Iowa @ Michigan preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 10, 2009 ) Michigan 28, Iowa 30

Now that there is a blueprint for shutting down its high-powered offense, does No. 24 Michigan have the defense to stop any of the teams at the top of the Big Ten?

No. 14 Iowa will be trying to provide a negative answer to that question when it visits the “Big House” on Saturday.

The Wolverines looked like they could run up points on anyone through their first five games, averaging 41.4 per game in a 5-0 start. But those gaudy totals came against opponents that have turned out to be relatively weak. Big Ten bottom-feeder Indiana and Massachusetts came dangerously close to knocking off Michigan.

Rival Michigan State finally got the job done last week, ripping off 24 straight points to turn a 10-7 deficit into a commanding lead. The Spartans torched the Wolverines' defense for three touchdowns of 40 yards or more and 249 rushing yards in the 34-17 victory.

Michigan also had some trouble finding its footing against the best defense it had seen this season. The Wolverines finished with a season-low in points and yards while converting only 2-of-11 third downs against the Spartans.

Quarterback Denard Robinson, who entered the Michigan State game as one of the front-runners for the Heisman trophy, passed for 215 yards and rushed for 86 with two touchdowns. Robinson has been the consensus offensive player of the week twice this season and has four of the top 10 total offensive performances in school history already in 2010.

Despite the loss to Michigan State, the Wolverines still rank third in the nation in total offense at 565 yards per game.

But if the Spartans were a tough match, the Hawkeyes promise to be even more difficult to move the ball on this weekend. Iowa has allowed only 10.2 points per game this season - the best mark in the nation - and held its last two opponents to a total of three points. They have yet to allow a rushing touchdown this season.

The Hawkeyes dominated Penn State in their conference opener two weeks ago, allowing only 54 rushing yards on 23 carries. Iowa’s defensive line may be the best in the conference, featuring senior defensive end Adrian Clayborn and junior lineman Mike Daniels, both of whom could play on Sundays in the future.

The only loss this season came at Arizona last month in which Iowa allowed a kickoff return and an interception return for touchdowns.

The Hawkeyes have won 18 of their last 21 games overall, including a 30-28 victory over Michigan last season. Robinson played the second half in that contest and threw a touchdown pass but was also intercepted with less than a minute remaining to seal the Wolverines‘ fate.