CFB51 College Football Fan Community
The Power Five => Big Ten => Topic started by: Hawkinole on September 17, 2017, 03:19:48 PM
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Somehow this game is scheduled as a prime time game under the lights on ABC. In 2016, Penn State dominated Iowa 41-14. Penn State has plenty of offensive power, and probably above-average defense, having two shutouts in three games. However the Penn State schedule feels a bit like a goose down pillow. Penn State nevertheless deserves its lofty ranking from every appearance.
Iowa has some elements that could go into making a pretty good team. However they have yet to put together a complete game performance.
I know of no credible argument for Iowa to win.
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Tell PSU to try redecorating the lockerroom; heard that worked wonders for ttun.
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Tell PSU to try redecorating the locker; heard that worked wonders for ttun.
Do not make me cough up tan beverage while holding my chest. Very rude!
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I'm really looking forward to this game. I think it's going to be a lot better than people might expect. Iowa City at night is electric. PSU knows how to deal with that atmosphere, but maybe not quite like this with those rabid fans right on top of the sidelines and the deafening I! O! W! A! thing in the corners.
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Kinnick is a tough place to play at night. The Nitts should win but they're gonna have their hands full.
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Can't wait for this game. I'm also a little nervous since this is their first road game, and it's at night. I've always kind of liked Iowa, until the 2004 game.
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I wouldn't be shocked to see a heck of a game here.
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If I'm PSU I lean heavily on Barkley.
This is the kind of game if you get cute, and McSorely is off and throws a couple of untimely picks then the game is totally up for grabs.
Penn St has looked great, but after seeing Oky St completely demolish Pitt, it's obvious this will be the lions toughest opponent to date. Can Iowa smack them in the mouth early? and Iowa did have a battle against Iowa St, so luckily for them they should be prepared for the environment.
In the end, Barkley is just too damn good and I think the Penn St defense is legit. Just hope James Franklin doesnt say it was as easy as beating Akron in the presser afterwards.
But I might take the Hawks and the 12 points vegas is giving them though.
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I'm pullin' for the Hawkeys, but think that Penn St will win.
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Why did this have to be a night game at Iowa?
I'm still shell shocked from the 2008 contest....
Iowa is an EXTREMELY tough place to play at night. Hopefully PSU can sneak out a win, but this could really go either way, IMO.
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I'm really looking forward to this game. I think it's going to be a lot better than people might expect. Iowa City at night is electric. PSU knows how to deal with that atmosphere, but maybe not quite like this with those rabid fans right on top of the sidelines and the deafening I! O! W! A! thing in the corners.
Pitt @ Iowa in 2015 was the epitome of an electric atmosphere. I really, really hope that environment is replicated this Saturday.
And I think one of two things are likely to happen. One (which is the more probable) - Penn State is going to billy-club Iowa into submission again. Or two - Iowa is going to smack PSU in the mouth early and get them out of sync and pull off the stunner (or at least come very, very close).
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it's hard to say how to defense this penn st team because they haven't played anyone with a pulse yet, but, don't you think you gotta go in thinking shut down barkley? which, is easier said then done, but I think I'd rather take my chances with mcsorely throwing 40 times vs having barkley just pound my defense for 4 quarters.
vice versa, it'll be interesting to see how ferentz attacks what might be the best defense in the BIG.
I think he's probably going to want to play field position football, but if I'm him I at least open it up the first couple of drives, try to get Penn St thinking pass first, then maybe run the ball in the 2nd quarter. If he does that, keeps it close in the first quarter, then run the ball in the 2nd and maybe it's a tight game at half and the crowd will be rocking to start the 3rd.
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My biggest concern is the front 7. Penn State has allowed these weak opponents too many yards rushing. I also have to wonder about the defense's endurance. In both the Pitt and Georgia state games, Penn State's time of possession was much shorter than the opponent. The fast strike nature of the offense hardly gives the defense time to breathe. Granted, that normally means the offense scored a TD, but it could become an issue against the better teams on the schedule. A defense that's gassed in the 4th quarter can give up a lot of points quickly.
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I anticipate Ferentz watching the Pitt tape a TON this week and trying to ball control. Any update on the AIRBHG situation?
