The start of the 2005 college football season is less than 2 months away. Here are my game by game predictions for the 2005 Iowa Hawkeyes.

Sept 3 Ball State

This should be an easy tune up at home for the Hawks. I imagine a lot of players on the second and third strings will get playing and I hope there will be no running back injuries.

Iowa 56 Ball St 7

Sept 10 at Iowa State

Iowa A&M would love beat Iowa in Ames, but this won’t be their year. The Cyclones are steadily improving and they should challenge for the Big 12 North title, though that isn’t saying much. The University of Iowa still has more talent and better coaching.

Iowa 28 ISU 14

Sept 17 Northern Iowa

This is what we get to replace Missouri? The Panthers will probably give us a better game than the Tigers. It will be a laugher. If Ferentz wanted to run up the score, he could, but instead he will play a lot of the 2nd and 3rd stringers to get some experience and protect the health of the starters.

Iowa 42 UNI 3

Sept 24 at Ohio State

Iowa hasn’t won in Columbus since 1991 and I don’t think this will be their year. Iowa can beat Michigan in any given year, but Ohio St still seems to intimidate the Hawks. I think Ferentz will get the Hawks up for this and make a game of it.

Ohio St 21 Iowa 17

Oct 1 Illinois

See comments on Ball St and UNI for my opinion.

Iowa 35 Illinois 0

Oct 8 at Purdue

A lot of people are picking Purdue in this one. Purdue will be good, but they did loss Orton. The only way I see Purdue beating Iowa is if they have a great running back to challenge the young D line of the Hawks. Purdue is a pass oriented team and Iowa’s experienced secondary should be able to handle it. This will be close.

Iowa 24 Purdue 21

Oct 15 Indiana

This might as well be a repeat of the Illinois game. Indiana will be outmatched in every aspect of the game.

Iowa 42 Indiana 0

Oct 22 Michigan

Michigan has a lot of talent, especially with Henne and Hart. Since this is in Iowa City, I think the Hawks will handle them in a high scoring game.

Iowa 35 Michigan 33

Nov 5 at Northwestern

Northwestern is another improving team like Iowa State, but I don’t believe this will be their year. Iowa is too loaded with talent.

Iowa 24 Northwestern 14

Nov 12 at Wisconsin

This is another tough road game for the Hawks. The Badgers lost too many good players and I don’t think they can match the Hawks. It won’t be as close as the Wisconsin games usually are.

Iowa 35 Wisconsin 17

Nov 19 Minnesota

Minnesota hasn’t done very well against Ferentz. The Gophers lost Barber but still have Maroney. They don’t have much of a passing game, and the young D line won’t be quite as young by the last game of the regular season. Hawks run away with a big win.

Iowa 42 Minnesota 14

That leaves the Hawks at 10-1. The Michigan game is the only win that I feel shaky. And Wisconsin or Purdue could be better than expected this year, so 8-3 wouldn’t be a huge surprise. I saw several preseason college football magazines and they are picking Iowa to end up in the late teens in the national rankings. I like that they think the Hawks wont’ be as good as last year. That probably means they will be better. I have a lot of faith in Ferentz and his coaching staff. They should have a running attack to complement Tate’s arm. The only question mark is the D line. Teams will run on us easier this season, but I don’t think that will make a huge difference.

At 10-1 Iowa should be in line to get another BCS bid.

I was looking at the future schedules for the Hawks and I noticed that in 2007 the two Big Ten teams that aren’t on the Hawkeyes schedule are Ohio St and Michigan. Do you smell a national championship?