Zounds! ESPN.com and CBSsports.com writers pick UNI to beat Iowa
I don’t think you’d have seen this coming a few weeks ago. Adam Rittenberg, the fine 24/7 Big Ten blogger for ESPN.com, sees a second-straight 17-16 score in the Northern Iowa-Iowa football series. But he’s projecting the Panthers are the victors this time. (His blog partner, Brian Bennett, forecasts a 12-9 Iowa win. Which wouldn’t be a whole lot more satisfying in Hawkdom. Or maybe it would.) Meanwhile, Mike Singer of CBSsports.com, also has UNI prevailing, by 23-17. In the interest of balance, I give you Phil Steele, who simply says “UI by 13.” In the Gazette’s Pick ‘Ems, I’ve got the Hawkeyes winning by 27-17. I must think Iowa will score a defensive touchdown or two. Or, some magic dust has been spread across Iowa’s offense. All six Pick ‘Ems panelists tabbed Iowa over Iowa State last week, a fact that ISU noted with delight and good reason in his postgame press conference.