Michigan Football: 3 keys to Wolverines beating SMU

SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 01: Head coach Jim Harbaugh talks to Karan Higdon #22 of the Michigan Wolverines prior to the start of their game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium on September 1, 2018 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

Owning the line of scrimmage

When a Power-5 team like Michigan plays a team like SMU, a group-of-5 opponent, the battle in the trenches usually favors the bigger team and that should be the case Saturday in Ann Arbor.

Michigan football is simply better in the trenches on both sides of the ball, on paper at least. On the defensive line, Rashan Gary and Chase Winovich should dominate. When UM has the ball, the offensive line should also have an advantage.

SMU is giving up just 153 yards on the ground in two games but it has also generated just a couple of sacks. That’s not a promising thing for the Mustangs. If Michigan can protect Patterson, he should eat the Mustangs alive. The ground game, should also be able to impose its will.

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If for some reason, however, Michigan doesn’t dominate up front, this game could be closer than expected. SMU does have more size than Western Michigan, so that’s one thing but it would be a major surprise if the Mustangs won in the trenches on either side of the ball.

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