Week 2: Duck Soup

 Standings:

1.) Seeberg 5-1 (1-0 upset)
1.) Draper 5-1 (0-1 upset)
3.) Hoying 4-2 (1-0 upset)
3.) Schweinfurth 4-2 (0-1 upset)

Intro text here

Iowa Hawkeyes @ Iowa State Cyclones

Draper: If you like punts, low scores, questionable decisions, and corn, this is the game for you. The Cy-Hawk has always been one of the most 'meh' national rivalry games out there (so much so that there is a much better name). This was supposed to be the year of the Clone, but the Hawkeyes are my sneaky B1G West pick.  They easily dispatched the Hoosiers last week, while ISU sleepwalked through UNI.  I think Ferentz's squad has what it takes to be the surprise team of the year and they keep it going.  Pain in Ames is the norm so sign that contract extension Kirk.  Maybe Matt Campbell can find solace in a lower program like Michigan in the near future.  Iowa: 20--ISU: 17 

Hoying: Welcome to the most Iowa of Iowa games, a game so intricately tied up in Hawkeye State identity that the last iteration featured a literal punt to win to clinch the game for Kirk Ferentz's squad. Iowa State doesn't win the Cy-Hawk trophy very often, outside of a weird 5-year stretch that climaxed in screwing the Hawkeyes out of the 2002 National Championship (thanks again, ISU). Most of the time Iowa State loses because they suck, but that seems not to be the case this year. The 'Clones are ranked in the top ten going into this matchup for the first time ever, and only the second time as a ranked team at all. And they usually play Iowa close even when they're just struggling for bowl eligibility. Last year the Cyclones had by far their most successful season ever, culminating with a Fiesta Bowl win over Oregon, but they looked like poo against Northern Iowa last week. Is there any reason to expect last year's magic to continue? The 'Clones were decent on both sides of the ball last year and still have a lot of their key pieces intact, including QB Brock Purdy, so anything is possible. As for the Hawkeyes, they had their own slow start and strong finish last year, and unleashed hell on the trendy Big Ten dark horse Indiana Hoosiers last week. Yeah, there were two pick sixes to pad the victory margin, but do you remember what Michael Penix did to Ohio State last year? He did absolutely none of that against Iowa. If the Hawkeyes can stop a high-flying Hoosier attack at full strength, I think they can stop Iowa State as well. Iowa: 24--ISU: 20

Schweinfurth: El Assico is a top ten matchup! I think Iowa State got caught looking ahead next week. Don't look past the fact that Iowa had to play a conference game last week. I'll take the Cyclones. Iowa: 17--ISU: 24
Seeberg:  This is an intriguing matchup.  The debate here is how much stock you really want to put into week one.  The Cyclones are a popular sleeper pick to make the playoff (not sure if starting #7 counts as a sleeper?) but struggled against Northern Iowa, an FCS squad that routinely plays the big boys tough.  Iowa's 34-6 beatdown of overrated Indiana (when was the last time that adjective applied to their FOOTball team??) looks good, but not only were the Hoosiers overvalued, aside from a couple flukey pick 6's the game didn't feel all that dominant by the Hawkeyes (see:  303 total yards to 233).  Still, Iowa State struggled to score in their opener, and the Hawkeyes' D is absolutely legit.  This may not be the game that's the belle of the ball this week, but football purists (read:  old guys) will enjoy the grind.  Hawkeyes clamp down and get the rivalry W.  Iowa: 20 -- ISU: 13

Washington Huskies @ Michigan Wolverines

Draper: Who's excited for this clunker? Let's be honest: would anyone be surprised is Michigan laid an egg and Washington remembered how to play football? I wouldn't be shocked, but that's not the expectation.  Jim Harbaugh has been really good in the meaningless games that 'feel' important.  The shine was removed by the Grizz, but Washington is still a living breathing team.  I think the Huskies make a game out of this since everyone will have written them off, but this is the type of big stage game that Michigan wins (a dumb one).  UW: 24--UM: 30
Hoying: Many had this game circled as a possible (probable?) loss for the Wolverines before the season started, but that was before the Huskies lost to Montana of all teams. Nine months to get ready for an FCS opponent and you come up with 7 points. This is a real torch and pitchfork game for the Wolverines. Losing to terrible Michigan State last year would normally have brought out the lynch mobs for Harbaugh, but old Jimmy weaseled out of it with the pandemicmonium excuse. Lose to Washington, though, and the goodwill will likely run out. The Wolverines looked good in their opener, and while we've seen fake good September Michigan before, I don't think a team that threw 3 picks against Montana is going to be the one to expose the Wolverines. UW: 17--UM: 27

