If you’re driving to Ann Arbor on Saturday for the Iowa-Michigan game, you won’t see one of those “LAST CHANCE FOR GAS” signs.
But if you look hard enough, you might be able to spot a sign that reads: “LAST CHANCE TO DERAIL MICHIGAN-OHIO STATE.”
Only Iowa, it seems, can prevent the first No. 1 vs. No. 2 game in the 102-year history of the Michigan-Ohio State series.
Michigan’s next three opponents–Northwestern, Ball State and Indiana –are a combined 8-13. Ohio State’s next four are 10-18. So you see the point.
But Michigan should be wary of an Iowa team that embarrassed itself by blowing a 21-7 lead to Indiana last week.
“That wasn’t Iowa football,” Hawkeyes cornerback Adam Shada said.
No way coach Kirk Ferentz lets the Hawkeyes play poorly two weeks in a row.
And Michigan is due for a letdown after pounding Penn State.
That combination will be enough to keep Saturday’s game interesting.
Final score: Michigan 21, Iowa 13.
———-
tgreenstein@tribune.com
