Michigan football picks vs Iowa: Can Wolverines out-Iowa the Hawkeyes?

Coach Kyle Whittingham's series of firsts in his tenure with Michigan football rolls on: His first game against Big Ten competition.

Of course, just because he's new to Ann Arbor, it doesn't mean he's new to coaching; the U-M coach will go for career win No. 181 (and No. 4 as a Wolverine) when No. 17 Iowa visits Michigan Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 26 (3:30 p.m., CBS). The coach on the opposing sideline, Kirk Ferentz, is no spring chicken, er, Hawkeye, either. The Big Ten's all-time leader in victories (216) is in his 28th season as Iowa coach.

TONY GARCIA'S SCOUTING REPORT Keys to the game in top-20 clash

And yet, somehow, Whittingham, who previously had 22 seasons at Iowa, and Ferentz have never crossed paths on a football field. Will No. 18 Michigan give Whittingham the "W" on Saturday? Five Free Press sports writers have some thoughts on that.

Tony Garcia

This should be an old-fashioned Big Ten game. Don't expect a ton of explosive plays, deep passes or sizzle. This is about the meat and potatoes of football: running, tackling and discipline. Iowa does some of that as well as anybody, but U-M has had time to clean up its act. If the Wolverines are able to protect the ball, they should be able to stymie the Iowa offense and get some short fields. From there, Underwood has to capitalize. The pick: U-M 19, Iowa 13.

Carlos Monarrez

Michigan is ranked in the lower teens. Iowa is ranked in the lower teens. Michigan is 3-0. Iowa is 3-0. Michigan can’t score. (Sorry, 52 points against UTEP doesn’t count.) Iowa can’t score. These two teams should hit the field in Spider-Man costumes, point to each other and wait to see who comes up with the best defensive stop late. It's at the Big House, so the Wolverines get the nod. The pick: U-M 16, Iowa 13.

Rainer Sabin

This matchup has the makings of a classic Big Ten rock fight. In their lone tests against Power Four competition, both teams were carried by their defenses. It’s hard to imagine the Wolverines or Hawkeyes generating much offense Saturday. But Michigan, with the home crowd behind it, scores just enough points to prevail. The pick: U-M 20, Iowa 16.

Jeff Seidel

I’m sorry. I’m just not buying the Wolverines, not with a passing offense ranked No. 109 in the country and a rushing game that’s No. 90. Sure, Michigan beat Oklahoma. But Oklahoma barely beat New Mexico, 14-6, last week. I still think Kyle Whittingham was the right hire. But he hasn’t had enough time to fix it yet. Iowa is tough, physical, well coached, can run the ball and stop it – the complete package the Wolverines will be. But they aren’t there yet. The pick: Iowa 24, U-M 21.

Shawn Windsor

The Hawkeyes haven't played anybody. Neither have the Wolverines, not after Oklahoma barely beat New Mexico last week and scored 14 points while doing it. So maybe we don't have a bead just yet on the vaunted Michigan defense. Iowa isn't the school to give it a test, either. But the Wolverines will do enough to win their Big Ten opener and keep the College Football Playoff dream alive. The pick: U-M 19, Iowa 16.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football picks vs Iowa: Can Wolverines out-Iowa the Hawkeyes?