2010 Iowa Football Predictions
The Iowa Hawkeyes are a team showing exceptional value with odds makers listing them at +2500 to win it all. Iowa came very close to running the table last season. The Hawks won their first nine games in 2009, and they were leading 10-0 in their tenth against Northwestern before starting quarterback Ricky Stanzi went down with an injury. They then went into Columbus the following week and took Ohio State to overtime with a backup quarterback running the show. Stanzi returned in the Orange Bowl and looked sharp in leading the Hawks to a 24-14 win over Georgia Tech. Iowa returns a deep running back corps and its top two receivers to provide Stanzi with plenty of weapons. The Hawkeyes lost some key players up front, but offensive line guru Kirk Ferentz always finds the beef. Where Iowa should really be dangerous is on the defensive side of the football with eight starters back, including star defensive end Adrian Clayborn. It is also worth noting that Iowa has a very favorable schedule this season, getting to play its toughest opponents (Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Ohio State) at home, where it has won 44 of its last 53 games. If Iowa can beat Ohio State at home on November 20, it just might find itself playing in the BCS championship game. Looking for a place to bet your college football picks this season? Bet on college football at Sportsbook.com where our readers get up to $100 in free bonus cash!
Offense: Stanzi has made clutch plays for the Hawks (last second touchdown pass against Michigan State), and he has thrown costly interceptions (four were returned for TDs last season), but at the end of the day Iowa is 18-4 in games he has started the last two seasons. Winning is the only stat that matters, and it is apparent that Stanzi is a natural born winner. Derrell Johnson-Koulianos (DJK) is Stanzi’s top target, and he is on pace to become the Hawks’ all-time leading receiver. Iowa also received a big boost from wideout Marvin McNutt, who was recruited as a QB. The running back corps is stacked with Adam Robinson, Brandon Wegher and Jewel Hampton all expected to get carries. Robinson and Wegher combined for nearly 1,500 yards last season. Hampton gets back in the mix this year after suffering a knee injury that cost him the starting job last season.
Defense: Iowa returns eight starters from a unit that ranked in the top 10 in three of the four major defensive categories. Iowa ranked eighth nationally in scoring defense (allowing 15.4 points per game), fourth nationally in passing defense (allowing 152.9 passing yards per game), and 10th nationally in total defense (allowing 276.5 yards per game). Iowa was also a respectable 34th nationally against the run, allowing just 123.6 rushing yards per game. The defense is led by relentless pass rusher Adrian Clayborn and hard-hitting, opportunistic safety Tyler Sash. Clayborn was an animal in 2009. The big fella notched 20 tackles for loss, including 11.5 sacks. He also forced four fumbles, and how can you forget that punt block return for a touchdown against Penn State. Sash was a semi-finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award. He picked off six passes last season, and returned them for a total of 203 yards to set a Iowa record.
Prediction: 2nd Big Ten – While I’m picking Iowa second, I will not at all be surprised if the Hawks win the Big Ten title outright or earn a share of it with Ohio State. The defense is stacked, and Iowa’s skill players are good. The only potential weakness is Iowa’s offensive line as it must replace three starters, but there is a good chance that the unit can be every bit as good as it was last year. College football odds makers have listed the Iowa Hawkeyes at +2500 to win the BCS championship.
Put your trust in World Champion handicapper Jimmy Boyd and his expert football picks for a highly profitable season!