Schweinfurth: Washington is not good (see losing to a FCS team). That type of loss, can send a team reeling for a couple weeks. TTUN should win easily. UW: 14--UM: 35
Seeberg:  Such a weird weekend.  Two Pac-12 teams travel east to take on B1G squads.  The cross-country trek rarely helps these teams out.  Though to be fair, before last weekend I still would've taken the Huskies in this one.  After an awful offensive output against Montana of all teams, however, that tune has changed.  The Wolverines looked downright competent last week, even on offense!  Their thrashing of a run-of-the-mill in-state MAC opponent turned heads- which is telling of the current state of the program but, at minimum, a positive start.  Maybe the Huskies were lulled to sleep by their FCS opponent week one and prepping for the maize and blue week two?  Perhaps.  Still, with even a semi-reasonable offensive unit the Ann Arbor A-holes should be a 9 or 10-win team.  Tough to imagine a team that managed a whopping 7 points against Montana scoring enough in the big house to win.  I'll take the home team *cringe*.  WASH: 17-- UM: 31

Oregon Ducks @ THE Ohio State University Buckeyes 
Draper: My 3 questions last week were: Stroud, running attack, and pass defense.  I'd rate them A-, B+, and C.  The pass defense is still an issue but it seemed like we were trotting out a whole new squad (which we were).  The main question this week is can we score without the big explosive play?  We didn't grind any scoring drives last week because we didn't have to.  I think we'll still get some explosion from Olave, Wilson, and WIlliams, but it will be interesting to see Stroud in a short field.  I honestly know little about Oregon, but I'm hopeful that the OSU pass rush will get a little more pressure without facing 8 offensive lineman. Thibideoux could make things interesting, but the Buckeye Oline held strong last week.  I'm optimistic that the return to the Shoe will yield Buckeye goodness, even if there is a little hiccup now and then.  Ore: 24--OSU: 38
Hoying: So how good did the Buckeyes look last weekend? The offense was explosive, racking up their highest yardage per play in program history. I would still like to see what they can do in the red zone, as the Buckeyes' last two non-Alabama losses were built largely on struggles inside the 20. I'm also ready for Teague to finally be put to pasture to make way for the new fellas. Love the kid, but Williams and Henderson just have a burst that he doesn't. As for the defense, well, it's a journey, one that might be helped if we had anyone in the back 7 with any experience. Fortunately, like Minnesota, Oregon is a run-first team, which means that the Silver Bullets should be able to lean heavily on another stellar set of big nasties up front. There's no Justin Herbert or Marcus Mariota to harass the Buckeye secondary this time. The recipe for success is simple: run the ball and stop the run. Sprinkle in some Stroud to keep them honest. Ohio State is built to succeed under these conditions. Buckeyes make it 10-0 against the Ducks. Ore: 24 OSU: 38
Schweinfurth: The Buckeye defense isn't as bad as everyone thinks. They have trouble stopping one pass play that Minnesota ran over, and over and Mo Ibraham is a beast. With that said, the Buckeye offense is just too explosive for most teams to hang. Thibodeaux being banged up certainly won't help the Ducks chances here. First game in front of the home fans in over 600 days? Forget about it, Bucks win big: Ore: 21--OSU: 42
Seeberg:  Disclaimer:  I will be in the stands for this one.  I was also in the stands the last time these two played and, well...yeah that went well didn't it?  I've seen several outlets talking about how badly CJ Stroud played in the first half last week.  I didn't see it.  His one pick was a correct read to an open receiver that was just thrown behind him (and tipped).  He didn't force throws or get rattled and bolt out of the pocket immediately.  Nor did he need to:  The offensive line was incredible and the rushing game went for 8 yards a carry.  The Ducks' one-man wrecking crew DE Thibodeaux will not be healthy either, trying to rehab a sprained ankle during their lackluster one-score win over Fresno State to open the season.  I also see nothing resembling an Ibrahim-caliber RB on their roster.  The Silver Bullets, specifically the back 7, still have lots of work to do, and getting some guys healthy in the secondary will help as well (early indications are that Proctor will play but Banks' status is still up in the air).  I also thought Ronnie Hickman looked good as the bullet.  A bit undersized but an excellent tackler who plays with good leverage and keeps the game in front of him.  It may be close early again, but all signs point to a solid, workman like W.  Score prediction purely for nostalgia.  DUCKS: 20-- OSU: 42

Upset Special
Draper: Appalachan State over Miami (App State has good luck vs. UM)
Hoying: BYU over Utah
Schweinfurth: Stanford over USC
Seeberg:  Toledo over Notre Dame