posted on Sunday, August 26, 2007 4:57 PM by mike.hlas

Seven Picks for '07

1) Iowa, thanks to a mercifully easy schedule by Big Ten standards, goes 9-3 overall. The losses are to Wisconsin, Penn State and a Big Ten team to be named later. You don't catch Ohio State or Michigan, you don't play a nonconference team that's gotten a whiff of the preseason 25, you catch Minnesota and Michigan State at home with new coaching staffs, you play Purdue the week after it just played Notre Dame, Ohio State and Michigan in succession, you should go at least 5-3 in the Big Ten without feeling puffy about it.

2) Iowa State will go 3-9, including a loss at Toledo. Those home games against Kent State and Northern Iowa are being put in the win column, but without much confidence. I'm saying 1-7 in the Big 12. Unlike Iowa's, the Cyclones' schedule is sadistic. The trip to a tough Toledo team is the first of three straight road games, followed by visits to Nebraska and Texas Tech. Then come consecutive home games against Oklahoma and Texas. Then a trip to Missouri. And so forth. The Cyclones will have better days under Gene Chizik down the line.

3) Iowa will play Clemson in the Champs Sports Bowl.

4) Hawaii will go unbeaten in the regular season.

5) Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan will throw 63 touchdown passes (hey, he had an NCAA-record 58 last year) and will win the Heisman Trophy.

6) Michigan will end its 3-game losing streak to Ohio State, go to the national-title game, and be humiliated by ...

7) Florida. The defending champs will lose at LSU Oct. 6, but will avenge the defeat in their rematch at the SEC title game. You know the Gators won't get rolled by a Big Ten team in a national-championship contest, especially one in SEC territory (New Orleans).

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Comments

# re: Seven Picks for '07

Wednesday, August 29, 2007 2:03 PM by alsmith
Dear Mike:
You need to take a trip to Los Angeles to watch USC play football. Then maybe you will change your mind about who will be in the BCS title game. As a former Iowan who lived in Orange County California for 44 years until 2006, I saw the Big Ten lose too many Rose Bowl games. The high school talent in California ranks with the best in the USA. Additionally, USC is able to attract athletes nationally. USC also has a great coaching staff and lots of depth. Michigan will not be in the BCS title game. Besides if Iowa gets any breaks against Wisconsin and Penn State, they will win the Big Ten. Go Hawkeyes!

# re: Seven Picks for '07

Thursday, August 30, 2007 6:52 PM by mike.hlas
Al Smith:

Didn't you lose a presidential election against Herbert Hoover?

But I kid.

I think a Pac-10 team (like my Cal Golden Bears) will get the Trojans, just like UCLA did last year.

Meanwhile, we have an early first-quarter score: Iowa State 0, Kent State 0