My take on our chances each game:
1. Significant underdogs (1 game)
At Nebraska
2. Slight underdogs (2 games)
At Penn State, Michigan State
3. Push/slightly favored (2 games)
Northwestern, Michigan
4. Slightly favored (5 games)
at Iowa State, Pittsburgh, at Purdue, at Minnesota, Indiana
5. Significantly favored ( 2 games)
Tennessee Tech, Louisiana Monroe
Predictions. Though Nebraska is certainly beatable by a good Hawkeye team I'll concede it as a loss while making preseason predictions. My gut, if we beat Penn State we're a better team than expected, beat NW the next week, build momentum and possibly run the table going into Lincoln.
Michigan State was not as good as their record indicated last year, and I bet they regress to the mean this year, which could include a loss to Iowa.
If we aren't any better than expected then we probably lose one of the "push" games, plus one of the "slightly favored" games.
I see our upside at 11-1, and barring a complete collapse a likely downside of 9-3/8-4. I'll split the difference and predict a 10-2 finish. (I'd predict 9-2-1 if they still allowed ties. If we win one game in overtime and go 9-2 in the rest I think I deserve a free BHGP tee or something.)
What you say?
Sep 3 - Tennessee Tech 12:00 pm
Sep 10 - at Iowa State 12:00 pm
Sep 17 - Pittsburgh 12:00 pm
Sep 24 - Louisiana-Monroe TBA
Oct 1 - BYE
Oct 8 - at Penn State TBA
Oct 15 - Northwestern 7:00 pm
Oct 22 - Indiana 12:00 pm
Oct 29 - at Minnesota TBA
Nov 5 - Michigan TBA
Nov 12 - (17) Michigan State TBA
Nov 19 - at Purdue TBA
Friday Nov 25 - at (10) Nebraska 12:00 pm