Michigan Monday: An Early Look At Northwestern

Michigan looked like a mid-tier Big Ten team after the ND game and a Big Ten power after the Nebraska game.   Which is it?  Probably somewhere in the middle, with the hopes it's closer to power then mid-tier.  If the "light" has gone on for the offensive line, this could be a very dangerous team in the Big Ten.

The Wolverines have another challenge this week as they travel to Chicago to play Northwestern.  We know this team has struggled on the road and its a bit of strange kick off time at 4:30 EST.  Another Fox game, which has shown all of Michigan's games this year outside of the ND game.

Let's take a quick look at what Northwestern has done this season.

Northwestern is 1-0 in the Big Ten with a win over Purdue Week 1.   The problem is,  it's been all down hill since then.  The Wildcats took back to back loses to a good Duke team in the SAT Bowl and then took a surprising loss to the Akron Zips.

Northwestern is coming off a bye week and will host the Wolverines this weekend, then travel to East Lansing next.   Northwestern likes to throw the ball and ranks #20 in the country with 307 yards per game, they rank 114th in running with an average of 117 yards per game.   They score 24 points a game which ranks them 104th and gives up 29 which is 87th in the country.  For those keeping score at home, scoring 24 points and giving up 29 is not good!

Michigan for example keeps opponents to 14 points per game.

Michigan is -13 in the game.  Early weather for the game, shows 56 degrees and 40% chance of rain at kickoff.

• 4 Star Safety Lewis Cline couldn't get to Ann Arbor this weekend because his father couldn't find an affordable flight.  So Lewis ended up at the Texas game.   Sounds like he is iffy to re-schedule and the commitment of Dax Hill might have something to do with that. 

• There is also some buzz that Michigan might have gotten another 2020 commit, which if true, should be announced soon.  Sam Webb put in Crystal Balls for Instate WR Ian Stewart and Instate LB Cornell Wheeler this weekend. 

• There was also some buzz this weekend that OSU might make Ryan Day the "coach in waiting".  Then OSU AD Gene Smith said, that Urban Meyer will be their head coach for quite some time.  Not sure its going to be your decision big man.   In fact, if OSU were to make some changes in the off season, I would expect Gene Smith would also be on a train to somewhere else. 

• Michigan up to #14 in the AP.  I don't care about the coaches poll as they don't watch other games.