Michigan Wolverines at Iowa Hawkeyes
Saturday, 11/5/11, 12:00 PM EST, TV: ESPN
Opening Point Spread: Michigan -3.5
Current Betting Line: Michigan -3.5
Opening Total: 57
Current Total: 57
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
Michigan comes off a successful month in winning three games, more than the three previous Octobers combined. The Wolverines have really focused on improving their defense this year and first-year Brady Hoke has changed the culture around Ann Arbor since taking over for Rich Rodriguez. “Playing defense and then running the football and being able to knock people off the line of scrimmage, that is Michigan football,” Hokie commented in practice this week. After allowing 35.2 points per game in 2010, the team’s defense is surrendering just 14.6, which is second in the Big Ten and sixth nationally. Michigan is 0-7 ATS in November the last two-plus seasons and the ‘over’ is 4-3 in those contests.
The Wolverines will be playing the Hawkeyes for the 57th time Saturday, leading 40-12-4 in the all-time series, including a 16-5-1 mark at Iowa. Michigan has won six of the last 10 games in the series, despite dropping the last two games, including last year’s 38-28 defeat as 3.5-point home underdogs. Offensively, the team is averaging 34.8 points and 441.2 yards per game, going over the century mark in rushing seven of eight games. Quarterback Denard Robinson is the star of the show and protected by an offensive line that has allowed just 10 sacks in eight games.
Iowa is coming off a humiliating 22-21 loss to the Minnesota Golden Gophers as 14.5-point road favorites, which ended a two-game winning streak. The Hawkeyes rush defense has been terrible this year in allowing 194.8 yards per game in conference play. “I’ve noticed we’re not getting it done. Simple as that,” commented Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz. “We just have to play better.” The focus in practice is certainly stopping Robinson, who has gained 154 of Michigan’s 382 rushing yards in the last two meetings. Iowa is 1-5 ATS in November and the ‘under’ is 6-1 in this situation.
The Hawkeyes have won 54 of their last 65 games inside Kinnick Stadium, a run that dates back to the 2002 season. Sophomore running back Marcus Coker is enjoying a fabulous season, rushing for 969 yards on 182 carries and scoring 10 touchdowns. Quarterback James Vandenberg has been effective most of the season, throwing 17 touchdowns and just four interceptions. His main target is wide receiver Marvin McNutt, who comes in with 858 receiving yards.
Bettors will likely back the Wolverines due to their 4-0 ATS mark as a favorite, while the Hawkeyes are 1-6-1 ATS in conference action.
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