I will talk smack with my friends because that's what we do. It's always been my opinion you have to smack before the game - if you lose, the opportunity is gone. If you win, you feel so bad for the guys you leave them alone (well.... almost alone).
Anyway, this game makes me nervous. There is a tremendous amount of ill will between the schools right now due to what has transpired in IC and what ISU fans have said about it. Iowa will come out energized for this game.
On the other hand, there is a reason Chizik talked "smack". I don't know the reason and won't guess, but I've never heard of another college coach saying those kinds of things so close to game time. I have to believe somehow he's trying to prepare the guys. And I really don't think it's bulletin board material for Iowa - it's nothing compared to the other things that have been said.
Iowa is going to come out and literally try to punch ISU in the mouth. ISU needs to respond in kind. I believe ISU has the better skill players and matches up better against Iowa than vice-versa due to the speed and spread offense factor. But we're going to have to do better defending the run and Stanzi is going to give us something to look at that we won't be able to be fully prepared for.
I can honestly see this game running a number of ways - from either side blowing out the other to a last second field goal. From high-scoring to a defensive battle. I'm usually pretty good at having a feel for a game, but not this year.
By the end of the season, I do believe ISU will have the superior team. How that plays out this weekend I have no clue.