Iowa football: Predicting final Big Ten west standings
By Ryan Sikes
Jonathan Taylor and the Wisconsin Badgers look like the team to beat again but don’t count out the likes of Iowa football and Nebraska.
As previously stated, the Iowa football team will be returning third-year starting quarterback in Nate Stanley but he will be without his two best weapons from 2019 in Hockenson and Fant. He will have to develop some chemistry with his new tight ends quickly. The Iowa offense will be returning junior wide receivers Brandon Smith and Ihmir Smith-Marsette, but I do not see them putting up crazy numbers.
The offense could struggle at times in 2019, but figure to have a strong running game and a strong front seven on defense that will keep them in every game. I have the Iowa football team losing to Iowa State, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Nebraska.
The Cornhuskers are in year two of the Scott Frost era and many have pegged them to win the Big Ten West division. Quarterback Adrian Martinez is another year old and hopes to stay healthy in 2019. The Nebraska offense will be without wide receiver Stanley Morgan, Jr. and Devine Ozigbo who have been moved on.
True sophomore Maurice Washington figures to be the man in the backfield this year and they still have talented wide receiver JD Spielman. The Nebraska defense figures to take a step forward last season and this team could be right there at the end. I have them losing to Colorado, Ohio State, and Wisconsin. Expect the Cornhuskers to compete for the Big Ten West with a favorable schedule.
The Wisconsin Badgers are going to be the team to beat until proven otherwise. Last year was a down year in the Big Ten West and Northwestern took advantage. The Badgers will be led by junior All-American running back Jonathan Taylor. 2018 quarterback Alex Hornibrook has transferred and Jack Coan figures to be the starter this season.
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The Badgers lost some key guys on defense to the NFL but they should still be rock solid. The offense will go through Taylor behind that massive offensive line. I have the Badgers losing to just Michigan and Ohio State but they should be able to cruise through their schedule and punch another ticket to Indianapolis.