Preseason hype and national fanfare usually isn’t an exact recipe for success for Kirk Ferentz led Iowa teams since he took over in the 1999 season. Getting things done with little pre and early season precision have springboarded the Hawkeyes to some of their best teams in 2002, 2004, 2008, and 2015. Can this Iowa group have similar successes. It remains to be seen, but some of the ingredients appear to be in place.
The favorite among the West division teams is Wisconsin. The Badgers who have been to the most championship games since its inception in 2011 are coming off an 11 win season, and sport a cast of players that could see them end up in Indianapolis in December.