Early GT vs. Iowa prediction thread
Do you guys think GT Iowa can beat GT? I think even though GT's run attack is very strong, the fact that it is very mano on mano without much trickery, means that Iowa has a chance against them. I was frankly surprised the B10 got a second team in the BCS, but if Iowa had to play someone, this is probably a good matchup for them. Early prediction though, GT wins.
December 6th, 2009 at 8:35 PM ^
Please don't tell me we're going to have one of these threads for each bowl.
I think one of Iowa's bigger strengths is their pass defense (even moreso than their run defense), and GT definitely isn't known for their passing game. If they can take advantage of the few Nesbitt passes, they should have a decent chance. It will also depend on how healthy Stanzi plays. Are we going to see one Stanzi-ball or four and even worse decision making as he favors the shoulder?
Just my e-thoughts.
December 6th, 2009 at 8:38 PM ^
I started it because it's a B10 team. And I'm hoping we can reverse our recent record of suck. Stanzi is the total wild card that can lose it for Iowa.
December 6th, 2009 at 8:41 PM ^
Vandenburg played better against Ohio State than Stanzi did all year.
December 6th, 2009 at 9:27 PM ^
With a passer rating around 80 and God-like in Q4 with a passer rating in the 200's. Strangely enough, they are almost better with a lesser experienced Vandenberg who plays steadily at the same rate throughout the game. However, KF will have start and play Stanzi since he will be ready.
The biggest wild card is the defense which really does not get run on from power formations, regardless of their ranking. Wile their LBs will never get run over, but struggle with lateral movement and quick skill players (see DRob juke of stud Angerer). It will depend on how well GT can get the edge on Parker's D. Just a matter of fact that is Wisconsin cannot run over them, GT will not either. I have not watched enough GT offense to understand their strengths in that offense.
December 7th, 2009 at 8:12 AM ^
So, Vandenburg Qs 1-3 and then throw Stanzi in for his patented lightnin' hot 4th quarter? Or do you think it takes Stanzi 3 quarters to fill his power bar before he can unleash hell in the 4th?
December 6th, 2009 at 9:47 PM ^
Does that mean no Eaglebank Bowl thread...?
December 6th, 2009 at 8:36 PM ^
I don't think that Iowa's slow defense is going to be able to handle that southern triple option.
December 6th, 2009 at 8:37 PM ^
i got iowa, nothing like having a month to prepare for GT system, see LSU last year. the way iowa plays will keep the score close but personally i think iowa is superior to any team from the acc, and like i stated earlier having a month to prepare for the game really pushes iowa over the top. Iowa 28 GT 10
December 6th, 2009 at 8:41 PM ^
I'm a huge believer in GT's offense. They're one of my favorite teams to watch. Each week, one of my friends will talk shit about the option - ohh...its soooo predicatable? What's next? Option left? Option right?...- and each week GT runs over their opponent.
I've kind of adopted them as a favorite, so maybe I'm biased. But I got GT.
December 6th, 2009 at 10:47 PM ^
I love to watch that "antique" offense run circles around today's fast athletic "modern" defenses.
I hate to root against the B10 in this game though. I was actually hoping that the B10 did not get a 2nd BCS bowl. Once again, the B10 teams have to play up in their bowl games.
December 7th, 2009 at 5:34 AM ^
Last year's peach bowl is a bad example to bring up. GT was down 21 by their second possession.
Also, LSU won because they had better players. Not the case this year.
GT - 44
Iowa - 23
December 6th, 2009 at 8:39 PM ^
Iowa will beat Georgia Tech.
They can easily stack the box with eight and with their well-coached albeit slow defense, they can play good defense and force GT to pass. Speivey with a safety over the top will shut down Thomas. Frankly with so much prep time, the triple option can be schemed against. Iowa will have problems at first but will eventually take over the game. I'd set the O/U at 30 for points.
I think.
December 7th, 2009 at 5:38 AM ^
It doesn't matter what system GT will run becuase Iowa hasn't seen a qb as good as Nesbitt, a wr as good as Thomas, or a backfield as good as Dwyer/Allen/Jones.
Tech will most likely blow up your proposed o/u by themselved thru 3 qtrs
December 6th, 2009 at 8:44 PM ^
Doesn't it still seem odd to read the bowl schedule without seeing Michigan? Seriously, how many of these teams could we beat (handily)? Very depressing to see Wyoming, Southern Miss, Middle Tennessee, Marshall, Ohio, etc. etc. and no Michigan. That is all...
December 6th, 2009 at 8:49 PM ^
what do you guys think the final score of msu/texas tech will be, I got TT 56 MSU 14, i think that is the absolutely worst match up state could have gotten
December 6th, 2009 at 9:38 PM ^
The Big Ten's schedule in bowls is very difficult. Penn State vs LSU loss. Michigan State will get slaughtered by Texas Tech no doubt about that.
December 6th, 2009 at 9:56 PM ^
LSU is not very good this year. Minnesota and Iowa should be favored. Considering the Big 10 again put 2 teams in the BCS, I don't think the match-ups are all that bad. I think Wisconsin got a tough draw with Miami and that MSU will have a hard time (they would have a hard time with anybody sitting 10 players), but other than that I don't think the slate is terribly imposing.
December 6th, 2009 at 10:22 PM ^
Didn't impress me at all in last year's bowl vs FSU. I don't think that Wisconsin will beat Miami with Harris scrambling the way he does. Wisconsin seems to blow it when it comes to playing ACC teams. I don't see Michigan State lasting even 2 quarters with Texas Tech. Michigan State played like garbage losing to CMU in the opener. Penn State might beat LSU but that depends on which Penn State team shows up in that game. Big Ten has it rough this year and I don't see OSU beating Oregon either. Masoli and Blount are going to be a pain in the ass for that OSU defense. They couldn't beat crappy USC!
