Michigan vs. Iowa Prediction, Game Preview

Michigan vs. Iowa prediction and game preview. The Wolverines look to remain undefeated when they face the Hawkeyes in Iowa City on Saturday night.

Michigan vs. Iowa Game Preview

When: Saturday, Nov. 12, 8 p.m. ET
Where: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City.
TV Broadcast: ABC

Michigan is on the cusp of winning 10 games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2002 and ’03 as Jim Harbaugh continues his dramatic turnaround of the program. And this might be the Wolverines’ best team since they won a share of the national championship in 1997. That team had a Heisman winner in Charles Woodson, and now a similar two-way player in Jabrill Peppers is making his case for the award this season.

Iowa doesn’t appear to have answers for Michigan on either side of the ball. The Hawkeyes fell behind early and never recovered in last week’s 41-14 loss at Penn State, dropping them to 5-4 one year after going undefeated in the regular season and playing in the Big Ten title game.

What To Know About Michigan

It’s true that Michigan hasn’t played a lot of top-notch competition, but it is trouncing the teams on its schedule in impressive fashion. Wilton Speight was named the conference’s co-offensive player of the week after throwing for 362 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for another in last week’s 59-3 win over Maryland, and De’Veon Smith ran for 114 and three scores.

The defense has been the backbone of this Michigan team, though. Saturday was the fourth time in five games that it held the opposition to eight points or fewer, and it leads the nation in fewest yards allowed per game at 246.3.

What To Know About Iowa

It’s tough to see Iowa putting much together against that Michigan defense. The Hawkeyes rank 12th in the Big Ten in yards per game and have been held to fewer than 300 in each of the last two. Penn State’s rush defense is ninth in the conference, yet Iowa managed only 30 yards on 26 carries. At that rate, the Wolverines will have Akrum Wadley and LeShun Daniels running backwards on Saturday.

Iowa’s best bet to pull off an upset is to make it seem as if the game was being played in sand and slow it down as much as possible. The problem is that slowing down Michigan’s offense is no easy task, especially with how the Hawkeyes have been defending. They’ve allowed an average of more than 500 yards over their last three.

Advantages

Offense: Michigan – Speight has been solid and has plenty of weapons around him.

Defense: Michigan – The Wolverines have the best unit in the nation by the numbers.

Special Teams: Michigan – Peppers is dangerous as a returner, too.

Coaching: Michigan – The quick turnaround under Harbaugh is impressive.

Intangibles: Iowa – Michigan hasn’t won in Iowa City since 2005.

Matchup To Watch

Iowa’s running game vs. Michigan’s D

Wadley and Daniels aren’t as bad as they looked last week, and the Hawkeyes feel behind so quickly that it couldn’t get the running game going. If they can bounce back and get Iowa moving the ball while wearing down Michigan’s defense, it has a chance for an upset.

Betting Odds

Spread: Michigan -20
Over/Under: No line as of post