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Iowa football: Predicting remaining 2019 schedule at halfway point

By Andrew Wade

IOWA CITY, IOWA- OCTOBER 12: Wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette #6 of the Iowa Hawkeyes catches a pass during the first half in front of cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields #5 of the Penn State Nittany Lions on October 12, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IOWA- OCTOBER 12: Wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette #6 of the Iowa Hawkeyes catches a pass during the first half in front of cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields #5 of the Penn State Nittany Lions on October 12, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /
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Through the halfway mark of the 2019 season, the Iowa football team sits at 4-2. With six games remaining, here’s how I think they will finish.

With the promise the Iowa football team showed us in the first four weeks, it’s hard to believe we are now on a 2-game losing streak and sitting at 4-2 with a tough road ahead to win the Big Ten West, but that’s the predicament we are in after dropping two close games to Big Ten East opponents.

There are still a lot of things to love about this team, and if they can shore up their biggest pain points, this team has the necessary talent at most positions to turn this around.

But will they?

Here are my thoughts on their remaining schedule.

October 19: Purdue @ Iowa

This is going to be tough for me to do because the Iowa football team is the superior team especially if Rondale Moore remains out with a hyperextended knee. However, when it rains it pours for the Iowa football team, and recent history shows us that Purdue has had Iowa’s number and this slide isn’t over yet.

Prediction: Purdue

October 26: Iowa @ Northwestern

This might be one of the worst Northwestern teams of the decade. Their defense is solid, but their offense is garbage, which means against the Iowa football team they’ll play like an off-brand Alabama. All jokes aside, this is where I believe the skid ends, and the Iowa football team dominates this game from to start to finish.

Prediction: Iowa

November 9: Iowa @ Wisconsin

Could you imagine Iowa beating Wisconsin in Madison? That’s the kind of win that Nate Stanley needs. Unfortunately, I don’t see it happening. I’ll be honest, I was low in Wisconsin coming into the season, but their ground game is so dominant, and their defense has been outstanding this season.

Prediction: Wisconsin

November 16: Minnesota @ Iowa

Minnesota is overrated. The fact that they are ranked higher than the Iowa football team right now disgusts me. They’ve got good wide receivers, but Iowa’s defensive backs and the scheme will slow that down with ease.

Prediction: Iowa

November 23: Illinois @ Iowa

Illinois sucks.

Prediction: Iowa

November 29: Iowa @ Nebraska

If there is one game I want to win more than any other game on our schedule it’s this one. Nebraska fans have somehow managed to be worse than Iowa State fans with their little brother syndrome. And although I think Scott Frost can turn things around, it isn’t happening this year. I can’t imagine the Iowa football team not being pissed off about all the crap that has been talked by our neighbors to the west.

Prediction: Iowa

With that, I have the Iowa Hawkeyes hitting the 8-4 mark for a second consecutive season, which would likely mean a Holiday Bowl appearance in San Diego, which would also be a bit fitting since the Holiday Bowl is ending its affiliation with the Big Ten after this season.

Next. Defenses, alone, don't win championships. dark

As for the 8-4 prediction, if Iowa can come out strong against Purdue and correct some of their mistakes, specifically along the interior offensive line, I do think there is an outside possibility of this team going 10-2 with a win in Madison.

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