Iowa 24, Michigan 16

While I have argued for several weeks that I thought Michigan was being over-rated by poll voters, I did think that they would beat Iowa. They did not.

The ESPN announcers blamed it on too little Denard Robinson - I think they would have had him run every play - but that strategy only works until he gets injured, as Washington learned when Jake Locker was run every play a couple of years ago. So I am with the coaches on this one. I was surprised, in contrast, by the number of dropped passes. Annarbor.com coverage here.

It does not get any easier for Michigan after this, with Illinois, Ohio State and Nebraska in the next three weeks, though the fact that the last two are in the Big House, which will help.