Saturday, November 15, 2008

FOOTBALL: 2008 Week Twelve - Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Purdue Boilermakers Preview

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/7/7c/Iowa_Hawkeyes_Logo.svg.png VS.
GAME INFO: Sat., Nov 15th, 2008 - 11:05 AM CST - Kinnick Stadium: Iowa City, IA
IOWA: 6-4 (3-3) NR / PURDUE 3-7 (1-5) NR

TV COVERAGE: BTN (HD) will televise the game to a national cable audience (609 on DirecTV). Thom Brennaman, Chris Martin and Anthony Herron will call the action.
DEPTH CHART AND GAME NOTES: VIEW HERE
IOWA'S GAMEDAY CENTRAL : VIEW HERE

KIRK'S PRESSER: VIEW HERE
LIVE BLOG THREAD: Gazette (Marc, Mike, and Scott)

LINE: Iowa is a 17.5 point favorite at home




Senior Day is here. Three months ago, this day seemed like ages away. It's afun day to be at Kinnick, but it's also sad because you realize the season is at its waning point. It will also be Joe Tiller's last time coaching inside of Kinnick.

My, oh my, how one week changes things! Iowa went from no one in the eyes of the national media to "savior of the BCS" after taking down Penn State last weekend. Expectations are high once again for this Hawkeye squad. If Ohio State and Penn State win their remain games, and Iowa follows suit, the Hawkeyes are undoubtedly heading to Tampa for a bowl. Who would have thought that after the loss to Illinois?

Iowa was embarrassed last year in West Lafayette. They haven't forgotten. Purdue is another squad running the spread (who doesn't these days?). I really like the way Iowa matches up with the Boilermakers. Iowa has the better offense, the better defense, the better special teams, the better coaching staff, the home field advantage, and the Senior Day effect. I don't see a let down in this one.

Purdue allows a ton of yardage, yet their scoring D has been pretty good as of late. Iowa, on the other hand has been stout throughout the year on the D end. Purdue's offense is lead by Heisman Trophy contender, Curtis Painter and Iowa has a huge question mark at running back.... oh, wait... that was preseason. And I wasn't buying it. Shonn Greene could run for 1250 yards in this one and 15 TDs.

Shonn Greene remains the only player in D-1 football with 100+ yards in every single game this season. He's a horse, and a horse that Iowa should ride to the win today. Stanzi will need to remain poised in this one, but as we saw last weekend, even when he gets knocked down, he gets right back up. Iowa can get away with mistakes in this one, but not as many mistakes as the NW game.

Offensive Player of the Game: Shonn Greene (Doak Walker, Heisman, et al contender - give it up this dude)
Defensive Player of the Game: Matt Kroul (Senior Day - go get em, Matt). I would have gone with Mitch King, but he got a buzz cut and we all remember the story of Samson.



PREDICTION:
Iowa - 34
Purdue - 17

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