What a difference a week makes. Michigan hasn't tasted sweet victory since "late Septemeber, when we really should be back at school" This season almost made me "join a rock and roll band that needs a helping hand" Ok enough!
Michigan played it's most complete game of the season last Saturday and was lead by walk on QB Nick Sheridan. If you had predicted that a week ago, you would have been laughed off the Internet! So now the Northwestern game in upon us and we will see if the Wolverines from the Metro Dome or the Wolverines from games 1-9 show up. Who knows? Michigan fans can't even decide who should play QB this week. I ran on this poll this week that shows 47% think Sheridan should start, 36% believe Threet should, and 15% feel Freshman Justin Feagin should be taking the snaps. My goodness how a week changes things, If I had run that poll a week ago it would have been, 99% Threet, 1% Sheridan (his mom checking in at Big House Blog).
Northwestern has played decent football this year and has gotten out to a 7-3 record and will be heading to a Big Ten Bowl game, which marks a very good year for the Wildcats. With that said, the Wildcats have struggled in their last three games, a head scratching loss to Indiana, a last second interception returned for a touchdown to beat Minnesota, and last weeks blow out loss to Ohio State 45-10.
So like Michigan: Will the real Wildcats, please stand up, please stand up (how in the world do you go from Rod Stewart to Eminem in the same post? I don't know man, just stay with me).
The Wildcats have the injury bug: their two top RB's are out for the year and their starter at QB CJ Bacher has been hurt but is expected back for Saturday's contest. Mike Kafka has been filling in for CJ while is has been out and is more of a runner then a passer. Michigan will be out their top runner since the Penn State game Brandon Minor.
The Michigan defense has struggled against running QB's this year and Mike Kafka could be the better choice at QB if the Wildcats want to leave Ann Arbor with a W. Of course, if CJ has time and throws the ball around the yard, he could also end up with 400 yards passing on Michigan's defensive backs.
Northwestern is very similar to Minnesota. They both have a winning records, both are going to a bowl game, both have benefited from "soft" scheduling, but both are not quite where they want to be and have struggled against teams with superior talent.
Here is what I think will happen on Saturday: (I wish we had the two players pictured below)
- Northwestern prefers to throw and will do that early and often with CJ Bacher at QB
- Michigan will show all 3 QB's on Saturday. Look for Feagin to come in for spot duty no matter if Sheridan or Threet is running the offense.
- The Michigan Defense will play better and continue to get pressure on Northwestern QB's.
- I expect a lot of points in a Michigan - Purdue type shoot out.
- Michigan will lose some ground in the running game with the lose of Minor
- Look for big receiving days from Michigan WR Stonum and Matthews
- McGuffie goes over 100 yards, Shaw has 65 on the ground.
- Sheridan plays better with some confidence but not like last week. Threet comes in after halftime.
This game will go back and forth with a lot of scoring. Northwestern was ranked in the top 25 last week and is a 3.5 dog to the 3-7 Wolverines. I guess Vegas isn't buying what The Wildcats are selling. Michigan 42 Northwestern 34
No comments:
Post a Comment