Wisky at Nebby and one will be 0-2; and Go Michigan

[HawkeyetillIdie]

I want NW and us to be undefeated so that if we beat NW we can get a win over a top 10 team and hopefully sneak into the top 10 ourselves. I know that may be a dream but with all of the upsets on a national scale whose to think about couple of wins plus a few upsets doesn't get us in the top 10. It's not likely but it's possible.

 

[ColoradoHAWKEYE]

Respectable wins is over rated, I want a Big Ten Championship and that's what really matters. Where respectable wins come into play is in the polls which really don't matter unless you believe Iowa can be a NC contender.

Here's the way I see it, Mich sux and I can't root for them anyhow, but there is an indirect benefit here as well. If NW wins they will be ranked even higher, which will help us possibly move higher in polls as well when we beat them next week...

...this dreaming is all based on the possibilities of us winning every game...if we are dreaming we need to dream big....hence if we are going to get a shot at a playoff at all, we need to beat an undefeated and most likely top (#1 NATIONALLY) ranked (or close to it if they slip on style points), defending national champion fOSU team in the CCG....not some up and comer like Michigan (who would probably most likely only be ranked at 3 or 4 at best if only the 1 loss after winning the East).

Ultimately, theoretically, for a 13-0 Iowa to get the call to the 4-team dance, we will perceptually need to beat our competition when they are ranked at their highest (as previously pointed out in a post above). Especially since it is a fact that we will only have those 2 lone opportunities against ranked teams going forward. Therefore....Go Cats (for this week anyhow)!

 

[ColoradoHAWKEYE]

As for nebby and Wisky, I surmise that having 1 of them have a decent record at the end of the year will help Iowa's win over either look better if that particular team is not riddled with losses. Since Nebby is already going down that path to mediocrity, they might as well continue, and Wisky can resurge, since we own that game with them already.

Having both teams with multiple losses probably doesn't help us as much...besides, I agree, it would be hard to root for Nebby...On Wisky in this one!

 

[HawkeyeDenis]

The fuskers thought they were going to cruise to BIG championships with ease and there's NO WAY I will lower myself to root for them. I'm basking in the glow of all the Red faces out there in fusker land!!!

Poor Husker fans, used to buy their tickets to the B12 Championship in August but since they came to the B1G they have found out what it's like to play in a real conference. In the B1G you have to show up every week. The bottom feeders like Illinois have no respect for their betters in the Big Ten, they will bite them every chance they get. Nebraska owned the Big 12 North and thought they would do the same in the Big Ten. And they have been moderately successful at that goal. But Nebraska fans need to prepare for the bitter taste of the B1G cellar this year!

 

[ssckelley]

Here's the way I see it, Mich sux and I can't root for them anyhow, but there is an indirect benefit here as well. If NW wins they will be ranked even higher, which will help us possibly move higher in polls as well when we beat them next week...

...this dreaming is all based on the possibilities of us winning every game...if we are dreaming we need to dream big....hence if we are going to get a shot at a playoff at all, we need to beat an undefeated and most likely top (#1 NATIONALLY) ranked (or close to it if they slip on style points), defending national champion fOSU team in the CCG....not some up and comer like Michigan (who would probably most likely only be ranked at 3 or 4 at best if only the 1 loss after winning the East).

Ultimately, theoretically, for a 13-0 Iowa to get the call to the 4-team dance, we will perceptually need to beat our competition when they are ranked at their highest (as previously pointed out in a post above). Especially since it is a fact that we will only have those 2 lone opportunities against ranked teams going forward. Therefore....Go Cats (for this week anyhow)!

The way I see it is if this dream scenario happens where Iowa was to go through the season undefeated and some how beat Ohio State or MSU in the BTC they would be in the 4 game playoff no matter what. I don't see an undefeated Big Ten team getting left out especially with how weak the SEC looks.

We can agree to disagree, but I want the easy road and I believe Iowa will stumble along the way. Northwestern beating Michigan would give them a ton of confidence and they get Iowa at home. I'd rather see Michigan put the Cats in their proper place and have them licking their wounds when Iowa goes in their. Iowa being alone at the top of the West division after only the 2nd week in the conference season would be huge.

 

[AreWeThereYet]

Glass is full crowd - We need out opponents to win all their games except the Iowa game, because we need strength of schedule to help that 13-0 record.

Glass is half full crowd - It never hurts to get a little help by having the competition lose a few games. Even in a good year Iowa drops a game or two.

Glass is half empty crowd - The late season swoon is just around the corner. Iowa will need a lot of help to win the west.

Glass is completely empty crowd - The 5-0 record is an illusion that just delays the inevitable. Coach Ferentz must go. I repeat coach Ferentz must go.


