After weather delay, Hawks win opener

It took a little longer than expected, but the Iowa football team opened the 2011 season Saturday with a 34-7 win over Tennessee Tech at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City.

Hawkeye quarterback James Vandenberg completed 13 of 21 passes for 216 yards and two touchdowns in a game delayed more than an hour in the second half by inclement weather.

For more, check blogs that will be updated throughout the day by:

Mike Hlas:  http://thegazette.com/category/blogs/the-hlog/

Marc Morehouse: http://thegazette.com/category/blogs/on-iowa/

Scott Dochterman: http://thegazette.com/category/blogs/docs-office/

You can also follow Iowa's official live stats here.

Also today is the debut of the first TheGazette.com "Pick 'ems." A popular feature in The Gazette's GameDay section, we have expanded it for our Web site. Let us know what you think and next week YOU can pick the games along with our staff members.

J.R. Ogden

TheGazette.com PICK ‘EMS/Week 1

Tennessee Tech at Iowa

Marc Morehouse - Wouldn't it be cool if Tennessee Tuxedo played quarterback for Tennessee Tech? Iowa 45, Tech 14

Mike Hlas -Seeing Tennessee Tech's football team in person is another check-off on my bucket list. Next: Get mistaken for Alec Baldwin. Iowa 38, Tech 7

Nick Pugliese – I've covered Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Tennessee-Chattanooga, Memphis; I didn't even know there was a Tennessee Tech. Iowa 48, Tech 7

John Campbell - This isn't the only big one on the Big Ten schedule. Nebraska hosts Chattanooga and Penn State says hi and bye to Indiana State. Iowa 37, Tech 10

Beth Malicki - How did you spend your summer? My grandpa rode his Harley on the Tail of the Dragon in North Carolina and saw majestic beauty while flirting with danger. I ventured to Hiawatha for a t-ball game and made a detour to a local the hospital after a mosquito made a home in my ear. Iowa 500, Tech 1

Bob Brooks -Iowa fans get a chance to look at a lot of players Saturday. It's a game the Hawks shouldn't have any trouble with and can show what kind of polish they've developed over the past 30 days. This is a fine Iowa team, a 10-game winner. Iowa 42, Tech 7

J.R. Ogden – Hate losing summer, but love college football season. Iowa 48, Tech 10

James Steward – It might be a snoozer of a game, but at least football is back. Iowa 55, Tennessee Tech 7

Jeff Johnson – I have the “old” new Cy-Hawk trophy, by the way. It'll be on Ebay shortly. Iowa 42,  Tech 7

Rob Gray – Might not be the type of runaway win Hawkeye fans expect against the lower-level, but experience-rich Golden Eagles. Iowa 31, Tech 13

Jeff Linder - Enjoy the paycheck, Tech. Iowa 52, Tech 14

Mike Condon - Look for Tech to be wrecked, Iowa 49, Tech 3

Scott Saville - If the Iowa D-line can't stop Tennessee Tech it is going to be a long seaso. Should be a blowout and A.J. Derby will see some action. Iowa 45, Tech 10

UNI at Iowa State

Morehouse - I AM SO PROUD TO BE . . . a UNI alumnus. Panthers, '89, ever loyal. That said  . . .  Iowa State 33, UNI 17

Hlas - Iowa State's new video screen is wider than the UNI-Dome, higher than the Gateway Arch, and scarier than a flesh-hungry zombie who's having a bad day. Iowa State 24, UNI 20

Pugliese - You have to love a quarterback named Steele Jantz. Iowa State 27, UNI 21

Campbell - With UNI quarterback Tirrell Rennie being the veteran and ISU's Steele Jantz the newcomer, look for the Panthers prevail. Sorry, no trophy. UNI 21, Iowa State 20

Malicki - Kurt Warner was a super-star when he visited his hometown of Cedar Rapids for the Zach Johnson Foundation Gala and Classic. He donated his golf shoes to the cause and signed hundreds of hats and golf balls. He even tweeted about me. We're tight. UNI 21, Iowa State 20

Brooks - I wish I could see this game. Iowa State is going to find out a lot of things about their football team with the challenge UNI will give them today. Coach Mark Farley's team can give the Cyclones a terrific argument. I look for it to be very, very close. Iowa State 21, UNI 17

Ogden – I like the Panthers and am a little unsure about the Cyclones. That means a great contest. UNI 21, ISU 20

Steward – All signs point to a very, very long season in Ames. Might as well get it out of the way early. UNI 24, ISU 17

Johnson –  These teams will be conference rivals in a couple of years. Just a prediction. Iowa State 24, UNI 14

Gray –  The potentially explosive Panthers should keep it close, but the deeper Cyclones are likely to pull away late. Iowa State 27, UNI 14

Linder - Too early to call this a must-win for the Cyclones? Nah. Iowa State 28, UNI 23

Condon - Cyclones show nerves of Steele (Jantz that is). Against UNI, they will need that. Iowa State 21, UNI 13

Saville - UNI has a veteran team with lots of speed. The Panthers are a hungry football team out to prove the belong with the big boys. I am excited to see if Steele Jantz can live up to his cool name. UNI 27, Iowa State 24

Boise State vs. Georgia

Morehouse - Boise State's Nike Pro Combat (that's not over the top) uniforms feature a demon horse with glowing eyes on the helmet. Looks like something Nick Cage should be riding in a really awful movie. Deduct style points. Boise State 28, Georgia 21

Hlas - When potatoes meet peaches ... poteaches! Georgia 31, Boise State 28

Pugliese - When you play tween the hedges in Athens in front of 80,000 fans (half of whom are named Bubba), it often isn't pretty. Georgia 31, Boise State 17

Campbell - The Broncos shock the college football world when then show up with helmets declaring them to be “Boy-Z” State. Boise State 31, Georgia 30

Malicki - Bob Brooks is such a legend in this town that Kingston stadium's press box will soon bear his name. CSPS said I could drop $1,000 and they'd put my name on a toilet. Boise State 7, Georgia 0

Brooks – Boise State certainly isn't afraid of a game like this. It's again a chance for Boise to say “we belong.” Boise State 28, Georgia 27

Ogden – When will football fans realize Boise State is legit? Boise State 24, Georgia 17

Steward – Mark Richt's seat goes from warm to scalding when the Broncos beat the already-depleted Bulldogs in Athens. Boise State starts another undefeated season here. Boise State 31, Georgia 21

Johnson – Boise State headed for NCAA sanctions, which has SEC interested in inviting it to join conference. Georgia 31, Boise State 24

Gray – Mark Richts needs to start off the season with a win to quiet critics - again. He'll get it.  Georgia 27, Boise State 24

Linder -  Bulldogs burst Boise's bubble. Georgia 31, Boise State 27

Condon - More Boise magic in a big game against a BCS foe. Boise State 30, Georgia 28.

Saville - The Broncos have one of the top QBs in the country in Kellen Moore. The Broncos know how to win big games. Boise State 31, Georgia 28