At This Moment, Iowa Should Be Ranked A Head Of Cincinati

About a couple of months ago, I wrote an article on this College Sports Blog saying that Iowa had an excellent shot of winning the Big X Title. A few weeks ago, Is aid that Iowa has an excellent chance to play for the National Title if they run the table and go undefeated. They are very close to doing both.

I won't speak too soon. there's a lot of football to be played. The Hawkeyes face Michigan St. later today in East Lansing. Two home games against Indiana and Northwestern follow. The Hawkeyes did struggle with Div 1-AA N. Iowa and Sun Belt opponent Arkansas St. However, they beat a solid Penn St. club who is ranked 13th in the AP Poll and 11th in the Coaches Poll. They also beat an improving Michigan team as well as Wisconsin on the road.

Cincinati, as good as they are, has not yet beaten a top 25 team. They deserve to be in the top 10. Don't get me wrong. However, Iowa has beaten Penn St. That alone should put the Hawkeyes a head of the Bearcats. The two teams sort of offset each other in defensive rankings. Iowa is #1 in the country in interceptions with 15. Cincinnati is #3 in the country in sacks with 25. Should both teams win out, and both Texas and either Florida or Alabama win out, Cincinnati and Iowa may very well meet in a BCS bowl, but it wouldn't be for the National Title.

Back to my point though, at this very moment, the Hawkeyes should be ranked one spot a head of the Bearcats based simply on the fact that Iowa has beaten a top 25 team and Cinci hasn't. A bunch of stuff can change tomorrow and the next few remaining weeks. Iowa is ranked #7 in the AP Poll and Cinci is #5. In the Coaches Poll, Iowa is ranked #8 and Cincinnati #6. In the CBS Sports.Com 120 Poll, the Hawkeyes are ranked a head of the Bearcats at #4 and Cinci #5. I would agree with that poll not because I'm a Hawkeye fan, but because of what I said earlier. The one other poll, the CBSSports.Com Blog Poll, the Hawkeyes are right behind Cincinnati, who is ranked #4. The teams seem pretty even and it would be a very entertaining game. In my opinion, the CBS Sports.Com 120 poll is the only poll that has it right, your opinions please.