Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - Iowa Football: More defensive strength, new offensive coordinator wishes

Episode Date: December 28, 2023

Trent Condon gets together with Biz for the latest episode of the Locked on Hawkeyes Podcast.Opening with the news of Jay Higgins coming back for another season and a look at what looks to be another elite defense for the Hawkeyes next season. A concern remains depth at the cornerback position and what Iowa could potentially look at there if they get back into the transfer portal to recruit.A look at the offensive coordinator position and what the guys would like to see.And then some thoughts on men's hoops as they prepare for the final nonconference game Friday night against Northern Illinois before conference play begins again with a road trip to Wisconsin. Can the Hawkeyes get back to the bubble?Then Picks against the Spread and the guys Lock of the Week presented by Fan Duel.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!eBay MotorsWith all the parts you need at the prices you want, it’s easy to turn your car into the MVP and bring home that win. Keep your ride-or-die alive at EbayMotors.com. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers.PrizePicksGo to PrizePicks.com/lockedon and use code lockedon for a first deposit match up to $100! Daily Fantasy Sports Made Easy!GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE for $20 off your first purchase.FanDuelScore early this NFL season with FanDuel, America’s Number One Sportsbook! Right now, NEW customers get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS with any winning FIVE DOLLAR MONEYLINE BET! That’s A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS – if your team wins! Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You've asked for it. We got them. Biz is back. We're talking Iowa football, little hoops, and we make our picks presented by FanDuel. You are Locked On Hawkeyes, your daily podcast on the Iowa Hawkeyes. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. And I'm Trent Condon, that's Biz, and this is the Locked On Hawkeyes podcast. Thanks for making Locked On Hawkeyes your first listen every day. We're available wherever you find podcasts. You can also watch us on YouTube. While you're there, hit the subscribe button. Helps us get in front of more Hawkeye fans.

Today's episode is brought to you by the GameTime app. Download the GameTime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE for $20 off your first purchase. Biz, what's happening? Good Christmas? Yeah. First of all, I know you said they asked for it. You got it. I wonder who in the hell is asking for me on this podcast, Drew?

Oh, the fans are plentiful. The YouTube comments at times can be shaky, but there has been a growing sentiment. Where's Biz been? They're excited to get you back on here, get your takes, and a lot going on in the world of Hawkeye athletics. Obviously, football and basketball will be the main part of our conversation, but Biz, you've got fans out there. Yeah, yeah well part of keeping my sanity is i try to avoid reading the comments of all things but you usually send me the good ones trent i appreciate the

the good ones out there so whoever is asking for me i guess i appreciate it so yeah i'm back whether you like it or not i'm back so you're stuck with me so well this week has been a couple of stories obviously the defense and the linebacking crew, Nick Jackson, has been granted another year of eligibility. Will he use it? I mentioned this yesterday on the program that Chad Leisenkow and his text thread. And if you're a subscriber to the register, and obviously if you're watching us, you're a big Hawkeye fan, it is absolutely worth it to get that.

Relays a lot of great information kind of at the forefront of things. He does a really good job just with that text group but mentioned the Nick Jackson probably right now more leaning towards going off to the NFL and taking a shot there but we know Jay Higgins is going to be back and not just what he was as a player because that's immense an all-American player the tackle numbers that he had this season filling the shoes of Jack Campbell but then the leadership you know you look at this recruiting class, they bring in three pretty highly regarded linebacker prospects. I know guys, they're really excited about just having the tutelage of a guy like that,

a guy that abided his time and did the little things on special teams before becoming what he has over the last year and a half. A great thing there, even though they only really play two linebackers anymore, just a good step up and really good to see. Plus, we get another year, Roy. Yeah, let's be honest, Trent. That's the most important thing. We get more Haganized.

That's never a bad thing. But, no, I think you can't overstate how important it is to have Jay Higgins back. I just think this is pure speculation on my part. I have no insider info, but I think this is the first of many dominoes that's going to fall. I really think when you look at what this coaching staff has done and I guess not done over the last couple of weeks, we're not involved in the transfer portal at all, which I assume there's a reason for that.

