Bowling or no? Where do we finish?

[akhosrof]

Tough question to answer now. WKU is a very solid team they have a stud QB and an up and coming coach. Very explosive offense, it will be a good test for our team.

The next two weeks will tell us how good this team is. Have to be able to beat WKU and Wake to believe we have any chance against UMD, PSU or Rutgers.

The state of the division is very encouraging. PSU's offense is terrible, and UMD is in a rebuilding year and has miserable QB play. We should be able to easily out score these teams. Rutgers is a winnable game. MSU and OSU are losses. Michigan may be beatable, but I don't like the matchup of our defense against their power offense. Same goes with Iowa.

If we start 4-0, and assuming we keep the Bucket, we just have to win one game of UMD, PSU, or Rutgers. Win all three and that's eight wins, which is best case scenario in my opinion.

[Alford Bailey]

Tough question to answer now. WKU is a very solid team they have a stud QB and an up and coming coach. Very explosive offense, it will be a good test for our team.

The next two weeks will tell us how good this team is. Have to be able to beat WKU and Wake to believe we have any chance against UMD, PSU or Rutgers.

The state of the division is very encouraging. PSU's offense is terrible, and UMD is in a rebuilding year and has miserable QB play. We should be able to easily out score these teams. Rutgers is a winnable game. MSU and OSU are losses. Michigan may be beatable, but I don't like the matchup of our defense against their power offense. Same goes with Iowa.

If we start 4-0, and assuming we keep the Bucket, we just have to win one game of UMD, PSU, or Rutgers. Win all three and that's eight wins, which is best case scenario in my opinion.

"Very explosive offense" and our defense sounds scary. I think after WKU you can start to make assumptions about where we are headed.

[Crimson and Cream]

I read where WKU's star running back went out last week with an injury and is gone for the season.

[Alford Bailey]

I read where WKU's star running back went out last week with an injury and is gone for the season.

That helps

[GnarlyNormEllenberger]

One thing we know from the last couple of years is that we're not a consistently "good" football team every week. Some weeks we look alright, some we look dismal. What really matters (for bowl eligibility) is that we play well in the games where we have a legitimate chance to win. Personally, I don't think we've played well in either of our first two games, so I would hope that we have a few "good" performances (i.e. '14 vs. Missouri, '13 vs. Penn State) in the tank for the season.

 

Yes, the next two are important. But let's not pretend that our whole Big Ten schedule is chocked full of definite L's. Yes, Ohio State and Michigan State could be categorized as such. But let's look at a few more...

 

October 10th: @ Penn State. They got blasted by Temple and earned a "meh" victory over Buffalo. They look mediocre at-best. While winning there would be difficult (we've never done it), they are not THAT much better than us. Look at our last two meetings with them as proof.

 

October 17th: vs. Rutgers. They just lost at home to Washington State. Not a horrid loss, but not a game that inspires confidence in the team's abilities. They weren't projected to be that good to begin with. And they just suspended their star WR for off-the-field troubles. This one is winnable.

 

November 7th: vs. Iowa. Yes, Iowa looks better this year than what some may have projected. But, they don't look to be world-beaters. Maybe a middle of the pack Big Ten team. And we normally play them well at home (and even on the road.) Again, a win here shouldn't come as a MAJOR surprise.

 

November 14th: vs. Michigan. This will be tough because I expect them to improve significantly as the year progresses. But they aren't conference title contenders, either. This one has the potential to be similar to '13 vs. Penn State, in my opinion. Do I expect a win? No. But Wilson's teams have shown they can win a game like this.

 

November 21st: @Maryland. Bowling Green just beat them in Maryland by three touchdowns. Which goes along with early projections that Maryland is rebuilding this year. Road games are tough for us, but again, don't tell me we don't at least have a shot of taking one in their place.

 

November 28: @Purdue. Purdue is better this year. But not enough to think we can't win here. And if a bowl game is on the line here, I'd like to think our guys will go "all out" to get a W here.

 

Now, we may lose ALL these games. And to be honest, it wouldn't surprise me. My point is that some people want to think that our defense will always look as bad as they did against Southern Illinois or it is now going to be as solid as it was against Florida International. IU football can play very well in one week but lay an absolute egg in the next week. We've seen that play out over and over again. You watch, we'll get destroyed in at least one of those games listed above. I'll almost guarantee you. We're inconsistent. But we can also be "good" from time to time. This post just attempts to explain that we have a team that, if they play well, COULD (meaning it's not too difficult to fathom a victory) knock off any of those teams listed above.

