After a 3-0 start that had some ups and downs, Michigan football will turn its attention to the Big Ten this week, starting conference play with Iowa.
No easy games exist in the Big Ten. Rutgers proved that Saturday, giving a ranked USC team a run for its money in New Jersey. Nobody can be overlooked in this league. Everyone has NIL money and pressure to win.
Iowa, like Michigan, has started the season 3-0. This is a less experienced Iowa team. It returned just 10 starters, but the Hawkeyes have run the ball effectively and been stout on defense. Big shock, right?
Looking at the early odds for the Week 4 Big Ten opener for both teams, Michigan has opened as a 4.5-point favorite. The over/under is 37.5. The moneyline is -192 for Michigan and +158 for Iowa.
The projected score, according to Vegas oddsmakers, works out to about 21-17 Michigan. It feels accurate in the sense that the first team to 20 should win the game if anyone scores 20 points.
Michigan football vs. Iowa should a slugfest if oddsmakers are correct
Iowa is scoring 37 points per game, but allowing just 4.3. We talked about Oklahoma testing this Michigan offense. Iowa will, too. The Hawkeyes will be a stern test especially for the offensive line, and for Bryce Underwood. Taking care of the football will be imperative.
Kamari Moulton is the name to know on Iowa's offense. The running back has 240 rushing yards through three games and is averaging 9.2 yards per attempt. The Hawkeyes boast eight sacks, 17 tackles for loss and three interceptions on defense.
The Wolverines have been stout on defense, too. Michigan has allowed 13 points per game. However, 20 of the 39 points surrendered this season have come off turnovers. Four times Michigan has given opponents the ball inside its own 40.
Michigan fooball has 10 sacks and 25 tackles for loss. John Henry Daley has looked every bit like an All-American through three games with 14 tackles, four tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. Dominic Nichols and Nate Marshall also have two sacks each.
Tariq Boney, the freshman, also has a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss in limited snaps over the past two weeks. He looks special, like a 5-star, not a former three-star recruit.
The biggest factor in this game is who runs the ball better and who wins the turnover battle. After three games, those areas don't bode well for Michigan football, except that the Wolverines outrushed Oklahoma and won the turnover battle in that game.
Rinse and repeat on Saturday.
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