And I assume the reason is we feel fairly confident that three or four guys on the defensive end are coming back. You know, if Jamari Harris doesn't come back, we're really thin on the quarterback. And all this is, I'm assuming Cooper's gone. I mean, but if Jamari Harris doesn't come back, we're really thin on the quarterback side. So I'd be shocked if we weren't very confident he was coming back because otherwise I wouldn't be out looking for someone.

It sounds like Castro's leaning towards coming back. And, you know, I know I agree with you, Chad. Leistick is usually pretty knowledgeable when it comes to these things. But I still have a decent confidence that Nick Jackson's coming back coming back because otherwise why go through all the effort of doing the uh appeal and getting it granted and all those things if you're if you're not at least seriously considering coming back and um i don't know i just look at nick jackson he doesn't strike me as someone who's going to be a high round draft pick um he just doesn't have the build to be a you know i think he can probably stick on someone's roster and maybe be a high round draft pick. He just doesn't have the build to be a,

I think he can probably stick on someone's roster and maybe be a special teams guy on the NFL, but he doesn't strike me as somebody who's going to be a second or third round draft pick. So I don't know. It sounds like, you know, Tyler Barnes has done a phenomenal job of trying to put some packages together to, to incentivize these guys to come back and that we're using our money to,

to try to, to try to bring back known commodities rather than go out and see if you get lucky in the transfer portal. So I'm cautiously optimistic that we're going to see three, four, five, maybe even six more guys come back. And then the question is, who do we kick out so they can have spots? But that's a good problem to have. It really is.

And there's a real possibility that for the first time, Iowa's really going to have to have a roster crunch and talk to some guys. I know there's been some rumblings about potentially some medicals that might be happening, guys that have been injured throughout the course of their career that might go on medical scholarship, finish up their, obviously, academic side of things, but not count against the 85 scholarship limit. And that's what it is. One guy that is in the portal right now that I was interested in a year ago, the kid that ended up at Boston College, he was a Harvard grad transfer

guy, does have one year of eligibility. He's back in there after one year at BC, a cornerback that maybe would make some sense that they had a relationship with from last season. But even with that, reading over at Hawkeye Report, Blair Sanderson, who does a lot of the recruiting work, he says, as far as he knows, there hasn't been an offer to any portal player at this point. It goes to your point there, what Tyler Barnes has been doing. He talked about this in the Recruiting Day, Signing Day press conference, that he's just been working on these six guys and the real potential of them coming back.

You throw in both linebackers coming back, Castro coming back, everything else that is out there. I mean, this defense, we know how much improvement they made throughout the course of the year, but they're ready made. Y.A. Black, his best football still in front of him. And we saw even after that shoulder injury, which for a time that week looked like maybe it was going to be season ending. He got it through it. He played at a high level. I thought, after that Wisconsin game. You have, of course, a disappointing year for Deontay Craig, but he was banged up throughout the course of the year.

I think everybody's excited about the future of Brian Allen on that defensive line. I mean, all the pieces are there outside of the depth, that cornerback, and Cohen Entringer. Obviously, the play as he missed the tackle on the punt return and came back and made it, created headlines. But this is a guy that's been talked about for the last two years on campus. This is a guy, when Phil Parker talks about the young guys, Cohen Entringer is always somebody that steps up

if Quinn Schulte ultimately would depart. It's a really good problem to have now. You've just got to figure out that offense. Well, before we go down the rabbit hole that is the offense, you have to give credit to the coaching staff, Trent, because if they pull this off, it's an absolutely brilliant just full cycle of recruiting because, I mean, there was zero drama on signing day. And honestly, I mean, what was it, 20 of the 21 guys that they brought in for that

June recruiting trip ended up coming to Iowa and none of them ever wavered. And you have to give them credit for having a good recruiting pitch. I mean, they had to have been telling those guys, hey, we're not going to recruit over you. If you're loyal to us, we're loyal to you. And they all did. They all stayed true and it up being the top 30, right around 30 recruiting class, which for Iowa, I think is about as good as you can ask for. I mean, 25 is probably our absolute ceiling. And that's only if you get a guy like a Proctor or somebody that bumps up those rankings. But 30 is as good as you can ask for for Iowa. And then on top of that,

if you can get five, six returning guys to come back, I mean, that really makes it a 27-person recruiting class where you've got six guaranteed starters coming back and then 21 guys that can have another year to learn and adapt and get better. I mean, the only downside to all of this is, you know, you wonder if guys like Cohen and Traeger or Brian Allen will say, I don't want to wait another year. I hope they don't. I mean, I have no indication that they're going to, but, you know, at some point you wonder if some of those guys will get frustrated and be like, Hey, it's my time. And if my time's not here,