Kinnick's a nightmare at night. This game won't be a blowout under any circumstances, but I think PSU has too many playmakers in the end and it's somewhere like 35-21.
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My biggest concern is the front 7. Penn State has allowed these weak opponents too many yards rushing. I also have to wonder about the defense's endurance. In both the Pitt and Georgia state games, Penn State's time of possession was much shorter than the opponent. The fast strike nature of the offense hardly gives the defense time to breathe. Granted, that normally means the offense scored a TD, but it could become an issue against the better teams on the schedule. A defense that's gassed in the 4th quarter can give up a lot of points quickly.
The OL hasn't looked all that good either. The DL isn't getting any push and the young guys look, well, young.
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I'm concerned about the O-line, as well. Barkley has not been able to get the yards he should be able to. Granted, so far, opposing defenses have committed to stopping Barkley, and that is probably a big part of the reason McSorley has been able to torch them thru the air. That is not going to work out as well with better competition.
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I'm concerned about the O-line, as well. Barkley has not been able to get the yards he should be able to. Granted, so far, opposing defenses have committed to stopping Barkley, and that is probably a big part of the reason McSorley has been able to torch them thru the air. That is not going to work out as well with better competition.
I don't think McS has looked all that great himself. He was really inconsistent and inaccurate against Pitt when Pitt was able to get pressure. Honestly, the WR's have been subpar in my opinion too, only finally catching their collective group's first TD last week. DHam's been reliable as always, but besides Gesicki who else? Johnson maybe?
I dunno, it's not like they've been underperforming as a team, just not quite where I'd like to see them at this point. Maybe I'm over reacting to a point.
That said, everyone better start really prepping for the two QB thing too. I believe that they are lining up some serious things out of that scheme.
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I mostly chalk up McSorley's Pitt performance to just having a bad game. That's going to happen once in awhile. We just have to hope that was it for the season. I agree that the receivers have not been outstanding, yet. Most QBs end up with a favorite receiver. It was Godwin last year, maybe its just going to be Gesicki this year. At 6'6", getting mismatches against LBs and safeties, I can live with that.
On the 2 QB set, I'm waiting on the edge of my seat for something big whenever I see Tommy come onto the field.
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Do not make me cough up tan beverage while holding my chest. Very rude!
I about fell out of my chair laughing at your comment. I tried to be funny, but re-reading my post, I thought, good thing I don't write joke books.
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I anticipate Ferentz watching the Pitt tape a TON this week and trying to ball control. Any update on the AIRBHG situation?
Kinnick's a nightmare at night. This game won't be a blowout under any circumstances, but I think PSU has too many playmakers in the end and it's somewhere like 35-21.
Graduate transfer James Butler RB#2, who shares time with Akrum Wadley, is out for serveral weeks. Akrum Wadley expected back for Penn State despite not playing the 2nd half this past Saturday.
Iowa seems to have at least 3-talented RBs behind Iowa's #2 RB James Butler, two of whom are freshmen who gained >70 yards each on Saturday, and a third who seems to have not made the box score this year. RB is not the problem at Iowa. Nor are fumbles. Iowa does extremely well dropping the ball unexpectedly.
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Penn St leads the all time series 14-12
The first played in 1930. Iowa won.
Then they played every year from 1971-1976. Penn St won every game except the last one.
They played in 1983 and 1984, with the road team winning each time.
After PSU joined the Big Ten:
Penn St went 2-1 against Iowa in the 90s.
Iowa went 6-1 against Penn St in the 20ots.
Penn St is 3-1 against Iowa so far in the 2010s.
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rivalry!
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Iowa usually plays their best for big home games, particularly at night (as exemplified by Michigan last year). If they do, I think they'll pull off the upset.
Conversely, Penn State seems to struggle more in tough away games than a lot of teams under Franklin (Michigan, Pittsburgh, and USC last year / all of their 2014 & 2015 away games).
Iowa's RBs will be the key, I think so that they open up the passing game. As long as the defense gives up <30 points, they'll have a chance.
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Iowa usually plays their best for big home games, particularly at night (as exemplified by Michigan last year). If they do, I think they'll pull off the upset.
Conversely, Penn State seems to struggle more in tough away games than a lot of teams under Franklin (Michigan, Pittsburgh, and USC last year / all of their 2014 & 2015 away games).
