily lost to ISU, were losing to NT in the 2H, and are underdogs this weekend at MSU.

We have virtually no shot at winning the west unless we win out, which is very unlikely.

I don't say this to be a Debbie downer, overall, I think I've been presently surprised with the talent level on this team. We should have a fighters chance in every game, which hasn't always been the case in recent years.

With that said I think people need to temper their new found expectations a bit. I have to imagine the same people who are talking about a rematch with PSU are going to be the same people on here with the pitchforks if we lose to MSU this weekend.

Dog gone it! I was feeling so optimistic! Thanks for bringing back down to earth. Don't know what the heck I was thinking! Phewww I was close to looking like a complete fool.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

This happens every season. Usually it's more apparent with a loss, like last years PSU. Team was garbage, etc etc

Then we beat UM, and it was like the previous week didn't happen. We go back to being the bullies of the big10

I think 8-4 for this team. I'm accounting for the win against a team we shouldn't (OSU/WI), and a loss to a team we shouldn't lose (PU, NE).

It's all due to the scheme we play on both sides of the ball. Rarely do we click on either side at the same time. More times than not, the defense does enough. The games where the offense can move the ball, our defense can't stop anyone. We are left wondering what the identity of the team is

Yep, we've seen this before. There are certainly things to feel good about from that game, but Iowa always seems to play a great game at night against a top opponent to surprise us all, then everyone gets excited. I believe the thing we have to remember is that the team will probably not likely be that psyched for every game on the schedule. I'd expect a let down here or there, and the schedule isn't all that easy.

Nebby is looking crappier than I expected, so I will shift my 7-5 pick to 8-4 based on what I've seen so far, and a mid-tier bowl game. So, fairly standard for this program. Maybe they'll surprise me and do better.

 

[NikeHawk21]

Then we beat UM, and it was like the previous week didn't happen. We go back to being the bullies of the big10

I think this was it for me. It was like the performance Saturday meant we no longer had to worry about any other games on the schedule but OSU and UW.

We've been watching Iowa football long enough to know that this isn't the case.

 

[racerhawk]

My "hopes" of being an 8-4 team this year gained some momentum with the way we played PSU. I still hope for 8-4 and think its a better probability than before seeing us play well against higher level competition. Thats it for me. Ill still take 8-4 with outside shot at 9-3. Sorry, not sorry, OSU is still a 99.99% lock to be a loss. Wisconsin is close to a lock. The rest we can win out with a 1 game margin of error. Ill take it.

I mostly agree with you, but don't see Wisconsin as a lock. These teams almost always play each other very close, and Wisky is, on paper, a far better matchup for Iowa than PSU or OSU.

 

[CP87]

I think this was it for me. It was like the performance Saturday meant we no longer had to worry about any other games on the schedule but OSU and UW.

We've been watching Iowa football long enough to know that this isn't the case.

Not just Iowa football, but any football. As was brought up in the discussion of last weekend's odds, a team that is a 12.5 point favorite in Vegas wins 70% of the time. Meaning they lose 30% of the time.

So teams that are considered prohibitive favorites lose fairly regularly across the national scene, not just at Iowa. Based upon data from www.teamrankings.com, since 2003 (the earliest year in their database), Iowa has won 76% of the time when favored, which ranks them 59th in FBS (right in the middle of the pack).

The top teams by win% when favored:
Old Dominion 19-1-0 95.0% 13.2 +1.9
Boise State 144-16-0 90.0% 22.2 +2.1
App State 27-3-0 90.0% 21.0 +4.0
Ohio State 138-19-0 87.9% 18.9 +1.4
Alabama 139-20-0 87.4% 20.3 +1.7
LSU 132-20-0 86.8% 18.2 +1.8
LA Tech 72-11-0 86.8% 15.6 +2.0
Oklahoma St 95-15-0 86.4% 18.9 +3.6
USC 135-24-0 84.9% 17.7 +1.0
Wisconsin 116-22-0 84.1% 17.9 +2.6

The bottom teams include such powerhouses as Illinois and Iowa State.

 

[proudhawkfan21]

I mostly agree with you, but don't see Wisconsin as a lock. These teams almost always play each other very close, and Wisky is, on paper, a far better matchup for Iowa than PSU or OSU.

