I agree with you 100%.
Their QB is average at best. They have no backup QB with any experience. They lost their star All-American running back and replace him with a guy who has never carried the ball in game-critical situations. They lost their All-Conference tight end and they lost their best WR. Their fans point to that not mattering because their OL is "all world" or something. They were good last year but not great. And they lost two starters to graduation, a 3rd starter just had surgery, and a 4th is suspended for DUI. On defense they lost their two key guys in King and Kroul, and have no depth at all. Add in the fact that they play ISU and Penn State on the road, and the inevitable beatdown that will happen in Columbus since they don't dodge Ohio State like usual, and they look like a 6 or 7 win team. This year looks a lot like 2005 or 2006 for Iowa -- big preseason hype and expectations that end in mediocrity.
Just a few fact corrections for your enjoyment.
Hampton had nearly 500 yards rushing last season. While he may not have carried in "meaningful downs", he still has plenty of experience.
DJK was the leading receiver last year, so no - Iowa is not losing their best receiver. He returns this year.
Every offensive linemen starting for Iowa this year has started in a previous game, so trying to claim that Iowa's OL won't be good is asinine, especially since you tried to point to graduation of previous starters as one of your reasons. Iowa returns much more experience at this position than they lose.
Iowa returns Moeaki and Allen Reisner at TE - both of who should be very solid players this year.
Iowa has 3 tough road games - at Penn State, Michigan State, and Ohio State. ISU and WI won't be gimmes, but those are games Iowa
should win.
Hate to break it to ya champ, but the Hawks have a very solid chance to go undefeated at home this year, and it's very unlikely that they lose every road game. So expecting at least 8 wins this season isn't asking too much, which means they'd go 7-0 at home and win just 1 on the road.
That's why people are cautiously optimistic about Iowa this year.