Iowa's RBs will be the key, I think so that they open up the passing game. As long as the defense gives up <30 points, they'll have a chance.
Earlier, above, I said there is no credible argument that Iowa would defeat Penn State. There was even less credible argument Iowa would defeat Michigan in 2016. In fact I thought that was going to be a 40 point blow out coming into that game.
I don't know enough about Penn St, but each of their wins have been decisive. Iowa had one harrowing win, and two that were not decided until well into the 2nd half.
Iowa's defense played well against Wyoming, poorly against Iowa State, and poorly for one-half against N. Texas, and well in the 2nd half against N. Texas. Usually, the Iowa defense in the top 10 in the nation considering how bad the offense has been over the past decade.
Now Iowa's offense is on the uptick, and the defense is searching to find itself. A defense facing Penn State should have found itself before it faces Penn State. Iowa left points on the field Saturday. I have the feeling Iowa scores 24-28, if they don't fumble or turn over their chances away, which has been the achiles heel this season. Can Iowa hold PSU below 24? Seems like a tall order, to me. Penn State is a Big Ten team with a Big 12 offense.
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Iowa can keep PSU to under 24, but it'll be tough. First, they have to prevent the big play. They might be able to survive one, but two or more is going to be almost certainly insurmountable. Even if that means Barkley keeps ripping off 8-yard chunks consistently, it at the very least keeps the clock running. The passing game isn't elite, but it's still a threat, so the Iowa defensive front 4 will need to be able to put some pressure on McSorley and force him into making bad throws (or better yet, getting sacks). The more 3rd-and-7s Iowa can force, the better.
Offensively, just run the ball well, win the TOP battle, and don't turn the ball over (I know, big surprise, right)?
Even then that might not be enough. Iowa may need a pick-six or have to do something on special teams (a KO or punt return for a TD, block a punt/FG) to win this one.
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could be the game of the week for the entire college slate.
Penn State *SHOULD* win on paper. BUT....Kinnick is a TOUGH ass place to play at night.
Should be a hell of a game. Still think Penn State pulls it off, but wouldn't be surprised one bit to see Iowa pull off the upset at home at night.
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Changed my pick to Iowa in this one. Iowa's DBs need to play lights out.
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I'm almost tempted to make Iowa my upset pick.
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Penn State seems to be the B1G's OU this year. Tough defense, and some explosiveness on offense. If they get up 14-0 early thanks to a couple of big plays, that's all she wrote. Iowa does not have the horses to dig itself out of a multi-score hole, especially against a team of the Nits' caliber.
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While perhaps late October games against Michigan and Ohio State will settle the East, and determine Penn State's playoff fate, this game is plenty scary. Last year in a night game at home the Hawkeyes upset #2 Michigan 14-13, in a defensive slugfest. The Hawkeyes have won their last 4 night games in Kinnick, their last loss coming to Penn State back in 2012, and that was a lousy 4-8 Iowa team that dropped its final six games of the year. Penn State has looked like the most complete team in the conference, but a schedule that already looked fairly weak took another hit when Oklahoma State had their way with a Pitt defense in Heinz Field a week after the Nittany Lion offensive line struggled to block that same Panther front in Happy Valley. Iowa has been far from perfect themselves. A convincing win over what was supposed to be an upstart Wyoming team looks not so impressive now, they pulled out a miracle win over Iowa State, and trailed North Texas in the third quarter before scoring 21 unanswered points. With Akrum Wadley a little dinged up, the Hawkeyes are going to need the Nathan Stanley they saw in Ames. He completed 66% of his passes for 333 yards, 5 touchdowns and no picks. In the Hawkeyes other two games he's completed only 57% of his passes, and averaging 161 ypg. Penn State's offensive line is improving from the disaster it had been, but it still has a ways to go. What Joe Moorhead has done is a better job of scheming around that deficiency, and McSorley has a knack for improvisation. For all of the inconsistencies, the Nittany Lions have only allowed 2 sacks on the year. Better than anyone in the conference other than Minnesota. I think this one will come down to two things. Penn State's ability to hit big plays. They've relied on them already this year, and really going back to last year. They aren't doing a great job sustaining drives. They have the athletes to hit on those plays against Akron, Pitt and Georgia State. They have a talent gap with Iowa, but it is obviously far narrower, and the Hawkeyes are doing as good a job as anyone in the country getting teams off the field. The second factor is that Kinnick night crowd.
