Michigan Wolverines at No. 12 Iowa Hawkeyes
The Iowa Hawkeyes are one of 12 Division I-A teams to remain unbeaten (it was 13 until Missouri lost Thursday night), but no one seems to take the Hawkeyes that seriously despite their win at Penn State earlier this year.
A victory over surprising Michigan certainly would give a little more credence to Iowa’s start, and it is an 8-point betting favorite on WagerWeb.com. The Hawkeyes haven’t won their first six contests since going 7-0 in 1985. That was also the last time Iowa was ranked higher than Michigan heading into their game.
The Wolverines struggled last week for most of the game at Michigan State, so perhaps this young team will have issues on the road all season. UM, which was leading the Big Ten in rushing, had just 28 yards on the ground against the Spartans. Michigan is now is second in the Big Ten in scoring offense and rushing offense.
Good luck running the ball this week as Iowa is third in the Big Ten in total defense and points allowed, surrendering 13.4 per game. That defense hasn’t allowed a rushing touchdown in its last 33 quarters.
But Michigan QB Tate Forcier is a very mobile QB with a style similar to Northern Iowa’s Pat Grace and Arkansas State’s Corey Leonard – the two quarterbacks who’ve had success against Iowa so far. Forcier has thrown nine touchdowns against three interceptions, and he’s second in the Big Ten in pass efficiency.
It is supposed to be cold and windy, so the Hawkeyes will try and pound RBs Adam Robinson and Brandon Wegher. The two freshmen have combined for 628 yards and six touchdowns this season. UM’s run defense has been suspect of late.
Michigan has owned this series overall, going 40-10-4. But the teams haven’t met since 2006.
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