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Mike Hall's Bio: Mike Hall does it all: He anchors "Big Ten Tonight," reports from sidelines during Big Ten games and serves as host of the Friday Night Tailgate. He also blogs right here and posts his very own video reports. |
Iowa explanation? No, THEY owe one to Iowa!
| Nov 3 2009, 4:02 PM | Topic: Campus chatter |
| I've expressed many times that I don't think it should be relevant what you or I or anybody thinks will happen in a hypothetical match-up (i.e. "Florida would beat TCU on a neutral field"). I think what matters is what you know, not what you think. And that is why I know that Iowa is not getting the respect its deserves. This is the great Pat Forde's latest column. He writes: "Seven teams (the six remaining FBS undefeateds and Oregon) deserve to be ranked ahead of (Iowa)." Pat is the best writer in college sports. But in this instance he is dead wrong. The latest BCS standings have Iowa fourth overall behind Florida, Texas and Alabama. They rank seventh in the Harris Poll, sixth in the USA Today Coaches Poll, and second in the computers. But who truly deserves to be ahead of them? I know people are skeptical of Iowa because of their late escapes against decent or good opponents and slim wins over bad ones. But everybody has bad games. If you're unbeaten, I'm more concerned with your good wins than your bad ones. And are those good wins better than the other unbeatens'? Let's compare. I have four main points. 1) Wins over teams currently above .500? Iowa has six (Penn State at 8-1, Wisconsin at 6-2, Arizona at 5-2, Michigan at 5-4, Iowa State at 5-4, and Northern Iowa at 5-3). Florida has two (LSU at 7-1, and Troy at 6-2). Let me repeat that. The mighty Gators have a whopping total of two wins over teams currently above .500. Two. And one is Troy. Alabama has three (South Carolina at 6-3, Virginia Tech at 5-3 and Mississippi at 5-3). Texas has four (Oklahoma State at 6-2, Texas Tech at 6-3, Missouri at 5-3 and Oklahoma at 5-3). 2) How about a more specific look at the top of the top including wins over teams currently in the BCS standings? Iowa has three (Penn State at 11, Arizona at 18 and Wisconsin at 21). Florida has one (LSU at 9). Alabama has one (Virginia Tech at 23). Texas has two (Oklahoma State at 19 and Oklahoma at 24). 3) How about the NCAA's listing for strength of schedule? Iowa is ranked as having the seventh toughest schedule. Florida is 42nd. Alabama is 22nd. Texas is 35th. You look at those numbers and tell me how the Hawkeyes aren't ranked number one right now! The answer in my mind is two-fold. One, there still are people that vote based on national perception and pre-season thoughts and hype. Two, that the Hawkeyes don't pass the dreaded "eye test," which is a philosophy that is so subjective it makes me want to cry out of agony. To be fair, do I think Iowa is the No. 1 team in the country right now? No, I do not. But again, who cares what I think!? You should care what I know. And I know that as of now the Hawkeyes have the better resume than anyone else in the country. Will that stay the same in a few weeks? Maybe not. But for now what team has done better?! 4) Let's compare the remaining schedules of each team. Iowa still has to play Northwestern (5-4), Ohio State (7-2) and Minnesota (5-4). Florida has Vanderbilt (2-7), South Carolina (6-3), Florida International (2-6) and Florida State (4-4). Plus the potential SEC title game, likely against Alabama (8-0). Alabama has LSU (7-1), Mississippi State (4-5), Chattanooga (5-3), and Auburn (6-3). Plus the potential SEC title game, likely against Florida (8-0) Texas has UCF (5-3), Baylor (3-5), Kansas (5-3) and Texas A&M (5-3). Plus a potential Big 12 Title Game. The current Big 12 North leader is Kansas State (5-4). That doesn't make the Hawkeyes look so bad either, does it? Only the Crimson Tide's remaining games look harder on the whole than Iowa's. Again, things can change. If Iowa loses, the argument is moot. In a month maybe things will be different and Alabama will have victories over LSU and Auburn and Florida. In which case, I'd say it deserves it more. But right now they don't. After nine weeks of play, Iowa should be the number one team in the country. FINAL NUGGET: Did have a chance to talk with Ricky Stanzi today. He was exactly the cool customer you'd think he'd be based on this season. He's said all year long that he makes sure he never gets too high and never gets too low. And he reiterated that today. He said his mindset after throwing the fifth interception was "go onto the next play." And he did. Despite throwing five interceptions, he also threw his first 300-yard game of his career. Considering all the good and all the bad, how will he remember that performance? "I'll just remember it as a win," Stanzi said. "That's all that matters." |
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