IOWA 27, PENN STATE 26
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While perhaps late October games against Michigan and Ohio State will settle the East, and determine Penn State's playoff fate, this game is plenty scary. Last year in a night game at home the Hawkeyes upset #2 Michigan 14-13, in a defensive slugfest. The Hawkeyes have won their last 4 night games in Kinnick, their last loss coming to Penn State back in 2012, and that was a lousy 4-8 Iowa team that dropped its final six games of the year. Penn State has looked like the most complete team in the conference, but a schedule that already looked fairly weak took another hit when Oklahoma State had their way with a Pitt defense in Heinz Field a week after the Nittany Lion offensive line struggled to block that same Panther front in Happy Valley. Iowa has been far from perfect themselves. A convincing win over what was supposed to be an upstart Wyoming team looks not so impressive now, they pulled out a miracle win over Iowa State, and trailed North Texas in the third quarter before scoring 21 unanswered points. With Akrum Wadley a little dinged up, the Hawkeyes are going to need the Nathan Stanley they saw in Ames. He completed 66% of his passes for 333 yards, 5 touchdowns and no picks. In the Hawkeyes other two games he's completed only 57% of his passes, and averaging 161 ypg. Penn State's offensive line is improving from the disaster it had been, but it still has a ways to go. What Joe Moorhead has done is a better job of scheming around that deficiency, and McSorley has a knack for improvisation. For all of the inconsistencies, the Nittany Lions have only allowed 2 sacks on the year. Better than anyone in the conference other than Minnesota. I think this one will come down to two things. Penn State's ability to hit big plays. They've relied on them already this year, and really going back to last year. They aren't doing a great job sustaining drives. They have the athletes to hit on those plays against Akron, Pitt and Georgia State. They have a talent gap with Iowa, but it is obviously far narrower, and the Hawkeyes are doing as good a job as anyone in the country getting teams off the field. The second factor is that Kinnick night crowd.
IOWA 27, PENN STATE 26
I actually think your score is pretty accurate, but for different reasons.
1. The Penn State D has not been dominate against the run. There's pretty much 3 to 4 yards there on most plays. This plays into Iowa's strength.
2. The Penn State O looks to exploit mismatches, especially against linebackers. Iowa's linebackers are pretty good.
3. I think an Iowa night game is probably worth at least a 14 point advantage.
4. Iowa has had a few games to really get into the rhythm of the season. Penn State has played some pretty bad teams. I think Iowa jumps out to an early lead, thanks to their crowd and to their experience. Then they keep the clock churning with long, sustained drives. I think Penn State comes back, but it isn't enough.
I'm also thinking Iowa wins a close one.
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Penn State seems to be the B1G's OU this year. Tough defense, and some explosiveness on offense. If they get up 14-0 early thanks to a couple of big plays, that's all she wrote. Iowa does not have the horses to dig itself out of a multi-score hole, especially against a team of the Nits' caliber.
Penn State started with a multi-score 5-point lead.
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What a game. Iowa's defense played tough in the red zone. I about had a stroke when Iowa went ahead with 1:42 to go.
Barkley may have at least cemented an invite to NY in December.
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Barkley should be the leading candidate for the Heisman. But the season is long, and it takes one injury to derail someone. He is indeed a big tough, quick, and fast man, and seemed to have some blocking to go with his running skills.
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Seems like it takes the total lack of a slightly viable QB for a RB to win it anymore. And WRs might as well be NTs at this point.
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Seems like it takes the total lack of a slightly viable QB for a RB to win it anymore. And WRs might as well be NTs at this point.
The RB has to just be flat out amazing to win it. Or play for an undefeated Alabama.
Barkley has been flat out amazing, so I think he'll be in it until the end.
WR has to do what Desmond Howard did to win it. You're not winning it as a WR unless you score 18-20 TD's as a WR and then return a couple punts and kicks for TD's and/or score on reverses/runs.
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Barkley should be the leading candidate for the Heisman. But the season is long, and it takes one injury to derail someone. He is indeed a big tough, quick, and fast man, and seemed to have some blocking to go with his running skills.
