Is Iowa a True BCS Title Game Contender?

Iowa has a game against Northwestern this week that seems like it could be a trap for the 4th-ranked BCS team and a team that still has national title hopes.

But do the Hawkeyes have what it takes to win over the Wildcats and then finish off their schedule unbeaten?

The Northwestern game could be tricky but it should be a win since the Wildcats can't run the ball and Iowa has a good secondary and pass rush.

But the true test for the Hawkeyes and their BCS Title and unbeaten season hopes is next week against the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Ohio State will be coming off of a tough, emotional game against Penn State from this week but they also have had a hard time scoring points all season.

If Iowa's defense, led by All-Big Ten-caliber players like Pat Angerer and Tyler Sash, can play up to its potential in that game, the Hawkeyes will have a good shot to knock off the Buckeyes. But it won't be easy because Ohio State has more team speed and overall raw talent than Iowa does right now despite Iowa's superior record.

The final challenge standing between the Hawkeyes and the BCS Title Game and an unbeaten season would be Minnesota at home. Due to the style of the Gophers and their spread offense, the Hawkeyes could have some trouble.

But Minnesota is missing top wide receiver Eric Decker and doesn't run the ball well so Iowa would be a solid favorite in that game as well.

The big queston on everyone's mind is whether or not the Hawkeyes deserve to make the BCS Title Game, however. While the popular opinion is no, others say that Iowa's conservative style is capable of upsetting anyone in the title game with a few breaks.

Good defense beats good offense and teams like Iowa that don't make mistakes have a chance to be in every game, and that could make for a close one if the Hawkeyes do sneak into the BCS Title Game in 2009-2010.