2018 Football Preview – Big Ten – Hawkeyes
Looking for 2018 Iowa Hawkeyes predictions? The Hawkeyes had a decent eight-win season in 2017, but the five losses were all in Big Ten play, which stings. However, Nathan Stanley, in his first year as the starting QB, mostly impressed and Iowa pulled off a nice upset of Ohio State, so there is some reason for optimism. Some position groups need to take a step forward – and players must stop getting suspended – for a successful year in Iowa City this time around.
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2018-19 College Football Preview – Iowa Hawkeyes
Head Coach: Kirk Ferentz
2015 Record: 8-5
Iowa Hawkeyes Odds to win the 2018 FBS Championship: +15000
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Iowa is capable of hovering perhaps just outside the Top 25 nationally. Will the stars align for veteran head coach Kirk Ferentz and his no-nonsense staff?
2018 Iowa Hawkeyes Predictions: Team Strengths
NFL Prototype?: Stanley certainly looked the part under center last year. He’s got a stout 6″4, 240-lb frame and a strong arm to boot. The area he’s picked out to improve is his completion percentage, which was just 55.8 a year ago.
Still, chucking five TD passes against conference bully Ohio State was one for the school’s record books. If Stanley makes the corresponding steps forward with his accuracy, he should be one of the Big Ten’s better QBs.
What makes this look likely is: He’ll have help. Tight end Noah Fant was among the best in the country last season, tying for the positional lead in TD receptions with 11. Fant also led the nation in reception average, racking up 16.5 yards per reception. Mighty impressive for the 6″5, 241-lb junior.
Last year’s leading pass catcher, Nick Easley, also returns, and T.J. Hockenson is yet another tight end with promise behind Fant, at a program which has a proud tradition of pumping out strong TEs. All of this is to say, the tools are there for Stanley to move forward once again.
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Fresh D-Line Rotation: The defensive line is led by junior Anthony Nelson, thanks to his 13.5 sacks over the last two seasons. Elsewhere, Iowa features strong options in DE Parker Hesse, senior DT Matt Nelson and DE A.J. Epenesa.
Matt Nelson and Hesse are coming off injuries, although they are listed as probable for Week 1, and likely fellow starter Cedrick Lattimore will serve a one-game suspension.
It’s not just the D-line that can raise the eyebrows in Iowa City; safety Amani Hooker is a special talent, as evidenced by his interception he took to the house in the first play from scrimmage during last year’s big upset of the Buckeyes.
2018 Iowa Hawkeyes Predictions: Team Weaknesses
O (No)-Line: Another position group Ferentz and his men have a long tradition of jettisoning to the NFL is the offensive line, but that could be this team’s Achilles heel in 2018.
The unit simply didn’t gel last year, and Iowa’s offense is always built around a strong, powerful offensive line.
If the unit is to improve, the Hawkeyes need a profound step forward from OT Tristan Werfs, and senior center Keegan Render must exert some veteran influence.
A sophomore at 6″5, 320 lbs, Werfs has the strength and the talent to be the rising tide that lifts all boats, provided he can clean up his act (also serving a suspension).
Iowa features an intriguing Thunder/Lightning combo at running back with Toren Young (5″11, 221 lbs) and Ivory Kelly-Martin (5″11, 200 lbs), but it will be superfluous if Iowa’s front five can’t open holes.
As we know, Fant and Hockenson are tight ends geared towards the passing attack, which makes stand-alone O-line play all the more critical.
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On special teams, Iowa is in fine shape with the trio of senior kicker Miguel Recinos and punters Colten Rastetter (Aussie Rules/rugby-style punt) and talented Ryan Gersonde, who is coming off an injury that shut him down from October of last year.
Iowa Hawkeyes Prediction: 9-4
The reason Kirk Ferentz has been wearing the headset since before the start of this century is because he churns out winning seasons. 2018 should be no different.
Iowa lucks out this year because it avoids Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State in Big Ten crossover play. Furthermore, Nebraska, Northwestern and dreaded rival Wisconsin all visit Iowa City this year.
The Wisconsin Badgers have always been the Bogeyman for this Iowa program; if the Hawkeyes were able to pull the upset at home, it would be a massive success and might even vault the team to some conference success this season.
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If that offensive line can solidify and the defense can replace three starting linebackers (especially Jozey Jewell, who was a stud) Iowa’s rabid fans might have plenty to cheer about in 2018.
2018 Iowa Hawkeyes Football Schedule
- 9/1/18 3:30 PM ET NIU
- 9/8/18 5:00 PM ET ISU
- 9/15/18 7:30 PM ET UNI
- 9/22/18 TBD WIS
- 10/6/18 TBD @MINN
- 10/13/18 12:00 PM ET @IND
- 10/20/18 12:00 PM ET MD
- 10/27/18 TBD @PSU
- 11/3/18 TBD @PUR
- 11/10/18 TBD NW
- 11/17/18 TBD @ILL
- 11/23/18 12:00 PM ET NEB
What do you think about our 2018 Iowa Hawkeyes predictions? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in 2018!
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