Prediction Friday is almost here, but before we can get to that, it's time for one of our most-read pieces of game week. 

No. 17 Iowa's Big Ten opener at No. 18 Michigan on Saturday (2:30 CT, CBS) feels like a toss-up game by the day. 

Here are three reasons why the Hawkeyes will beat the Wolverines - and three reasons they won't. 

It gets the ground game going: I've been saying it all week long, but I'm going to say it one more time for good measure: this football game will be decided in the trenches, specifically the battle between Iowa's offensive line and Michigan's defensive line. We know the Hawkeyes have the pieces to be really good up front this year, but they missed the mark against Iowa State (only 93 rushing yards). 

Improving that number against a talented Wolverine defensive line is far from easy, but Iowa has to find a way to get at least 4-5 yards per carry (only 3.2 YPC against ISU) to open things up for Hank Brown and the passing attack. If it can do that, it will be in very good shape. 

It wins the field position battle: This game feels like a mirror image of the Cy-Hawk Game. It's going to be a brutal 60-minute war for points, and the second half may turn out to be a punt fest like the Iowa-Iowa State game was. If it comes down to a field position battle, the winner of that will win this football game. 

If punter Boston Everitt is going to be called on a lot in this game, that's not the worst case scenario for the Hawkeyes. He booted six punts for 264 yards in the Iowa State win. 

It makes Bryce Underwood beat them: Bryce Underwood is one of the most talented quarterback prospects you'll see, but he hasn't been able to put anything together yet. Some people forget that he's still just a sophomore, though, so one would think that breakout is coming - right? 

A complete breakout against Iowa is possible, but based on what we've seen from Underwood so far this year, the Hawkeyes should make the former five-star quarterback beat them to win this game. What I mean by that is to stop the run and force Michigan into uncomfortable passing downs on third down (UM is 7/23 on third down this year).

The Wolverines' poor conversion rate is a good sign for Iowa if the game comes down to this, but another thing to note here too is that Underwood has been prone to turning the football over this year.  He's thrown one interception (against Western Michigan), but the most eye-opening number is his three fumbles - two of which have been lost. 

It can't run the football: But what if Iowa has a similar outing on the ground like it did against Iowa State? The Hawkeyes were able to avoid a loss that day, but they aren't going to have the home field advantage this time around. Though the passing attack looks like it's taking another positive leap under Tim Lester, it's hard to see Iowa winning this game through the air. 

Hank Brown makes a costly mistake (or two): For as good as Brown has been to open the season, Saturday's game is going to be his most important game in a Hawkeye uniform. Not only will it be his first game as Iowa's full-time starter, this contest will mark Brown's first-ever road game as a collegiate quarterback. That's a lot of pressure for a quarterback making just the fifth start of his college career, and though Lester and Co. probably have a good game plan cooked up, Michigan's defense could bait Brown into his first turnover (s) of the year, which may not end well for Iowa. 

Bryce Underwood does damage with his legs: Though Underwood certainly has his flaws, Iowa Everywhere personality Chris Hassel said it best on Wednesday: don't let Underwood pick up the cheap yards with his legs. I was going to say something similar to this before Hassel used that phrase, but it makes perfect sense. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Underwood is at his best when he's on the run (throwing or scrambling) and even if Iowa keeps him in the pocket, Underwood's size could help him gain extra yards to set up manageable third down conversions. 

Michigan has struggled to run the football this season, so letting Underwood - its leading rusher - get going would be detrimental for the Hawkeyes' victory chances. 

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HawkeyeRoundtable publisher Brad Schultz has covered the Iowa Hawkeyes since 2023. To send him story ideas, scoops, or criticize his writing, reach him at [email protected]