12-09-2015, 03:34 PM
I think given the amount of time to prepare for a bowl game, using season stats might be less meaningful for bowl games that for other games. A lot of stuff completely unrelated to quality comes into play, particularly motivation. An Iowa team that hasn't been to the Rose Bowl in 25 years is going to be jacked up in a way that a Stanford team that's going there for the third time in four will not. I hope that our coaches get the team physically and mentally prepared.
A few other thoughts:
Our defense has spent all year preparing to counter spread offenses. Our thin defensive line might have trouble with a pro-style team that is similar to Stanford. Conversely, our offense has thrived by going up against teams that are poorly prepared for a pro-style offense. Could Iowa be more prepared to handle us than your average Pac-12 team?
I think we should be ok in the game, and a 5ish point favorite sounds about right. And/but, I could easily see us struggling in a way we haven't in a while.
BC
A few other thoughts:
Our defense has spent all year preparing to counter spread offenses. Our thin defensive line might have trouble with a pro-style team that is similar to Stanford. Conversely, our offense has thrived by going up against teams that are poorly prepared for a pro-style offense. Could Iowa be more prepared to handle us than your average Pac-12 team?
I think we should be ok in the game, and a 5ish point favorite sounds about right. And/but, I could easily see us struggling in a way we haven't in a while.
BC