GameDay: #14 Iowa at #19 Michigan in the Big House

The #14 Iowa Hawkeyes (1-0 B1G West, 4-0) travel to #20 Michigan (1-1 B1G East, 3-1) for a Homecoming showdown in the Big House. It is an 11 AM kickoff on FOX. The Hawkeyes have won five of last six in the series over the past decade.

The Hawkeyes and Wolverines have not meet, since the 2016 season. The Iowa Hawkeyes upset then-#2 Michigan 14-13 in Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. Iowa has won two in a row in the series, and the Hawks have won the last two Homecoming match ups in the Big House.

Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines were the Big Ten favorite by the Media entering 2019. However, a Big Ten opening loss two weeks ago in Madison, 35-14 have tempered views on the Wolverines.

The Wolverines got back on the winning track last week with a 52-0 win over Rutgers at home. The Hawkeyes opened Big Ten play in Week 2, with a 30-0 win over Rutgers. Rutgers has fired head coach Chris Ash, after the 0-2 B1G start.

This is a big game today for the Wolverines and very important for the Hawkeyes, as well.

Both teams feature senior quarterbacks. Iowa has three year starter Nate Stanley, while former Ole Miss QB Shea Patterson is in Year 2 at the helm of the Michigan offense.

Iowa is coming off a 48-3 win over Middle Tennessee and the offense is clearly humming. The Michigan offense under first year OC Josh Gattis and smooth sailing has not been the case, until last week over the Scalet Knights. A program that hasn't won a FBS match up, since 2017.

The Hawkeyes have played clean football in 2019, with the fewest turnovers in College Football. But, Iowa enters the game as the underdog.

Michigan is the favorite, despite the inconsistent play on offense. Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh called Iowa "consistent" in all three phases of the game: offense, defense and special teams. Not to surprising for a Kirk Ferentz team.

The Hawkeyes will likely have to bring that game to Michigan, if they want to remain undefeated in 2019.

Our pick:

Iowa Hawkeyes 30
Michigan Wolverines 20

The Hawkeyes should bring a very balanced attack to Ann Arbor. The Hawkeyes have a sold offensive and defensive line. It will come down to the 3 keys in football: turnovers, explosive plays and tackling on Saturday in the Big House.

Year 21 under Kirk Ferentz: Is Iowa finally coming to age?

• at Iowa State, W 18-17
• at Michigan, Saturday, 11:30 am Kickoff on FOX

Has there ever been a bigger game in the two series?

Michigan is ranked, unlike Iowa State, who the Iowa Hawkeyes beat 18-17, in a game that included to separate lightening delays for roughly three hours But, heading into each road game this season, has there ever been a bigger game in Ann Arbor or Ames, for that matter for both teams?

The 1985 game was the biggest game to date in the Iowa - Michigan series, but oh my, how important is this one, on Saturday for each team?

• Iowa head coach was OL coach under Hayden Fry
• Michigan head coach was QB, under Bo Schembechler

Iowa is going for its third win on a Michigan Homecoming, under Kirk Ferentz. The Hawkeyes won the previous games, 34-9 in 2002, and 38-28 in 2010. Iowa is 7-5, since 2001, during the Kirk Ferentz era against Michigan.

Since 2001, Iowa has won 152 games and finished in the Top 10 nationally, five times. For Michigan, it is 151 wins, and four Top 10 finishes.

Know the foe: Iowa

Although the Hawkeyes barely escaped against Iowa State on the road, they've played well to start the season. They've shared two common opponents with Michigan: Middle Tennessee State, who they beat 48-3 on Saturday, and Rutgers, who they beat 30-0 in Week 2. The offense has impressed under the direction of quarterback Nate Stanley. The senior is completing 64% of his passes, averaging 8.2 yards per attempt and has eight touchdowns and zero interceptions. The run game features a trio of backs in Mekhi Sargent, Toren Young and Tyler Goodson; collectively, they are averaging 6.2 yards per carry and have 752 rushing yards. The defense is allowing just 8.5 points per game and is anchored by star defensive end A.J. Epenesa, a future high NFL draft pick. - Detroit Free Press

Iowa at Michigan, Week 6 - Homecoming for the Wolverines.

Another battle of two quarterbacks. This one, features two seniors at the helm, of each offense for Iowa and Michigan, respectively.

However, defense and special teams are always important to each of these programs.

And, what about fifth year Michigan head coach, Jim Harbaugh?

Iowa picks up 38-28 win @ Michigan on the Wolverines Homecoming to remain undefeated in the Big Ten

The Iowa Hawkeyes win for the fourth time over Michigan in the coach Kirk Ferentz era. Iowa has back to back wins under coach Ferentz in 2002-2003 and now in 2009-2010.

The Hawkeyes (5-1, 2-0 Big Ten) won 38-28 over Rich Rodriquez and his Michigan Wolverines (5-2, 1-2 Big Ten) to spoil Homecoming festivities in Ann Arbor. Iowa is now 4-5 as a Homecoming guest at Michigan.

Iowa, which did not commit a turnover, is 2-0 in the Big Ten Conference with
wins over Penn State and Michigan. It is the second consecutive Hawkeye win in
the series and their first in the Big House since 2002. The Wolverines are 5-2,
1-2.

Points fly, teeth chatter during 38-28 Iowa win - University of Iowa
Hawkeyes build 21-point lead, improve to 2-0 in the Big Ten Conference ...

