Column: Which Iowa will show up?

Since Big Ten Conference play began more than one month ago, the Iowa Hawkeyes have been as perplexing to figure out as the world’s most challenging Rubik’s Cube.

On Sept. 29 in Iowa City, Iowa, the Hawkeyes rolled to an impressive 31-13 victory against Minnesota and followed with an astonishing double-overtime 19-16 triumph against Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich.

Riding the momentum of a 2-0 start to conference play, Iowa found itself in the driver’s seat of the Big Ten Conference’s Legends Division.

With the Legends Division being watered down due to Michigan and Michigan State having surprisingly down seasons, along with Ohio State and Penn State of the Leaders Division being ineligible for postseason play, the Hawkeyes thought 2012 might have been their season to represent the Big Ten Conference in the Rose Bowl.

Those positive sentiments wouldn’t last.

Iowa was bullied by Penn State and Northwestern, losing to both teams by a combined score of 66-31. Hawkeyes Coach Kirk Ferentz’s defense was shredded by both the Nittany Lions and Wildcats, allowing 564 combined rushing yards in the process.

And to make matters worse, the Hawkeyes lost running back Mark Weisman during last Saturday’s loss to Northwestern to what appeared to be a
leg injury.

The question that is begging to be asked is, which Iowa team will show up to Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon?

Will it be the team that took down Minnesota and Michigan State? Or will it be the team that has looked atrocious during losses to Penn State and Northwestern?

Regardless of the answer, Saturday’s contest between the Hoosiers and Hawkeyes has all the makings of becoming a shootout, which
favors IU.

Scoring won’t be an issue for the Hoosiers, but keeping the Hawkeyes out of the end zone will be.

IU Coach Kevin Wilson’s Hoosier squad can certainly relate to Iowa’s defensive struggles. IU allows an average of 222.5 rushing yards per game, which ranks
112th nationally.

Even without Weisman, Iowa has Damon Bullock, who gained 107 rushing yards last week. Dealing with the Mansfield, Texas, product will be a tall task for IU, which allowed Illinois running back Donovonn Young to rumble his way to a season-high 124 yards a week ago.  

Bullock said despite his success running the ball against Northwestern, the offense will still miss the one-two punch he and Weisman provided.

“Everybody always talks about it,” Bullock told Sam Louwagie of The Daily Iowan. “If both of us were healthy, it’d be really good for this offense. Right now, we’re just trying to get there. I’m healthy now, and I’m just waiting on Mark. Hopefully, he’ll be alright.”

If the Hoosiers can contain the threat Bullock presents, a win may be in the works for IU.

My Prediction
Both teams will struggle to keep the other off the scoreboard, which largely plays into the style IU prefers. If the IU defense can maintain a second half lead, the Hoosiers will walk away victorious.
IU 38, Iowa 31

­— ckillore@indiana.edu