Michigan Football Schedule and Predictions

 @ Minnesota 

Minnesota scored over 30 points per game last season and quarterback Tanner Morgan is one of the best passers returning for 2020. However, The Golden Gophers lose one of their top pass catchers and their top rusher. That is a lot of production lost.  They do get Rashod Bateman back, and there might only be one or two players in the Michigan secondary that has a shot at covering him one on one. The Gophers also have lost six of their top eight tacklers from last year, as well as their top two pass-rushers. Antoine Winfield Jr. was their best overall player and he has two sacks in three games for Tampa Bay at the moment. Michigan returns a strong front seven on defense and the safeties should be very good too. The corners could be the achilles heel in this game. Your call is as good as mine in this one. 

UM 28 - UM 24

Michigan State

Sparty comes to Ann Arbor for a week two matchup in hopes of stopping Harbaugh from improving to 4-2 against them. They lose a big piece of their offense in quarterback Brian Lewerke, who was the team's second leading rusher as well as the top passer, and two of their top three receivers. They also are coming back without four of their top six tacklers and three of their top four pass rushers, including All-Big Ten end Kenny Willekes. Sparty will show some resolve early, but they should just be outmatched in this game. 

UM 31 - MSU 13

@ Indiana

I have to be honest here. I don't like this matchup. The Hoosiers have a lot of good players coming back on both sides of the ball. They have a good passer returning in Michael Penix Jr. They also return their top two ball-carriers and their top three pass-catchers, including Whop Philyor in the slot. They have size and speed. I could see them scoring 35 points per game. On defense they arguably return eight of their top ten defenders, including their top pass rusher in defensive tackle Jerome Johnson. They also welcome back everybody who recorded an INT for the defense last season. Michigan might be feeling too good rolling into town 2-0 and therefore could be primed for an upset. 

IU 24 - UM 17

Wisconsin

The Badgers lose their best player in running back Jonathan Taylor. They also lose their best receiver, their two best defenders, and some key players on the O-line. However, Wisconsin is a machine that turns out football players, so they will find replacements. Besides, they still actually return a ton of production on both sides of the ball, including quarterback Jack Coan and linebackers Jack Sanborn, the returning team leader in tackles, and Noah Burks. The defense will probably be a top 15 unit once again so this will be no easy task.

UM 20 UW 14

@ Rutgers

It's nice to have one of your road games at Rutgers. Should be a good game midseason game after that brutal start and before the even more brutal second half of the schedule. Might be the first opportunity to get some younger players some experience. 

UM 45 Rutgers 10

Penn State

Penn State returns enough on offense to grind out a win against most defenses. Having Sean Clifford return at quarterback along with the duo of Journey Brown and Noah Cain at running back could be very deadly. They are losing their top four or five defenders from last year, including linebacker Micah Parson, who has opted out of the season to prepare for the NFL. This could very well be one of the highest scoring games on the UM schedule. 

UM 35 PSU 31

Maryland

The Terps were one of the worst offensive teams in the conference last year and they were actually dead last in defense. First year Mike Locksley made more noise chirping about former assistant Josh Gattis than he did on the field. Maybe he can turn it around a little bit in year two. He has some pieces to work with, including running back Anthony McFarland Jr., but the lack of talent at quarterback could be very troubling and if they continue to have injuries there it will be a long season for them. In the end, it might be the perfect game to play before the finale in Columbus. 

UM 49 - Terps 20

@ Ohio State

Yes, the Buckeyes lose a lot of production on offense and defense. The problem is that it doesn't matter. That roster is stacked. Michigan is about two notches below them in terms of raw talent. And the scores from the last two years reflects that considerably. The Wolverines just haven't been able to match up with them man on man. And for some reason the coaching staff seems determined to attempt it. I am hoping for more zone defense this year, possibly a cover three scheme with Brad Hawkins moved up like a linebacker and Dax Hill sitting deep center field with two corners flanking him. If Michigan doesn't attempt to cover the intermediate to deep zones against the Buckeyes the defense will be toast once again. Those crossing routes and backs releasing underneath cannot go unaccounted for without a total disaster. Justin Fields is just too good to give him those outlets. They need to clog the box and run some zone blitz to force him to look downfield. And if Joe Milton doesn't level up at the QB position and show some leadership it could be a long day on offense filled with miscommunications. I think this one will be closer than the last couple installments of THE RIVALRY, but it's hard to imagine the Wolverines having enough to win.

OSU 39 - UM 34

6-2 Record