Location: Lucas Oil Stadium
Weather: Indoors
TV: Fox (Johnson & Klatt)
Line: Michigan -22
I've watched more Iowa Football then I would like to admit to all of you. I was intrigued by Cade and Erick's transfer and wanted to see if they could turn the offense around. Both Michigan transfers went down fairly early in the Big Ten season and then it became the Brian Ferentz game show to see if he would average 25 points per game.
He didn't and Iowa will eventually move on from Brian after the season is complete. This is also the exact same team it has always been. They have a huge (OT size) backup QB in Deacon Hill and lost their top playmaker on defense (Cooper DeJean). Their offensive struggles have turned into historic Over/Unders from Vegas. Still, Iowa finds a way to win and is ranked #16 in the country and are 10-2 with loses to Penn State in Happy Valley and at home to Minnesota (on a controversial fair catch signal).
Dear Jimmy,
I feel weird welcoming you back, when you have been with the team the entire time. You just took 4 hours off every Saturday. I'm sure you can feel the pride from the entire Michigan fan base on your team overcoming everything to beat the Buckeyes last Saturday. That win every year means so much, but I would be remiss if I didn't congratulate your staff on keeping the team on track the last 3 Saturday's.
I'm a bit old school on winning championships. I believe the top goal every year is winning the Big Ten Championship. Of course, I want to win a National Championship but the Big Ten is the most important goal to me. In fact, this really could be an old school moment, if Michigan wins on Saturday, they could end up in the Rose Bowl to face a PAC 12 Champion as the last ditch effort for that conference. I'm sure Bo would never have imagined that the PAC 10/12 teams would ever be in the same conference as the Wolverines.
Now, lets get to the game. I of course have a concern that I need to share with you. Michigan has been getting its "flowers" all week and everybody has been talking about the win over Ohio State that nearly 23M people tuned in for. Michigan dominated the Big Ten Team honors on both sides of the ball and even the media has turned its narrative on this team (this week). My #1 concern for Saturday is that your team feels great on what it has accomplished and will over look the Hawkeyes.
This Iowa team has plenty of flaws but they will be playing with absolutely nothing to lose. They are expected to get blown out, will play loose, and take some chances. Michigan will need to have a championship focus to take care of business on Saturday. I expect the Wolverines are a bit injured after that blood bath last Saturday and won't have all of its starters.
Iowa's only chance in this game is to stop the run and try to get JJ to make some mistakes in passing downs. Iowa wins when they score points on defense. I would like some creativity in the running game and having JJ pick the Iowa secondary apart. Michigan's defense will need to shut down the run and sit on Iowa's dink and dunk passing game. If you pressure Deacon Hill his passing game will completely fail. I love Jessie Minter's blitz packages against him. Michigan has been doing a great job of playing "clean" and that will need to continue on Saturday with no turnovers and minimal penalties.
I love Michigan's WR's and TE's in this game. If Michigan's OL can Pass Pro, I love Roman deep and Loveland and Barner in that 10-15 yards range. Mix in Corum and DE in the running game and you will find yourself on a trophy stand with another Big Ten Trophy. Play Michigan Football and live Bo's words; "Those that stay will be Champions"
Michigan 34 Iowa 9
7 comments:
Would love to hear one of the Michigan players say on the stage accepting the Championship Trophy, "Those that stay will be champions! Those that dont, Cade and Erik, will get their asses beat!"
UM 45, Iowa 10
I hope the team is not already accepting the trophy before playing the game. Iowa, in no one's opinion, has a chance. That scares me. They've backed onto more than one win this season. Lots bad things would have to happen, but that's why Murphys Law exists. Good Luck. God's Speed. Go Blue!
The loudest & Longest noise of the night will occur once numbnuts Petitti sets his foot on the stage to present the championship trophy to Harbaugh.
Michigan 42 Iowa 3
Just show the team the App State game on movie night. Not the same thing? Sure it is, a team that was simply supposed to be a stepping stone turned into a mountain. UM will win but don't see a blowout. This Iowa team has managed 10 wins and in this day, that's always admirable. $uckeyes get part II of their hopes and dreams dashed again tonight and this weekend when they find out they get Louisville in the Who Cares Bowl.
Rudy .. I certainly don't see this team not taking Iowa seriously. All the goals this team set back in January were all stepping stones to the ultimate goal of winning the Natty, the main reason why so many of the seniors returned for another season after losing to TCU. Of which I do believe the team went into that game over confident and came out with a very sour taste in their mouth that needed to be rinse out. Lesson learned the hard way, (which are at times how greatness is achieved). Understanding that all it takes is that one stumble on their quest to reach the top of the mountain, has now been ingrained, and the reason why I have no doubt this team will play hard against Iowa as they have with every game there've played all year.
What if Jimmy handed the trophy back to Petiti and said no thanks! Lol
82-0!Hill goes down on the first blitz and iowas offence relies on their punter as quarterback!GO BLUE!
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