December 6th, 2009 at 11:30 PM ^
of last year's beat down by USC - PSU has looked really good in bowl games as of late.
However, I do not think this PSU team is very good, they lost to the only two good teams they faced.
So who knows what might happen.
The B10's best bet for a bowl game win is Minnie beating Iowa State.
December 6th, 2009 at 9:45 PM ^
But I just noticed that Drew Sharp, three days ago, has penned an editorial on MSU football's thuggery woes. I honor the freep boycott, but I extracted these tidbits from a google search "msu football ski mask":
Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio should dismiss all players involved in incident
Detroit Free Press - Drew Sharp - Dec 3, 2009
And no ski mask can conceal the embarrassment and anger on the faces of those within the Spartans' football program betrayed by the ...
Does it come as a surprise to anybody for Sharpe to write something like this? Is there any potential impact in this RE the freep jihad against RR/UM? Has this Sharpe editorial already been covered somewhere here before?
December 6th, 2009 at 8:55 PM ^
As my best friend is a Hawkeye, I'll be rooting for Iowa (although my brother went to Tech...hmm). I'm interested to see how Iowa will handle the triple option, and whether or not Vandenburg or Stanzi can produce enough O to back up the D.
December 6th, 2009 at 9:02 PM ^
A month to prep for the option vs. an even longer layoff from playing "live" football. I think Iowa loses to GT.
December 6th, 2009 at 9:23 PM ^
I think the layoff excuse is just an invention to justify OSU getting shellacked whenever they play a team from the SEC.
Iowa has been a very good bowl team under Ferentz (4-3 including close losses to higher rated Florida and Texas teams). I expect them to make the most of the layoff and beat Georgia Tech convincingly.
December 7th, 2009 at 5:44 AM ^
What about paul johnson having a month to dissect iowa's defense?
December 7th, 2009 at 7:20 AM ^
Iowa runs a pretty standard defense with a 2-deep shell; it doesn't take long to "dissect". Not many teams runt the option, however, so the long layoff gives Iowa an advantage.
December 7th, 2009 at 9:20 AM ^
that seems like the only thing iowa has going for it.
GT - better talent, more impressive resume, more games (more reps), better coach
Iowa - extra time to practice an offense they wont even be able to adequately simulate
anyways my whole point is that GT is going to be doing things iowa has never seen before. paul johnson is a good enough coach to anticipate what his opponent is going to try to do.
December 7th, 2009 at 3:21 PM ^
Just saying stuff doesn't make it true. How come Paul Johnson didn't "anticipate" what LSU was going to do last year? Or Georgia this year?
I agree that Johnson is a good coach, but his team has not been impressive playing outside the terrible ACC (losses to .500 SEC teams the last two years). Ferentz has a much stronger resume in bowl games, despite dealing with a number of unfavorable matchups over the years.
I get that you want Georgia Tech to win, I just don't see it happening.
December 6th, 2009 at 9:14 PM ^
to be honest.. the only winnable B10 bowl games are this one and Wisconsin's...
The b10's going to get dominated yet again...
December 6th, 2009 at 9:41 PM ^
Minnesota should beat Iowa State.
December 6th, 2009 at 9:50 PM ^
you'd think that..
however.. Minnesota lost to Illinois... and Iowa State beat Nebraska.. that's a trap game
December 7th, 2009 at 9:24 AM ^
ohio state has a much better chance at a win than iowa does
December 7th, 2009 at 9:29 AM ^
lets reminisce over the last times OSU has faced a spread team in a bowl game....
yikes...
December 7th, 2009 at 10:46 AM ^
ohio state has a better chance of beating ANYBODY in a bowl game than iowa does against GT
December 6th, 2009 at 9:26 PM ^
Iowa is going to get their butt kicked
December 6th, 2009 at 9:26 PM ^
I was at the ACC championship game last night in Tampa and GT looked pretty good. Their defense is porous as hell, but their run game is legit. They've got a great WR in Thomas, but Nesbitt can't throw the ball for shit. My buddy is a Tech fan, and he's worried about the matchup. I think it's gonna be a great game. Iowa always plays well in their bowl games.
December 6th, 2009 at 9:28 PM ^
I hope iowa wins and osu loses yet again.
December 6th, 2009 at 9:34 PM ^
I feel the complete opposite of you (The OP). The triple option helps neutralize Iowa's advantage, which is a strong front four. It lets them get downblocks and double teams on the front. When the triple option is a problem to run is when you have a very active secondary coming up and making plays, which Iowa doesn't have. Although, Paul Johnson got way too wild last year in the bowl games with his passing, and if he out thinks him self again, Iowa can pound GT's defense.
December 6th, 2009 at 10:59 PM ^
That by the middle of the second quarter I will need to violently purge all the vile and bilge from my last two seasons of Michigan football discontent and spend the rest of my New Years trying to remove Rotel and Budweiser off my 67" 1080P Mitsubishi.
December 7th, 2009 at 12:51 AM ^
Last year GT got too cute with LSU, and LSU's defense was relentless. I don't think that happens again this year. Iowa loves to sit back in a cover 2. Please, please try that against GT and let me know how it ends Kirk.
December 7th, 2009 at 9:04 AM ^
Serious question: How will they even prepare for this game? Will they have a squad simulating that offense?
I'm very intrigued by this match up.
December 7th, 2009 at 12:54 AM ^
Final score Iowa 6 Georgia Tech 2, the game will be played in an angry snow storm, because , God will have just realized that he does not in fact hate Michigan, and everyone must suffer because of it.