In reference to Kettelmeister's comment that Iowa has a "knack of winning the close ones" I just want to throw in what think is a little objectivity.
Please understand that by no means am I trying to make a comment on coaching, pro or con. What I am trying to express is the direct correlation and impact of the strength of opponents you play, and the outcome....
Against opponents lower than Toledo, Iowa has.....
43rd Pitt: won by 3, 8 points below their rating
83rd Indiana: won by 8, 8 points below their rating
63rd Illinois: won by 9, 8 points below their rating
81st Illinois State: won by 17, 5 points below their rating
79th Maryland: won by 16, 6 points below their rating
180th North Texas: won by 46, 1 point above their ranking
Against opponents lower than Toledo, Iowa State has....
55th Texas: won by 24, 23 points above their ranking
87th Northern Iowa: 24, 14 points above their ranking
151st Kansas: won by 25, 1 pint above their ranking.
Here's the deal......
Iowa State
Against teams ranked lower than Toledo, not only has Iowa State found a "knack to win", but they have made sure that these games were not even close.
Make note that in this sub-Toledo range, Iowa State actually played progressively better against the higher ranked teams........and nobody came within 25 points of Iowa State.
Iowa State averaged 13 points per game above their current power ranking, which implies that if Iowa State's schedule was made up like Iowa's... .we are playing at very solid top-25 caliber ball against this lower caliber of teams.
Iowa
Using the exact same caliber of teams, that is, teams ranked lower than Toledo...Iowa has found a "knack to win"...when what they should have been doing is blowing them out of the water like Iowa State has. They are not!
Rather, they are finding themselves struggling against these teams until the ultimately find a "knack" to finally win, usually late in the game.
If shouldn't take that (finding some "knack") if you are a top-10 team. It didn't take that for Iowa State!
Iowa State just had far fewer of them!
Iowa averaged six points below their current power ranking against these six teams noted above!
If you drop six points from Iowa's current power ranking....you have an Iowa team that is 40's and bordering being in the 50th range.
In summary, what Iowa has had is an overabundance of opportunities to kick some ass against weaker opponents....and instead what they have mustered is games they have struggled, yet found a "knack to win".
Furthermore.....
Iowa has played only three games above the Toledo level, and indeed one can give Kirk credit for finding a "knack to win" those particuar games this year. So let's take a look at those wins....
20th Wisconsin
What I remember most about this game was Wisconsin's incredible ability to piss the game away. Especially a fumble near the goal line that would have one them the game. Is Iowa to be credited with this "knack"?
Iowa State
How does a team fumble three times inside the 5 yard line, yet scored all three times be given the credit for "knack". Keep in mind these three touchdowns when realizing that it took the last four minutes of the game for Iowa to pull ahead.
Northwestern
Northwestern is ranked 42nd. And the one and only game where Iowa actually has played like a top-10 team should.
As I pointed out before.....
Iowa's "knack" came with opportunity that the should not have been needed in the first place.
Against the same caliber of opportunity, Iowa State didn't need "knack"..... they used "kicked their ass" instead.
(In my opinion.)
Please understand that by no means am I trying to make a comment on coaching, pro or con. What I am trying to express is the direct correlation and impact of the strength of opponents you play, and the outcome....
Against opponents lower than Toledo, Iowa has.....
43rd Pitt: won by 3, 8 points below their rating
83rd Indiana: won by 8, 8 points below their rating
63rd Illinois: won by 9, 8 points below their rating
81st Illinois State: won by 17, 5 points below their rating
79th Maryland: won by 16, 6 points below their rating
180th North Texas: won by 46, 1 point above their ranking
Against opponents lower than Toledo, Iowa State has....
55th Texas: won by 24, 23 points above their ranking
87th Northern Iowa: 24, 14 points above their ranking
151st Kansas: won by 25, 1 pint above their ranking.
Here's the deal......
Iowa State
Against teams ranked lower than Toledo, not only has Iowa State found a "knack to win", but they have made sure that these games were not even close.
Make note that in this sub-Toledo range, Iowa State actually played progressively better against the higher ranked teams........and nobody came within 25 points of Iowa State.
Iowa State averaged 13 points per game above their current power ranking, which implies that if Iowa State's schedule was made up like Iowa's... .we are playing at very solid top-25 caliber ball against this lower caliber of teams.
Iowa
Using the exact same caliber of teams, that is, teams ranked lower than Toledo...Iowa has found a "knack to win"...when what they should have been doing is blowing them out of the water like Iowa State has. They are not!
Rather, they are finding themselves struggling against these teams until the ultimately find a "knack" to finally win, usually late in the game.
If shouldn't take that (finding some "knack") if you are a top-10 team. It didn't take that for Iowa State!
Iowa State just had far fewer of them!
Iowa averaged six points below their current power ranking against these six teams noted above!
If you drop six points from Iowa's current power ranking....you have an Iowa team that is 40's and bordering being in the 50th range.
In summary, what Iowa has had is an overabundance of opportunities to kick some ass against weaker opponents....and instead what they have mustered is games they have struggled, yet found a "knack to win".
Furthermore.....
Iowa has played only three games above the Toledo level, and indeed one can give Kirk credit for finding a "knack to win" those particuar games this year. So let's take a look at those wins....
20th Wisconsin
What I remember most about this game was Wisconsin's incredible ability to piss the game away. Especially a fumble near the goal line that would have one them the game. Is Iowa to be credited with this "knack"?
Iowa State
How does a team fumble three times inside the 5 yard line, yet scored all three times be given the credit for "knack". Keep in mind these three touchdowns when realizing that it took the last four minutes of the game for Iowa to pull ahead.
Northwestern
Northwestern is ranked 42nd. And the one and only game where Iowa actually has played like a top-10 team should.
As I pointed out before.....
Iowa's "knack" came with opportunity that the should not have been needed in the first place.
Against the same caliber of opportunity, Iowa State didn't need "knack"..... they used "kicked their ass" instead.
(In my opinion.)
Last edited:
