Iowa 5/6 against Michigan
Yet there seems to be very little outrage about this despite some controversial finishes and bitter defeats. One could argue that the loss to Iowa in 16 ruined the entire season considering Speights injury. The last two losses to Iowa are by a combined 4 points and both were on the road including a game winning field goal (16).
Ferentz is an excellent coach and the identity of Iowa is crystal clear. In all of the 5 recent losses to Iowa, I would say Michigan made far more self inflicted mistakes and got thoroughly out coached in each. Despite the recruiting gap between these teams Iowa has gotten the better of UM football as of late.
Ironically, Saturday's game will feature one of Ferentz's most talented teams and they match up VERY well with the Wolverines. The possibility of being 6/7 against the Hawkeyes is a real one. As a resident of Iowa (Iowa Alum) I watch them pretty regularly and I am not confident in Michigan's chances. Being in The Big House helps. How confident are you?
October 1st, 2019 at 11:55 AM ^
Man idk, Iowa is stout against the run, we're going to have to pass to run. Problem is Iowa are masters of cover 2 so they'll just sit in zone all day and Shea will stand in the pocket with a bewildered look for too long and get sacked because he struggles against teams that make him read what they're doing. So I'm not confident in the pass game either.
UM has the weapons to win if Shea can get them the ball, I'm not feeling too confident it will happen.
October 1st, 2019 at 1:03 PM ^
speed in space! if there is a game for it, it is this one. get the WRs the ball early and often.
October 1st, 2019 at 10:17 AM ^
Confident.
October 1st, 2019 at 10:19 AM ^
If we score more points than the hawkeyes, we'll win.
That's my bold prediction.
October 1st, 2019 at 10:37 AM ^
Source?
October 1st, 2019 at 10:43 AM ^
The NCAA Rule Book.
October 1st, 2019 at 11:00 AM ^
A new California law just overruled the NCAA Rule Book. Now no one keeps score, everyone gets to play and we all go out for ice cream afterwards. Participation ribbons for all!
October 1st, 2019 at 11:21 AM ^
Signed on just to upvote.
Sadly, that's how we roll here in CA. It's a loony bin.
October 1st, 2019 at 5:01 PM ^
Yeah, I hated my 5 years at ages 22-27 living west of Highland in Manhattan Beach...just too many girls...too many National Parks, too much opportunity.
The taxes were higher but there’s a lot to care for so I was glad to pay it along with my fellow CA citizens...it’s the cost of living in a place where 10 million humans really shouldn’t live in.
If as you say you think it’s a looney bin I suggest moving.
October 1st, 2019 at 11:59 AM ^
And yet people from the Midwest keep coming here...
October 1st, 2019 at 10:46 AM ^
I'm making a statement.
October 1st, 2019 at 10:22 AM ^
The two things that I think will lead to a UM victory is not get manhandled along the Defensive line and on offense protecting the QB. I'd say the pass protection has only been decent in one game so far. I guess we'll find out if that was a product of playing Rutgers of if the offense has figured some things out in the passing game.
I don't foresee getting much out of the rushing attack. Once again, I think it will be up to the QB finding the WR's who once again should be mismatches for the defense.
An early lead I think is important.
I'm 50/50 on the outcome. If it were an Away game, I would not be confident.
October 1st, 2019 at 10:57 AM ^
Iowa has 5 sacks on the season, despite playing some weak competition. In absolute terms that's #113 in the country. That should give you some confidence on your second concern. Michigan only has 7 sacks, which is #92. Both teams have only played 4 games, where many have played 5. Still, not great on either side. Both played MTSU, which I think prioritized getting the ball out quickly above all else. Michigan played Army, very hard to get a sack against a team that doesn't throw and doesn't give up tackles on their running QB short of the LOS, and Rutgers which threw nothing but fairly quick underneath routes.
On your first concern, Iowa is #29 in rushing yards per game, at 217.5 per, and #32 in YPC at 5.18. Again, these are absolutes and not opponent adjusted. Given the teams they've played, I'd say that's not all that concerning.
October 1st, 2019 at 10:23 AM ^
Iowa seems like Wisconsin's team- big O-line, which will give our small D-line trouble. Secondary will be challenged because the d line will not be able to get pressure, and that is what happened with not pressuring freshman QB, and Iowa's QB has more experience. Will definitely be a test.
Offense can score points, not turn the ball over, this is a close game. Hopefully the Big House works to our advantage. Go Blue!
October 1st, 2019 at 10:32 AM ^
Not at all confident of a win.
Quite confident there will be a football game, I will pay taxes, and that death eventually finds all of us.
October 1st, 2019 at 10:44 AM ^
I am planning to live forever. So far, so good.
October 1st, 2019 at 11:05 AM ^
Past performance may not be indicative of future results.
October 1st, 2019 at 10:37 AM ^
For whatever reason, Michigan is a solid program at home and eats glue on the road. If this was in Iowa City, I'd be bracing for a 31-13 embarassment. Since it's in Ann Arbor, I kinda think we'll get out with a 24-21 win or something like that.
Don't ask about traveling to Happy Valley
October 1st, 2019 at 11:09 AM ^
At least PSU is during the day. They usually kick our asses at night over there.
As for Iowa, I don't know what to think. I could see a sludgefart 10/13 victory either way or us blowing them out. They're not as good as Wisconsin, so they won't murder us until we're dead and the fuck the corpse, but they could totally win this game.
Thank God it's not at Kinnick.
October 1st, 2019 at 11:30 AM ^
"murder us until we're dead and the fuck the corpse"
Damn you! I can't un-read this.
