Iowa @ Nebraksa as the Heroes Game kicks off on ABC on Black Friday

Omaha was special location to celebrate Thanksgiving for a gathering of twenty friends and family. It was a mix of Cornhuskers, with Hawkeye fans. Several will be at today's game rooting for Big Red.

Which team will show up? An equal question for each fan base heading into the 11 a.m. showdown in Lincoln on ABC Sports. Both teams will not represent the Legends in the first Big Ten title game. A record of 4-3 wasn't worthy of a division title in 2011. The winner today will finish with a 5-3 Big Ten record.

Keys to Iowa-Nebraska game in Lincoln:

1. Which quarterback does a better job of game management, Vandenberg or Martinez?
2. Which defense gets off the field better on third down?
3. Which offense establishes the run better?
4. Who opens up the game and has more big plays?
5. Nebraska is a 9.5 home favorite, so Iowa needs to play a clean game, from a turnover, penalties and miscue prospective.
6. Special teams and the game of field position will be key.
7. Ultimately, this game will come down to physical line play and who consistently wins the battle in the line of scrimmage.

Iowa needs to score points and finish drives. Typically, Nebraska scores 42 points in Lincoln over Iowa, as 1982 and 2000. Last three wins in series, Nebraska has scored 42. Iowa has been dominated, but won in 1981 in Iowa City.

This series us now a conference game. Which team will show up in Lincoln for either side?

Iowa rolls 34-17 as Hawkeyes win all the phases of game. Cornhusker fans look to tar and feather coach Bo Pelini and his staff, after Year 1 in Big Ten.

#20 Iowa 9 to 10 point underdog at Happy Valley tonight: No Surprise vs. # 7 Penn State and a Joe Pa's team

Last year, Iowa was a +7 dog at home, no less. In 2000, Iowa was a +17 dog at Happy Valley, they won 26-23 in 2 OT. Iowa has won 3 of the last 4 in Happy Valley, 6 of the last 7 in the series and Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz is 6-2 lifetime vs. Penn State's Joe Paterno.

We don't know much about #7 Penn State, except they are 3-0 after wins vs. Akron, Syracuse and Temple. #20 Iowa is 3-0 and we do know they survived a close game with the University of Northern Iowa in the opener, 17-16. UNI is only a FCS team and in the national polls eyes, Iowa was out, after a win in the home opener. Iowa picked up wins @ Iowa State 35-3 and last week vs. Arizona 27-17 at home.

Can Iowa hold down Penn State's run game and make the Nittany Lions beat Iowa in the air? In 2007, a poor Iowa team was blasted by the Nittany Lions 27-7 behind a very strong running game. Iowa was a +3 in take aways in '07, but they had no offense vs. the Nittany Lions in Happy Valley. This is a different Iowa team, now lead by QB Ricky Stanzi, who lead Iowa to the 24-23 upset win over Penn State at Kinnick in '08.

Keys to the game in Happy Valley today:

1. Run Defense and the Line of Scrimmage.


2. Which QB makes will limit mistakes?


3. Which defense gives up the big plays?


4. Does a team have to settle for Field Goals?


5. Special teams play ...

This should be an entertaining game in front of a national television audience on ABC at 7 pm tonight CDT. Penn State is clearly favored and typically has been a +3 to +17 favorite this decade vs. Iowa at home.

By the way, the '96 Iowa team was a +10 underdog at Penn State, when Tim Dwight and company came to town. The '96 team was a -6 favorite vs. Arizona to open the season and pulled off the win over U of A by 1. Later, they pulled off the win in Happy Valley. Deja vous again for Iowa? Does the weather factor in and create an advantage for one?

Prediction:

#20 Iowa 24
#7 Penn State 22

peace

Can Iowa knock off #2 Penn State at Kinnick today?

The University of Iowa have given Penn State Joe Pa some difficult games over the years. A lot of Iowa's success has been in Happy Valley, with head coaches Bob Commings, J Hayden Fry and present coach Kirk Ferentz all picking up big wins over in PA.

