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wscsuperfan
Posts:230
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| 09/07/2007 11:40 AM |
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For our Hawkeye and Irish fans, here ya go.............
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egami
Posts:5397
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| 09/07/2007 11:42 AM |
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| Think you forgot a ctrl + v after your ctrl + c or something. |
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Posted By Omahan on 11/04/2008 2:24 PM
I've worked very hard to become your friend egami. |
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wscsuperfan
Posts:230
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| 09/07/2007 11:56 AM |
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Notre Dame (0-1) at Penn State (1-0)
5:00 p.m. - ESPN
Maybe Georgia Tech is simply really, really good. Notre Dame came up with one of its worst opening day performances in school history with a 33-3 loss to Georgia Tech. Nothing worked. There was no running game (netting -8 yards), little in the way of a passing attack (130 yards), and no run defense (allowing 265 yards). With Michigan (and yes, Michigan is actually good), a resurgent Michigan State, a high-octane Purdue, a road trip to UCLA, Boston College, and USC coming up, the Irish have to start making improvements right now. Good luck with that against a Penn State defense that appears to be as nasty as any in the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions throttled Florida International 59-0 to start the season and can be 3-0, for all intents and purposes, (Buffalo is coming to town next week) by keeping the Irish slide going. Going back to last year, Notre Dame has gotten bombed 114 to 41 over a three game losing streak.
Why Notre Dame might win
Penn State doesn't really have a running game. Yeah, yeah, it cranked out 236 yards and five touchdowns against Florida International, but that was Florida International. You could've run for 100 yards on that D if you got the ball 25 times. The Nittany Lion offensive line is good, but it's not as good as Georgia Tech's, and there's no Tashard Choice in the backfield to pound away. Austin Scott averaged a mere 4.2 yards per carry, while Rodney Kinlaw and Evan Royster aren't going to run for more than eight yards a crack again.
Why Penn State might win
This is a far, far cry from the Notre Dame offense with Brady Quinn, Jeff Samardzija and Darius Walker. The Irish survived last year because Quinn was able to make quick reads and smart decisions despite getting popped every other play. The new Irish quarterbacks aren't as good (at least not yet), and there's no talent at running back whatsoever to take the pressure off. Don't totally blame the skill players for the collapse against Tech; no one had time to operate. The offensive line is still a major problem, while Penn State's linebacking corps should be able to get into the backfield whenever it wants to.
Who to Watch
O.K. hotshot, the team is yours. Hyped up freshman quarterback Jimmy Clausen will get the start for the Irish after the game of musical quarterbacks failed miserably against the Yellow Jackets. Clausen completed four of six passes for 34 yards and didn't move the offense at all, but it's going to be sink-or-swim for the franchise passer as long as he holds up. To have any success, he needs help from a running back. Any running back. The leading rusher last week was quarterback Demetrius Jones with just 28 yards. Armando Allen ran for 25 and James Aldridge ran for 19. Trying to establish a ground game against the Penn State linebacking corps isn't going to be easy.
What Will Happen
Penn State got throttled 41-17 by the Irish last year. Considering Penn State is ultra-motivated to get revenge for the blowout, the Irish might be lucky if the score isn't reversed.
Prediction
Penn State 38, Notre Dame 17
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Syracuse (0-1) at Iowa (1-0)
7:05 p.m., Big Ten Network
A win's a win, but Iowa came out of last week's 16-3 victory over Northern Illinois with questions on offense and a goal to cut down on mistakes and unforced errors. Sophomore QB Jake Christensen was only 12-of-29 for 133 yards with a touchdown in his debut as the full-timer, but it wasn't all his fault. The Hawkeye receiving corps, thinned by suspensions to Dominique Douglas and Anthony Bowman, dropped a bunch of passes that should have been caught. Until the passing game sharpens, Iowa will lean heavily on a veteran defense and a running game that produced 250 yards last Saturday. These days, Syracuse would take any win, no matter how ugly it looks. Coming off an embarrassing 42-12 home loss to Washington in which nothing went right, the Orange are already staring down the barrel of a third straight losing season. With a palpable death watch following third-year head coach Greg Robinson, Syracuse will need to quickly exorcise its Week One demons to keep this game competitive.
Why Syracuse might win
One thing the Orange defense can do is generate quarterback pressure and turnovers, which will cause problems for the unproven Christensen and a young Hawkeye offensive line. With few concerns about the passing game, Syracuse can throw eight men into the box in order slow down the steady Iowa ground attack. Unlike last week when it had problems with Washington QB Jake Locker’s mobility, SU’s defense won’t have to watch for Christensen taking off too often, if at all.
Why Iowa might win
No matter how many defenders wind up near the line, the Hawkeyes are going to churn out plenty of yardage with the productive senior tandem of Albert Young and Damian Sims, who both went for 100 yards a week ago. Allowing more than 300 rushing yards to Washington showed just how far the Orange D has to go, and Iowa should be able to take full advantage. Orange QB Andrew Robinson has a bright future, but a road trip to Iowa City to face a feisty Hawkeye defense is a recipe for turnovers. He'll be under even more pressure than he was against the Huskies.
Who to Watch
The entire Iowa defensive line, particularly tackle Mitch King and end Kenny Iwebema, will have a field day against a brutal Syracuse offensive line that allowed seven sacks to Washington last Friday night. King is a whistle-to-whistle battler, who’d warrant double teams if the rest of the Hawkeye line wasn’t so capable. Robinson had a relatively nice day throwing the ball, completing 20 of 32 passes for 199 yards and a score, but he’ll need to make better, faster decisions for SU to have a shot.
