What an amazing year! That was easily the most exciting game we have played against Michigan State since the famous 4^th down “Statue of Liberty” bootleg by the legendary Chuck Long.  Thank you Ricky and Marvin.  I can’t watch that final play enough. 

One thing that the national pundits don’t acknowledge it that Iowa can gain some serious ground on Texas by garnering more votes in the Harris and the Coaches polls.  If we can come out and dominate Indiana and put up a convincing score, the poll voters that don’t believe will start to move us up. 

The reason I believe this will happen is that while the injuries that we sustained in the MSU game are costly, it will help provide continuity to our offense.  With the loss of Colin Sandeman, the Hawkeyes will now have our 3 most dominant receivers on the field most of the time.  DJK, Marvin McNutt and Tony Moeaki are Ricky’s favorite targets. They will all have to be accounted for on every passing play. Trey Stross is no slouch either.

With the loss of Dace Richardson, Coach Ferentz will not be able to shuffle the line during the game and this will lead to more continuity in the running game.  True Freshman Brandon Wegher will reap the rewards of this and will finally have his first chance to get “lathered up” since the Iowa State game.  The Iowa Hawk Blog looks for him to be in the 150 yard range with 2 touchdowns.

Indiana’s offense is explosive but our defense, well what can I say?  We don’t need to talk stats this week.  I see this game ending in a blowout Iowa 38 Indiana 13.  Captain Kirk wins with sexy “style points”.

As an added bonus for the gambling crowd, the five star lock of the week is MSU -3.5 @ Minnesota.  The Golden Gophers are in for another beating.

Yes, we are back by popular demand.  The Squawker and I have been a little busy and maybe a little lazy but we are back.  I would like to thank the hundreds of you that have emailed us your support and you are welcome for those picks last bowl season.  The Squawker and I put in a nice little parlay that bought daddy a little Panasonic Plasma number.  But I digress.

Our Hawkeyes are teetering on top of the world of college football.  I feel like I am dreaming.  Can it really be true? After the years of suffering (2005 -2007) the Iowa Hawkeyes are officially back.  Iowa has the second longest winning streak in the nation at 11 straight.  Iowa is ranked #6 in the BCS just a hair behind Cincinnati and the Boise State juggernaut.  Iowa will surely pass these two teams due to strength of schedule and they will garner more respect from the voters as the Hawkeyes continue to win. Then all Iowa needs is a Texas loss and we are in the big show against the mighty SEC.

Ahh, the wild musings of a Hawkeye fan.  I realize Iowa has a lot of winning to do but rest assured, it will continue this week as the Iowa Hawkeyes travel to East Lansing to meet the under achieving (what a surprise) Michigan State Spartans.  The Iowa Hawkeyes are favored by a point.  The chatter coming out of Sparta is just like every other team we have played.  You hear things like, “Iowa is not an elite team” or “The Hawkeye defense is just not that good, Cousins will shred them”.  I really like Cousin’s as a QB but he is going up against one of the best secondaries in the nation.  Michigan State will struggle to run and will be forced to throw.  That is when Iowa’s defensive line starts putting the hurt on Cousins and forcing bad decisions. 

On the other side, Michigan State’s weakness appears to be their secondary and that plays right into Iowa’s strength, the opportunistic passing game.  Sparty has given up 1651 passing yards in 7 contests and has yielded only 4 picks.  To put that in perspective, Iowa leads the nation with 15 ints and lowly Illinois has 3 picks.

I refuse to wake up from this wonderful dream. The Hawkeye dream of a National Championship will not die this weekend.  Iowa has not blown anyone out since they visited Ames.  Look for the Hawkeyes to pick up a few of those style points that Captain Kirk says they are not trying for. 

To quote Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore, “Sparty Don’t Pinch”. 

Citrus Bowl – Florida State vs. Wisconsin (+6)

All the pundits feel like Florida State is so superior to this slow plodding bunch of dairy farmers from Madison.  I also think that Florida State does not respect the Badgers either.  This is Wisconsin’s chance to make a positive out of an otherwise disappointing season.  Take the Badgers and the points.

Alamo Bowl – Northwestern (+13) vs. Missouri

Missouri and Chase Daniel have to be the most overrated team in the nation and we see the continued lack of respect for the Big Ten in this spread.  Missouri is disappointed and probably does not want to be playing in this bowl.  Fitzgerald’s Wildcats will be ready and if they lose it won’t be by much.  Take Northwestern and the points.

Insight Bowl – Kansas vs. Minnesota (+10)

Minnesota sucks — take the Jayhawks.

Outback Bowl – Iowa vs. South Carolina (+3.5)

Only USC has allowed less touchdowns the vaunted Iowa defense (16 TDS allowed).  Iowa wins big as Shonn Greene runs wild.  We will miss you Shonn.

Capital One Bowl – Michigan State (+8) vs. Georgia

Ouch!  UGA the bulldog will be happy.  Michigan State did not finish the season very well. 

Rose Bowl – Penn State (+10) vs. USC

I really want Penn State to win this game but I don’t see how it can happen.  USC wins big as the best program in the nation over the last seven years embarrasses another foe in a bowl game.  Good luck Joe PA

Fiesta Bowl – Ohio State (+8.5) vs. Texas

Can the Buckeyes right the ship and earn the respect that they have lost over the last few years?  I don’t think so.  I think they are a year away as the team with the more experienced QB wins the game.  I think OSU keeps it close though so take the Scarlet and Crimson.