The Hawks have there final game of the regular season coming up on Friday afternoon as they take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Iowa is 7-4 4-3 in the Big Ten while Nebraska is 8-3 5-2 in the Conference so this match up is basically for second place in the Legends division. I know second place isn't a great think we would all rather be playing for first but finishing in second place in the Legends when most people picked us to finish 4th or worse is very good. Both of these teams are going to a bowl game so that isn't on the line but either team could improve their bowl position. If Iowa wins I see them in Florida for the bowl season if they fall to the Cornhuskers on Friday still a good bowl the Gator or Buffalo Wild Wings bowl. I think if Iowa wins they will be headed to the Outback bowl due to the fact that two Big Ten teams will make the BCS whether that be Ohio State and Michigan State or Wisconsin it doesn't really matter two will likely make it the next will be in the Capitol one Bowl. This is why this game is so important I feel the winner will play in the Outback Bowl a January bowl game after last year would be way more than a success. So let's take a look at what you should expect on Friday.
Iowa over the course of the season has shown glimpses of a very good offense than they have also had games where the offense wasn't very good. On the season Jake Rudock is passing for 207 yards per game good enough for 86th in the country the problem with Rudock this season has been the number of interceptions he has thrown. He has thrown for 2155 yards on the season with 16 TD's and 12 INT's completing 60 percent of his passes. If Iowa is going to win in Lincoln they need Rudock to be on his game if he throws 3 interceptions like he did vs Michigan it will be very difficult for the Hawkeyes to come out with a win. The Hawks receiving core seems to be getting better as the season has gone on the one guy that really seems to be coming along is Tevaun Smith. He had a great game last weekend vs Michigan hauling in 6 passes for 96 yards a Touchdown so I will be very interested to see if he can continue that this week vs a decent secondary. Nebraska is allowing 213 yards passing per game, they also have a very strong pass rush sacking the quarterback 33 times this season. Iowa on the other hand is a very good pass blocking team only allowing 10 sacks so far this season so that will definitely be something to watch for on Friday. I see the screen game very important this weekend Nebraska is a very aggressive defense they blitz a lot to try to create pressure on the quarterback. This can be very beneficial to a team but it can also backfire as Iowa should have some one on one match ups on the outside.
I see the running game being a factor in this game but I also see the backs catching the ball out of the backfield more this week. Damon Bullock will probably play more snaps this week as he is the best pass blocker from the running back position.On the season the Hawks are rushing for 191.5 yards per game. They have had success the last 2 games running the football so this should help get the momentum on Iowa's side Friday. I see a very similar rotation to what we saw vs Michigan with Weisman getting his 18 carries and Jordan Canzeri getting 12 to 14 carries which leaves about 4 to 5 carries for Damon Bullock. Nebraska is allowing 161.6 yards on the ground they have struggled vs teams that have lined up to run the football right at them. I expect to see Iowa do the same thing the question will be how much success can Iowa have in the passing game to loosen up the Cornhusker defense. The Hawkeyes on the season are scoring 26.4 points per game while Nebraska allows 24.2 points per game. This like most of Iowa's games this season will come down to which team controls the line of scrimmage if the Hawks can run the ball well they will have a great shot to win this game. I think Canzeri could break one on Friday for a long Touchdown he has been close a couple of times and the Nebraska run defense has been vulnerable this season so don't be surprised if he gets loose on Saturday. Another guy that I expect will see the field is Damond Powell as Iowa will run a couple of screens to him and maybe hand it off to him once like vs Michigan. With the one on one match ups Iowa will have on the outside I see us taking some shots down the field. I don't see a shootout with these offenses but a well played game by both teams.
