Predicting the 2009 Iowa Hawkeyes Football Season: Overview

With the start of Iowa Football only a month away, and with practice officially starting tomorrow for the Hawkeyes, I thought I would write my first blog post for Bleacher Report predicting how my beloved Iowa Hawkeyes will do this 2009 season.

I am fairly optimistic about what's in store for the Hawks this season.  Having spent much of the last seven months reading any and every Hawkeye news story, recruiting tidbit, and fan blog post, I think I have compiled a fairly objective, yet surprisingly accurate assessment of how the Hawkeyes will perform in the 2009 season. 

With so many variables in play, like replacing Greene, King, Kroul, and Myers, not to mention an extremely difficult road schedule, it is really anyone's guess what the season will bring.  But, I spit in the face of adversity as I attempt to predict just how Iowa's season will turn out.

Our schedule is anything but easy, regardless of how you look at it.  Our non-conference season brings UNI, Iowa State, and Arizona before finally throwing in the mandatory cream puff Arkansas State (11-12 in their last two seasons). 

We open against Northern Iowa, a team picked to win the Missouri Valley Conference Title, and they will be a tough challenge.  Iowa State, as pathetic this year as they are, will still present a major battle because of the intense in-state rivalry.  Arizona, coached by former Hawkeye Mike Stoops, is a Pac-10 team on the rise with a fast secondary and will be anything but easy.  And Arkansas State isn't scheduled until AFTER we start the Big Ten season against Penn State. 

This says nothing of the Big Ten side of the schedule, with a road journey that looks to be an epic struggle.  The Hawks play at Penn State, then Michigan comes to Iowa City after our Arkansas State game.  Then back-to-back road games at Wisconsin and Michigan State, followed by two home games against Indiana and Northwestern.  Then it's off to the infamous horseshoe to play Ohio State before finishing at home against Minnesota.

Let's be honest...that schedule sounds dauntingly ridiculous, if not impossible.  With that said, I think the Hawkeyes should do fairly well.  And everyone around the country seems to think so, too.  The Hawkeyes are coming in on most preseason polls ranging from 24th to 13th in the country. 

Yet, while it is great to get some respect for a change this preseason, typically Iowa performs better with a chip on their shoulder.  Let us also not forget that Iowa typically loses an early game they should win, only to dominate the end of the schedule and fight our way into a decent bowl.

Did I say I was fairly optimistic about this season?  Yes, I did.  And here is why: we return experienced players on both sides of the ball, we have one of the best secondaries in the country, we have potentially one of the best offensive lines in the country, our linebackers are tackling machines, and our wide receiver corp is a secret pool of talent the country will soon find out about. 

If Iowa can come together as a team, keep the turnovers and penalties to a bare minimum, and stay strong on the road, we could very well compete for the Big Ten title this year.  In order for that to happen, Iowa is going to have to beat either Penn State and/or Ohio State on the road (in addition to many other things, but you see my point). We always give PSU a run for their money, and the Hawks are long overdue for a victory in Columbus so this could be the year for that to happen.

So, what is this Hawkeye nerd's fearless prediction for the outcome of the 2009 season?

9 wins, 3 losses...and a trip to the Capital One Bowl in Florida.

Who will we beat?  Who will we lose to?  Well, I guess you will have to keep reading my posts to find out.  Next up...Predicting the 2009 Iowa Football Season: Northern Iowa.