I'm going to go find my time somewhere else. But, you know, that's a good problem to have. I mean, it's better than the, the alternative of having to throw guys in before they're ready and having to sink or swim on the field. So, I mean, credit the coaching staff. I just think what they – their plan this year, they executed it. It looks like they executed it perfectly. I mean, again, we may come back here a week and be like, well, never mind. None of these guys came back.

But, I mean, the fact that Higgins came back, I just think, is the first of some dominoes. I think you're going to get at least three or four of those guys back. Well, Biz mentioned it. It's the other side of the football that the concerns lie. Decisions still to be made about Luke Lachey, maybe Eric Hall coming back. But still work to be done on that side of the football, and it'll be done with the new offensive coordinator.

We'll talk a little bit about that as we continue, get into the offense, talk about the bowl game. We got hoops coming up. Plus our picks as we continue. This is the lockdown Hawkeyes podcast. Today's episode is brought to you by the game time app. You shouldn't have to worry about buying tickets for your next big event. Game time is the fast and easy way to buy tickets for all the sports, music, comedy, and theater events near

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Trenton Biz back with you once again here on the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast as always thanks for making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day Biz the offense it will be new it will be different I want to start right there because there's a narrative that well nothing will change nothing will be different and it's crazy to me because you look at the three offensive coordinators, all three of their schemes were different. Now there are basic tenants of Kirk Ferentz football that you have to rely upon, but we even saw the evolution this year of a new running scheme and what they did zone blocking in the outside zone basically became a small, small portion of their playbook. So they were able

to evolve there. But the passing schemes for Ken O'Keefe and Brian Ferentz and Greg Davis in between were all completely different. We're going to see something different here. So right there, it's not just going to be the same old, same old, because all offensive coordinators have had at least a little bit of ability to show what they want to do, at least in the passing scheme. Yeah, to me, honestly, Trent, we talk about this all the time,

but to me it all comes down to what our offensive line does. Iowa football is never going to be USC. They're never going to be Oregon. They're never going to have just athletes all over the field. So if we're going to be successful on the offensive side of the ball, it comes down to the offensive line because we're always going to want to be run first. We're always going to want to play off the run.'re always going to want to be, you know, play off the run.

And the second half of the year, we did that better. Were we where we want to be? No. But we finally saw some glimpses of that offensive line taking some steps in the right direction. And, you know, whoever comes in, whether it's Chris Philbin, you know, whoever it is, I think they're all they've all shown that they want to establish a running game, and that starts at the offensive line. But I agree with you. There's going to be some differences. To me, I know people – there are certain fans out there that complain when they hear the name Paul Christ.

He would be, to me, an absolute home run hire. Sounds like it's probably going to be Philbin maybe instead of Chris. But to me, I mean, I think Chris checks all the boxes for what I want for offensive coordinator because, A, he's got some experience with quarterbacks. B, he's called plays forever. C, he's outside the coaching tree. And that, to me, is the one thing I really want. I mean, you're talking about wanting some differences.

I'd like to have somebody that's coming in with some different perspectives and some different ideas. Not saying Joe Philbin won't, because Joe Philbin hasn't been in the coaching tree for 20 years. But I don't know. I just think Paul Crist would come in and really be able to mold some of the things he did at Wisconsin with what we want to do here and create, I think, the perfect offense for what we're looking for,

which is a run-based offense that plays off play action but also is willing to take some shots and do some things. And, you know, the fact of the matter is Wisconsin has had pretty good success with quarterbacks when he was there. I mean, did they have superstars? Absolutely not. But Iowa's not going to have superstars either, but they got the most out of their quarterbacks when Paul Crist was there. I mean, were they dynamite? No, but they got better and they

improved. So to me, that's the top of my list is Paul Crist. I know it's not a sexy, exciting hire, but I would love to have Paul Crist as our offensive coordinator. Well, and you go back to when Chris was the OC. I mean, you look at guys that stuck around the league for a while, you know, John Stocko, Scott Telzien, guys like that that were there. Of course, Russell Wilson and the emergence that we saw out of him. Those numbers when he was an offensive coordinator, too, at Wisconsin were elite. I mean, we're talking on a yearly basis finishing in the top 25.

