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By Martin Rogers
FOX Sports activities Columnist
This week Jim Harbaugh has stated loads, in his Jim Harbaugh sort of method, which often means discussing matters which can be being popularly debated however injecting his personal twist.
That’s how a discourse in regards to the virtues of Michigan’s star working again Blake Corum included commentary on the dental hygiene of opposition gamers (sort of) and the way an admission that Iowa’s protection is imposing was a historical past lesson spanning a quarter-century timeline.
It’s all good, colourful stuff, which contributes to Harbaugh being one in all college football’s most entertaining coaches — positively not universally beloved, however indisputably one of many key larger-than-life sideline figures that assist make the sport what it’s.
But when addressing probably the most urgent and nationally related factor about his group’s journey to Kinnick Stadium to tackle the Hawkeyes this Saturday (noon ET; FOX and the FOX Sports app), he borrowed from a well-worn phrase as an alternative of conjuring his personal Harbaugh-esque quip.
Previewing No. 4 Michigan vs. Iowa
Joel Klatt breaks down the sport between No. 4 Michigan and Iowa, explaining how the Hawkeyes can capitalize on potential errors.
“As they are saying, it’s the place top-five groups go to die,” Harbaugh stated.
Since 2008, it has been. Final 12 months, it was No. 4 Penn State that noticed its marketing campaign upturned by the banks of the Iowa River, dropping 23-20. In 2017, it was No. 3 Ohio State, rushed out-of-town by a 31-point margin. Harbaugh’s No. 2 Michigan succumbed in a 14-13 nail-biter in 2016. Michigan State in 2010 and Penn State’s 2008 group additionally went down, which means 5 of the final six top-five guests have been despatched packing with seasonal remorse and one within the ‘L’ column.
If Michigan’s bid for a spot within the School Soccer Playoff goes to return undone early, this can be a common selection for the place it may occur, amid the depth of Kinnick and towards a protection that has surrendered simply 23 factors in three video games to this point.
Make no mistake, Michigan is the favourite, and rightly so. FOX Guess has Iowa as an 11-point underdog, however the motive the sniff of an upset is within the air is that it’s straightforward to see how issues would possibly go fallacious for Harbaugh’s males. Far less complicated, honestly, than it was to think about potential issues final week when Maryland surprisingly took it to them and gave the Wolverines a severe scare.
Corum is setting an unimaginable tempo within the working recreation, and Michigan has scored extra factors than any group that’s performed 4 video games, however Iowa has not allowed a speeding landing all season and permits simply two yards per carry.
In its first severe take a look at in an unwelcoming setting, Michigan, fairly merely, has to embrace the drag-out, bodily, relentless nature of the competition. This conflict purports to be a battle for area place, old-school Big Ten motion, compellingly ferocious for the viewers, taxing on each stage for these within the center.
The sort of recreation, probably, ripe to be tilted by a second of inspiration from a particular participant. How Harbaugh would love for one thing magical from Corum, or quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who gained the job after a committee method within the opening weeks.
Blake Corum breaks off 47-yard TD
The Michigan Wolverines took a 34-19 lead over the Maryland Terrapins within the fourth quarter after Blake Corum dashed 47 yards for a TD.
“There’s an previous saying in soccer {that a} working again who can miss anyone by the narrowest of margins is an unbelievable expertise,” Harbaugh stated within the midweek information convention, starting with a Corum anecdote and swiftly warming to his job.
“Now, Blake can get so near a tackler, inside inches, after which make the slightest transfer the place somebody that shut doesn’t even contact him. Some backs make the minimize a yard away, or two yards away, however Blake Corum will get to the purpose the place he can odor their breath after which make the slight minimize and miss by the narrowest of margins. It’s unimaginable.”
The Hawkeyes, with a stout, finely-nuanced defensive system applied by head coach Kirk Ferentz when he arrived in 1999 and overseen by defensive coordinator Phil Parker, will likely be totally ready. They may even bear in mind to convey the mouthwash.
Corum has 9 speeding touchdowns up to now, greater than anybody else within the nation. He’s on a blistering tempo; take into account that Hassan Haskins’ 20 TDs final season have been sufficient for Michigan’s all-time single-season mark.
Corum has collected eight rushes of at the least 20 yards — once more, nobody has extra. He has gained extra floor speeding than 25 complete groups. He’s at a whopping 119.5 yards per recreation, however the stage of opposition is barely going to enhance.
These are, in some methods, the season’s most telling instances. Behind Georgia, Ohio State and Alabama, there’s a assortment of groups all determined to clamber into the elite group of 4, which makes Michigan a squad that numerous others would like to see stumble.
Who’s probably to be upset in Week 5?
RJ Younger breaks down a query from a listener: Which top-10 group is probably to be upset this weekend: Alabama, Michigan, or Clemson?
Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Utah and Notre Dame have already staggered out of the image. Harbaugh needs Michigan to point out it’s product of sturdier stuff, and that it must be trying to transfer upward from fourth spot quite than glancing over its shoulder.
On condition that he not often pulls any verbal punches, has that inside hearth by no means removed from show, you’d have thought Harbaugh may need a spicy, hype-filled response to 1 simple query posed midweek:
Is Michigan prepared?
However as an alternative, Harbaugh selected to play it calm and coy, which might be the precise reverse of how issues are going to be on Saturday.
“We’ll see,” he stated, with the trace of a smile.
Learn extra:
– Michigan vs Iowa D, and more Week 5 storylines we’re watching
– Tiers for 18 CFP contenders, from Ohio State to Penn State, USC to UCLA
– Michigan-Iowa and more: Week 5 by the numbers
– Big Noon Kickoff: Everything to know about Michigan-Iowa
– Kentucky, Tennessee debut in Joel Klatt’s top 10
– They’re back? USC, Michigan, others show trickiness of a quick turnaround
Martin Rogers is a columnist for FOX Sports activities and the creator of the FOX Sports activities Insider publication. Observe him on Twitter @MRogersFOX and subscribe to the daily newsletter.
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