The game in Ann Arbor resembled a past Iowa game in 2002. The road opener @ Penn State, where Iowa build up a big lead, only to see the home team strike back. Unlike the 2002 game, Michigan couldn't get it tied up, as Iowa was able to get a key late field goal from true freshman Mike Meyers. Like 2002, Iowa won in Ann Arbor and on the Wolverines' Homecoming, again.

"This is a happy lockerroom. Winning on the road is difficult anywhere.
Winning on the road in this league is really difficult." - Iowa coach Kirk
Ferentz

Big Plays Key to Big Win - The University of Iowa
Big plays by a number of Hawkeyes key to big win over Michigan ...

"It was a great team effort," who noted Iowa's 4-0 advantage in
turnovers. "They are always critical to the outcome, particularly in league
games, and proved to be again today." - Kirk Ferentz

• Senior WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos receiving - 3 TD receptions
• Sophomore RB Adam Robinson's running and receiving - 2 TD runs
• Senior QB Ricky Stanzi's composure, after a couple slow starts to open each half
• Junior S Tyler Sash's interception and block FG return in the first half
• Senior DT Karl Klug's forced fumble in the Iowa red zone to end a Wolverine drive in the 3Rd quarter
• Iowa's red zone success, while Iowa's defense stepped up and spoiled the Wolverines twice in the red zone
• True freshmen PK Mike Meyers converted on all five XPs and his 30 yard FG attempt

Postgame Notes - The Unversity of Iowa
Iowa vs. Michigan ...

The 38 points scored by the Hawkeyes are the most for Iowa in the series against Michigan. Iowa scored 37 points in 1958. This series with Michigan has been a very exciting one, since the 1981 game in Ann Arbor, in coach J. Hayden Fry's third season. Like 2002 and 2010, Iowa won the 1981 game.Coach Kirk Ferentz was in his first season as an offensive line coach at Iowa in 1981.

Iowa's path to the Rose Bowl and a Big Ten Championship doesn't get any easier in the final six games. Iowa will host back to back home games at Kinnick Stadium to close out October. Wisconsin (6-1, 2-1 Big Ten) and Michigan State (7-0, 3-0 Big Ten) are up next for the Hawkeyes in back to back Saturdays.

peace

Will #13 Iowa get it done in the Big House @ Michigan in Week 7?

Iowa has enjoyed some nice victories in Ann Arbor over Michigan. The 1981 game in coach J. Hayden Fry's third season was a huge 9-7 win for the Hawkeyes. The Hawkeyes won in 1990 by the score of 24-23, with a late TD, then a interception to seal the game for Iowa.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz in his fourth season at the helm picked up a huge win in Ann Arbor. The 2002 Hawkeyes beat Michigan 34-9 in Ann Arbor.

Now, we have #13 Iowa (4-1, 1-0 Big Ten) @ Michigan (5-1, 1-1 Big Ten) for the Wolverines Homecoming game. Will Iowa pull off another Homecoming game win against the Wolverines in Ann Arbor? They did in 2002, as Hawkeyes took it to the Wolverines in the second half on way to Iowa's lone 8-0 season in Big Ten play and a share of the Big Ten title.

How strong will Iowa's veteran team play in Ann Arbor on Saturday? None of the Iowa players have played at Ann Arbor, since Iowa's last game in the Big House was in 2006. Iowa is coming off a bye week, so will the Hawkeyes get off to a strong start or will they start slow?

Iowa senior QB Ricky Stanzi is 21-5 as a starting QB, while Michigan sophomore QB Denard Robinson is 5-1 as a starter. Stanzi is #3 in the country in QB rating, while Robinson is the top dual threat QB in the country right now.

Iowa sophomore RB Adam Robinson is the #1 guy for the Hawkeyes now. He didn't have a good outing in his first road game of the season at Arizona. Iowa needs their Robinson to play well. Michigan's sophomore RB Vincent Smith and junior RB Michael Shaw haven't made the yards on the ground that Denard Robinson has, but could they figure more into the offense vs. Iowa?

Iowa has a talented group of receivers and tight ends. Senior WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos could become the leading receiver lifetime in either yards or receptions for the Hawkeyes today in Ann Arbor. TE Tony Moeaki is playing on Sunday's now, but look for the Iowa TEs to play a huge role in Ann Arbor. Success at TE may be the difference as Iowa looks to click on offense in the Big House. Senior Allen Reisner and junior Brad Herman are players to watch on Saturday.

The Hawkeye defense is missing two outstanding LBs from last season. Thus far, the Hawkeyes have not yielded a scoring TD on the ground on defense this season. Will Denard Robinson and the Michigan Wolverines make Iowa pay on the ground on Homecoming? Iowa has one of the outstanding defensive lines in the country in 2010.

The linebackers are the key in Saturday's game at Ann Arbor. Will senior MLB Jeff Tarparian play, after injury knocks him out of back to back games? Will Iowa see true freshman James Morris leading the team in Ann Arbor? Tall order, if the youngster must step in and play for 60 minutes.

Iowa over Michigan has a nice ring to it. Illinois pulled off a big win at Penn State last week and we are taking Iowa @ Michigan by the same score. Defense trumps Michigan's offense. Look for Iowa to take control in the second half and beat Michigan in Ann Arbor to spoil the Wolverines Homecoming.

Prediction:

#13 Iowa 33

Michigan 13

in the Big House<>

peace