The Michigan Wolverines are enjoying a much needed bye week before hitting the road two weeks in a row and closing out the season at home against Ohio State. In this week’s Roundtable, we look back at the Purdue
game from last Saturday night, give some bold predictions for the rest of the season and more!
First off, how was your bye week? Did you do anything fun?
Von: Did some chores around the house, went out to dinner with my lovely girlfriend, watched some NFL, but most of all, RELAXED, which I haven’t had the chance to do in a long time. ‘Twas a great weekend off!
Kellen: My wife got sworn in as an attorney and I took a four-hour nap on Friday, so that was rad. Saturday was filled with college football and college basketball, and some crockpot pulled BBQ chicken. Very relaxing few days, much needed before basketball coverage ramps up even more for me.
Matt: The bye week was great. There’s nothing better than watching snow football from the comfort of your own couch with no stake in the outcome and no nervousness.
Grace: It was great. We spent some time at the park and got some chores done around the house.
Andrew: Traveled to see some family and swung by the UNC/Kansas game in Chapel Hill.
Scotty: It’s always nice to have a stress-free weekend. Finally got a lot of work done on my new apartment!
Sam: I went for a hike nearby and explored more of this Idaho Falls area, which is still so new to me. I also, as is the case every weekend in the fall, consumed copious amounts of college football (and now basketball).
Dan: I raked leaves on Saturday for 2.5 hours. Then woke up on Sunday morning, and my lawn was full of leaves again…Good news is the Lions won and I was 7-1 for NFL betting this weekend!
Michigan is set to take on Northwestern this weekend at Wrigley Field. Given how the Wildcats did last weekend at USC, do you view this game more as a tune-up, or do you think this will still be a legitimate test?
Von: I think this is still going to be a legitimate test. USC at home is much different than USC on the road; Michigan fans should know that from personal experience this season. Traveling cross-country to play on a Friday night is never easy, so I’m going to cut the Wildcats a little bit of slack for that performance last week. Plus, they still put up more points at USC (17) than Michigan (13) did and had nearly 300 yards of total offense. I am not dismissing this team whatsoever.
Kellen: I think it’s a legitimate test. Yes, Michigan will have a rest advantage, but the Wildcats have been frisky all year long. Like Purdue, I think this game is going to be closer than people realize.
Matt: Northwestern has shown signs of life this season. However, I still view this matchup as only a tune-up. The Wildcats have five wins on the year — Western Illinois, UCLA, UL Monroe, free-falling Penn State, and Purdue. None of that instills much confidence in me. If Michigan struggles in this game, it will be Michigan’s own fault, not Northwestern’s.
Grace: Honestly, it feels like every week is going to have the feel of a legitimate test this season. I’m hoping the offensive line looks improved again this week, and that should help. Also, we’ll see if the Wolverines did anything to improve how they look after the bye week.
Andrew: This is a legitimate test. Northwestern is balanced and one of the best coached teams in the Big Ten. Not to mention, the Wildcats have not forgotten the beating the Wolverines gave them last season.
Scotty: I think it will be a legit test. Northwestern is a solid team and Michigan just struggled at home against Purdue. I expect this to be close.
Sam: Northwestern is always frisky. The Wrigley thing should help Michigan as it will be a nicely divided crowd. Weather could be a factor, too. All in all, this feels like a “trap game” but because it is labeled as such, I think the Wolverines will be prepared.
Dan: It’s a legit test, for sure. Northwestern has kept things close or beaten basically every like-opponent to the Wolverines this season. USC beat both teams handily at home, so I don’t think we can just claim their loss to the Trojans makes them illegitimate. I expect (and all fans should) that we beat Northwestern every time we play them. But right now they’re fighting for their bowl-eligibility in front of a Wrigley Field crowd. I think it’s close.
After two poor games in a row throwing the ball, what do you expect Michigan’s offensive approach to look like tomorrow?
Von: Michigan should obviously do what it needs to do to win the game — which is very likely giving Jordan Marshall a ton of carries — but establishing SOME sort of rhythm in the pass game should be a side goal for this weekend. The Wolverines need to get Bryce Underwood going a little bit before The Game, as that will be the key to have a legitimate chance at upsetting the Buckeyes once again. Having Underwood do that against a legitimate pass defense (Northwestern is No. 21 in the nation in passing yards allowed per game with 181.1) would be great to see.
Kellen: Probably making life easy for Underwood — quick passes like slants, maybe some simple RPO action, nothing that takes too long to develop. Anything to get Underwood going ahead of The Game at the end of the month is important.
Matt: If we know anything about Sherrone Moore, it’s he errs on the side of caution and conservatism. As much as we want to see Underwood air the ball out and sling it around the field, in an unfamiliar setting on real grass on the road, I have a hard time envisioning Michigan passing much. I expect the Wolverines to run the ball up the gut early and often, much to the chagrin of most Michigan fans.
