Three

Competing in a conference such as the Big Ten, it’s important for a team such as Iowa to take care of its nonconference opponents and head into league play with a 3-0 record.

On Saturday, the Hawkeyes will play host to Wyoming to open up the season. Leading the Cowboy charge is quarterback Josh Allen, considered a top-five quarterback in the 2018 NFL Draft. While Iowa will have its hands full with Allen under the center, the Hawkeyes will also play without starting sophomore cornerback Manny Rugamba, who is suspended for the game because of a violation of team policy.

Although the Cowboys return a majority of the defense from last year’s squad, the duo of James Butler and Akrum Wadley in the backfield for Iowa will be too much for the subpar Wyoming defense to overcome in the end.

The following Saturday, Iowa will go head-to-head with Iowa State in Ames. Though the Cyclones haven’t had much success in recent years, this matchup is a potential trap game for the Hawkeyes — Iowa State returns an explosive receiving unit posing problems for the Iowa secondary.

Similar to Wyoming, Iowa State’s downfall is its defense, which the Hawkeye backfield could exploit and turn this game into a track meet, resulting in a Hawkeye victory.

In the nonconference finale, Iowa returns to Kinnick to clash with North Texas. Last year, the Mean Green were ranked at the bottom in rushing defense, and they lost four of their top seven defensive tackles from the 2016 group.

For North Texas to keep it close, it will have to shut down the Hawkeye running game, not an area in which it excels. Like the first two games of the year, Iowa’s running attack will propel it to a win.

— Sean Bock

RELATED: Football PCP: Iowa’s preseason predictions 

Two

The Hawkeyes have a relatively easy nonconference schedule.

Last time North Texas paid Iowa City a visit, it left feeling the bruises after a 62-16 throttling. Expect a similar outcome Sept. 16, when the Mean Green make the return trip.

Iowa State might be tricky because it is an rivalry game on the road, but the Hawkeyes are the far superior team, and if all goes well, they shouldn’t have a problem handling the Cyclones.

The season-opener on Saturday is going to be the toughest test for the Hawkeyes during their nonconference games.

Wyoming, led by Allen, is quickly catching up to Boise State’s prowess in the Mountain West.

Allen could be the first overall pick next April, and he and Wyoming are primed to have a breakout season.

Rugamba’s suspension will hurt Iowa’s secondary, and Allen will attack the defensive-back unit with aggression early on.

The Hawkeyes have also been known to struggle against lesser opponents, as evidenced last season when they lost to North Dakota State or when they just barely beat Rutgers

Wyoming is the nonconference game that the Hawkeyes will probably lose. It may not even be that close, but miracles can happen (i.e., Michigan last season).

— Jordan Zuniga