October 1st, 2019 at 11:31 AM ^
One point, the PSU game has not yet been announced for a time yet and per mgoblue it doesn't have a network stated. I think at this point we are hoping that Fox is the one that got this game and will throw it on at noon. If it ends up on ABC/ESPN then it will likely be at night.
October 1st, 2019 at 10:40 AM ^
Go take this to the Iowa board. Hope your farm equipment engineering degree affords you a nice $100,000 mansion.
October 1st, 2019 at 11:13 AM ^
America Needs Farmers.
October 1st, 2019 at 12:03 PM ^
Yes, we do. What we don't need are alumni from other schools coming here to talk $h!t about Michigan FB. Michigan alumni are good enough at that.
October 1st, 2019 at 12:28 PM ^
No, what we don't need is "fans," alumni or otherwise, belittling people for their career choices and/or the cost of their houses. If you actually are an alumnus, then you would have the reading comprehension to understand that he wasn't "talking $h!t" (haha...nice censorship.I mean, really, we're all adults), he was offering his analysis.
You're the type of person I tell my children not to model their behavior after.
October 1st, 2019 at 12:59 PM ^
That really hurts. Almost as much as your alimony payment to that ex-wife who walks all over you.
/s
October 1st, 2019 at 4:40 PM ^
That's a pretty expansive presumptuous leap you took there. I guess that's about the response I expected after the other couple of comments. Let me know when you're done looking down your nose long enough to have a serious discussion about your insecurities.
October 1st, 2019 at 12:11 PM ^
digging all the farmer-love in this thread. good stuff.
October 1st, 2019 at 12:02 PM ^
username checks out
October 1st, 2019 at 12:20 PM ^
Catchers gear checks out?
Please, explain...
October 1st, 2019 at 11:44 AM ^
you're the kinda person everyone hates
October 1st, 2019 at 12:02 PM ^
Thanks for joining in the discussion, Mr. Helper.
October 1st, 2019 at 1:39 PM ^
lol classic "I've never set foot on the Michigan campus but I pretend I went there online" post.
October 1st, 2019 at 10:41 AM ^
If the game was not at home then Michigan would be in trouble, especially if it was at night. Regardless, Iowa is a good football team period and it begins across their OL and DL. This is an excellent game for a Michigan team which does not want to be defined by the one game loss to Wisconsin. I've said it before that October is the MOST important month in football. This is the month where teams define themselves. If Michigan beats Iowa on Saturday then that goes a long way toward their confidence and growth before PSU and ND. Iowa, regardless who they have beaten is still Iowa and they beat Michigan at their last meeting. I am voting for the Big Blue this Saturday and I am excited as I am flying up from Carolina to witness it first hand. Can't wait.
October 1st, 2019 at 10:42 AM ^
That Iowa loss in 2016, in retrospect, was even worse than it was live. Despite our failings against OSU, if we simply don't play like garbage and win that game like we were supposed to, we go to Indy.
October 1st, 2019 at 11:16 AM ^
We didn't play great that day, but we led the whole game until the last play. We lost that game to the Iowa punter if I recall. And the game winning FG was aided by a phantom facemask that added 15 after we punted.
October 1st, 2019 at 11:59 AM ^
That's probably not true. Had we won, we would have been 11-1 and in a 3 way tie with Penn St and Ohio St. While I think we would have had an argument, I doubt we get voted ahead of OSU after losing to them so they would have gone to Indy.
October 1st, 2019 at 12:01 PM ^
Would we have?
I'm really asking, I don't know. The division would've ended in a three way tie. We beat PSU, PSU beats OSU, OSU beats us. All tied at 8-1 in conference play, all are losses within the division, so who goes?
October 1st, 2019 at 12:49 PM ^
https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/17871778/fifth-big-ten…
OSU Would have gone.
the 5th tie-breaker (Overall Winning Percentage) would eliminate PSU
Then OSU would hold the head to head tiebreaker over UM.
To go to Indy we are going to have to beat OSU, or go into the OSU game with a 2 game lead... Both of these scenarios seem less likely every year.
October 1st, 2019 at 10:42 AM ^
Shea will need to run the ball to help open things up. Will be in for a long day if Michigan tries to run up the gut.
October 1st, 2019 at 10:45 AM ^
Get ready for a long day, then.
October 1st, 2019 at 10:45 AM ^
This game will be a rock fight. I bet it comes down to the last five minutes. The O/U is set at 48 points right now and I'd definitely take the under. I'm not sure who will win, but I give a slight advantage to Michigan since they're at home.
October 1st, 2019 at 11:17 AM ^
I agree on the under. It is difficult to see how more than 35 points are scored in this game.
October 1st, 2019 at 10:46 AM ^
If this was at Kinnick, I’d be terrified. But Iowa isn’t the same team when they’re on the road. At home....under the lights....those guys are akin to Alabama-lite.
Instead, I’m just somewhat concerned. Can Iowa win? Absolutely. But being at home counts for a lot against these guys. I’m just ready for an ugly slog of a game, and I hope Gattis and Patterson are ready to attack through the air. I don’t expect to get much on the ground, but if Michigan wants to win, attacking Iowa through the air is the way they have to go. That’s where the mismatches are. If Gattis is serious about getting the ball in the hands of his best players, this is the game it needs to start happening in. Otherwise you’re staring right down the barrel of 3-2.
October 1st, 2019 at 10:49 AM ^
I feel like Iowa matches very well with UM almost every season and it's fucking annoying.
October 1st, 2019 at 10:55 AM ^
Well, people outside SE Michigan equate Michigan FB to Iowa FB in terms of relevance.
October 1st, 2019 at 12:01 PM ^
Harsh but probably fair
October 1st, 2019 at 10:55 AM ^
double post