On The Line – Week 12

The Daily Iowan football staff goes head-to-head in the most competitive prediction contest journalism has to offer.

The+Iowa+offensive+line+squares+up+against+the+Northwestern+defense+during+a+game+against+Northwestern+University+on+Saturday%2C+Nov.+10%2C+2018+at+Kinnick+Stadium+in+Iowa+City.+The+Wildcats+defeated+the+Hawkeyes+14-10.

David Harmantas

The Iowa offensive line squares up against the Northwestern defense during a game against Northwestern University on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. The Wildcats defeated the Hawkeyes 14-10.

Iowa at Illinois

Adam Hensley (Pregame Editor, 30-20): Iowa – Will Noah Fant get more than three targets?

Pete Ruden (Sports Editor, 32-18): Iowa – Lovie Smith couldn’t beat the Colts in Super Bowl XLI, and now he can’t beat Iowa. Go Colts.

Anna Kayser (Assistant Sports Editor, 31-19): Iowa – Why do I do this to myself?

Jordan Zuniga (football reporter, 33-17): Iowa – The Hawkeyes win, and Noah Fant gets more than 1 reception.

Lucy Rohden (Co-DITV Sports Director, 32-18): Iowa – Probably should stop picking Iowa at this point, but hey, I’m loyal.

Beau Bowman (Co-DITV Sports Director, 36-14): Iowa – I’ve got a two-game lead, so here are three easy tips for picking college football games and winning.

Jason Brummond (Publisher, 34-16): Iowa – Iowa’s best win this year is Iowa State. Let that sink in.

No. 12 Syracuse at No. 3 Notre Dame

Hensley: Syracuse – Despite obvious inaccuracies in its story line, the movie Rudy is just like the Notre Dame football program: overrated beyond belief.

Ruden: Notre Dame – “Wet like I’m Book,” Ian Book rapping Sicko Mode.

Kayser: Notre Dame – Is it just me, or do Notre Dame and Michigan have identical fanbases?

Zuniga: Notre Dame – I just want to see Conor McGregor as Notre Dame’s mascot.

Rohden: Notre Dame – Orange isn’t a real mascot.

Bowman: Notre Dame – No. 1, never pick huge underdogs. They almost never win, and when they do, your competitors didn’t pick them.

Brummond: Notre Dame – Yankee Stadium’s warmup for the Pinstripe Bowl.

No. 18 Iowa State at No. 13 Texas

Hensley: Iowa State – Zach Smith attacked Tom Herman on Twitter, as if he’s got any sort of credibility to his name.

Ruden: Iowa State – Ever seen Twister? Cyclones beat cows.

Kayser: Texas – I’m ashamed that ISU is ranked higher than Iowa but not surprised.

Zuniga: Texas – Cyclone winning streak dies in Austin.

Rohden: Texas – Zach Smith’s tweets can’t beat Tom Herman & Texas, so Iowa State definitely can’t.

Bowman: Texas – No. 2., if they’ve got a cool mascot, pick them. For example, I’d always pick Akron over Northwestern. Go Zips.

Brummond: Texas – Austin is cool. Ames is Ames.

No. 19 Cincinnati at No. 11 UCF

Hensley: Cincinnati – To all the Central Florida supporters demanding national respect … your strength of schedule ranks 80th in the country.

Ruden: Central Florida – MY National Champions.

Kayser: Central Florida – Can’t wait to hear Central fans complain more when they miss the playoffs … again.

Zuniga: Central Florida – The Knights are staring down back-to-back national championships.

Rohden: Central Florida – Are Nebraska fans still claiming Central Florida victories?

Bowman: Central Florida – No. 3, if you can rhyme the team name with the word “poo,” do not pick them, amirite?

Brummond: Central Florida – Cue Jim Mora’s playoff rant.

Wisconsin at Purdue

Hensley: Wisconsin – My heart’s been in downtown Madison since last season. So has my dignity.

Ruden: Purdue – Purdue Pete has a really cool name.

Kayser: Wisconsin – Welcome to the Big Ten West runner-up contest.

Zuniga: Purdue – Wisconsin’s only road win this season is at Iowa; so much for that Kinnick magic.

Rohden: Wisconsin – PJ Fleck beat Purdue by 31 & that’s elite.

Bowman: Wisconsin – Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.

Brummond: Purdue – Years later, historians won’t remember the 2018 Big Ten West race.