Ill keep them as a lock in my book for now Doesn't mean we CAN'T beat them, im just not assuming the upset.

 

[HawkeyeWalker]

I said 9-3 at the beginning of the year and I still stand by it. I thought Iowa would win one of PSU, OSU, Wisconsin. Almost nailed it on my first try, but still stand by it

I do think Michigan State is a lot bigger challenge than most fans think though. For some reason a lot of people seem to be taking Sparty for granted.

It'll be a tough game. They all will. Turnover battle, minimizing penalties, and a few key plays will be the difference in almost every game remaining. Room for error is small, per usual. MSU, on the road, after a very tough loss...not easy at all. MSU got beat by turnovers as much as anything, they also threw wayyy more than they wanted playing from behind the entire game. A faster start will be important for Iowa...something they have not yet shown

 

[AreWeThereYet]

I'm sticking with my 7 - 5 prediction. I will say I am intrigued by this team. There is the possibility of doing much better. The defense has improved immensely over the last four games. I am a little unsure how much pressure they can get on the quarterback against a really good offensive line. There is depth on the defensive line though which is why they lasted 100 plays.

The offense is shaky, starting with blocking on the offensive line. Iowa is down two of its best run blockers from last year. Pass blocking has been much better in the second half of games. I have my doubts about run blocking being as good as the last two years. Stanley is obviously tentative, but he is resilient. He seems to assert himself much better when he gets within striking distance of the goal line. I think both the offense and offensive staff are going to be a work in progress.

I just hope they are good enough to will the next game and maybe get on a roll.

 

[hawkdrummer1]

not sure you understand the difference between the cultural terms "kool aid" and "band wagon". Actually...I'm quite sure...that you don't.

 

[guffus]

Its still early and its not clear yet who the top teams are in the Big Ten. If PSU wins out, Iowa's close loss will end up looking real good. If PSU ends up losing to OSU, Mich and MD, then Ipwa's close loss will look more like a choke in hindsight. Hindsight is funny.

With all that said, i am strangely confident about MSU because i simply believe that MSU is not that good yet. I believe Iowa is going to win by something like 26-14. This is weird for me because I am not normally the overconfident type.

 

[eledmonster]

Just amazes me (well not really) how quickly the sentiment changes. Most people were predicting 7-5 or 8-4 at the beginning of the season but following one close home loss to PSU we are now destined for a rematch in the B1G title game?

If you didn't notice we could have easily lost to ISU, were losing to NT in the 2H, and are underdogs this weekend at MSU.

We have virtually no shot at winning the west unless we win out, which is very unlikely.

I don't say this to be a Debbie downer, overall, I think I've been presently surprised with the talent level on this team. We should have a fighters chance in every game, which hasn't always been the case in recent years.

With that said I think people need to temper their new found expectations a bit. I have to imagine the same people who are talking about a rematch with PSU are going to be the same people on here with the pitchforks if we lose to MSU this weekend.

I have only one solution. Try more Everclear in your Kool-Aid. Everything will be just fine I've thought 8-4 / 9-3 all year and I'm sticking with it.

 

[NikeHawk21]

not sure you understand the difference between the cultural terms "kool aid" and "band wagon". Actually...I'm quite sure...that you don't.

I guess you'll have to educate me on that one.

My interpretation of "Kool-aid" would be looking at your team with rose colored glasses on. Sort of ignoring the bad and only focusing on the good. That's why I said in my OP it seems like many of the fans are overlooking the ISU and NT performances and only looking at the PSU. As I said in my OP, outsiders look at Iowa as an underdog this week, but the people I'm referring to have already counted this game as a win and are looking ahead to OSU.

"Bandwagon" to me would be someone who isn't the biggest fan of a team, who becomes a huge fan after the team shows some success. We had some of these in our 12-0 year, the Cubs had tons of these last year. We are 3-1, right where most people expected us, plus I think people who take the time to post on a team's message board have already been on the bandwagon for quite some time.

Maybe I'm wrong.

 

[hawkinn3]

What's the harm in being optimistic? Even foolishly so? It doesn't matter, it's supposed to be fun and your optimism or pessimism has no effect on the game.

 

[PCHawk]

I have to imagine the same people who are talking about a rematch with PSU are going to be the same people on here with the pitchforks if we lose to MSU this weekend.

Biggest misconception on message boards.