For those interested in Big Televen pigskin talk, I’m publishing a chat with the inimitable Iowahawk. I am [You] (though not in the Christine O’Donnell sense].

[You]
2:21pm
Gave you a scare, didn’t they?
[David Burge]
2:26pm
Too close for comfort. Weak link was Micah Hyde, the corner who got burned for 200 yds. The good news for Iowa is that they played crummy on the road in front of 113k hostiles against a good team and still came out with a 10pt win. I like our odds vs Wisconsin at Kinnick Saturday.
[You]
2:27pm
It’s frustrating that even with such appalling special team play, the defense actually played well enough to win, if it wasn’t for all the stupid penalties and turnovers. As I wrote on the other thread, they beat themselves.
It wasn’t 113K hostiles. I saw a few Iowa fans there… 😉
[David Burge]
2:32pm
Disagree. I saw Iowa as the (nearly) self-defeating team; when it was 35-14 they shut their brains down on pass coverage. Michigan rolled up a lot of their stats at that point, almost all against Hyde.
Ready for the BSU-TCU National Travesty… I mean “Championship” Game?
[You]
2:38pm
But Michigan wouldn’t have been down 35-14 if they’d thrown touchdown passes instead of picks (and they were poor throws), and not fumbled it away, and hit their field goals, and known the rules about what happens after one is blocked, and not made stupid penalties, and kept the ball in bounds on kickoffs, etc.
[David Burge]
2:39pm
If my aunt had wheels she would be a bicycle.
[You]
2:40pm
I’ve never believed in college football championships. Anyway, the Spartans have a decent chance (though ironically, it may now hurt instead of help to not play the Buckeyes…).
My point is most of that stuff was totally unforced. They beat themselves.
[David Burge]
2:40pm
“Many people don’t understand how important luck is. For example, Rembrandt was lucky he could draw real good.” – Jack Handey
[You]
2:41pm
I mean, you can’t claim that it was to the credit of the stellar Hawkeye defense that the kicker couldn’t keep the ball in bounds.
[David Burge]
2:46pm
Out-of-bounds kicks gave Iowa ball on 40. The other returns gave Iowa ball on I think 26, 32, midfield. Average for Iowa returned kicks I think was 32 or 33, so those kicks were at worst two 10 yard penalties; not good for Mich, but hardly decisive.
[You]
2:48pm
That was just an example. As I said, all of the picks were bad throws, not brilliant coverage. And each one killed a drive. If you look at the other offensive statistics, Michigan should have had a much higher score. That they didn’t was their own fault.
I think it was their worst red zone performance this season (though the Spartans game may have been worse).
[David Burge]
2:58pm
It was also the worst Iowa defense performance of the season (Arizona scored 3 tds on special teams) against the best offense they’ve played. There is no excuse for a team up 35-14 in the 4th Q not to administer the sleeper hold. Forcier got the matchup he wanted on Hyde and just kept picking at it. Iowa Def Coordinator should have zone adjusted after (or during) the 35-21 TD drive. In my mind Iowa f****d up on the D side of the ball in the 4th Q, and the game should have ended 35-14 or at worse 35-21.
[You]
3:00pm
Well, anyway, it’s anyone’s guess whether this year will be a repeat of last year for the Wolverines. They could go to a good bowl, or lose out again (in which case RichRod is toast).
[David Burge]
3:04pm
Looks like UM has a relative breather stretch against PSU, Ill & Purdue; I think they can split 1/2 against Wisc & tOSU. I’d think 9-3 is very achievable.
[You]
3:05pm
They have to stop making stupid mistakes on offense (and it would sure help if they could do better on special teams). With their defense, anyone can beat them if offense and special teams don’t come to play.
I mean, I think they only have one or two field goals on the year, and it’s not because they can always punch it into the end zone…
[David Burge]
3:11pm
I’d say PSU is a lead pipe cinch for UM, 5-2 odds of beating purdue. Hard to tell with Ill, they are schizo. I’d still put UM a 7pt fave. Wisconsin is sort of a mirror image of Iowa, I’d put them right now a 2pt fave at Michigan. Similarly OSU. Right now I’d say 0% chance of Michigan going 5-7, 5% chance of 6-6, 30% chance of going 7-5, 40% 8-4, 20% 9-3, 5% 10-2.
[You]
3:14pm
IOW, 95% chance of going bowling, 25% of a good one. Another year without a bowl, and Michigan would have a new coach next year. So whither the Hawkeyes?
[David Burge]
3:18pm
For Iowa, I think 0% of 6-6, 5% of 7-5, 10% 8-4, 20% 9-3, 50% 10-2, 15% 11-1. I’m pre-emptively counting Minnesota as the 6th win. I have confidence that Iowa will play well against Wisc, MSU & OSU, but don’t think they can sweep all 3, even at home.
[You]
3:20pm
Good luck for the rest of the season. We’ll need it more than you, I think.