Fake Fail and W2R4

Iowa State had their chance at glory this week. A win over Nebraska would have left them still controlling their own destiny in the Big 12 North, with their toughest test in between them and a BCS bowl behind them. Instead, a noodle-armed special teams player throws an interception on an overtime 2 point conversion try and the fail crushes down hard on the Cyclone nation. Good teams win close games, and bad ones find ways to fail. Hawkeye fans can be thankful Indiana knows how to fail too, letting Iowa escape with a road win.

Now onto What to Root For in Week 11

1. PAYBACK TIME
Last season Ken O'Keefe's playcalling and the Northwestern defense conspired to hurt our hero, Captain Americanzi. Iowa recieved it's first loss of the season at home, crushing our national championship hopes, and cost us our starting quarterback for the overtime thriller for the Rose Bowl the next week in Columbus. Northwestern runs a similar offense to Indiana, with lots of short passes being the focal point. Persa is a solid QB, and their scheming matches up well with what Iowa likes to do on defense. The line opened at 11.5, but this game figures to be much closer. An Iowa win keeps our BCS hopes alive, and will help all of us forget last years game a little bit. I'm hoping for an Iowa-Michigan State style blowout. Some more vindictive or less forward thinking fans may be rooting for an injury to Dan Persa, but since Iowa is rooting for Northwestern to beat Wisconsin later in the season, this is not in our best interests.

2. Wisconsin loss VS Indiana
Iowa needs Wisconsin to lose to get a Rose Bowl birth. It's not likely to happen against a winless in conference team in Madison, but not impossible. Indiana's offense matches up well against Wisconsin's defense. Watt will not have time to get the Chappel with his quick release, and if the Hoosiers catch some breaks, they could win if Wisconsin has an off day.

3. Ohio State loss VS Penn State
I'm not sure about this one. There is a strong case to be made for wanting Ohio State to win. A win over a more accomplished team makes our resume stronger, and will boost us in the polls if we beat them in the national spotlight on the 20th. However, there is a chance, should Michigan State lose a game, that Ohio State at 10-2 (6-2) could be taken as an at large BCS team over a 10-2 (7-1) Iowa team that hold the head to head victory over them. An Ohio State loss, plus a loss by Sparty and Iowa winning out almost certainly gives Iowa a BCS at-large birth should Wisconsin go to the Rose Bowl.

4. Stanford loss @ Arizona State
Stanford has a great resume and has a chance to make recieve an automatic 3-4 at large bid if they keep winning. Should Auburn lose and TCU makes the title game, the Rose Bowl would not be required to pick a non-AQ team as Oregon's replacement, and Stanford would almost certainly get selected as the Rose Bowl loves keeping the continuity of their Big 10 - Pac 10 matchup. This leaves 2 remaining at large openings for a second SEC team, a second Big 10 team, and Boise State. While it's likely Boise would be left home in that case, it's not a scenario the Hawkeyes want to end up in.

5. Boise State loss Friday @ Idaho
A loss by Boise all but guarantees the Big 10 gets its usual 2 BCS births. Who the 2 teams are is uncertain, but it's definitely better for Iowa to not have to make the Rose Bowl to make the BCS.