Grace: I’m hoping they give Bryce Underwood a few more plays to build confidence early on. He has played better in the second half over the past few games. Maybe they’ll give him some of those plays and rely on Jordan Marshall on short yardage situations to start the game.
Andrew: I expect the Wolverines to look to create easy first down throws for Bryce Underwood to stay ahead of the sticks and allow the run game to feast from there. If Michigan can win the initial down and stay ahead of the sticks, everything else will fall into place.
Scotty: The offense is going to run through Jordan Marshall, but I think the staff knows they need to get Bryce into a rhythm before a certain game at the end of the month. Establish the run, open up the pass.
Sam: I still do not have a ton of faith in the passing offense, and even without Haynes, it should be a run-heavy, old school Big Ten slugfest. If Underwood can make a few big throws, Michigan will be just fine.
Dan: More of the same? Listen, this receiving corps is in rough shape. Who knows how healthy McCulley is, the tight end room is a roulette wheel, and everyone left who has seen significant playing time is a freshman or a Power 4 leader in drops. Until multiple consistent options arise, this team will continue to falter through the air.
What’s your overall confidence level heading into this matchup (on a scale of 1-10) and why?
Von: I’m at about a 7. Despite the last two outings, I’m still feeling fairly confident in regards to Michigan’s chances at making it out of this game at 8-2 overall with all of its goals still in reach.
Kellen: I’ll say a 6. Yes, Northwestern is a slept on opponent, but Michigan has had plenty of time to prepare and rest up. I also think there will be a lot of Michigan fans making the trek to Wrigley, so that’s a bonus.
Matt: While Michigan is coming off back-to-back sloppy performances, the bye week came at a good time. They should be healthier than they’ve been since the early part of the season and, more importantly, Northwestern just isn’t that good in my opinion. If the Wolverines have trouble taking care of business a third time in a row, some interesting conversations will need to be had.
Grace: 8. The games have been close, but they’ve gotten a win each time this season. I’m confident that will continue this weekend.
Andrew: 8. Michigan is the better team on both sides of the ball and should control the line of scrimmage. Not to mention, the Wolverines always have the ultimate safety blanket — if all else fails, run the damn ball every play and the team will likely win.
Scotty: 7. Michigan is the better team and should win, but I think it’s pretty tight throughout. While the game is in Chicago, I think it’ll pretty much feel like a Michigan home game, and that’ll help.
Sam: 7. I do not want to devalue my estimation of the Wildcats, but the Wolverines tend to peak late, and this feels like the time where they really turn it up a notch.
Dan: I would say a 6. Like I said, I expect Michigan to win. The Wolverines have way more talent than Northwestern. But can they play to their full potential? That’s the difference between this game being a blowout or staying close.
Give us a bold prediction for tomorrow’s game.
Von: Whether it be Donaven McCulley or someone else, a touchdown pass is thrown by a Wolverine not named Bryce Underwood.
Kellen: Northwestern has allowed an average of 181.1 passing yards per game, a respectable mark that is 21st in the country. My bold prediction is Underwood gets back on track, surpasses that average by 100 yards and posts a new career high in yards.
Matt: Jordan Marshall runs for 150+ yards again with three touchdowns.
Grace: Derrick Moore forces a fumble and the defense returns it for a touchdown.
Andrew: Jordan Marshall goes over 200 yards on the ground.
Scotty: Bryce Underwood throws three touchdown passes. He has to get into a groove this weekend, and I think the run game opens things up for him to make some plays with his arm.
Sam: I think Michigan can grab an early lead and sit on it, while Wink’s pash rushers attack and thrive on throwing downs.
Dan: Michigan runs the ball 40 times, and Underwood has less than 20 passes.
What’s the final score and why?
Von (9-0): Michigan 27, Northwestern 13. I think this is a relatively low-scoring game where the Wolverines rely on the run game and defense to leave Wrigley victorious.
Kellen (8-1) : Michigan is well rested and could use a signature win. I think this is that win. Give me the Wolverines to win and cover, 27-13.
Matt (7-0): Michigan 23, Northwestern 7. I have a very hard time envisioning the Wildcat offense doing much of anything. Single digits seems like a lock there. On the other side of the ball, Michigan should have no issues running the ball, but could struggle in the pass game yet again.
Grace (6-2): 31-17, Michigan. Michigan’s offense puts together solid drives and protects the football. Michigan’s defense has a few breakdowns, but gets it together early in the second half.
Andrew (8-1): Michigan gets ahead early and the Wolverines force Northwestern to be one-dimensional in the second half. Michigan wins, 31-17.
Scotty (2-2): 28-17, Michigan. Northwestern has a solid defense that should keep Michigan in check for the most part, but the Wolverines will pull away in the fourth to win by two scores.
Sam (3-0): Michigan, 20-10. I think this has ugly affair written all over it and while the Wolverines’ offense may not light up Northwestern, it should handle the trenches and escape Chicago victorious.
Dan (6-2): Michigan wins, 17-13, in a slugfest. Both defenses perform well, but the Wolverines’ run game is just good enough to earn a road win.