I would put myself in the glass is half full category. A Wisconsin loss or a Northwestern might be the difference at the end of the season.

 

[bitmap]

...I would put myself in the glass is half full category. A Wisconsin loss or a Northwestern might be the difference at the end of the season.

I don't even know what is in my glass, much less how full it is. What I do know is we own the tie breaker with Wisconsin and have yet to play Northwestern or Nebraska. Michigan is in the other division and I only need to worry about them this year if we meet them in Indy. The Hawkeyes will get no love in the press but it's hard to argue with a perfect record. Pretty sure only a undefeated Iowa team advances into the playoffs, even with a conference championship. Bowl slotting? Maybe, but the 12th man has traditionally been a big factor there. A two loss NW and a one loss Iowa, w/ that loss to NW, still gets Iowa to the conference championship. I have little faith in rankings saving the Hawkeyes if it is nip and tuck.

 

[PCHawk]

The way I see it is if this dream scenario happens where Iowa was to go through the season undefeated and some how beat Ohio State or MSU in the BTC they would be in the 4 game playoff no matter what. I don't see an undefeated Big Ten team getting left out especially with how weak the SEC looks.

We can agree to disagree, but I want the easy road and I believe Iowa will stumble along the way. Northwestern beating Michigan would give them a ton of confidence and they get Iowa at home. I'd rather see Michigan put the Cats in their proper place and have them licking their wounds when Iowa goes in their. Iowa being alone at the top of the West division after only the 2nd week in the conference season would be huge.

Completely agree with this. We are all but 100% in the playoffs with 0 loses and we are all but 100% out with 1 loss so strength of schedule matters very little. You made a good point saying Northwestern is easier to beat if they get beat down by Michigan. But say we lose that game. If Northwestern and Wisconsin both win this week, a loss at Northwestern would make winning the west a long shot. But if they both lose this week, a loss at Northwestern wouldn't hurt our chances near as bad. It seems strange to root for something that will greatly hurt our chances of winning the West (something we actually have a good chance to do) in favor of something that has almost no affect on our chances of going to the playoffs (something we have almost no chance of doing anyway).

 

[HawkeyeMHA]

Vodka, lots of vodka.

 

[SpiderRico]

At the end of the year, no one cares about "who", just "how many". So anything that can give us an easier path to the BTT game I'm all for. Based on what I've seen so far, I'm absolutely rooting for Michigan over NW (and hopefully Michigan can keep up their punishing ways....they've been taking opposing players out with regularity so far this year) and I'll hold my nose and root for Nebraska over Wisky based on the strength of each team's remaining schedule.

 

[SteveGarvey]

I'd rather meet a Jake Rudock led Michigan team in the B!G title game. Certainly possible now and even more likely with a Michigan win over NW on Saturday. Can you imagine the hype surrounding an Iowa v. Michigan title game? Big picture man, big picture...

And to think the thought of CJ vs. Rudock playing in the B1G championship game was borderline absurd before the start of the season now seems very possible.

But let's just beat Illinois and go from there.

 

[INTIMIDATORHawk]

At the end of the year, no one cares about "who", just "how many". So anything that can give us an easier path to the BTT game I'm all for. Based on what I've seen so far, I'm absolutely rooting for Michigan over NW (and hopefully Michigan can keep up their punishing ways....they've been taking opposing players out with regularity so far this year) and I'll hold my nose and root for Nebraska over Wisky based on the strength of each team's remaining schedule.

This is the correct scenario.

I'm really amazed at how people would rather see an undefeated Iowa face an undefeated Northwestern. Northwestern's record when Iowa plays them won't mean crap if Iowa loses that game, and fails to make it to the CCG as a result.

It helps Iowa if the other "contenders" for the West drop a game here and there. Lets face it, Iowa's toughest remaining challenges are AT Northwestern, and AT Indiana. Is anyone 100% confident that Iowa wins both of these games? The Hawks are solid, but not a juggernaut. So far the injuries have been manageable, but it would never hurt to know that Iowa has room to drop a game and still remain in the lead.

Wisconsin's schedule is really easy. If Nebraska doesn't beat them this weekend, then they might not drop another game the rest of the way. Iowa needs Wisconsin to have 2 losses within the division.

Northwestern is really good. They play some tough games, but they can win all of them. They need to lose to Michigan, because that is one of their toughest games. They will still end up 7-1 or 6-2. They will be favored against the Hawks. A loss to Michigan this Saturday combined with an Iowa win over Illinois would give the Hawks the outright lead in the BIG West.