On average, they were 26th in the country in total offense and 24th in scoring when he was the OC there. And even when he became a head coach, I mean, this is a guy, you mentioned the quarterback part of it. It's something that Iowa, for whatever reason here over the last half decade, has really struggled. It's either been evaluation or it's just been the coaching that they've got. Whatever it is, it obviously has not worked over the last five years.

Well, he's the one guy, you go back in history, and he's the one guy that's had Phil Parker's number too. I mean, Phil Parker's had fits with trying to stop Wisconsin over the years. And eventually, I think most people that are listening probably know the story, but it was the 2019 game where we finally said, you know, they came back and beat us. They went three wide late in the game, and they changed up some of their tendencies. And that was kind of the line in the sand where Phil finally said, you know, they came back and beat us. They went three wide late in the game, and they changed up some of their tendencies. And that was kind of the line in the sand where Phil Parker said,

we can't beat people just going 4-3 all the time. And they finally switched to cash. And that was kind of when he probably realized, you know, he's got to adjust and make changes. And not saying Wisconsin has just dominated this offensively, but they've done some things that Phil Parker has struggled to stop, which there aren't many other teams that can say that. And so I don't know.

All of this is probably irrelevant because I think it's probably going to be Philbin instead of Chris, which I'm fine with Philbin also. I think he's a good hire as well. But, again, if I had my choice, I'd rather go outside the coaching tree and somebody that's completely new to the Iowa philosophy. Regardless of who the new OC is, there's a belief out there that they're probably going to want to bring in a few more people on the offensive staff, that there could be some more shake up there. The real possibility, whatever coach it may be. Now,

you kind of look through, do you see anything happening to Liddell Betts? No. Abdul Hodge? No. It kind of comes down to the wide receiver position, right? And Kelton Copeland. And Kelton, you can hear in the interviews that we've heard from him over the years, the frustration that he has had, got to be in the wide receiver coach and almost a forgotten position there, but that would probably be the one that would make a whole lot of sense. I also believe though, if it is not Paul Chris, it's not somebody that has a quarterback background. You have to get a real quarterback coach too. It's just, unless it is somebody with that background, like Chris, you have to go that direction because it's just so dang important and you just can't get by like you could in the past. Kettle Keefe had that ability. He was able to do those kinds of things.

Even Greg Davis, you look at the development of the quarterbacks and even the guys that didn't play here, he had a really good track record of quarterbacks and quarterback play. Obviously did not have that with Brian Ferron. So if it is somebody outside of a quarterback background, I think that's a must. You got to also get a real quarterback coach then. Yeah, you know, I get the bad feeling it's going to be a Philippine offense coordinator and Bud Meyer quarterback coach

and just keep it within the family, which, you know, I don't know. Am I saying that's a bad idea? Not necessarily, but I'd like to see some fresh blood brought in at the quarterback coach and try something outside a little bit and get some new ideas. But that's probably wishful thinking on my part. Bowl game coming up on Monday against Tennessee.

It will not be Joe Milton out there. I'm a little sad about that because Joe Milton, he likes to give the football away. So I think that would have been fun against the Iowa defense. Instead, it will be Nico Amavella who will get this start. Well, some people believe the number one quarterback in the country a year ago, and a lot of people also said if it wasn't Arch Manning, if it was like Arch Johnson, he would have been the number one quarterback in the country a year ago, and a lot of people also said if it wasn't Arch Manning, if it was like Arch Johnson, he would have been the number one player in the country.

That last name helped out Arch a little bit there. But a really talented guy going up against the Phil Parker defense in his first career start. I think this is going to lead to a few more, at least nationally, eyeballs on this football game. Yeah, I'm surprised the line hasn't gone down more than it has. What am I missing here, Trent? I don't understand why are they favored against us.

