Hawkeye Nation brings us this set of predictions from a FoxSports.com correspondent. They're unusually dismal predicting 7 Iowa losses and--okay, you don't believe us, you saw the headline, fine. Good things, man, good things:
4. Iowa -- Many folks, including myself, wrote off Iowa’s 9-0 start to the 2009 season to some lucky bounces, fortunate turnovers, and inferior Big Ten conference play. After seeing the Hawkeyes dismantle and destroy the high powered Georgia Tech offense in the Orange Bowl, I realized it’s time to stop hating on the Hawkeyes. This was a damn good team and should be an even better team in '10.
Hooray! Do go on, sir:
Returning Stars: QB Ricky Stanzi, DE Adrian Clayborn, WR Marvin McNutt
Key 2010 Out of Conference Game: Sept. 18 at Arizona
Best Case 2010 Scenario: Clutch quarterback Ricky Stanzi emerges as a Heisman contender in his senior season, guiding the Hawkeyes offense to a flawless season with wins in Iowa City over Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan State, andOhio State . After holding court in those four home games, the Hawkeyes earn the respect of the voters and qualify for their first BCS title game.
Worst Case 2010 Scenario: Stanzi struggles to stay healthy, the offense falters without Bryan Bulaga manning the left tackle spot, and the defense can’t live up to expectations without Pat Angerer manning the middle. Iowa loses to Penn State at home early in the season, then falls to Wisconsin and Ohio State in Iowa City later on.
Feh. We know worst case scenarios in Iowa City, and they generally involve way more than three losses. I mean, I don't even see any felonies on there. Sir, do you know how bad it gets here? Because it can get very, very bad.
But we digress. The main crux of this article here is the prediction for the BCS Bowl Games. Again, you've read the headline, so you know where we're going with this, but just so you know we're not full of shit:
"Way Too Early" BCS Bowl Projections:
National Title Game: Alabama vs. Iowa
Rose Bowl: Ohio State vs. Oregon
Sugar Bowl: Florida vs. Nebraska
Fiesta Bowl: Boise State vs. Texas
Orange Bowl: Pittsburgh vs. North Carolina
Holy shit you guys... PITT VS. UNC! Err, I mean, Bama-Iowa for the title! Although there are some serious questions surrounding the team--there aren't many title participants who have to replace 4 out of 5 offensive linemen, for example--but it would sure be nice if Iowa put together a great season and had the preseason ranking to take full advantage of it. This would appear to be such a scenario.
Further, many Iowa fans are wary of high preseason rankings--the 2005 horror, for example, comes to mind--but we're way past that at this point. Iowa's going to be in the top 10. It sure would be cool if they took advantage of it.