Tuesday, August 12, 2008

First Practice in Kinnick


After a week of practicing, Iowa Football had their first scrimmage of the season in Kinnick Stadium. Over 130 plays entailed the 2+ hour practice. Improvement showed as the scrimmage progressed. Players were making plays and a tight end from Marion, Iowa may have shown the most promise of the day.


NBCSports.com has the first set of bowl predictions out. Ohio State will represent the Big Ten in the Rose Bowl against USC. Wisconsin will earn a BCS birth against Missouri in the Fiesta Bowl. Illinois will be in the Capital One Bowl, Penn State the Outback Bowl, Michigan State goes to the Alamo Bowl, Michigan in the Insight Bowl and Purdue in the Motor City Bowl. Iowa is slated to play Georgia Tech in the Champs Sports Bowl.
I agree with only a few of the predictions. I believe Ohio State and Wisconsin will be good enough an is capable of earning BCS bowl invites. However Ohio State and USC will be a rematch of a game the second or third week of the season. Finally the Buckeyes won't be playing for the national title and pollsters will make sure of that.
If Illinois does qualify for the Cap One Bowl, they will with three loses on the season. Penn State will only earn an Outback Bowl birth on reputation alone. I believe Michigan State may be the surprise team of the conference and watch for them to play on New Year's Day. Illinois may drop to San Antonio. What many forget is that after the Cap One, it is based on selection by the bowls. I cannot see Michigan falling all the way to the Insight Bowl. The Champs Sports Bowl would love to have the Wolverines involved. Iowa, who did not qualify for a bowl game in '07 will this year. The Insight wants the Hawkeyes and Iowa would be a big draw to Tempe. The Hawkeyes will either be good enough to play on New Year's Day, or they will end up in Arizona.

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