Iowa has won five of the last six games over Joe Pa and Penn State. Last year though, Penn State pulled out a 27-7 win over Iowa.

Iowa in on pace to beat opponents in the Big Ten they lost to last year, but lose to opponents they beat in '07

Penn State stands in the Hawkeyes way today.

A Penn State team that enters Iowa City and Kinnick Stadium off a bye week. A Nittany Lion team that could be playing in the BCS National Title Game, if they can get by Iowa and their next two oppoents.

Can Iowa (5-4, 2-3 Big Ten upset Penn State (9-0, 5-0 Big Ten) in Iowa City today?

Prior to the last two Iowa wins in Kinnick Stadium over Penn State, the Hawkeyes hadn't won over Penn State at home, since 1930. This is an Iowa team that has been pretty good in match ups with Penn State. We saw a huge high scoring affair in 2002, with Iowa winning 42-35 in OT, while seeing an offensive depleted game, where Iowa beat PSU 6-4. Two Iowa wins have been in OT over Joe Pa.

Last week, Iowa ended a five game win streak over Illinois (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten) with a 24-27 loss at Champaign on a last minute FG by the Illini. The Hawkeyes have lost four games in '08 by a total of 15 points, with a 5 point loss being the worse.

What Iowa team will we see today?

Iowa beat Wisconsin 38-16, but loss to Northwestern 22-17 (5 Iowa turnovers) at Kinnick Stadium earlier this season in the Big Ten. Can Iowa win all three phases of the game?

So, who knows what we will get with Iowa this week.

Does Penn State become Iowa's Illinois victory from last year?

The pundits at ESPN say Penn State will beat Iowa. Lee Corso says by a field goal... the Nittany Lions will still absent a statement game nationally. On the flip side, Kirk Herbstreet says Iowa will keep it close early, but from the sounds of it... Iowa will fall, like Michigan, in the second half.

So, can Iowa say, not so fast?

cidsports' Prediction:

Iowa 15

Penn State 13

Why not Iowa pulling off the close game in '08 for once? Why not Shonn Greene running for 109 yards, which is about 80% the yardage given up by Penn State (136.6) in Big Ten games this season.

Make Penn State quarterback Darryl Clark beat Iowa at quarterback... is he up the Juice? Illinois QB Juice Williams was up to the task last week, unlike Iowa's QB Ricky Stanzi.

On Iowa!

peace

Iowa's Defensive Coordinator Norm Parker and the 4-3 defense

Iowa (5-3, 2-2 Big Ten) at Illinois (4-3, 2-3 Big Ten) square off in Champaign in football on Saturday at 2:30 pm on ABC. A look from the Orange and Blue on Iowa's DC Norm Parker, a former Illinois assistant.

Iowa is going for their sixth straight victory over the Fighting Illini on Saturday. Iowa's defense under Norm Parker have held the Illini to no more than 13 points in the past five game (all Iowa wins).

Iowa won last year's game over Illinois 10-6 in Iowa City.

peace

The Finals, Game 2: Los Angeles Lakers @ Boston Celtics

Well, the Boston Celtics look to jump out to a two game lead, if they can win Game 2 of The Finals of the NBA tonight at the Boston Garden? The game will be on ABC tonight, 8 pm Central. Will forward Paul Pierce be able to start, despite the injury he incurred in Game 1?

What answers do the Los Angles Lakers have for the Boston Celtics solid defense, especially in the 4th period of Game 1?

The NBA Finals will switch to Los Angeles after Game 2, in the 2 + 3 + 2 home/road/home format that provides the Celtics 4 home, 3 away, if the series goes to 7 games, in the best-of-7 NBA Finals.

The Boston Celtics lead the series 1-0, after winning in Boston, Thursday Night, in game 1, by the score of 98-88. The Celtics are 8-2 lifetime in Championships head to head over the Lakers. Though, the Lakers have won two straight, after starting off 0-8 vs. the Celtics, lifetime.

peace