Nebraska is built on offense the days of the Blackshirts are gone even though the defense is decent the only way Nebraska will win this game is if they turn this into an offensive battle. Nebraska wants to run the football they are averaging 199 yards per game on the ground. They have one of the best running backs in the country in Ameer Abdullah who has rushed for 1483 yards and 7 Touchdowns. He is the main cog on the Nebraska offense but they also have a dual threat quarterback in Tommy Armstrong Jr. who has rushed the ball 57 times for 176 yards. Nebraska is built around there running game so if Iowa can slow down the run they should be able to force Nebraska into some difficult spots. They play two quarterbacks one Tommy Armstrong Jr. who has thrown for 807 yards 7 TD's 7 interceptions and Ron Kellog the Third who is the better passer throwing for 720 yards 5 TD's 1 interception. I believe if Iowa can make these two quarterbacks try to beat us we have a great chance to win the football game. On the season Nebraska is scoring 34 points per game while Iowa is only allowing 18.9 points per game. The Hawks run defense is only allowing 123 yards rushing per game. Nebraska's passing game isn't great but they do have two weapons on the outside Kenny Bell has 44 receptions for 499 yards with 4 Touchdowns averaging 11.3 yards per reception. Quincy Enunwa is the other threat he also has 44 receptions for 578 yards 9 Touchdowns averaging 13.1 yards per catch. The Iowa defense will have to keep an eye on these two as they have had trouble at times giving up the big play in the passing game. Iowa's secondary is only allowing 180.9 passing yards per game and the pass rush has been pretty good sacking the quarterback 18 times while Nebraska's offensive line has allowed 14 sacks this season. Again this game is going to come down to which team controls the line of scrimmage I believe if Iowa can pressure either of these quarterbacks they can force some turnovers Friday.
Special teams is always a huge factor in a close game and both of these teams have pretty good special team units. One of the major keys Friday will be Iowa's kickoff team vs the Nebraska return team Kenny Bell is a dangerous Kick returner averaging 23.5 yards per return as a team with one that went for a touchdown. Iowa is allowing 23.82 yards per kick return so they have to clean that up because a big play on Special teams can be a game changer. The Hawkeyes on the other hand are averaging 19.64 yards per return but Jordan Cotton just last week had a return over 60 yards. Nebraska's kickoff team is very good only allowing 17.82 yards per return. In the punt game Conor Korbraith is averaging 39.9 yards per punt with the punt team allowing 5.82 yard per return. Nebraska is averaging 3.1 yards per return. Nebraska's punt team is allowing 8.62 yards per punt return while the Hawkeyes are averaging 15 yards per return. Sam Foltz the Cornhusker punter is averaging 42.4 yards per punt. Nebraska has the advantage in the kick return game with Iowa having the advantage in the punt return game. Field goal kicking Nebraska's Pat Smith is 10 for 11 while Mike Meyer for the Hawkeyes is 15 for 20 and with wind likely being strong again it puts more pressure on these kickers.
Turnovers are always a factor in a close game last week Iowa turned the ball over 4 times losing the turnover battle but it was the first time this season that the Hawks won the game after losing the turnover battle. Iowa has fumbled 6 times with 13 Interceptions on the season while Nebraska has lost 15 fumbles and thrown 10 Interceptions. The Hawks have forced 17 turnovers this season with 7 fumble recoveries and 10 interceptions. Nebraska has forced 16 turnovers only 3 forced fumbles and 13 Interceptions. The team that wins this battle will likely be the team that comes out on top which is why it is so important for Rudock to take good care of the ball. He has thrown 12 Interceptions this season and he is going vs a very aggressive secondary that likes to jump the short routes so he will have to be careful on Friday.
My prediction is a very close game between these 2 teams both teams are playing pretty good football I just have a feeling that Iowa is ready to win a big road game. I have the Hawkeyes 24 to 17 it could be a little more low scoring but I think Iowa will be able to run the football. It's going to come down to quarterback play and Jake Rudock has proved that he can win games passing the football. I think Iowa will be able to force a turnover on Friday and I think that Jordan Canzeri get's loose for a long gain. If my prediction is correct on Friday Iowa would be 8-4 headed to the Outback Bowl to meet another SEC Team with 3 straight wins to end the season. I guess we will find out on Friday I have a number of posts up on the website so check them all out my Battle 4 Atlantis Preview is right below this one as the Basketball team is playing in that starting tomorrow. As always thanks for reading.
Go Hawks.
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