After the Michigan football team dropped its first game of the season last week to Michigan State, there’s an awful lot riding on the Wolverines’ matchup with Iowa.

Sophomore quarterback Denard Robinson will get his chance to prove that he can indeed tear up a Big Ten defense — and a stout one at that — while the rest of his team aims to prove it can earn a signature conference win for the first time in Rodriguez’s tenure in Ann Arbor.

One thing’s for sure, though. The Wolverines will have their work cut out for them, as the Hawkeyes boast the fourth-best defense in the country, allowing just 242 yards per game.

Michigan’s pass offense vs. Iowa’s pass defense

Robinson will get his opportunity for redemption this week against the Hawkeyes after throwing three interceptions last weekend. But Iowa’s pass defense is rated significantly higher than Michigan State’s, so Robinson may have some trouble getting started.

Iowa hasn't replaced cornerback Amari Spievey, who was drafted in the third round by the Detroit Lions last April, but its secondary has been everything that Michigan wishes it was: effective.

The Hawkeyes' pass rush could be what Robinson has to worry about more, though, as Iowa boasts one of the best defensive ends in the country in Adrian Clayborn. If Clayborn gets penetration, Robinson will be throwing on the run all day, which doesn’t bode well for limiting mistakes.

This matchup, however, really depends on Robinson and his poise, which has been the question all week for the Wolverines.

Edge: Iowa

Michigan’s rush offense vs. Iowa’s rush defense

This category is where the best of both teams clash, when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object.

Robinson is easily one of the most exciting in the open field that college football has seen in the last decade. But if the Hawkeyes contain on the ends well enough, then he may not be a factor.

Iowa doesn’t boast linebackers as skilled as Michigan State, which held Robinson back significantly more than expected, as he had to settle for five-, six- and seven-yard gains. He’ll have more potential for the big play against Iowa, but a great deal of the burden will be on the offensive line.

In the end there will be very few ways to stop Denard Robinson. Look for him to bounce back this week.

Edge: Michigan

Iowa pass offense vs. Michigan pass defense

Gulp. With an experienced quarterback at the helm in Ricky Stanzi, Michigan may have a very, very long day trying to stop the Hawkeye pass attack.

The Wolverines are playing a whole lot of young guys out in the secondary, and they should be getting better, but Stanzi is a very effective passer who has very, very effective receivers in Marvin McNutt and Derrell Johnson-Koulianos. That trifecta of talent may demoralize the Michigan secondary unlike it has been all season.

In case you weren’t aware, the Wolverines’ pass defense allows 304 yards per game — the worst in the Big Ten (and 119th out of 120 FBS teams). For comparison’s sake, that’s 79 more yards than the second-worst Big Ten team. Yikes.

Edge: Iowa

Iowa rush offense vs. Michigan rush defense

The Hawkeyes are far from the top of the Big Ten in rush offense. They’ve experienced a ton of injuries the past few years, especially to star-in-the-making ballcarrier Jewel Hampton. So, it’s kind of been a rag-tag group carrying the ball in Iowa City.

That being said, the Michigan rush defense has been nothing spectacular either, as the Wolverines’ linebackers have underperformed on several occasions and were torched by Michigan State’s dynamic trio last weekend.

The load for Iowa falls into the hands of Adam Robinson who is a lower-tier back in-conference. If Michigan can fill holes like they failed to do last week, then the Wolverines can definitely shut this category down. But that’s a big if.

Edge: Push

Special Teams

Somehow, the Hawkeyes are the only other team in the Big Ten that has made just two field goals. Of course, they didn’t need seven attempts to do so.

Iowa isn't much better on special teams than the Wolverines, and Michigan really seems like it’s on the up-and-up with a decent performance last week.

Call me crazy, but I think a big return isn’t unlikely, as Stonum has been caged up for much of the season.