Spring practices are in the books and fall camps will be here before you know it so that means getting an early jump on the 2006 NCAA football season. Knowing the teams now will save you time in August and Matt Fargo is here to help you get a grasp of what to expect this upcoming year. We go from worst to first in this 2006 College Football Preview. #21 Iowa Hawkeyes 7-5 SU; 6-5 ATS Fargos Take After three straight seasons of at least 10 wins, last years seven-win season was a huge disappointment in Iowa City considering the Hawkeyes had the most returning starters in four years. Now its the most returning starters in five years as Iowa brings back seven on both offense and defense and things should get back on track. The Hawkeyes won five of their final eight games last season with the three losses coming by just three, one and seven points. Offensively, Iowa has one of the top signal callers in the Big Ten in Drew Tate and it now has a running game to back him up. The defense should regain its spot as one of the best in the Big Ten while the defensive line is ranked in the top ten in the country. Four straight January bowl games is something to be proud of but its the Rose Bowl, if not the Fiesta Bowl that is on everyones mind in Iowa this year. Returning Starters on Offense 7 Tate threw for 2,828 yards and 22 touchdowns last season while tossing just seven interceptions. He finished as the 20th most efficient passer in the country and 4th in the Big Ten. The emergence of running back Albert Young obviously took a lot of pressure off Tate to do everything himself. Young rushed for 1,334 yards and should surpass 1,000 yards again as long as he stays healthy which is something that has affected him in the past. The offensive line returns three senior starters but the big concern is at wide receiver as the top two wideouts have departed. Herb Grigsby and Calvin Davis both need to step up early. Tight end Scott Chandler is one of the best in the conference and is the leading returning pass catcher with 47 grabs. Returning Starters on Defense 7 The Big Ten is packed with so many good defenses that the Hawkeyes often get overlooked. After finishing 67th in total defense a season ago, they are really being overlooked this year which is a huge mistake. The defensive line is one of the best around as all four starters return and the scary part is that none of them are seniors. Edmund Miles leads the linebacking crew and he will have to shoulder the load after two All-Big Ten selections at that position have departed. Mike Humpal is a star in the making and could be one of the conferences best. The secondary finished a disappointing 96th in the country last year but both safeties are back while Charles Godfrey has moved from safety to cornerback to try and bring in some needed experience. Schedule There are five road games on the slate this season, the sixth year in a row that the Hawkeyes have had more home games than road games. Four of these road games are likely wins with Syracuse being the only non-conference game that is away from home. Iowa plays host to Montana, Iowa St. and Northern Illinois in the remaining out of conference games. The Hawkeyes will be looking for some revenge against the Cyclones after last years 20-point drubbing in Ames. The Big Ten schedule is manageable with the toughest road game being at Michigan and three of the four home games all likely wins. The fifth game of the season against Ohio St. is the only exception but it is another revenge game that Iowa will be focused on. You can bet on This team has the pieces in the right places to make a serious run at the Big Ten Title as well as a National Championship. The game against the Buckeyes is early but not too early so there is time to answer some of the lingering questions. A home win there could pave the way to a showdown at Michigan in late October that could decide the early favorite for the championship. No team plays better at home in regards to covering than the Hawkeyes do. They are 23-6 ATS as a home favorite since 1999 and 6-2 ATS as a home dog since 2000. They have lost only three games straight up at Kinnick Stadium over the last five years and that includes a 1-0 record against the Buckeyes so a win this season is not out of the question. |
