We have another primetime matchup for the Michigan Wolverines, who make the dreaded West Coast trip to face a good USC Trojans team later tonight. Lincoln Riley’s squad is favored by 2.5 points in a game
that would significantly boost either team’s College Football Playoff resume.
Here are three things Michigan must do to leave with a victory.
Dominate time of possession, don’t let this turn into a shootout
This game features one of the top quarterback matchups of the week, with Bryce Underwood facing one of the best in the country in Jaiden Maiava.
USC’s offense has been impressive midway through the college football season. The Trojans currently rank second in the country in total offense, third in passing offense and eighth in third down percentage. They have one of the best one-two punches in the passing game in the Big Ten, with Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane combining for 867 yards and six touchdowns this year. When you combine that with a shaky Michigan secondary, the Trojans have the tools to make this game a shootout, and I think a high-scoring game favors USC.
With that in mind, Michigan has to dominate time of possession in the run game and test that 29th-ranked USC run defense. The Wolverines need to dominate the trenches in the bend-don’t-break fashion that has become their trademark in recent years.
That said, Michigan’s WRs have to be better
While it doesn’t benefit Michigan for this to turn into a shootout, even if the passing offense isn’t the focus, its wide receivers have to be better on Saturday night. Going up against an explosive offense led by Maiava, I expect a ton of points to be scored, and in order for Michigan to score points, the wide receivers need to do a better job catching the football.
Donaven McCulley had his best game in a Michigan uniform against Wisconsin last week, but as my colleguage Trevor Woods pointed out earlier this week, the group as a whole needs to step up. Michigan receivers have dropped 14 passes through five games, and those drops have brought Michigan’s offense to a halt and have occasionally forced a punt.
While he hasn’t been perfect, Underwood has been pretty damn good throwing the ball and leads all Power 4 starting quarterbacks with a 15.4 percent drop rate from his receiving targets, per Pro Football Focus. Bringing that drop rate down can only help Michigan’s offense.
Test out a questionable USC pass defense with some deep shots
USC doesn’t have a lot of weaknesses, but its secondary leaves something to be desired. USC has allowed 251 passing yards per game, a mark that ranks 109th in the country, just behind Purdue and Michigan State. Just a few weeks ago, we saw Illinois’ offense thrive against the Trojans, with Luke Altmeyer racking up 328 passing yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions. Even wide receiver Hank Beatty managed to throw a touchdown.
I know I just said I don’t want this game to turn into a shootout, but playing off the run game, I’d love for Michigan to lean into the play action and throw a few deep balls. Hell, maybe even mix in a flea flicker. A few explosive plays by Donaven McCulley or Andrew Marsh can swing momentum in Michigan’s favor if the game is close. That would also increase Underwood’s confidence and the odds of Michigan winning the game.
What do you think Michigan needs to do to win this game? Let us know in the comments.