I'm not saying we're going to beat them. But, I mean, they've had a million opt-outs. They weren't that great to begin with. You go back and look at their last month and a half, they got their butts kicked by teams. I mean, Missouri just absolutely destroyed them a month ago. And to me, Missouri is kind of the closest thing to what, you know, in the SEC, probably the closest to us when it comes to, you know,

they're not Alabama, they're not Georgia, they're not just going to overwhelm you with talent. So they have to out-execute you. And Missouri clearly did that to Tennessee. So I don't know. I really like our chances in this game. I think, to me, bowl games come down to who wants to be there. And I think we really, really want to be there this year.

And I think we will come out motivated and ready to play, but we also have to put up 21 points, which, you know, but I think we will, you know, do I think we'll shut Tennessee out? Absolutely not. But I think there'll be a lot of similarities to last year's game where I think now that the freshman quarterback is playing, I think you will see us be, not that we're going to be wild and crazy to begin with, but we will be very conservative again. And I think we will gladly just wait patiently for this kid to make some mistakes, which is exactly what Kentucky did last year. And, you know, I don't think we're probably going to get two pick

sixes like we did last year from him, but, you know, I don't think we're probably going to get two pick sixes like we did last year from him, but you know, he's going to make some mistakes and we got to take advantage of them. So what am I missing? Why is Tennessee almost still almost a touchdown favorite? I don't get it either. It went below the touchdown and went through the key number yesterday after the news that Milton wasn't going to play, but I thought we would see more of a drop. I thought we'd also see a bigger drop in the total in this football game. It went from 36 to down to 35, pretty much across the board. As I look right now, Vanduul has a 35 and a half, Circa has it at 35. So, you know, I was surprised by that. I like the under going into the game. I like it certainly

even more, even with that one, it's going to be an Iowa football game. And yeah, Tennessee's going to go up tempo and they're going to move quick and they're probably going to get a few things. But then you get into the other component, what Iowa does with the red zone defense. And after they have those drives, Ohio has been able to hunker down. There's probably going to be a feeling out process. I would be, I think you'll see Tennessee probably get on the board early. Now, does the Iowa offense have anything? Is there anything there? And the final go around for Brian Ferentz, is this finally the time for the explosion?

No, it's not. I mean, and honestly, now that Milton is not quarterbacking, there's no reason for this. I just don't see this Tennessee team with a true freshman quarterback being overly risky themselves either. And I mean, I think you're going to see a close, low scoring game. I mean, do I think we're going to win? Not necessarily, but do I think we can cover a touchdown or keep it close throughout the game?

Absolutely. I feel like this is going to be yet another in the long list of 13 to 10 Iowa football games. Whether we get the 13 or the 10 is the question. Right there with you. You mentioned the opt-outs coming up in this game for Tennessee. We mentioned Joe Milton. They're starting defensive end. They're starting safety. They're starting cornerback. They're slot cornerback. Two other backup cornerbacks are not going to be playing out this game. A couple of reserve offensive linemen and then the opt-outs with Joe Milton, Jalen Wright, their top running back, and their backup running

back in Jabari Small. It's going to be a different look out there, and that thing, I think you nailed it, Biz. 13-10 one way or the other. I'm right aboard with you on that. We'll continue here on Lockdown Hawkeyes. Talk a little hoops. Is there any hope for this team as they get ready

for their final non-conference game? To, at minimum, get us back in the bubble and get us excited. We'll also make our picks, our favorite bowl pick going forward, and we'll talk a little bit about Iowa against the line. We'll do that as we continue. This is the Locked On Hawkeyes podcast. Today's episode of Locked On Hawkeyes is brought to you by the FanDuel Sportsbook. As the weather gets colder, the NFL offers stay hot on FanDuel.

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Once again, that's FanDuel.com slash LockedOn. FanDuel, official partner of the NFL. Trenton Biz back with you one final time. We'll make our picks here presented by FanDuel. But before that, Biz, a little basketball talk with you. Two non-conference games that, well, did what they were supposed to, I guess, against a couple of tomato cans, though, struggles the last time out. It's Northern Illinois.

