Michigan Football: 3 things to watch against Notre Dame

We will learn a lot about Shea Patterson

I think the thing I am most intrigued about in this game is new Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson. At this point, we really don’t know how he will look in a Wolverines uniform and tonight, we will finally find out with our own eyes.

Michigan Wolverines

Obviously, no one wants to think about Michigan losing this game but it’s a distinct possibility. The Wolverines are road underdogs, playing a new quarterback, on the road against the No. 12 team in the country. So yeah, a win is far from guaranteed.

But even in a losing cause, if Patterson stands out, it can still be a positive night for Michigan. As I said earlier in this post, this game won’t make or break the season for Michigan. Big Ten play will do that.

If the Wolverines beat the Irish and flop in conference play like last season, then a season-opening win won’t mean much, just like the win over Florida didn’t last season.

On the flip side, if UM losses to Notre Dame, it can still win the Big Ten East, maybe the Big Ten and possibly make the playoff. So no matter what happens, just remember, a loss isn’t the end of the world.

To me, the most discouraging thing would be if Patterson plays poorly. That will be a bad omen for the rest of the season. Certainly, we (Michigan fans) want to see the Wolverines win, however, Patterson standing out in defeat would be the next best thing.