Hawk Fanatic week 8 predictions
IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Iowa football team will play at home for the first time in nearly a month on Saturday when it faces Northwestern on homecoming at Kinnick Stadium.
Iowa has lost three games in a row, while Northwestern has lost six consecutive games, its only win coming against Nebraska way back on Aug. 27 in the season opener in Dublin, Ireland.
The over/under for Saturday’s game is a historically low 31.5 points, which says a lot about the offenses for both teams.
Iowa hasn’t played at Kinnick Stadium since losing to Michigan 27-14 on Oct. 1.
Iowa also has lost its last three games against Northwestern at Kinnick Stadium.
As for our three panelists, Rob Howe now has a one-pick lead over Dallas Jones after Howe finished 4-1 last week.
Pat Harty is in last place and struggling to stay above .500 with a 19-16 record.
Some might say that his predictions are Hawk Fanatic’s version of the Iowa offense.
Pat Harty’s picks
Iowa 10, Northwestern 9: Iowa scores its points on two safeties and two 50-yard field goals by freshman Drew Stevens on possessions in which Iowa took over in Northwestern territory following turnovers.
Illinois 31, Nebraska 24: In honor of the Ak-Sar-Ben Race Track and Coliseum that shutdown in 1995, Bret Bielema spelled backwards is Terb Ameleib.
Ohio State 38, Penn State 20: James Franklin complains afterwards that both teams having to do pre-game warmups at the same time is just asking for trouble.
Michigan 34, Michigan 23: Mel Tucker still beats Jim Harbaugh on pay day.
Syracuse 27, Notre Dame 20: Iowa and Notre Dame should meet in the Misery Loves Company Bowl.
Last week: 3-2
Overall: 19-16
Dallas Jones’s picks
Iowa 13, Northwestern 6: A loss here may cause Iowa City to collapse within itself, but I don’t foresee that with this Northwestern team.
Illinois 20, Nebraska 17: Big Ten West favorites? I have no clue, but I just can’t pick Nebraska.
Ohio State 35, Penn State 24: the Whiteout is cute and all, but I will not pick Sean Clifford over CJ. I refuse.
Michigan 38, Michigan State 6: This is going to be ugly.
Syracuse 21, Notre Dame 17: I still can’t believe Purdue lost to Syracuse.
Last week: 3-2
Overall: 21-14
Rob Howe’s picks
Iowa 16, Northwestern 6: Iowa hasn’t won a game since September. Northwestern last won during August in another country. Both still have a chance to win the Big Ten West. Yikes.
Illinois 24, Nebraska 21: Bret Bielema celebrates with a Runza run on the way back to Champaign.
Ohio State 31, Penn State 24: James Franklin complains that his drinking water at postgame press conference is too wet.
Michigan 38, Michigan State 17: At least Mel Tucker doesn’t eat his boogers.
Syracuse 20, Notre Dame 17: Two African-American head coaches. The longest odds on the board.
Last week: 4-1
Overall: 22-13