What Will Happen
Unlike last year in the 20-13 win in the Carrier Dome, Iowa won't need an all-timer of a goal line stand. Behind the running of Young and Sims, and the play of the defense, Iowa will go wire-to-wire, sending Syracuse fans into a deeper state of despair. The Hawkeyes will dominate on the interior, and only lose a shutout when the reserves enter the game.
Prediction
Iowa 31, Syracuse 7
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egami
Posts:5397
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| 09/07/2007 11:57 AM |
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31 - 7....please....
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Posted By Omahan on 11/04/2008 2:24 PM
I've worked very hard to become your friend egami. |
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DMan
Posts:0
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| 09/07/2007 1:03 PM |
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Penn State 24 Notre Dame 10
Syracuse 14 Iowa 10
Both teams rate a ten! 10 points that is.... |
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IrememberDukester
Posts:2404
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| 09/07/2007 9:19 PM |
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Posted By DMan on 09/07/2007 1:03 PM
Penn State 24 Notre Dame 10
Syracuse 14 Iowa 10
Both teams rate a ten! 10 points that is....
DimWitMan,
How about this?
Penn State 41
Notre Dame 27
Iowa 41
Syracuse 17
Bottom line the winning margin for Iowa will be greater than the winning margin for Nerdraska (if they win) over Wake Forest.
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Screamincheetahwillie
Posts:100
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| 09/08/2007 9:49 AM |
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Penn State 38, Notre Dame 14
Iowa 35, Syracuse 32
2007's Championship Predictions: All of my favorite teams: Huskers, Rams, Suns, Avalanche, and Red Sox. Hey, can't a guy dream??? |
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hawksquawk
Posts:32
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IrememberDukester
Posts:2404
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| 09/09/2007 12:41 PM |
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Posted By egami on 09/07/2007 11:57 AM
31 - 7....please....
The only number you need to remember is the 39 - 7 throttling of Lloyds boys!
Damn I wish we played these guys this year instead of Indiana.
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Arbitrator
Posts:220
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| 09/09/2007 1:08 PM |
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Having just returned from legendary Kinnick Stadium I witnessed first hand one of college footballs best defensive teams. The Orangmen of Syracuse had negative yardage at halftime and I believe they finally got into the positve yardage column late in the game after Iowa had brought in the scrubs.
I feel real sorry for Iowa State next week, sorry indeed.
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IrememberDukester
Posts:2404
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| 09/09/2007 1:12 PM |
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Arbitrator,
The really big question for week 3 will be whether Iowa lays more points on Iowa State than Southern Cal lays on Nebraska.
I say both teams come close to laying 50 on their respective opponents.
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DMan
Posts:0
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| 09/09/2007 1:47 PM |
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Posted By Arbitrator on 09/09/2007 1:08 PM
Having just returned from legendary Kinnick Stadium I witnessed first hand one of college footballs best defensive teams. The Orangmen of Syracuse had negative yardage at halftime and I believe they finally got into the positve yardage column late in the game after Iowa had brought in the scrubs.
I feel real sorry for Iowa State next week, sorry indeed.
I repeat what I just typed in another Iowa bravado thread. Syracuse was 4-8 last season including a 20-10 home loss to Wake Forest. Syracuse got blown out in their opener prior to coming to Iowa City. Creighton Prep could stay on the field with the Orangemen. Wake Forest & Syracuse comparisons are Apples & Oranges - no pun intended.
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IrememberDukester
Posts:2404
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| 09/09/2007 2:19 PM |
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Posted By DMan on 09/09/2007 1:47 PM Posted By Arbitrator on 09/09/2007 1:08 PM
Having just returned from legendary Kinnick Stadium I witnessed first hand one of college footballs best defensive teams. The Orangmen of Syracuse had negative yardage at halftime and I believe they finally got into the positve yardage column late in the game after Iowa had brought in the scrubs.
I feel real sorry for Iowa State next week, sorry indeed.
I repeat what I just typed in another Iowa bravado thread. Syracuse was 4-8 last season including a 20-10 home loss to Wake Forest. Syracuse got blown out in their opener prior to coming to Iowa City. Creighton Prep could stay on the field with the Orangemen. Wake Forest & Syracuse comparisons are Apples & Oranges - no pun intended.
Before you get on the plane, please answer the question? Who's going to more points layed on them? Nebraska or Iowa State.
Man up!
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hawksquawk
Posts:32
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| 09/09/2007 9:40 PM |
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Posted By DMan on 09/09/2007 1:47 PM
I repeat what I just typed in another Iowa bravado thread. Syracuse was 4-8 last season including a 20-10 home loss to Wake Forest. Syracuse got blown out in their opener prior to coming to Iowa City. Creighton Prep could stay on the field with the Orangemen. Wake Forest & Syracuse comparisons are Apples & Oranges - no pun intended.
Hey D---
im not gonna lay any bravado on the Hawks, I think the Defense has been totally lights out against a mediocre Northern Ill. squad and a sub standard Syracuse team, the Hawkeye offense on the other hand is young, inexperienced and very average at this point. I was at the game last night though and i will tell you it is quite possibly the most dominating performance i have ever witnessed firsthand. Syracuse had 0 first downs and -5 yards at halftime with the score 28-0 Syracuse twice recovered turnovers giving them the ball inside the Iowa 30 and twice had field goal attempts blocked. as was mentioned Syracuse made literally no statistical dent until the 4th quarter when their were 10 true freshman in the game for the Hawks... and the 'cuse was still held to a shut out...
whats it all mean? not a whole lot because Syracuse is lousy even worse than last years team. but IF Iowa's offense can mature (remember the only senior on the entire offensive starting team is RB Albert Young) by seasons end Iowa can be a much improved team. The real test will come for the Hawks in two weeks with a trip to Camp Randall... although Wisconsin had to pull one out of their A$$ last night in the desert
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