Unless there is a desire to give it someone else (or he gets injured), Jackson is still the best player in CFB. He's going to finish with 4000+ passing and well over 1000 rushing.
Barkley also has large stretches during games where Franklin forgets about him and/or McSorley doesn't hand it off to him on the read option.
right now I'd say.
1. Jackson
2. Barkley
3. Mayfield
4. Darnold
5. Josh Jackson
Dark horse is Gaskin. Washington could run the table again and he could have late push from having to play Utah, Wazzu and probably USC to finish up. I'd love to see James Washington get some heisman love too. Dude is amazing.
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Unless there is a desire to give it someone else (or he gets injured), Jackson is still the best player in CFB. He's going to finish with 4000+ passing and well over 1000 rushing.
Barkley also has large stretches during games where Franklin forgets about him and/or McSorley doesn't hand it off to him on the read option.
right now I'd say.
1. Jackson
2. Barkley
3. Mayfield
4. Darnold
5. Josh Jackson
Dark horse is Gaskin. Washington could run the table again and he could have late push from having to play Utah, Wazzu and probably USC to finish up. I'd love to see James Washington get some heisman love too. Dude is amazing.
I think that beat down by Clemson at home is really going to hurt him. I have my doubts about Louisville as a team. They seem pretty void of talent outside of Jackson. It's almost like he has to be perfect and play like Superman or they lose. Padding stats against Kent State isn't going to get the voters attention. I don't think they are done losing. Boston College at home doesn't look like the gimme everyone thought it'd be, and they'll have to go on the road and face two tough defenses in NC State and Florida State.
I think if the voting was done today the top two would be Barkley and Mayfield. They've both had signature moments in prime-time nationally televised games playing on the road in hostile environments.
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I think that beat down by Clemson at home is really going to hurt him. I have my doubts about Louisville as a team. They seem pretty void of talent outside of Jackson. It's almost like he has to be perfect and play like Superman or they lose. Padding stats against Kent State isn't going to get the voters attention. I don't think they are done losing. Boston College at home doesn't look like the gimme everyone thought it'd be, and they'll have to go on the road and face two tough defenses in NC State and Florida State.
I think if the voting was done today the top two would be Barkley and Mayfield. They've both had signature moments in prime-time nationally televised games playing on the road in hostile environments.
I think his biggest obstacle is not slipping below last year's numbers. He's ahead of them efficiency-wide thus far, but that'd have to hold. Helping him is a slate where every game seems moderately winnable, with enough good defenses to bolster big stats if he has them.
Granted, voters like the new hotness, so someone who emerges likely passes him.
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I'm a Barkley for Heisman believer.
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Penn St will go as far as Barkley can take him, phenomenal game by the young man.
Iowa's defense was outstanding, it actually pushed the Penn St O-Line back on a number of occasions, but Barkley always wiggled out of it, they could never get him behind the line of scrimmage.
I honestly couldn't tell on that one long run on the left side of the field if his knee touched or not, Penn St did a good job of getting the next play in and I don't think replay caught it or not.
Penn St definitely has the grit of a BIG 10 champion, to make that final drive shows a lot of guts. I'm not sold that their overall offense is as good as last year, I think Barkley is probably better, but Mcsorely and the WR's still need some work, but we're only 1/3 of the way into the season. the nittany lion defense appears to be a much stingier unit than last year, although, they haven't played a real high flying attack yet. but to shut Iowa down most of the night was pretty impressive.
and while it's a tough loss for Iowa, they made me think they have a legit shot in the west. it's hard to see Wisconsin losing twice, but if Iowa could knock them off head to head and maybe Michigan tags them then Iowa still has a little bit of wiggle room.
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Penn State's luck is going to run out in close games like this sooner or later.
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That was an incredible game. A few thoughts:
1. I know I'm a homer, so maybe somebody can set me straight -- was that the best performance by a running back you've ever seen?
2. The Hawkeye crowd being so close is a HUGE factor. Many of the players admitted that the constant verbal barrage and insults really got to them. The crowd noise was insane. Maybe the toughest place to play in the B1G.
3. I don't know how to spell his name, but the linebacker Jewel is the best I've seen in the B1G this year. What an amazing individual performance.