Nebraska will be lucky to end up 4-4. If Iowa beats Northwestern and/or Indiana, the Hawks can afford to drop this one Lets not kid ourselves....it will not be an easy game!

The Purdue game might not be the cakewalk we expected.

Indiana has a scary good offense, and they have proven time and time again that they can shred the Iowa defense.

Any talk of Iowa going undefeated is ridiculous at this point. If Iowa is still undefeated after Indiana, then perhaps there is a chance at a playoff spot.

 

[Tvismylif]

I sure am enjoying Nebraska radio here at work today. This is beyond full melt down - they all want a new coach.

It was fun, wasn't it. Then this morning, they went all Nebraska Bat Sh!+ crazy saying how "at least Nebraska is done playing the tough quarterbacks for the season. With the exception of Cook at MSU, Tommy Armstrong is a much better quarterback that the rest of the teams on their schedule."

One guy mentioned how CJB "is nothing to worry about as he only threw for 77 yards Saturday". (Well, maybe if Nebraska didn't try to throw so much in the wind, they might have beaten Illinois)

His cohort stated, CJB "is really not very good at all".

And Nebraskans wonder why they are not taken seriously sometimes. Talk about being delusional.

 

[PCHawk]

If both Wisconsin and Northwestern lose, and we beat Illinois obviously, we will go to Northwestern with a chance to win and have a 3 game lead over our 2 biggest threats to win the West. With 5 games to go it all but eliminates both of them 3 games into conference play.

 

[ColoradoHAWKEYE]

The way I see it is if this dream scenario happens where Iowa was to go through the season undefeated and some how beat Ohio State or MSU in the BTC they would be in the 4 game playoff no matter what. I don't see an undefeated Big Ten team getting left out especially with how weak the SEC looks.

We can agree to disagree, but I want the easy road and I believe Iowa will stumble along the way. Northwestern beating Michigan would give them a ton of confidence and they get Iowa at home. I'd rather see Michigan put the Cats in their proper place and have them licking their wounds when Iowa goes in their. Iowa being alone at the top of the West division after only the 2nd week in the conference season would be huge.

No worries, I don't really think Iowa goes undefeated anyways...that's just my way of seeing it if they did. Since I don't know which team(s) we would lose to, and we already have the head to head with Wisky....

If we are going to lose two games, then it makes sense that we need whisky to lose this sat.(based on current results and schedule strength ahead). But I don't see a 2 conf loss team going to Indy anyways, although it could happen....and it makes our win last week look better if whisky does win in Lincoln.

But I see your point as well....certainly on the Mich/NW front. It is just nice to be even having this type of discussion almost half way into a season!

 

[InGoodCo]

https://twitter.com/ESPNJoshMoyer/status/651434445308866560


Nebraska coach Mike Riley says he's never before had a stretch like this one. "I've just never seen it like this. That's football."

Riley may have never seen it like this before but Iowa fans have heard that last line before.

 

[hawkeyebob62]

I've never understood this thinking. I'd rather beat an undefeated NW than a 1-loss team. Iowa will look better being the first team to defeat NW. With our schedule this year, we need all the help we can get. Beating an undefeated NW on the road will be a good win.Go Hawks.

IF Rudock and Michigan beat NW, it's a semi-feel-good thing, i.e., CJB got eleveated to starter, Jake left with no hard feelings (for TV purposes) and it worked for Michigan AND Iowa.

OTOH, yes, beating an undefeated and potentially top 12 or top 10 NW is better, rankings-wise, than beating a 5-1 and maybe-still-in-the-top-25 NW.

It doesn't matter if the Hawks don't beat Illinois this Saturday, though.

 

[hawkeyebob62]

^^I agree, dont want Wisky getting a road win at one of their only "tough" road games.

But if wisky goes in there and easily handles Nebby then maybe nebby crashes and burns.

Trust me, with Mike Riley patrolling the sidelines, Nebby has crashed and burned ALREADY.

 

[hawkeyebob62]

I sure am enjoying Nebraska radio here at work today. This is beyond full melt down - they all want a new coach.

Which is why, every time I hear a BTN talking head or another B1G coach saying how Mike Riley is "the greatest guy" and "will get it turned around", I keep thinking, "From that mouth to God's ears to the Nebby ADs office". We WANT Riley around. For a LONG-a&& time.

 

[hawkeyebob62]

I agree. I think we root for Nebby in this one because their remaining schedule is MUCH tougher than Bucky. Riley and staff can probably figure out a way to lose 3 more games after Saturday and finish 6-6. If nothing else, I would like to see Riley stick around for at least one more year.

I, for one, will be SCREAMING at the top of my lungs for Nebby to do the right thing and honor the full length of Riley's contract and keep him on the sidelines for the full clock.