ESPN: One key factor to watch in Big Ten Championship Game

This Saturday’s conference championship game slate could change the College Football Playoff like never before, and ESPN has what you need to know. With six of the nine teams with a chance to make the playoffs set to play on Saturday, it’s anybody’s guess on who makes it into the final four.

One of the biggest games taking place on Saturday is the Big Ten championship game between the Michigan Wolverines and Iowa Hawkeyes. The Wolverines jumped all the way to second after soundly defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes last Saturday. And the Hawkeyes sit outside of the top 10 at 13, ready to play spoiler. The team over at ESPN have broken down the tale of the tape and this is their one key point to be mindful of in this heavyweight showdown.

One key: Easy points.

“The Wolverines and Hawkeyes enjoy plenty of Big Ten-esque similarities. They are both driven by outstanding defenses — Iowa ranks fourth in defensive SP+ and ninth in points allowed per drive, while Michigan ranks seventh and 11th, respectively — that don’t allow big plays, and they both boast spectacular special teams units (punters, especially) that create field position advantages,” wrote Bill Connelly of ESPN.

“Michigan is favored in this game (and is one step away from the CFP) because the Wolverines’ offense has been dramatically more consistent than Iowa’s. They bullied Ohio State’s defense to the tune of 297 rushing yards last week, but they still might not have beaten the Buckeyes if not for gains for 37, 34, 31, and 24 through the air. If Iowa can limit the big passes and turn this into a punts-and-field-position rock fight — or if the Hawkeyes match with a couple of big gainers of their own — they could not only cover but win outright.”

Charles Woodson on Michigan’s chances

There is just 60 minutes of football separating Michigan from a potential College Football Playoff berth.

On Saturday, the Wolverines will head south to Indianapolis to take on Iowa with hopes of winning their first Big Ten Championship Game. If they beat the Hawkeyes, former Michigan star Charles Woodson believes they are capable of winning it all.

“When you look at the [playoff] field, if they handle business against Iowa, if you get to that tournament, the 4 teams, I don’t think there will be any team in there they don’t match up with and can’t beat,” Woodson said, per Angelique Chengelis of The Detroit News.

Michigan currently sits at No. 2 in the College Football Playoff Rankings in a year where aside from Georgia, all teams have shown fatal flaws.