Michigan Football: Can Wolverines End Big Losing Streaks to MSU and Iowa?

Michigan's spectacular turnaround in 2011 included huge victories over Notre Dame, Nebraska and Ohio State.

For the Wolverines to continue their resurgence toward a possible Big Ten title this fall, they must end troublesome losing streaks against a pair of conference foes.

Michigan has lost the last four times to Michigan State, and the last three times to Iowa.

But the Maize and Blue has good reason to be optimistic about these matchups in 2012.

The Spartans will be breaking in a new signal-caller to replace the dependable Kirk Cousins, who graduated. Andrew Maxwell, a 6'3" junior from Midland, MI, has thrown just 51 passes in his brief career. To compound the problem, Michigan State will be without its entire receiving corps, losing B.J.Cunningham, Keshawn Martin and Keith Nichol, in addition to TE Brian Linthicum.

While it looks like Michigan can contain their passing game, it's the Spartan ground game which might concern Michigan the most. During their four-game winning streak, the Spartans accumulated 882 rushing yards, controlling both the ball and the clock.  

But Edwin Baker, who torched the Wolverines with 167 and 147 yards during the last two meetings, has moved on. The powerful Spartan running game will now be in the hands of Le'Veon Bell and Larry Caper, a pair of formidable backs.

During the streak, the most glaring statistic which troubled the Wolverines was third down production. In the four losses, Michigan managed to convert just 15 of 54 third down attempts, causing a loss of possession way too many times.

On defense, the Spartans should be solid again, but the team will definitely miss Jerel Worthy up front.

In Iowa's case, the Hawkeyes have been known as a prototypical Big Ten team: tough on both lines of scrimmage while featuring a hard-nosed running attack and a stingy defense. These are the teams that gave Michigan fits during the Rodriguez regime.

But in this case, Michigan matched up with Iowa just fine. The Wolverines simply made too many mistakes. In the three losses, Michigan had 10 turnovers, while the Hawkeyes committed just one. It's also possible Iowa benefited from some shoddy officiating in the closing moments of last year's game.

While the Hawkeyes closed out 2011 at a disappointing 7-6 (4-4 in the Big Ten), prospects for 2012 aren't bright at all. While Iowa returns senior quarterback James Vandenberg, the team loses talented running back Marcus Coker (1,384 yards) and receiver Marvin McNutt (82 catches).

Only five other starters are returning on offense and defense, respectively.

While no one might be talking about a Big Ten title in Iowa City, Michigan and Michigan State should battle it out for the Legends Division crown and a trip to the Big Ten title game.

Ending Michigan's four-game losing streak to Michigan State should be difficult. But if the Wolverines can contain the Spartan running game and improve their own third down efficiency, the home-field advantage might make the difference.

Against Iowa, Michigan should be 10-point favorites, and that three-game losing streak will be history.