Michigan Football: Iowa at Michigan — Salute the Seniors — GBMWolverine Staff Predictions
Posted at 5:30am — 11/17/2012
Michigan Football: Iowa at Michigan — Salute the Seniors — GBMWolverine Staff Predictions
SENIOR DAY
Prior to Saturday’s game with Iowa, the University of Michigan will honor 23 senior football players who will be playing their final home game at Michigan Stadium.
Fifth-Year Seniors (13)
Ricky Barnum, OL; Kenny Demens, LB; J.T. Floyd, CB; Paul Gyarmati, FB; Jack Kennedy, QB; Jordan Kovacs, S; Mike Kwiatkowski, TE; Elliott Mealer, OL; Brandon Moore, TE; Patrick Omameh, OL, Roy Roundtree, WR; Floyd Simmons, S; Steve Wilson, CB
Fourth-Year Seniors (10)
Al Backey, CB; Nathan Brink, DT; Seth Broekhuizen, PK; Curt Graman, LS; Will Campbell, DT; Brandin Hawthorne, LB; Denard Robinson, QB; Craig Roh, DE; Vincent Smith, RB; Charlie Zeller, S
The GBMWolverine staff have made their predictions, how about you? Come to the message board and make your prediction and also comment on the thread.
Michigan wins.
Iowa 23
Michigan 31
Doc4Blu:
Iowa can win this game with good luck and turnovers. Burt I am going on the UM wagon. Coach Hoke has been downsizing the importance of emotion and focusing on the seniors, but there will be a contrary message before the game tomorrow. Michigan needs to play with confidence and without mistakes. The key will be quarterback Devin Gardner. The line should provide throwing time, the question will be Michigan’s ability to run the ball. Look early to see if Iowa spies Gardner or comes after him.
Both teams have successfully run long post plays lately, so look for that as well. On the goal line, expect Michigan to do more than just try and pound it. Devin can hit the edge just as last week. Knowing this can happen and stopping it are different entities.
Look for the defense to have a good day on the front line. The question will be how disruptive Michigan can be to the passing game of Iowa. As stated in the earlier preview, Iowa likes the short passing game and the back seven needs to minimize the damage. But no doubt Iowa will test Floyd and Taylor deep down the sideline.
In games like this the name of the game is establish success early and do not look back and take the foot off the pedal. Iowa has lost many close games, but has the size to hang with good teams. Maybe (probably) the Hawkeyes lack the speed needed to put bunches of points on the board. But al it will take tomorrow is a couple of big bombs and Iowa can hang in the game. Michigan’s mission is to keep that from happening.
Iowa 20
Michigan 28
Michigan ranks first in the country in pass defense (149.2 avg.). The Wolverines also rank 11th in total defense (302.9) and 17th in scoring defense (18.2). The Michigan defense has not allowed
200 passing yards in a single game this season.
I don’t see Iowa being able to run the ball that well on the Michigan defense.
Think the Senior class is sent out of Michigan Stadium with big smiles on their face and knowing they helped turn around the Michigan football program from their first year.
Iowa 13
Michigan 32
MaizeMan:
No prediction sent in this week.
November 10, 2012; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback Denard Robinson (16) and wide receiver Roy Roundtree (21) lead the team onto the field before the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-US PRESSWIREMike Fitzpatrick (TheMichiganManPodcast)
Iowa enters Michigan Stadium today a wounded animal. They are young, banged up, and maybe on the ropes. The Hawkeyes need victories today, and next week at home against Nebraska to become bowl eligible. That is a tough way to end a tough season. This team is well coached and plays hard, as we would expect of a Kirk Ferentz team. They have come to play each Saturday regardless of the injuries, and have lost six games by 3 points or less. They don’t roll over for you.
That said, It’s Senior Day at The BIg House. It’s time to say goodbye to 23 players who will be putting on the Winged Tipped helmets and coming down the tunnel for the last time. They will be led by their elected senior Co-Captains Jordan Kovacs & Denard Robinson. Sadly, it appears that Denard has taken his last snap at home. I suppose that could change, but I don’t think he wil be ready to go today.
Michigan will have to earn every point against this Hawkeye defense, which has given up well over 400 yards per game each of the last four weeks, but not a lot of points. With Devin at the helm I look for Michigan to give this Iowa defense a lot of different looks, and a lot of problems. If we are patient and don’t turn the ball over we should put up points today.
Look for Michigan’s defense to control the Iowa offense. The Hawkeyes have had great difficulty in both the running and passing game this year, for a variety of reasons. They are patient, and try to grind out plays, but lack any real big play threat. They also lack the speed we ran up against last week. I can see the D completely shutting down this offense, which they matchup very well against.
I have two scenarios for this game. If Iowa is able to eat clock and have some success on the ground, and the Michigan offense struggles for consistancy, we could be in for a 21 – 17 type of game. My second scenario would be this. Michigan comes out strong in the first quarter and puts a couple of scores on the board. If we can do this I think Iowa might break. They just can’t comeback from a 14 or 17 point deficit. They don’t have the parts. If we do get up early I can see this one turning into a rout. That said, even at this stage of the season I’m not quite sure what to expect from this team. Thus the two scenarios.
Let’s enjoy our sunny 49 degree day at the Big House. A finer day in mid November we could not ask for. A Great Big Meeechigan tip of the hat to our 23 seniors too. They have seen a lot through the years, good & bad. I think tomorrow Denard and our departing Michigan Men will go out in style. Go Blue!
Iowa 10
Meeechigan 38
SKWDCOP:
Even though Ferentz seems to figure us out (and has done so for several seasons now) that time is over, and with a battle-injury riddled squad this will not be close.
Iowa 14
Michigan 35
WerlsWolverine
Iowa 13
Michigan 27
November 10, 2012; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines cheerleaders during the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-US PRESSWIREYostMeister
The Wolverines survived a game last week that perhaps they should have lost. The defense was gashed by a very balanced attack, but still had enough in them to stop NW in OT. This week, Iowa poses a different problem. The Hawkeyes play very comfortable on the road and create match-up issues because of their size.
That alone may not be enough to beat Michigan, but it will keep the game tight. The Iowa defense is resilient but isn’t vintage; the offense is predicated on lulling a defense to sleep and then slashing them with a big play. Neither are fancy nor have they been real effective this season.. but try selling that to MSU fan.
The senior class is looking for their first win against the Hawkeyes and will need it to secure a New Year’s Day bowl. The offense is looking more comfortable with Gardner and there is little word if Robinson will play. The defense was exposed on the edges by a versatile offense, but should contain this Iowa offering. If they eat up clock and run downhill, though, it could spell the same fate as the Spartans suffered. In the end, though, the Hawks will succumb to the same problems on offense that have plagued them this season. Michigan pulls away late to win.
Iowa 17
Michigan 24
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Written by GBMWolverine Staff
Go Blue — Wear Maize!