We better beat them this year, I'm sick and tired of losing to them AND IOWA!I'd say Wisconsin has a very high probably of actually going 8-4, and honestly I kind of doubt we beat them this year (just being realistic). But in that scenario 9-3 almost definitely puts us in Indy as long as we beat Iowa.
If I were forced to take an over/under bet with a sizable sum of money for both Iowa & Wisconsin based on those figures, I'd go with 'Over' for Iowa, but Wisconsin's pick would not be easy.
My prediction is that Wisconsin's schedule being so difficult is the primary predictor for us to win the West this year - but we have to beat Iowa. Just have to. Look at Iowa's schedule:
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I'd say Wisconsin has a very high probably of actually going 8-4, and honestly I kind of doubt we beat them this year (just being realistic). But in that scenario 9-3 almost definitely puts us in Indy as long as we beat Iowa.
It's an early season game so the Cyclones will beat Iowa.Three of Iowa's four hardest games are on the road: Michigan, Nebraska and Wisconsin. I think they manage to beat Wisconsin in Madison, but not Michigan or Nebraska.
Nebraska plays the easiest schedule in the West this year, both overall and in-conference. Plus all four of our hardest games are at home. I think we go 3-1 against Ohio State, Wisconsin, Iowa and Northwestern.
It's an early season game so the Cyclones will beat Iowa.
Three of Iowa's four hardest games are on the road: Michigan, Nebraska and Wisconsin. I think they manage to beat Wisconsin in Madison, but not Michigan or Nebraska.
Right. But at an over/under of 7.5 I'd still take the 'over' for them because their third cross-divisional game is Rutgers and because they have a halfway decent quarterback. I expect Iowa to go 8-4, I expect Minnesota to either go 8-4 or 7-5, and I expect Wisconsin will be Wisconsin and if we don't beat them they could go 9-3 easily.
I've got Iowa going 9-3 with losses to Michigan, Penn State & Nebraska.
We better beat them this year, I'm sick and tired of losing to them AND IOWA!
Semi-bold pick there with Iowa beating Wisconsin. If that happens that helps our chances immensely IMO.
Beating Iowa is almost undoubtedly a requirement for winning the division for us. I highly doubt there'd be any wacky succession of other losses for either them or Wisconsin where we'd lose to Iowa but still win the division.
When I look back on the Iowa game last year and I see how well we actually played I am tempted to just pencil that one in as a win but they are admittedly just always so damn physical.
Good news / Bad news: Nebraska will beat Wisconsin and Iowa this year, but you will lose to Minnesota.