4. Penn State had almost 600 yards of offense, almost 100 offensive plays, and a safety -- and scored 21 points. Iowa's defensive plan was masterful. Instead of playing to contain Barkley, they played to stop the big play. The soft coverage and deep safeties is something no one else has tried against PSU. It almost worked. There were so many times that PSU was THIS close to breaking a huge play, and Iowa just kept them from doing it. It's not often a team can give up nearly 600 yards and still be credited with a great defensive gameplan.
5. I'm not sure which had me more on the edge of my seat -- the movie "IT" or this game. I'm surprised I didn't have a heart attack this week.
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It was a great game for sure, but the result was disappointing (at least from an Iowa perspective).
Barkley is the real deal. He reminds me a lot of a bigger/stronger Barry Sanders - and as it turns out, he was Barkley's childhood idol. Great kid. He has my vote for the Heisman.
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outstanding game by both teams
unfortunately, both teams can't win
and there are no moral victories
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Penn St will go as far as Barkley can take him, phenomenal game by the young man.
Iowa's defense was outstanding, it actually pushed the Penn St O-Line back on a number of occasions, but Barkley always wiggled out of it, they could never get him behind the line of scrimmage.
I honestly couldn't tell on that one long run on the left side of the field if his knee touched or not, Penn St did a good job of getting the next play in and I don't think replay caught it or not.
Penn St definitely has the grit of a BIG 10 champion, to make that final drive shows a lot of guts. I'm not sold that their overall offense is as good as last year, I think Barkley is probably better, but Mcsorely and the WR's still need some work, but we're only 1/3 of the way into the season. the nittany lion defense appears to be a much stingier unit than last year, although, they haven't played a real high flying attack yet. but to shut Iowa down most of the night was pretty impressive.
and while it's a tough loss for Iowa, they made me think they have a legit shot in the west. it's hard to see Wisconsin losing twice, but if Iowa could knock them off head to head and maybe Michigan tags them then Iowa still has a little bit of wiggle room.
In regards to the knee being down -- I watched that thing frame by frame in HD on my 65" TV and I couldn't tell, either. There were 2 referees, both about 6 yards away, with a clear view. Hopefully somebody will stream it in 4K someday...hah!
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It was a great game for sure, but the result was disappointing (at least from an Iowa perspective).
Barkley is the real deal. He reminds me a lot of a bigger/stronger Barry Sanders - and as it turns out, he was Barkley's childhood idol. Great kid. He has my vote for the Heisman.
I love Barkley's game....but cmon mang. He ain't Barry. Not even close. I don't think we will ever see a RB with that kind of stop-start change of direction. Barry was one in a billion. He was also a lot stronger than you think- those thighs, legs, and calves were the size of tree trunks. Those legs ripped right through many an arm tackle. Barry was 5'8 but he was 200+ pounds of lower body muscle. He wasn't a 5'7, 180 pound midget like Darren Sproles- he'd have never been as great as he was in the NFL if he was.
Barkley reminds me more of a bigger, stronger 230 pound Reggie Bush. Especially when you take into account his receiving ability. Bush lacked the size and strength to be an inside the tackles runner, Barkley won't have that problem.
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I don't think Barry was plus 200 pounds as a jr at Oklahoma State
Sproles was pretty thick while at K-state - pretty similar
I'm sure Barkley will put on 10-20 lbs of muscle in the next couple seasons in the NFL
Sproles and Barkley are NOT Sanders, but they were about the same size as college juniors
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I think that beat down by Clemson at home is really going to hurt him. I have my doubts about Louisville as a team. They seem pretty void of talent outside of Jackson. It's almost like he has to be perfect and play like Superman or they lose. Padding stats against Kent State isn't going to get the voters attention. I don't think they are done losing. Boston College at home doesn't look like the gimme everyone thought it'd be, and they'll have to go on the road and face two tough defenses in NC State and Florida State.
I think if the voting was done today the top two would be Barkley and Mayfield. They've both had signature moments in prime-time nationally televised games playing on the road in hostile environments.
The schedule is rather soft w/ FSU losing their QB and they probably won't get to play VT in the championship game. He's going to rack up insane stats, its just there will be no signature game.
Barkley will leap to front runner if he has a big game against Michigan.