Michigan Football: Wolverines lose against Michigan State if…
Like some Michigan football fans, I’ve been bracing for the fall the past few weeks only to have the Wolverines reassure me with a dominant performance. Forgive me, but I’ve seen this movie a few times before.
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Michigan hires a coach that is hyped up early in the season, ranked in the Top 25, people finally talking about the Wolverines and then a devastating loss sends the team in a downward spiral en route to a 7-5, 6-6 finish. I do believe things are different under coach Jim Harbaugh and I do believe this team will have a successful season, but I am not one to hop in the hype machine and talk about the potential of the Wolverines running the table and making a bid for the Top Four in January. Maybe Rich Rodriguez and Brady Hoke have turned me into a pessimist, but I like to at least acknowledge the worst-case scenario.
Michigan will lose against Michigan State if…
A running back fails to eclipse 100 yards rushing. Whether it is De’Veon Smith or Derrick Green or Ty Isaac or even Drake Johnson, a Michigan running back needs to reach the century mark on Saturday. Each of those backs have shown tremendous ability in this offense and the Wolverines will need to establish a hot hand and ride them throughout the course of this game. Markell Jones of Purdue is the only running back to reach the 100-yard mark against the Spartans this season and it gave his Boilermakers the best chance to beat Michigan State yet this season in a 24-21 loss. Many other running backs have had success against MSU, but reaching the 100-yard mark is a sign of controlling the line of scrimmage and winning the battle upfront, a must if Michigan is to win on Saturday.
Michigan will lose against Michigan State if…
They turn the ball over. I think even a single turnover could prove to be fatal in this matchup. The Wolverines haven’t been the greatest at taking care of the ball but will have to be perfect on Saturday. Spartans quarterback Connor Cook is a savvy play caller and if you give him good field position, he’s going to capitalize. Turnovers can be huge momentum swings as well and if Michigan gives the Spartans anything, a spark can turn into a fire real quick. Jake Rudock has thrown just one interception in his last three games — compared to five interceptions in his first three games — and has improved in terms of decision-making. However, in one previous game against the Spartans as a member of the Iowa Hawkeyes in 2013, Rudock was intercepted twice in a 26-14 loss at Kinnick Stadium.
Michigan will lose against Michigan State if…
Kenny Allen is anything less than perfect. I think we as football fans tend to take the kicking game for granted. I don’t see this being a problem, as former walk-on Kenny Allen has been surprisingly good this year (7-for-9 on field-goal attempts and 20-for-20 on extra-point attempts). But if for some reason he is errant on a mid-range field goal towards the end of the first half or shanks a chip shot after an extended offensive possession, it will be crippling. The Wolverines can’t come up empty in the red zone and a missed field goal would totally take the wind out of the offense’s sails. Again, I don’t see this being an issue but do we ever?