This Saturday I'll be playing with the Michigan Marching Band as part of the homecoming weekend. I'm really psyched, as 125 band alumni will join 225 members of the MMB on the field pre-game, half-time and post-game. It's always an amazing experience, and always fun to chant "It's Great to BE a Meechigan Wolverine!" in the pre-game march to the stadium.
While many people thought that ;ast week's MSU was the game of the season, I think that this weekend is the true test of the 2010 Michigan football team. The Iowa Hawkeyes are probably underranked at #15, but have no doubt -- they are probably one of the best teams in the nation.
Iowa is the nation's #1 team in scoring defense, allowing an average of only 10.2 points per game. They are also the #2 ranked team in rush defense, allowing 63.2 yards, and #4 in total defense, yielding an average of 242.2 yards.
Yes, 242.2 yards -- that's about 60 yards less than what Robinson gets on his own in about every game including last weekend's disappointing loss to Michgian State. Last week's game cannot be squarely put on the Michigan offense alone -- several bad decisions cost Michigan 14-21 points, but they moved the ball pretty well all considering. This week's game will test the Michigan offense to see how they've adjusted after the schooling that MSU provided.
With Odoms out for probably the rest of the season, the offensive squad will have to come together as they have never had to before. They will need to put at least 30-35 points on the board to compete. Iowa had their lowest scoring production against Penn State last week with 24 points and have recorded 33.6 average points per game to date, so the defense will have to keep it close and keep Michigan in the game.
I don't expect the Michigan defense to improve drastically over last week, unfortunately, and while they may have 1 to 2 good quarters I'd be surprised if they completely shut down the Iowa offense. Don't expect any miracles here.
As much as I want Michigan to win, there is only one way I can see a victory in Ann Arbor this weekend -- get the defense to force Iowa to make mistakes much in the same way as we were punished by MSU. And of course the offense needs to surprise the Iowa defense, much in the same way as we have seen all season.
If the Michigan defense does not get any defensive breaks, it will be a very long day for the Wolverines.
Prediction Michigan 31 - Iowa 28, yes as unlikely as it may seem I think the game will come down to a last second FG by Michigan.
