Time: 3:30 EST
Location: Big House
TV: ABC/ESPN2
Weather: 80% rain
Line: Michigan -6
Both teams have 2 wins against poor opponents. The difference is Utah is 2-0 coming off a bye last weekend. Utah is still a fairly new PAC 12 member and fits in perfectly. They love to score a ton of points, they are 3rd in the nation right now in scoring at 57 per. Again, it's hard to know if that is Utah being great or the other teams being not-so-great. They have also given up a few points as their two wins they have given up an average of 3 touchdowns per.
Tale of the Tape
GMat vs. Utah's Spread = Utes
Michigan's 3 headed running game vs. Utah D = Mich
3 games vs. 2 games = Michigan
Hagerup vs. his bionic leg = touchbacks
Hoke vs. 4th down = Hagerup
Wile vs. Uprights = push
If Michigan is going to win this game they will have to dominate both lines. Yes, both lines. Utah prefers to run out of their spread but they will throw, to date they are very balance on offense. Michigan's d-line and linebackers much keep everything in front of them and our corners can't bite on the run all the time.
What to watch for
- Funchess?
- Can Michigan score 40+ points for the win?
- Turnovers on defense?
- More Norfleet please!
- Has Coach Nuss, been holding back his offense?
- Will Greg Mattison have a defense that can stop this spread?
- Michigan will have Green and Gardner with over a 100 yards rushing
- We need good to great Gardner
This is a scary game for the Wolverines and historically they haven't played well against spread teams with talent. I think the Vegas line is way to high in the Wolverines favor. Michigan will have to be very physical in this game with Utah and make them pay for their visit to the Big House. Coach Hoke will have to come out of his child pose and make some aggressive decisions on the sideline. Michigan has to score early and often and can't play catch up in this game. If this is a heavy weight fight, Michigan needs to land power punches and not jabs. It sounds like weather might play a big role in this game. If that is the case, the team that can run the ball will get the win. My head says Utah is probably the favorite to win this game, I'm going with my heart.
Michigan 48 Utah 32
Go Blue!
4 comments:
If M get's down I hope that Hoke will be getting in someone's face instead of clapping.....I really hope that M will show us their potential and work as a well orchestrated machine! I think that M should win the battles at the lines. But, based on what I've seen this year, and M's problems with stopping the type of spread that Utah runs, I'm not at all optimistic.
M Questions / Issues:
- Overall orchestration of the team - clock mgmt, game decisions, changing QB's for a series when Devin get's "rattled", - O, D, Spec. teams working together.
- Will the D get sucked into the run-option-read as they frequently do?
- Can the O-line get a team push when needed - some lineman win battles, but still lack that team push?
- Can the O-line form a pocket w/o gaps to provide more time?
- Can Gardner not get "rattled" and make poor decisions?
- Will M put Morris in when / if Gardner get's rattled for a series of downs.... as I believe they should have in the 2nd Q last Sat.
I really hope to see that all of these many lingering issues are resolved!!!
We win big.
Go Blue!
Well at least one thing is clear...GOODBYE 4 and 5 star recruits...I'm not sure if Hoke is gone....but Michigan is irrelevant
I've said it before, I am very concerned about this team. I have no doubt that it's the poor coaching and preparation. ND and Utah aren't world beaters, but when we look at how they're playing Michigan they come across as such. Michigan struggled against Miami when Michigan should be playing solid football in Hoke's fourth year, but it looks as though they're going backwards.
Dave Brandon is much too proud to admit that he's made a mistake, but it's become obvious to everyone else that he has. Hoke is a nice man but not ready to coach Michigan as the head coach. I wonder how long will it take before Brandon admits that we have to make a change?
Post a Comment