Well, At Least the Alumni Band Did a Great Job

Iowa City, Ia. -- Hey, I didn't see this coming either.

Remember, I picked Iowa to have an 8-4 record heading into a bowl game this season.

I sure didn't think Northwestern would be one of the four losses.

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So, the way the Hawkeyes are playing now, it could be they'll be more like 4-8 than 8-4 in Kirk Ferentz's 10th season as coach.

The way I looked at it in July, I figured Iowa would be taking a 4-1 record into its game next Saturday at Michigan State.

The only loss, I thought, would have been to Pittsburgh.

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Heck, it turns out the only way Pitt -- which slipped past Iowa, 21-20 -- could beat Northwestern would be if Johnny Majors was the coach and Tony Dorsett was still playing tailback.

Northwestern is good, my friends.

So good that its record is 5-0 -- the school's best in 46 seasons.

One more victory and the Wildcats will be certain of playing in a bowl game.

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The same can't be said for Iowa.

At 3-2 and facing an uncertain future, there is unrest.

In their 22-17 loss yesterday, the Hawkeyes couldn't hang onto the ball and couldn't hang onto the lead.

The home team isn't supposed to blow a 17-3 advantage in its homecoming game against Northwestern.

The afternoon isn't supposed to end when the highlight of the day was the appearance of the alumni band.

The team that keeps selling out its games isn't supposed to come up empty when it's driving for the winning touchdown in the final few minutes.

But this Iowa squad hasn't learned how to win.

You've got to wonder if it ever will in 2008.

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Tell me, now, with games in the immediate future at Michigan State and Indiana, then with Wisconsin, Illinois and Penn State on the schedule, tell me when the Hawkeyes' next victory will come.

The running back's head is hurt and the team's pride is hurt.

People are leaving the stadium and blaming the officials for another loss.

Wrong.

The zebras didn't lose the homecoming game.

This was a full team effort.

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Speaking of team efforts, how about what happened yesterday to Wisconsin?

The Badgers led Michigan at halftime, 19-0, on the way to their fourth straight victory.

Pasadena? The Orange Bowl?

Bret Bielema and the Badger boys were ready to punch their ticket.

Huh-uh.

Michigan -- yes, lowly Michigan -- scored 20 points in the fourth quarter to win, 27-25.

Pete Carroll at USC knows the feeling.

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I'd say the Chicago Cubs have a very good chance of keeping Milwaukee out of the National League playoffs today.

Especially since Carlos Zambrano won't be pitching.

Manager Lou Piniella has pulled the plug on Z's appearance in the final regular season game.

Angel Guzman -- now, there's a household name for a Cubs pitcher if I ever heard one -- will get the ball for the Cubs against CC Sabathia.

I'm picking the Cubs, 8-5.

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One final thought about Northwestern.

I like its no-huddle offense and I think C. J. Bacher, its quarterback, is sensational.

All Bacher did was pass for 284 yards and three touchdowns against Iowa.

The good news for the Hawkeyes and their fans is that Bacher is finally a senior.

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