[RBB89]

All of you who were planning on a December bowl trip might want to reconsider. Just a thought.

Why do people do this after one game? Why? Aren't we all adults here? Can we use our brains? Is it too much to ask not to freak out because we ALMOST lost game #1?

We've already shown some pretty good improvement...I guess anyone not planning a trip to Pasadena might want to reconsider!

[jmsgws]

Why do people do this after one game? Why? Aren't we all adults here? Can we use our brains? Is it too much to ask not to freak out because we ALMOST lost game #1?

We've already shown some pretty good improvement...I guess anyone not planning a trip to Pasadena might want to reconsider!

You ask this question on a fan board?  :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
We gripe about the highs and lows of every play.  One play we are world champions, the next, we will lose every game by 40 points. 

It doesn't matter what sport.  That is why we all follow IU, so we can blame our high blood pressure, on something else besides being over weight, and not exercising. 

[IndyHutch]

My point after game one was that it wasn't a large enough sample size. I still feel the same way after game two. Now, if IU is 3-0 this time next week I would think the chances are solid that this team is bowling by the end of the year.

 

It's funny though, the same question being asked here is being asked of Colts fans on talk radio. How big of a deal as that first loss to the Bills? Lots of people jumping off that bandwagon, too, but I bet the Colts will be just fine as well.

[Old Friend]

My point after game one was that it wasn't a large enough sample size. I still feel the same way after game two. Now, if IU is 3-0 this time next week I would think the chances are solid that this team is bowling by the end of the year.

 

It's funny though, the same question being asked here is being asked of Colts fans on talk radio. How big of a deal as that first loss to the Bills? Lots of people jumping off that bandwagon, too, but I bet the Colts will be just fine as well.

I'm not sure, Hutch.  The Colts look in trouble to me.  Too much talk, too much dysfunction.  I'm honestly more comfortable with IU than I am with the Colts relative to post-season success.  I need one more week to make any kind of convicted prediction about IU, but this is a game they can win; and if they do, I can easily see 6 or 7 wins this season.  There's not much margin for error, but their tendency (until last season when an injury did it) has been to win a few games, then lose one they could easily have won, and it sends the thing on a downward spiral.  If they can avoid that and get this win, I'll feel really good about saying "yes...we're going bowling this year."   The Colts, on the other hand, have a lot of work to do.  They just need to shut up and bring it.  

[Dalton26]

I'm not sure, Hutch. The Colts look in trouble to me. Too much talk, too much dysfunction. I'm honestly more comfortable with IU than I am with the Colts relative to post-season success. I need one more week to make any kind of convicted prediction about IU, but this is a game they can win; and if they do, I can easily see 6 or 7 wins this season. There's not much margin for error, but their tendency (until last season when an injury did it) has been to win a few games, then lose one they could easily have won, and it sends the thing on a downward spiral. If they can avoid that and get this win, I'll feel really good about saying "yes...we're going bowling this year." The Colts, on the other hand, have a lot of work to do. They just need to shut up and bring it.

The Colts are fine. It was one game against a stud defense. If you're more confident about IU making the playoffs than you are the Colts then with all due respect you have no clue what you're talking about.

[Old Friend]

The Colts are fine. It was one game against a stud defense. If you're more confident about IU making the playoffs than you are the Colts then with all due respect you have no clue what you're talking about.

Try reading what I said again.  I said nothing of the Colts "making the playoffs."   I said "post-season success."  You know....when they'll face those pesky "stud defenses?"

[Crimson and Cream]

My point after game one was that it wasn't a large enough sample size. I still feel the same way after game two. Now, if IU is 3-0 this time next week I would think the chances are solid that this team is bowling by the end of the year.

 

It's funny though, the same question being asked here is being asked of Colts fans on talk radio. How big of a deal as that first loss to the Bills? Lots of people jumping off that bandwagon, too, but I bet the Colts will be just fine as well.

Stampede Blue was not a good place to be on Sunday. To be honest, I had to leave the game thread before I started "Chicken litteling" myself. That was a tough one to watch, but the season is far from over. We will still be in the playoffs, and I'd expect a beating of the Jets next Monday at the Luke.

[Bobman1]

Maryland looks very beatable in Big Ten play. Them and Purdue we will probably be favored.

[IndyHutch]

I'll admit what you said about being more comfortable with IU than the Colts right now did cause me to step back for a moment but the reality is I think there's a lot to that. 

