On3 asks a simple question: Should the Iowa Hawkeyes be the Big Ten West favorite?
This comes from Jesse Simonton after evaluating DraftKings’ win total odds where the Wisconsin Badgers check in with a win total of nine. That’s tops among Big Ten West squads.
Iowa is next-best with an over-under win total of 7.5. Then, it’s Minnesota and Illinois with identical 6.5’s, Nebraska checks in with a total of six, Purdue has a win total of 5.5 and Northwestern brings up the rear with a win total of 3.5.
Does DraftKings have the proper Big Ten West favorite, though? At the very least, Simonton feels like the over-under win total from DraftKings isn’t giving the Hawkeyes enough credit.
That’s too low.
With their recent transfer portal additions, the Hawkeyes have an argument to be the No. 1 team in the Big Ten West come the fall.
Who knew Kirk Ferentz had such portal juice?
We know Iowa is going to play salty defense. The Hawkeyes were a Top 10 unit in yards per play allowed, scoring and pass defense, and even without linebacker Jack Campbell and pass rusher Lukas Van Ness, they return one of the best front-sevens in the country.
Their schedule is fairly favorable, too, as they miss Ohio State, Michigan and Maryland from the East — three of the four schools with the highest win totals in the other division. They do play Wisconsin in Camp Randall, so perhaps that’s the differentiator for the division.
But what if Iowa suddenly doesn’t play the worst offense in the Big Ten in nearly 25 years in the fall?
Offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz’s ‘Drive for 25’ — as in Iowa needs to average 25 points per game in 2023 for Kirk Ferentz’s embattled son to keep his job, per his absurdly amended contract earlier this offseason — deserves all the lampooning. But suddenly, the pieces are in place for the Hawkeyes to have a serviceable — or better — attack in 2023. – Simonton, On3.
There’s a lot to like about Iowa’s transfer portal facelift. Of course, it starts with Michigan transfer quarterback Cade McNamara and the upgrade he will provide to the Hawkeyes’ offense.
McNamara decided to bring a buddy from the Wolverines with him, too. Fellow Michigan transfer tight end Erick All should form one of the Big Ten’s best tight end duos alongside Luke Lachey.
Iowa also fortified its offensive line, adding Saginaw Valley State offensive tackle transfer Daijon Parker and Miami (Ohio) offensive lineman Rusty Feth.
But, it’s the wide receiver additions that have Simonton buzzing about what the Hawkeyes have done in the transfer portal.
With sixth-year senior Nico Ragaini back healthy, plus the additions of Anderson and Brown, Iowa suddenly has a solid starting trio for the fall. Junior Diante Vines is another quality rotational piece.
Anderson, the son of former NFL wide receiver Flipper Anderson, was the Freshman of the Year in the Big South Conference for Charleston Southern, recording 42 catches for 628 yards and seven touchdowns. He missed the spring due to injury but there’s optimism he’ll slide right into a starting role once healthy.
Then there’s Brown, who is the potential game-changer for Iowa’s offense in 2023.
The Ohio State transfer was buried on Buckeyes’ depth chart, but the former Top 100 prospect has legitimate No. 1 option talent and gives McNamara a true perimeter threat. Brown had options, too, so the fact he chose to come play for an Iowa offense that was so ghastly last year is not nothing, either.
Iowa won the Big Ten West in 2021, and it managed to still win eight games last season with the worst offense in the conference. With upgrades at quarterback, tight end, offensive line, and most importantly, receiver, the Hawkeyes look positioned to reclaim the top spot again in 2023.
How about that? A national analyst that likes the Hawkeyes to win the Big Ten West.
Iowa nearly won the Big Ten West last season with an offense that was anemic. Even with marginal offensive improvements, the Hawkeyes probably project as the West favorite.
Still, Iowa fans are hopeful that these offensive additions won’t net minor improvements, but will instead bring sweeping offensive growth. If that’s the case, Hawkeye fans might be able to dream about more than just a West crown.
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