This is the best of these bye games that they have, the best opponent they'll face. It doesn't say that Northern Illinois is very good, but Ken Pomeroy has them favored by 15 in this game. Regardless of that, though, go out, get the win, get ready for conference play. The big question, is there any chance this team can, at minimum, get back in the bubble? You know, we're sitting in, say, the middle of February and saying,

hey, you know what, if they win for their last six and win a game in the Big Ten, you know, something like that, is that even a realistic possibility with this squad? Realistic? Probably not. Is it a possibility, though? Yes, for a couple reasons. I mean, you look at Fran McCaffrey.

I mean, you can get mad at Fran for all you want. There's plenty of reasons and things you can get mad at Fran for, but the one thing you can't get mad of is his teams never quit. They always, I mean, there's times when they have the February, you know, the Fran fade

in February. I get it, but last year is a perfect example. I mean, I went to that game at Nebraska about this time over Christmas break, and they looked atrocious. I mean, it was one of the worst games I've ever seen. Peyton Sanford at that point, I think, was like 0 for 19 in the Big Ten shooting threes. I mean, we looked like a junior high basketball team.

And we were 0-3 in the Big Ten. We had lost Eastern Illinois. I mean, it was worse. I mean, people forget. We looked worse this time last year. Keegan was hurt, or Chris was worse. I mean, people forget. We looked worse this time last year. Keegan was hurt. Chris was hurt. It was a mess.

And they turned it around and played darn good basketball over the next two months. And do I think that's going to happen again? I don't know. But that one, I trust Fran to keep his team. They won't quit on him. They'll continue to battle. The other thing is, Big Ten is just not very good.

Yes. So that's the other part is that we're not exactly running up against a murderer. So, I mean, go look at Iowa State's schedule compared to ours. I mean, just look on Yahoo, the number of teams that they have with the little number beside them that they have to play versus us is crazy. I mean, Iowa State plays like 10 teams that are ranked in conference. I think we play two. And one of them is Wisconsin.

I mean, Wisconsin is like 23rd right now. So, you know, do I think it's a realistic possibility? No. Do I think it's a possibility? Absolutely. I mean, Fran's track record is he keeps these teams together. There's a lot of times, almost every year with Iowa basketball, man, things could fall apart quickly, and they never do.

He usually keeps them in there. So do I think we're going to make the tournament? No. Do I think we can stay on the bubble? Yeah, I think we can. I think he'll find a way. He'll battle through. Go look at our schedule.

I mean, we play Wisconsin. I'll pull it up here real quick. But, you know, we play Wisconsin on the road next, or after the next Big Ten game. After that, you've got a winnable stretch of five, six games in a row. I mean, we're probably going to be 0-3 in the Big Ten after the Wisconsin game. But then after that, you get Rutgers at home. Not very good.

Nebraska at home. Not very good. You know, okay. At Minnesota, probably one of the two or three at home, not very good. Okay. At Minnesota, probably one of the two or three worst teams in the Big Ten. Then you get Purdue at home, which you're going to lose. Then you get Maryland at home, and they're very mediocre. Then you get Michigan again, which is

very mediocre. You find a way to win four of those six. All of a sudden, you're four and five in the Big Ten, and you're in there. You've got to win. I mean, the Michigan game really hurt because Michigan's bad. I was at that game. They weren't, they were not a good team, but you know, I don't know. We, we, you find your way to four and five or even four and six at the halfway point. You're at least in the battle. So that's a long way of saying Trent, I'm not confident, but yeah,

there's a possibility. And you mentioned the down nature of the big 10 coupled with Iowa, not getting no great victory, obviously the non-conference they're likely going to have to finish 11 and nine or better just because of the down nature of the big 10 this year. Unless, I mean, you're talking about, yeah, they went 10 and 10 and they also beat Purdue and beat Illinois and got to win against Wisconsin. You know, if they do something like that, it changes the conversation, but the likely scenario, you wouldn't maybe get one of those games and then go 11 and nine. That's probably going to be the path there for the hoops.

