What an unbelievable day last Saturday was.  I awoke to find myself slightly sore as my main man Ryan and I spent the previous day moving all of my worldly possessions into my new home.  It wasn’t long before we fired up the Greyhounds and the Bloody Mary’s and started gearing up for Game day.

The old lady dropped us off on the edge of campus as we took a trip down memory lane weaving in and out of some of our old haunts leaving a trail of empty beer bottles and shot glasses.  We finally made it to Kinnick stadium stopped by a gracious tailgate and found a way to our seats. 

We had some rock star seats to this game as I felt the need to repay my cousin who gave up a night of vice in Las Vegas to help with the move.  What a great group we sat around.  We had a couple of Penn State fans that were actually pretty cool, 2 rowdy graduates from the class of 81 who didn’t mind passing the flask(ours) around, Marla the cool lady who had to put up with us all who had a regular seat and a another guy who was friendly but would only Bogart his flask. 

The atmosphere at Kinnick was electric.  It was cold, but not too windy on the visitor’s side of the stadium.  I think everyone had a lot of hope last Saturday and the Hawks did not disappoint.  The crowd was absolutely nuts, it reminded me of 2002 in the Metrodome.

The back and forth battle took an ugly turn when we roughed the punter which I felt was a bad coaching move to even go after it, but the crowd and the defense dialed it up.  Murray had the stones to kick the field goal, Marla got lifted up and into our row and the rest is history.

The Iowa Hawkeyes have a very talented team and while I will never forget the game and realize how much fun being an Iowa fan is you have to wonder what could have been.  But as one well dressed booster told me on the way out of Kinnick, “I know the staff as made some mistakes but just enjoy the win.”

We sure did.

I am writing this on the eve of my return trip to Iowa for the Iowa Hawkeyes game against Penn State.  With the implications of Obama’s tax plan looming on the horizon, I am enticed by the prospect of fattening my wallet on the 7.5 point spread.  This is one of the most difficult pieces I have written as I continue to find myself conflicted. 

Do I want the Hawkeyes to pull off a miraculous win, or would I prefer a demoralizing loss that leads to much needed change?  Do I want to lay my life savings on a ridiculously low 7.5 point spread (I live in Vegas- its legal), or do I want to believe that the Hawkeyes have a chance.  Do I want to believe that Ferentz has what it takes to coach a brilliant game, or acknowledge the fact he was shown up by 3-time “Unnecessarily Cocky Assbag” award winner Ron Zook.  Where to begin?

Lets start from the top.  After big wins over Wisconsin and Indiana, Hawkeye fans were energized at the prospect that Ferentz had finally righted the ship.  Last weekend’s loss to 4-4 Illinois was a complete demoralizer.  Between Zook’s shitty grin and Ferentz’s compulsive gum chewing, fans witnessed a polo-sporting battle for the Big Ten’s biggest disappointment.

That’s what shocked me the most about the 7.5 point spread for this Saturday’s game.  What respectable gambler could not make this his “lock of the week?” Based on records and ranks it seems like an indisputable pick.  I gave serious to laying (whats left of) my 401k on the game.  After all, if Penn State lives up to expectations I would come out a huge winner.  If Iowa decides to play up to potential and win, I am still a happy camper.  Yet there is still that grey zone where Iowa loses by a touchdown or less and makes a loser of everyone.  A scenario we have all encountered more than once.  In my gut something tells me the Hawks still have a trick up their sleeve.

So here we go.  Number 3 Penn State rolls in to Iowa this Saturday afternoon.  The Nittany Lions have something to prove after being snubbed by the BCS.  The Hawkeyes have something to prove after being embarrassed by the Zookettes.  I am going to be honest.  I kept my money in the bank.  I think the Hawkeyes come out on top in a stunner (if they lose I will root against them for the rest of the season.)  28-24 HAWKS WIN! 

Disclaimer: I am not a successful gambler, I don’t have the balls to lay big money on the games I know will hit and when betting on the Hawkeyes I usually lose.

That being said, take Iowa and the three points.  Bet the farm. 

Shonn Greene is set to face the #76 rush defense in the country. Bulaga, Vandervelde, Calloway and Bruggeman are going to push the Fighting Native Americans all over the remodeled Memorial Stadium.  When they are good and tired, Rick Stanzi and his merry band of receivers will be employing the play action against the #80 rated pass defense in the land.  There is no way in the world that this hungry group of Hawkeyes will lose this game.  

The Zooker  will find www.fireronzook.com alive and well  when the Fighting Illini go from Rose Bowl  to the No Bowl, hanging out in Ames watching the games with the only other college team that did not make a bowl this year.    

Sure the Illini will score some points against our zone, join the club.  Juice may not make it through the game the way we are hitting this year. 

Final score Iowa 49 Illinois 24