Indiana Football: Predicting the Big Ten standings for 2020
By Adam Childs
Indiana Football: Big Ten Predictions
Purdue – Record 4-6
Wins – Nebraska, Rutgers, Illinois, Penn State
Loss – Michigan, Northwestern, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana
The Boilermakers were poised for a breakout season last year, but then they blew a second-half lead to Nevada and things only got worse from there. Their star Rondale Moore played just four games before getting hurt and it torpedoed their season.
Moore is back, which should make their offense dangerous, but they like Indiana they still will struggle on defense. They are one of the teams that are toughest to predict because of so many injuries last year. We think they are going to be in a lot of games and will pull off an upset against Penn State if that is their 10th game. But that will balance out as they lose to Northwestern.
They aren’t as talented as the Hoosiers are, but we could see Purdue flipping the script and being like Indiana last year where they surprise some teams and climb up the standings.
Iowa – Record 6-4
Wins – Michigan State, Northwestern, Illinois, Nebraska, Purdue, Michigan
Loss – Minnesota, Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin
Iowa is always a team that seems to play really well at home but can struggle on the road. We think it will be more of the same as three of their four losses are going to be on the road this year. We also think if they play Michigan in their 10th game they will win as it is at home and they find a way to beat the Wolverines at home.
The biggest question for the Hawkeyes is who will be under center for them. Nate Stanley has graduated after having a good career in Iowa City. Spencer Petras who is huge looks to be the guy who will get the nod and he has a ton of potential. The Hawkeyes will go as far as he takes them because their defense should be solid again.