So the Hawks are playing a surprising Indi team at home this weekend. A lot of folks are picking Indi to win. That's shite!!!! The Hawks stumbled out of the gate this season as they have for the last few. But they are turning things around. They looked much better against Purdue. Granted, the Boilers are struggling, but we played them at Purdue and won. They looked better beating the Boilers than they did stomping the crap out of the pathetic Illini. I think that game may have been the turning point on their season. I hope anyway.
The rest of the season shapes up pretty nicely for the Hawks. After Indi, we get Michigan at Kinnick. Although traditionally the Wolverines are tough, I think this year we should be able to take them... Especially at home... They will be riding high after beating Penn St. this weekend, which may make them a little tougher to handle.
Then, after a week off we go to Evanston to play Northwestern. This is a game that I have been sweating all season. The Wildcats are not a team that is going to be playing in a January 1st bowl game, but they are MUCH improved over the past couple of years. I wish we were playing them at Kinnick. However, since Iowa will be 6-2 then, this game will be HUGE for them. They'll be rolling and will, by then, be playing for AT LEAST a share of the Big Ten Championship. We should win that game.
After NW, it's Wisky at Camp Randall... I don't know what to think about this game. Again, if Iowa has not lost another game, this will be HUGE for their bid for the Big Ten. But, Wisky should be gunning for the Hawks since we knocked them out of the Rose Bowl last year. Plus, this will be the last game that Barry Alvarez coaches at Camp Randall. Huh... Now that I think about it, I'm more worried about this game. If I'm not mistaken, Iowa has owned Wisky the past few years... Let's hope the same holds true this season.
Speaking of teams that Iowa owns... The last pre-bowl game for the Hawks is Minny at Kinnick. I'm guessing that our D will be kicking arse by then, and will beat Maroney with the goalposts that we stole from the Dome a couple of years back. I think that Floyd of Rosedale will spend at least one more year in Iowa City.
So, my whole point is this. The Hawks have a legit shot at taking at least a share of the Big Ten title for the third time in four years. We just have to count on the rest of the Big Ten to beat up on eachother. Starting in Michigan where the Wolverines will save a little face and take out the upstart Penn St. team. If Michigan loses two in a row at the Big House, Lloyd Carr may get lynched by some VERY disappointed Wolverine fans. That knocks PSU down a notch, and they will probably lose to Michigan State in East Lansing at the end of the season, and MAY lose to Wisconsin at Happy Valley if Stocco pulls his head out of his ass and becomes a decent QB.
Michigan St. loses this week at the Shoe in Columbus. That leaves the one BIG if of the season for Iowa's shot at the title... We need Michigan to beat OSU. They play at the Big House this year, and it's one of college footballs biggest rivalry games. I think that Michigan can win this one. I also think that Northwestern COULD pull of the upset if OSU happens to be overlooking them for the Wolverines... But I would truly be surprised if OSU lost a game at the Shoe to Northwestern... We'll see...
It all starts on Saturday... Go Hawks...