You know it. I know it. The twisted, grim visage of Herky the Hawkeye certain knows it. Iowa is going 8-4, 5-4 in conference. Book it. Let's check the schedule and make the case.
Schedule
Predictions
Transient Buckeye: This schedule looks pretty good, honestly. The @Michigan, Ohio State, @Washington stretch won't be fun. But the nonconference schedule features Northern Illinois, whatever bits of Iowa State Dan Matt Campbell didn't take with him to Happy Valley, and Northern Iowa. The back half of the schedule is about as cushy as it's possible to get in the expanded Big Ten. The Hawkeyes miss Indiana, Oregon, USC, and Penn State. This feels like 9-3 (6-3), and if the Hawkeyes can avoid faceplanting against someone they should beat, and can pull one upset, then 10-2 is possible.
HoustonBoiler: Missing Indiana, Oregon, USC, and Penn State is great for Iowa. Kirk usually has Iowa, but not always, winning the games they should and they should win their non-con matches and beat Minnesota, wisconsin, Northwestern, and Purdue (while Brohm was Ferentz's kryptonite, I have no reason to believe Odom is). So the floor is 7 wins, but I think Iowa should beat, but may still lose to Illinois and Nebraska. At Washington could be tricky because home Washington has been much better than road Washington in the Midwest or East Coast. At Michigan and versus Ohio State both look like losses, but Iowa occasionally pulls a surprise in Kinnick, but who can remember such foolery. I mean there's no harbor nearby. As such, I could definitely see 9 wins so I will say 9-3 overall and 6-3 in conference though 8-4 overall and 5-4 in conference would not surprise me. Afterall, we are discussing Iowa.
Biff: A night game at Kinnick for Iowa State removes any non-con doubts I might have had. I think Iowa steals one but not both at Michigan or at Washington. There will be one surprise loss in the back half of the season but it won’t be to Minnesota. I’m calling 9-3 even though muscle in my thumbs is trying to type 8-4.
Kind of...: If Iowa can avoid the 0-3 conference start, then a seven-game winning-streak 10-2/7-2 season is in play. Would a road win over Michigan or Washington be enough to get a playoff bid, or would they be the odd team like Vandy last year? Would be an interesting debate. Then again, going 3-0 in the roadies against Minnesota, Northwestern, and Illinois is a tall order.
I can see them suffocating Michigan, laying their typical West Coast turd against Washington, and they getting to the Illinois game 8-2 with alum Bielema ready to empty out the playbook. That would be fun. Not as fun as Iowa's special teams taking a hit, the QB play being even more subpar than usual, and Iowa limping home 4-8, but that doesn't seem realistic. But wishes are free!
AlmaOtter: 3 wins to open the season, 3 losses at Michigan/v Ohio State/at Washington. The back half is entirely comprised of Big Ten West memorial teams, which means Iowa will likely win most of them. Pencil in a loss to my beloved Illini at Memorial Stadium and there's your 8-4, 5-4 in the B1G.
