Nice read cortesy of CFN.......
Michigan (4-3) at Iowa (5-2) 12:10 pm ET ABC
Why to watch: Michigan is a lot of things this year, but it sure isn’t boring. If USC and Notre Dame didn’t hold their little classic shindig, the Wolverines’ last-second win over Penn State would be all anyone would be talking about this week. The Big Ten title and a BCS spot isn’t out of the question if they can win out and Michigan State and Penn State each finds a way to lose another game, but going unscathed the rest of the way could be an issue considering Iowa has won 22 straight at home. The Hawkeyes have quietly been rolling with a three-game winning streak over the dregs of the conference, but an outright Big Ten title is possible by winning the final four games and getting an Ohio State loss.
Why Michigan might win: Iowa’s defense hasn’t exactly been a brick wall this year ranking 66<SUP>th</SUP> in the nation in total defense despite only playing two against two offenses with a pulse (if you don’t count Indiana): Ohio State’s and Purdue’s. Michigan’s offense was able to crank out 375 yards including an incredible clutch drive in crunch time against the nasty Penn State defense, and should be able to carve up the Iowa secondary.
Why Iowa might win: Michigan’s run defense has been surprisingly soft, and it has a nightmare of a time with any quarterback with a little bit of mobility. Drew Tate hasn’t rushed for many yards so far, but he’s a good scrambler and should be able to take off a few times just to loosen things up for the rest of the offense. RB Albert Young has three straight 100-yard games, and he should be able to come up with a fourth.
Who to watch: It’s funny how the college football hype machine works. Iowa star linebackers Abdul Hodge and Chad Greenway were on everyone’s preseason All-America short lists, and then fell off the publicity map thanks to the ugly losses to Iowa State and Ohio State. In case you haven’t noticed, they’ve been just as good as the preseason hype with Greenway leading the Big Ten in tackles and Hodge currently fourth in stops. They haven’t made the highlight reel plays everyone was expecting, but the NFL scouts haven’t forgotten about them.
What will happen: Michigan has been just good enough to be in every game, but just mediocre enough to struggle almost every week. Iowa is too nasty at home and is starting to jell at just the right time.
CFN Prediction: Iowa 24 … Michigan 20