 

The big difference for me though is that IU's schedule once Big Ten play rolls around is extremely difficult. Not a good division and you just hope you're not completely banged up when you get around to playing the teams you should be competitive with.

 

With the Colts, some people think that with the exception of New England that Buffalo may have been one of their toughest games. I think the Colts' schedule alone will allow them to bounce back and have some success. Andre Johnson and company need to step up for sure and Luck needs to file last week's performance away as one that's not to be repeated. I thought he was awful. 

 

The only thing that saved me on Sunday was that my wife made this killer guacamole that we had while we watched the Colts game and it caused me to fall asleep for two quarters. That may be an 'old' thing, too. Not sure.

[Old Friend]

I'll admit what you said about being more comfortable with IU than the Colts right now did cause me to step back for a moment but the reality is I think there's a lot to that. 

 

The big difference for me though is that IU's schedule once Big Ten play rolls around is extremely difficult. Not a good division and you just hope you're not completely banged up when you get around to playing the teams you should be competitive with.

 

With the Colts, some people think that with the exception of New England that Buffalo may have been one of their toughest games. I think the Colts' schedule alone will allow them to bounce back and have some success. Andre Johnson and company need to step up for sure and Luck needs to file last week's performance away as one that's not to be repeated. I thought he was awful. 

 

The only thing that saved me on Sunday was that my wife made this killer guacamole that we had while we watched the Colts game and it caused me to fall asleep for two quarters. That may be an 'old' thing, too. Not sure.

Indiana wins on Saturday, they're in good shape.  With a healthy Sudfeld, they can get Rutgers, Penn State, Purdue, Wake Forest, and Maryland.  They have Iowa (who they play with competitively about half the time, and beat them once in a while) and Michigan at home.  They won't win all of those games...but they can get 3 of them.  Indiana has a really solid offense.  They've stalled a little, but that'll clean up.  They're gaining experience every week; and they just allowed 22 points and less than 50 yards rushing in the same game.  That defensive line is decent, too.   Others should step back and think, too.

[mdn82]

Lol. Holy hidden post GC.

[IndyHutch]

The funny thing for me here is how that one performance against Southern Illinois has just put a complete Kabosh (sp?) on the optimism people had for this team early on. That image of SIU going for two and the win in the closing seconds is going to stick with people for a long time. And while I get that I also look at how different the D line looked last week with Latham and Green in there and how different I think the LB position, for example, will look when your most athletic linebacker is back out there in Tegray Scales. Add in Chase Dutra and things are coming back around. 

 

The truth is with Indiana this is a "Just Win Baby" scenario. Ultimately that's the only thing that is going to turn the tide. Winning six or more football games. And if that record gets to 3-0 heading to Wake Forest I just think the stars are beginning to align with the explosiveness of the offense and the potential of a defense post SIU.

[jmsgws]

I think what surprised us the most with the SIU game, was that we believed our second string should be stronger than SIU.  Nothing to back up that belief, other than the fact that our Coaching staff keeps saying this is the deepest team we have had.  If that is our depth, we are in big trouble if our first string goes down. 

[Old Friend]

Lol. Holy hidden post GC.

I know.  Sorry.

[Old Friend]

The funny thing for me here is how that one performance against Southern Illinois has just put a complete Kabosh (sp?) on the optimism people had for this team early on. That image of SIU going for two and the win in the closing seconds is going to stick with people for a long time. And while I get that I also look at how different the D line looked last week with Latham and Green in there and how different I think the LB position, for example, will look when your most athletic linebacker is back out there in Tegray Scales. Add in Chase Dutra and things are coming back around. 

 

The truth is with Indiana this is a "Just Win Baby" scenario. Ultimately that's the only thing that is going to turn the tide. Winning six or more football games. And if that record gets to 3-0 heading to Wake Forest I just think the stars are beginning to align with the explosiveness of the offense and the potential of a defense post SIU.

The bigger picture though, says Indiana was without Scales, Dutra, Green, and Latham.  Those two guys up front would have made that game completely different.  Indiana just allowed 22 points to FIU.  They have allowed (if I heard this stat right) 22 points or less just 5 times since 2010.  Our defensive line is very good, as is our offensive line.   Among the top 5 in the Big Ten.   We lose some key players there, it changes things.   And it changed the game - especially against their running game - in the SIU game.  That just showed the lack of depth and slim margin for error.  When healthy, Indiana is a decent football team.  Like last year however, one key injury or playing without a key kid or two just kills them.