Final home games for Michigan, Bowling Green; tough test for Ohio State at Camp Randall

11/17/2012

Iowa at No. 23 Michigan

Time: Noon

Records: Iowa is 4-6, 2-4 Big Ten; UM is 7-3, 5-1.

TV: ESPN

Radio: 100.7

Series: Michigan leads 40-13-4

Favorite: Michigan by 17

Notes: Michigan hosts Iowa in its final home game of the season — the program’s designated senior day, in which this year’s graduates will be honored prior to kickoff. … While Michigan needs a win in order to maintain pursuit of a berth in the Big Ten title game, Iowa needs a win in order to maintain any hopes of playing in a bowl game. … Against the Wolverines, Iowa will face its first ranked opponent this season. The Hawkeyes have lost four straight, and their last win came Oct. 13, a 19-16 double-overtime win at Michigan State. … Iowa has recovered 11 opposing fumbles, a total that ranks third in the Big Ten and 24th nationally. … Cornerback Micah Hyde (Fostoria) is one of three northwestern Ohio products on the Iowa roster, along with fullback Brad Rogers (Central Catholic) and offensive lineman Andrew Donnal (Anthony Wayne). … Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said fullback Mark Weisman, who has missed the past two games with a groin injury, practiced this week. The Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Gazette reported Weisman (114 carries for 661 yards) will play today. … The status of Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson (ulnar nerve in right arm) remains day-to-day, and his availability for today is unclear. Michigan coach Brady Hoke said defensive end Mario Ojemudia (unspecified injury) is practicing this week and is “hoping” Ojemudia will play against the Hawkeyes. Hoke also said receiver Jeremy Gallon will play today despite battling an ankle injury.

No. 25 Kent State at Bowling Green

Time: Noon

Records: KSU is 9-1, 6-0 MAC; BGSU is 7-3, 5-1

Radio: 99.1, 1470

Series: BGSU leads 55-18-6

Favorite: BGSU by 2½

Notes: The winner of this contest probably will be the MAC’s East Division champion, although both teams will have one more game to play. … While the Falcons have dominated the series, KSU has won the last two meetings, including a 27-15 victory at Kent last season and a 30-6 win at the Doyt two seasons ago. … Kent State is the first nationally ranked team to play at BG since Boise State played there in 2009 while it was ranked fourth nationally. … The last time the Falcons beat a ranked team at home was when it knocked off 12th-ranked Northern Illinois in 2003. … This will mark the first time the two schools played one another while both had a winning record since 1977. … Kent State is on an eight-game win streak, sixth-longest in the nation, while BG’s six-game win streak is the seventh-longest in FBS football. … The Golden Flashes lead all FBS schools with 30 turnovers created and are tied with Kansas State for the lead in turnover margin at plus-20. … The Bowling Green defense has forced a three-and-out or a turnover in 30 of its last 55 drives (54.5 percent).

No. 6 Ohio State at Wisconsin

Time: 3:30 p.m.

Records: OSU is 10-0, 6-0 Big Ten; UW is 7-3, 4-2.

TV: ABC

Radio: 106.5

Series: OSU leads 54-18-5

Favorite: Wisconsin by 2½

Notes: OSU coach Urban Meyer’s teams are 32-2 when given more than a week to prepare. … Badgers running back Montee Ball needs just two more touchdowns to become the all-time FBS record-holder. Ball has 78 touchdowns — one less than former Miami back Travis Prentice. … OSU tailback Carlos Hyde, meanwhile, has more than held his own lately, rushing for 11 touchdowns during the past five games. … The Buckeyes hold a 6-5 edge over Wisconsin since 1999. … Coach Urban Meyer will see a familiar face on the opposing sideline. He hired Wisconsin receivers coach Zach Azzanni as a graduate assistant at Bowling Green State University in 2001 and 2002, then again as a receivers coach for his final season at Florida in 2010. Azzanni stayed at BGSU after Meyer left, coaching the Falcons wideouts from 2003 to 2006. … Wisconsin’s three defeats have all come by three points — including a 16-13 overtime loss to Michigan State earlier this month that snapped the Badgers’ 21-game win streak at Camp Randall Stadium.