Hawkeyes Mic: Hawkeyes — Bison Predictions (09/16/16)
The Hawkeyes Mic picks are in for the Iowa-NDSU non-conference game. While it’s unanimous again, there is considerable respect for North Dakota State. Check them out — see if you agree or disagree.
Scott Dochterman — Iowa 41–20: In just about any other recent season, this matchup would scare me with Iowa. North Dakota State is the pre-eminent FCS powerhouse that doesn’t get intimidated against any level of competition. But everything North Dakota State does well, Iowa does a little bit better. Plus, the Hawkeyes have quarterback C.J. Beathard. If the game is ever a toss-up (which this one actually isn’t), you go with the best quarterback. (LandOfTen.com; @ScottDochterman on Twitter)
Steve Batterson — Iowa 31–17: Expect the Hawkeyes to face their most challenging test of the young season from the Bison, who won’t be intimidated by the surroundings at Kinnick Stadium. This game will be a good measuring stick for the first-year starters in the Hawkeye lines. North Dakota State does have young cornerbacks who will likely be tested by C.J. Beathard and a receiving corps which has been on the same page during the early weeks of the season. Expect the Bison to hang around in this one, much like a game against UNI in past seasons, but expect the Hawkeyes to create some late separation to move into Big Ten play at 3–0. (The Quad City Times; @SBatt79 on Twitter)
Tyler Tjelmeland — Iowa 31–27: Iowa plays a FCS team in week 3, but North Dakota State is FCS by name only and represents the parity we’ve seen over the past few seasons between the FCS and FBS. Not only are they built like an FBS foe, but they draw comparisons to teams Iowa is familiar with like Michigan State and Wisconsin. This will be no easy task for the Hawkeyes as NDSU has defeated multiple FBS opponents, including Iowa rivals Minnesota and Iowa State as well as Kansas State. In fact, they haven’t lost to an FBS team in the past five years, beating all five on the road… Iowa isn’t one of those teams this year. I see the Hawkeyes dictating the tempo on offense with the rushing attack and opening up the big play possibility with Matt VandeBerg’s newfound big-play potential. It’ll be close, but I see Iowa sliding by with a victory. (HawkeyesMic.com; @TylerTjemeland on Twitter)
Jack Brandsgard — Iowa 34–13: North Dakota State has not looked sharp in their two victories over fellow FCS schools Charleston Southern and Eastern Washington, with both games being decided by one possession. The Hawkeyes and the Bison both impose their will on opponents on the ground, and whichever team establishes dominance between the tackles will remain undefeated on the year. NDSU loves to pound the rock, averaging north of 45 attempts per game for an average of 255 yards per game. Iowa has struggled containing scrambling quarterbacks in the past, and the defense will have their hands full containing NDSU’s QB Easton Stick, who has rushed 21 times for 105 yards and a touchdown so far this season. Defensively, the Bison were the stoutest in the Missouri Valley Conference against the run last year, conceding just over 100 yards per game. It will be interesting to see how a banged up Hawkeye offensive line fares against a stingy foe. This game will be won in the trenches. (HawkeyesMic.com; @JackBrandsgard on Twitter)
John Patchett — Iowa 38–20: Iowa looks like it is rounding into a very good and complete football team after the 1st two games. The Offense is humming with C.J. Beathard at the helm. And the Defense looked stout against the Cyclones.But the Bison come into Kinnick Stadium as the top-ranked team in the FCS and with an incredible football pedigree. NDSU will definitely be the best team the Hawkeyes have faced in 2016 — perhaps one of the better squads they will play all year. But the Bison had to go to overtime to pull out wins in each of its 1st two games. They haven’t got to develop as much depth as they would normally like to do early in the season. Those could be key factors at Kinnick. Plus NDSU’s pass defense has been a bit leaky. Look for Iowa to pass to establish the run — the Bison can’t stop both. As good as NDSU has been — and is — don’t expect them to buffalo the Hawkeyes in this game. (HawkeyesMic.com; @HawkeyesMic on Twitter)
Note: Iowa Deputy Athletics Director Gene Taylor was our special guest on this week’s Reporters Notebook Podcast. He also picks Iowa over the Bison — but did not name a final score. Taylor was A.D. at NDSU for 13 years prior to coming to the Hawkeyes in 2014.
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