We'll talk a little bit more of basketball in the coming weeks ahead, but before we get out of here, biz, it's time to make our pick for the bowl game. Your favorite bet still on the board. I can't get SMU right now as that one's underway. How about the 10 a.m. Central time kickoff for that one? It's been fun here the last couple of days, getting some major conference teams back in there.

It was a very slow start for me for bowl season, but we're getting going now, feeling a whole lot better about things. And I'm still alive in your bowl contest. Yeah, I'm out. Louisville screwed me last night. But why are you going to the Big Ten's USC? Yeah.

It'll be interesting to see what USC does. Will they keep that kid as a quarterback? I'm assuming they'll go out and try to find someone to transfer portal, but he looked pretty good last night. You did. What do you like? Yeah, my lock I talked about earlier, my philosophy when it comes to bowl games

is who wants to be there. And I think tonight is the ultimate who wants to be there game. We've got Arizona and Oklahoma. Oklahoma, 70% of their team has opted out or left or what's going on. And Arizona, on the flip side, is your ultimate, really wants to be there, really had a great second half of the season you know has a strong desire to be in a bowl game in general i can't remember when's the last time arizona won a bowl game it's probably been a decade or longer so uh and there's only a two-point spread so give

me the wildcats uh trent i think arizona kicks the crap out of it one game that i really liked and i'm kind of scared off by the numbers is in the Peach Bowl. It's Mississippi against Penn State. I kind of liked Mississippi in this spot, but I'm looking right now. There's a ton of steam coming in on Penn State. At the Superbook right now, they're up to a six-point favorite, five-and-a-half, fives offshore. Right now, FanDuel has them at four-and-a-half. It feels like something funky is going on with that one.

And, you know, I like to stay away when I see kind of a, a narrative building on one side, I like to go back the other way. So looking at the same kind of thing, Wyoming's not going to lose right in the final game of Craig Bull. Uh, they're okay. Toledo, their quarterback is out. Uh, I think he had a pretty big time offer that he ended up with, with that aside, uh, Wyoming final time for Craig Bull.

I'll leave the three, three and a half with Wyoming. The Cowpokes send Craig Bull out a winner in the Arizona Bull coming up on Saturday, the 30th. So that's my lock of the Bull game. And when we go over to the Iowa game, I think we both said it. We definitely both, I think, like the points in this game. Yeah. I just, again, do I feel confident we're going to win the game? No, but it was just, you look at Iowa football, unless there's a team that just is completely can out-talent you like Michigan and Penn State, we're going to hang with everybody. And I just think with all the opt-outs they've had and the fact that they're just not that great of a team to begin with, I just don't see Tennessee completely dominating us from an athlete

standpoint in this game. So I think it'll be a four quarter game and in a four quarter game, if you're going to give me six to seven points, I'll take the team that's getting the points. So give me the Hawks and hope we can find another way to get yet another ugly, you know, an 11th ugly victory of the year. We'll take it. No doubt about it. Any thoughts on the college football playoff, Alabama, Michigan,

and the Rose Bowl, Texas, Washington, and the Sugar? Not really. I mean, I just wasn't that impressed with Michigan against us. I think what they lost, I think the loss of that lineman really hurt them. I think they're such an offense running base team, and I just think he was the glue to that. You know, it's kind of like if we'd have lost Tyler Linderbaum. I mean, he's that good.

I mean, he's going to be a first-round draft pick in the NFL. And so, I don't know. You give Nick Saban a month to prepare against a team that I don't think is a world beater, I think he's going to win eight times out of ten. So give me Alabama, but I don't feel overly confident about that either. Yeah, and Nick Saban with this much time to prepare. Definitely difficult to come up with the narrative to bet against him.

I might be sticking that one up. Well, who am I kidding? I'll have a bet on the game one way or the other. I think you know me too well on that one, Biz. Biz, we will talk again in the new year. Hope everything went well for you. Was that new Christmas ball cap you got going on there? No, I bought this at Kinnick, actually.

The guy sitting right behind us had it, and I asked where he bought it, and he's like, it was upstairs. It was right next to our halftime hangout where we go hang out. A little pop-up stand. It was my Christmas gift to myself, Trent. Need to do that from time to time. Well, we'll talk to you in the new year, Biz. Have a good happy new year.

We'll talk again soon. All right, go Hawks.