Spooky Halloween + W2R4 Week 10

In what may have been the coolest fuck you of the season, Tyler Sash laterals to Micah Hyde during an interception return that Hyde runs back for a TD. If you didn't go crazy after that play, I'm not sure you can call yourself an Iowa fan. Last season on the 4th quarter drive that gave MSU the lead, their offense pulled a hook and lateral to convert a 3rd and 18. Iowa came back to win that game, but the defense clearly wanted their revenge this year and got it during the Hawk's 37-6 victory.

In a weird sequence of events, Iowa State at 5-4, is in control of their own destiny to reach a BCS bowl game, while the 6-2 Hawkeyes who demolished the Cyclones 35-7 earlier this season, need a Wisconsin loss to be assured of a BCS spot. ISU, at 3-2 in conference, still has home games against Nebraska and Missouri, and by winning out guarantees them the Big 12 North crown and a chance to win the Big 12's automatic bid into the BCS in the Big 12 Championship Game. This is extremely unlikely to happen, as Iowa State sucks, and struggled to beat a dreadful Kansas team last week, but if they pull it off, LOL BCS. Iowa's chances of a BCS game at 10-2 are pretty good, but not guaranteed. If Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan State all win out, LOL Sparty would get the leagues auto-bid and the Rose Bowl, and most likely 11-1 Wisconsin with it's similarly huge fanbase, better record, and win over Iowa would get the second spot.

What to Root For Week 10

1. Iowa win @ Indiana
You probably didn't need to be told this, but Iowa needs to hold serve vs a vastly inferior opponent on the road. The opening line was 17 points, and the Hawks should cruise to victory, but let's not forget Iowa fell behind last year before charging back to cover the 17.5 and win by 18. With Stanzi playing much better this season, I would be surprised if the Hoosiers managed to get out in front of us again. Look forward to another victory along the lines of last weeks drubbing of Michigan State, Hawk fans.

2. Purdue win vs Wisconsin
To win the Rose Bowl spot, Iowa needs to win and and have Wisconsin lose a game. Purdue has been riddled with injuries this season, and Bucky opened as 20 points favorites, but we can dream. Wisconsin's most losable game left comes November 20 @ Michigan, but should easily beat Purdue and Indiana the next two weeks.

3. Michigan State loss vs Minnesota
A Michigan State loss greatly improves Iowa's chances of making a BCS bowl, even without a Wisconsin loss. If Iowa beats Ohio State, MSU simply has to win out to win the Big 10. This Means the 2 BCS spots would almost assuredly go to MSU and Wisconsin. A loss by MSU puts them a tier below what would be the two 7-1 in conference teams Iowa and Wisconsin, and gives Iowa a chance to be selected as a BCS at large at 10-2 (7-1) over 10-2 (6-2) Ohio State.

4. Arizona win @ Stanford
It doesn't make much of a difference, but if Arizona wins out, not only does Iowa look better, but they would make the Rose Bowl. I for one want a chance to avenge a disappointing loss which shouldn't have been a game if Iowa hadn't played awfully in the first half.

5. Iowa State win vs Nebraska.
I know, I know, what am I doing here? Well, Nebraska can and should dominate Iowa State, but the absurdly tiny chance ISU wins out, Iowa wins out, MSU loses (Wisconsin to Rose Bowl) and Iowa gets an at-large bid to stomp all over the Clones again would be too much LOL to pass up. I realize that even if the ridiculously unlikely things above happen, no BCS bowl in their right mind would pick this matchup, but it would be really fun to beat them again. Though I suppose ISU making a BCS bowl would convince them even more that they deserve to be talked about in the same breath as Iowa, which simply isn't true. If only the Big 12 could've fallen apart this summer relegating ISU to the MAC.

Ohio State is on bye, but them losing to either Penn State or Michigan at home would all but guarantee Iowa a BCS birth should Iowa win out and either of Wisconsin or Michigan State lose.