Wednesday's Hawkeyes Reading Room - Mark Dantonio on the grieving process, Iowa remains one of the best vs. the pointspread

Michigan State Coach Mark Dantonio was still a little down in the dumps Tuesday morning. It was the third day after the Spartans' 15-13 loss at Iowa.

From this Detroit News story:

Dantonio received some encouragement from players at 6:15 a.m. Tuesday when he arrived at MSU's football facility. As some players were on their way out of the building, they saw Dantonio and slapped him on his behind to help him get fired up for Saturday's visit to Minnesota.

"We're in this together," said Dantonio of the gesture. "It's a good feeling."

Dantonio explained how the grieving process works in this Associated Press story:

“First, there's shock and denial,” Dantonio said of the last-play 15-13 loss to the Hawkeyes. “It's 'How could this happen? From complete celebration to their last drive, it couldn't happen, not again!' Next comes pain and guilt.”

Dantonio continued with stages three through six: anger and bargaining, depression and reflection, the upward turn and reconstruction and working through.

“Finally, there's acceptance and hope,” Dantonio said. “That's where we're at. We have to move on. When you're in a family, it doesn't mean everyone always gets along. But in times of crisis, you come together.”

Indiana, which plays at Iowa Saturday, has already suffered a loss this week as this Indianapolis Star story tells us:

Indiana football's recruiting class of 2010 took a major hit this week when prized recruit Jibreel Black withdrew his commitment to the Hoosiers and announced his decision to play for his hometown team, the University of Cincinnati Bearcats.

Black, a 6-2, 253-pound defensive end from Wyoming High School in Cincinnati, was considered IU's top-rated recruit. He committed to the Hoosiers in late June.

Former Indiana quarterback Kellen Lewis, who gave Iowa fits (along with splendid wide receiver James Hardy), is in legal trouble at his new school, Valdosta State.

Lewis,  the starting quarterback for that Division II team, was charged with battery on Oct. 15.

In 2006, Lewis completed 19 of 25 passes for 255 yards and three touchdowns to lead Indiana to a 31-28 upset of the 15th-ranked Hawkeyes in Bloomington. Hardy caught all three of the TD throws.

The next year in Iowa City, Lewis threw for 322 yards and three touchdowns. One was fumbled and taken 71 yards for a TD by Lewis himself in the Hoosiers' 38-20 win.

Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz noted Tuesday that Indiana and Northwestern, Iowa's next two opponents, have both won two of their last three games against the Hawkeyes.

Finally, sure, Iowa is 8-0 and Indiana is 4-4. But in Las Vegas, the two are equals. This item tells us they both are 5-2 against the spread this season. Only Ohio State, at 6-2, is better in the Big Ten.

Illinois is the league's worst cover team at 1-6.

As the Wiz of Odds laid it out brilliantly earlier this month, Iowa entered this season third among all FBS teams in covering the point-spread this decade with a 58.9 percent success rate. That has only gone up with this year's performance to date.