Iowa Hawkeyes open at home at Kinnick with Michigan, as back half of the B1G race begins

It has been a difficult road for Iowa Hawkeyes (5-3, 2-2 B1G Legends) in 2011. The Hawkeyes are 0-3, with losses at Iowa State (45-42, 3 OT), at Penn State (13-3) and last week with a disappointing 22-21 loss at Minnesota.

Home has been a better place for the Hawkeyes in 2011. Heading into the final two games for 2011, Iowa is 5-0 at Kinnick Stadium, thus far. Of course, the next two weeks will be the biggest challenges at Kinnick in 2011, with the two schools from the State of Michigan.

First up, Iowa hosts Michigan (7-1, 3-1 B1G Legends), who features the most explosive QB in the B1G, with junior Denard Robinson. Robinson and his teammates have lost two straight to Iowa. A win today by Iowa would be a first in the Iowa-Michigan series, with Iowa winning three in a row.

Iowa has four games left in the B1G in November and control their own destiny, despite the 0-3 road record and two losses in the B1G, since they face the Legends division teams tied presently for first place the rest of the way. The final crossover game, with a Leaders team will be very important too, as well.

• vs. Michigan (7-1, 3-1 Legends)


• vs. Michigan State (6-2, 3-1 Legends)


• @ Purdue (4-4, 2-2 Leaders)


• @ Nebraska (7-1, 3-1 Legends)

Michigan may be the most difficult of the next four games for Iowa, due to Iowa's defense and how it will match up against Robinson at QB for the Wolverines. All four games will be difficult, based on the inconsistency of the Iowa offense, defense and special teams.

Playing at Kinnick Stadium should be a factor for Iowa?

After three games on the road in 2011, if this Iowa-Michigan game was on the road, Michigan would be a heavy favorite. But, as most teams have found in the Big Ten on the road, any given Saturday. All three tri-leaders in the Legends Division have a loss and all three came on the road.

Iowa features on offense three of the top play makers in the conference, with junior QB James Vandenberg, sophomore RB Marcus Coker and senior WR Marvin McNutt. Iowa will likely have to score plenty of points on Saturday, if they are successful to pull off their third win in a row over Michigan. It would be a huge upset for some Iowa fans, but some media talking heads do have Michigan on upset alert heading to Kinnick. Michigan is 1-1 this season on the road.

Iowa better bring A Game in all four phases of the game. Yes, four phases, since coaching and the intangibles may be as huge in getting Iowa back on track, after the disappointing 22-21 loss last week. Iowa's offense, defense and special teams will have to play strong, balance, balance for Iowa, in this big home game.

Prediction: IOWA 37, Michigan 35

DEFEND Kinnick Stadium

57Th meeting in the Iowa-Michigan series

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

Week 2: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

#4 Iowa beats Iowa State 35-7 for Cy-Hawk Trophy!

It's only Week 2 that has concluded, so there is plenty we don't know right now about certain teams, likely conference races and who is truly worthy for the BCS in 2010. Figuring out a decent Top 25 is still a crap shoot, but Week 2 has provided us some very interesting moments.

The Good in Week 2

1. #1 Alabama 24, #20 Penn State 3 in Tuscaloosa


2. #2 Ohio State 36, #11 Miami-FL 24 in Columbus


3. #3 Boise State (1-0) idle


4. South Carolina (2-0) beat #14 Georgia (1-1) 17-6 to give coach Steve Spurrier a big win, only the second win ('07 last) over Georgia in past nine seasons


5. The Denard Robinson show (502 total offense for sophomore QB) for Michigan (2-0) continues as coach Rich Rodriguez enjoys some fun as the Wolverines win 28-24 @ Notre Dame (1-1)


6. Kansas (1-1) coach Turner Gill picks up his first win as Jayhawks head coach with 28-25 victory over #19 Georgia Tech (1-1)


7. #18 Oklahoma (2-0) looks strong at home in beating #21 Florida State (1-1) 47-17 in Week 2, after unimpressive Week 1 victory


8. FCS victories over FBS programs continue in Week 2 with four more victories, after two big victories in Week 1 over BCS programs


9. The State of Iowa remains the "Hawkeye State" for another year when #4 Iowa (2-0) defeated Iowa State (1-1) 35-7 on a super weather day at Kinnick Stadium


10. In FCS play, Northern Iowa (1-0) defeated North Dakota State (1-1) 16-9 to open the 2010 College Football season and play in the Missouri Valley Football Conference

The Bad

1. The ACC takes a fall in Week 2 as everyone in the Top 25 falls in OOC play: #11 Miami-FL (@ # 2 Ohio State), #9 Virginia Tech (vs. James Madison), #19 Georgia Tech (@ Kansas) and #21 Florida State (@ #18 Oklahoma)


2. Ball State (1-1), the Iowa Hawkeyes opponent in Week 4 falls 23-27 to Liberty (2-0), a FCS program, in Week 2


3. Akron (0-2) joined Ball State as the second MAC program to fall to a FCS program, when Zips lost 27-28 to Gardner-Webb


4. After Week 2, no teams in the Coastal Division of the ACC, the Sun Belt or all three Independents have an undefeated program remaining in the FBS standings


5. Iowa defensive coordinator Norm Parker misses Cy-Hawk game, due to hospitalization brought on by complications to diabetes (missed game @ ASU in '04)

The Ugly

1. Virginia Tech (0-2) fall out of the Top 25, after losing 16-21 to James Madison, a FCS program, in the Hokies home opener in Week 2


2. Minnesota (1-1) gets derailed from another Dakota school in the coach Tim Brewster era, as South Dakota, a newer FCS program takes out the Golden Gophers in Minneapolis.

peace