By JOHN P. WISEOne Great Season
Just a couple weeks ago, I thought the Georgia Tech-North Carolina game would be the one to watch on the third weekend of the college football season. But it might be a minute before an ACC matchup again hogs the headlines.
Instead, I think the Iowa at Arizona tilt deserves the spotlight this week.
Offseason storylines about these squads included Adrian Clayborn and the stingy Hawkeyes' defense, as well as Nick Foles being one of many exciting PAC 10 quarterbacks to follow in 2010.
And that's exactly what will make this game a good one. Can Iowa pressure Foles? Can Arizona make some big plays?
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Despite each team's obvious calling card, we're actually learning some new things about both the Hawkeyes and Wildcats this season. Iowa's offense looks far more potent than last year, when its per-game average of 330 total yards ranked near the bottom in all of college football. Through two easy wins, the 10th-ranked Hawkeyes are averaging 457 yards, thanks to a solid running game and a pass offense led by steady quarterback Ricky Stanzi.
And Arizona's defense, strong in previous years but slightly backseated last year after Foles' emergence, has played solid football in two blowouts. The No. 23 Wildcats haven't allowed a touchdown yet in 2010.
But neither team has truly been challenged, and on a weekend that sees three Big 10-PAC 10 matchups, Iowa and Arizona should bring out the best in each other Saturday. The Hawkeyes manhandled Arizona in a fairly breezy win in Iowa City last year, and return most of their key personnel in 2010.
Foles, however, didn't really assert himself until after that game, and playing in front of the home folks in Tucson, the rematch should be much closer. He's got good talent around him on offense, and the line in front of him is heavy on experience.
There's a reason, however, why Iowa has been called a national championship darkhorse. The Hawkeyes play smash-mouth defense and now enjoy a balanced offense. Clayborn is not a one-man show; Iowa's line is almost as dominant as Nebraska's was last year when the 'Huskers destroyed Arizona in the Holiday Bowl. I think the visitors from a confident Big 10 will pull out a narrow win somewhere in the neighborhood of 23-21.