The Athletic - predictions

Article in Athletic a few hours ago, from three writers has Iowa at:

8-4, 8-4, 7-5

Quite Kirkish, hoping for better.

 

To add, finishing fifth, second, and third in the West. Additionally, all three are (presumably) predicting a lost to Iowa State, with one nonconference loss. The two pegging Iowa at 8-4 have Wisconsin winning the West, while 7-5 has Nebraska. Honestly, I think these guys are clueless, given that they all have Penn State finishing 10-2, which is incredibly bullish. One writer has Ohio State and Penn State tied, with PSU winning the East. Two have Michigan at 9-3.

 

Well at least they keep Iowa par with our normal win/loss record.

 

To be fair though, the Hawkeye's performance has been historically been the inverse of fans' expectations. I don't think anyone would deny that every time fans get hyped up about such and such DL/LB/RB returning X amount of starters, or "I think this is the best yadda yadda yadda unit we've had in years," the season fizzles. And when no one expects anything like in 2015, you get gems.

Funnily enough, 8-4, 8-4, 7-5 could not be more representative of Kirk's average WP over his career. The writers are literally going with his average performance over a sample size that not even 1% of coaches ever hit, and how could anyone argue that?

And lastly------Vegas.

Which has us at 7.5 and is the least homerish source with the most to gain or lose from being right.

 

Is this the year Kirk and staff out-coach the other staffs to make a historical run? Iowa needs top shelf coaching in game and top shelf preparation and coaching leadership to move the needle above a Kirkish contract bonus season of 7-5, 8-4. I think I would bet Iowa on the over at 7.5. I plan to be in Vegas Friday, we will see if I can pull the trigger. Reading these forums really makes me think it would be easy money

 

really going out on a limb there.

 

Difficult road schedule this year so careful. They play like 6 or 7 teams that are ranked to start the season and the majority of these on the road.

Iowa could be a 10-2 team with a little bit easier of a schedule or can be an 8-4 team with their hard schedule. Point is Iowa will be a good team but the schedule can be the difference this year.

 

Yea, one can literally say that every year for Iowa or most teams.

 

Over on 7.5 seems like a lock

 

Yea, one would think, but, I'm not sure I could pull that trigger, though. I'd like to think they are going to be better than that as 7 wins would be depressing as hell, but, Casinos aren't standing because they're giving away a lot of $$$$$$$$$.

 

Last time I put a Vegas bet on Iowa FB was vs Stanford, and I was tingly when I placed it, got something like 10-12 points? These points disappeared in like 55 seconds, IIRC. Mc Caffery was a race horse running through Iowa's players who appeared to be playing in mud. Kirk turned pale quickly, and was scribbling like crazy on his leg.

 

Kirk was using his notepad on his leg to cover up what was dribbling down his leg.

We were no match for Christian McCaffery that day. Stanford knew it and exploited it early and often.

 

In some ways Kirk is the Tom Petty of college coaches. Always consistent, always reliable for good results, but always one step away from greatness. Petty made the rock and Roll Hall of Fame, mostly because being consistently good for three decades will eventually be rewarded.

Tom stumbled upon the Stones/Byrds formula early in his career, added his own adaptation to it, and seldom deviated from it the rest his career. Jeff Lynne tried to goose his career in a roots rock direction in mid career with satisfying results, but Petty was soon back to songs like "You Don't Know How It Feels" and "Walls". It was more comfortable to settle for status quo than it was to reach for greatness. Petty, on record and onstage throughout his long career, was just good enough.

Sounds like a familiar football coach. Now watch Kirk catch his ass on fire this year and lead us to a CFP appearance.

 

Tom Petty yes, Richard Petty, no.

More like a poor man's Roy Orbison, not Elvis, Buddy Holly...but predictable, dark glasses, good music that lasted, and which I still enjoy in doses.

One could do worse that Kirk, but he just always seems to stumble on one of those high hurdles on the way to being above what he normally is.

 

I know this isn't the music thread, but Roy Orbison is sadly underrated and couldn't have been taken from us at a worse time. He died at 52 just as he was poised for a comeback.

Baby boomers worshipped Roy however. He was a major influence on Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel and the aforementioned Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne of ELO among countless others.

 

But I thought we were going to be the Patriots of college football? Cue MelroseHawkins freaking out in 3,2,1

 

Yes, underrated.

Lots of tragedy, wife dies with him while they are each riding motorcycles. Performing in England trying to get his life and career back on track, deal with grief from death of wife, and then two of his young boys die in a house fire while he is out working and away from home.

 

I stood within a few feet of Roy O at the Roof Garden on Okoboji many years ago. He was amazing. Elvis was once quoted as saying he wished he had a voice like Roy.

 

To be the best you have to be able to beat the best.
I don't think anyone says "oh OSU has a hard schedule" or Michigan.
They are expected to win no matter who they put in front of them.
That's what we need to be.
Idc who it is, we have beat the top teams recently. Yes we lost some we shouldn't have. It's about time to put it all together I would think.

 

Well, I agree, but the discussion above was about betting the line and betting sensibly. Has nothing to do with what kinds of expectations one should have for a team.

Signed cliche.