|
|
 |
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Video Plus Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities 
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE | |
IOWA CITY, Iowa (Ticker) -- Eighth-ranked Michigan, the only team without a loss in the Big Ten Conference, seeks its fifth straight victory on Saturday when it visits Iowa. The Wolverines (5-1, 3-0 Big Ten) have been off since handing Purdue its first loss of the season, 24-10, on October 13. Defense has been a key to Michigan's success. The Wolverines rank third nationally against the run, allowing 52.7 yards per game on the ground. They gave up just 57 against Purdue after allowing 244 in a loss to the Boilermakers last season. The Wolverines also lead the Big Ten in sacks with 25 and are on pace to challenge the school record of 46 set in 1992. Michigan sacked Purdue's Brandon Hance seven times, matching the school's third-highest single-game total since 1968. While not flashy, Michigan's John Navarre has been steady all year, throwing 125 passes since his last interception against Washington in the second game of the season. Navarre has thrown at least one TD pass in every game this year and has surpassed 200 yards in all but one. B.J. Askew leads the Wolverines in rushing with 498 yards and seven touchdowns and also has become a receiving threat, ranking second on the team with 19 catches for 200 yards. Michigan is one-half game ahead of Illinois and leads Purdue and Ohio State by one game in the Big Ten race. The Wolverines play three of their next four games on the road. Michigan is 9-2-2 on the road following a bye week, but had a six-game winning streak in that fashion snapped last season with a wild 54-51 loss at Northwestern. Kyle McCann threw three touchdown passes and Ladell Betts rushed for 172 yards and a score as Iowa (4-2, 2-2) snapped a two-game losing streak last week with a 42-28 victory over Indiana. Michigan has won six straight against Iowa to open a 36-8-4 lead in the all-time series. The Wolverines are 8-1-1 in the last 10 contests against the Hawkeyes. The teams have not played since 1998, when Michigan posted a 12-9 victory at Kinnick Stadium in rainy conditions.
|
