Last week the Michigan Wolverines football team finally got over the hump and beat Ohio State. The Iowa Hawkeyes needed help, after Minnesota beat the Wisconsin Badgers and the Hawkeyes defeated Nebraska the Big Ten Championship game was set. 11-1 Michigan vs 10-2 Iowa. The game is played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. This is the first Big Ten Championship Game sell-out.
The Michigan Wolverines arrive in Indianapolis ridding the Big Ten’s best running game and one of the best in the country. Hassan Haskins who torched Ohio State for five touchdowns, leads the Wolverines rushing attack with 1,232 yards and averaging 5.0 yards per carry. Blake Corum is the other part of the Michigan two-headed run game. Corum has run for 865 yards and averaged 6.4 yards per carry.
The Iowa Hawkeyes have struggled on offense the entire 2021 season. So how did Iowa make it this far? Defense. The Hawkeyes defense is a very good, very stout group. They do not generate a tremendous pass rush, but the linebackers and secondary makes life difficult for offenses.
For Iowa to come away with a win they must slow down the Wolverines ground game. No easy task as Michigan’s offensive line is among the best in the country. They also must try to contain both Wolverines starting defensive ends Aiden Hutchinson and David Ojabo. One small problem. The Hawkeyes right and left tackles are not graded high so this could be a mismatch to watch.
At the end of the day or game if you prefer, Michigan is the more balanced team. A team that showed against Ohio State they can beat anyone and are a threat to win the National Championship.
Iowa by no means backed into the Big Ten title match. 10-2 is a very good season. But, for the Hawkeyes for come away with the upset they need to somehow find an offense to put points on the board. The solid defense will get worn down if they are on the field for long periods of time.
Big Ten Championship prediction: Michigan 33- Iowa 20
