#4 Iowa Hawkeyes

I’m probably expecting too much of the Hawkeyes this year, lacking Drew Tate a other key players the team shouldn’t be as good as last year. However missing Ohio State and Michigan from their schedule is like starting the season with 2 wins.

The offense would be as powerful as last year but the defense, with some returning talent, should be able to make up the difference. But this is still a bubble team and if Kirk Ferentz can’t get things flowing right it could be a down year.

Prediction: 9-3 (2-6)

Worst Case: 7-5 (4-4)
Iowa’s schedule is just too plane old weak for this team to not make a bowl game.

Best Case: 11-1 (1-7)
Kirk makes things happen and gets a BCS slot, along with a job offer from another school or NFL – which he’ll accept. But they aren’t going to get past Wisconsin in Camp Randell.