The Iowa student section should be well represented in Indianapolis. Nice to hear for Saturday.
The 2021 College Football season has been crazy and exciting for Iowa/Big Ten fans to be back in the stands, especially at Kinnick this season. High rankings haven't been easy to hold though in Big Ten play:
- Iowa rises to #2 at 6-0 in AP Poll, only to lose to Purdue the following week.
- MSU to #3 at 8-0, only to lose at Purdue the following week.
- Ohio State rises to #2 at 11-0, only to lose at Michigan the following week.
- Now, Michigan at 11-1 has moved to a high of #2 now.
High marks in the AP Poll for the Big Ten teams have not stayed firm in 2021 for very long. So will Michigan buck the trend in the Big Ten Championship Game in Indy on Saturday?
We heard all week about Michigan this and Michigan that, as they finally dismantled Ohio State last week to jump into the East spot.
By the way, the last prior win was 2011 for Michigan over Ohio State. That year, Michigan finished 11-2 with losses at Michigan State and against, you know it, the Iowa Hawkeyes (7-5).
Doomsday Ingredient No. 1: Iowa beats Michigan (27 percent chance)
It would be Kirk Ferentz's greatest win, no doubt, at Iowa. The most meaning, since it would be Iowa's first outright Big Ten title in football, since 1985.Iowa didn't score any touchdowns in wins in 1981 and 1985 over Michigan, in route to Big Ten titles those years.
In 1990 and 2002, the Hawkeyes won, like 1981, in Ann Arbor over the Wolverines, but touchdowns were all part of those games.
Both teams last Big Ten title (shared) came in 2004. Sadly, the Hawkeyes last meeting was a 10-3 game in 2019. Slugfest II on Saturday?
Is there any hope on Saturday?
We face the top DE on Saturday. We did win this one earlier in the season and pulled out a very solid 27-17 win. We need a similar game on Saturday.
Running back, Haskins 4.9 and Goodson 4.6 yards per carry, #3 and #4 in Big Ten. Their individual longs in Big Ten play are 62 and 55 yards, respectively.
So, as DC Phil Parker talks so often about, minimizing explosive plays (25+ yards). 2 equals 13 points.
Iowa often needs a boost. Special teams and turnovers have helped Iowa reach a 10-2 season.
In Iowa’s losses, the script was very much reversed for Iowa in the turnover column, with 8. The Hawks only averaged 7 points in both games.
https://twitter.com/BigTenNetwork/status/1466407020593037316?t=iGJIrRPkQrH30bXp8nfVTw&s=19
Iowa is a 10.5 underdog to Michigan. The Wolverines beat Rutgers 20-13 to open Big Ten play. The Wolverines held both Wisconsin and Penn State to 17 points. Even Nebraska scored 29 points, so while Iowa isn't the most beautiful team on offense, resiliency is one strength of the 2021 Hawkeyes.
https://twitter.com/IowaOnBTN/status/1466128895984353284?t=fi-izbj3U_Ncd7_P6ezpEQ&s=19
The names change, but the jersey numbers are assigned to a new group of Hawkeyes.
I felt more confident in 2016 quite frankly, but let's stay above .500 over Jim Harbaugh, just likely when he started at QB for Michigan.
Iowa 19
Michigan 17
PTC - Jack Campbell
The Hawkeyes are going to have to play strong in all three phases, as always. All season we have heard about the importance of complementary football.
https://twitter.com/BigTenNetwork/status/1466265188752109578?t=H3y2NM9BRdJxNUnrvE2QgA&s=19
Iowa faces #2 on Friday night in hoops, #2 on Saturday night in football, all in Indiana.
https://twitter.com/TylerBarnesIOWA/status/1466398363067240452?t=aItLLtl8lmEbgdEQfZewBw&s=19
