Michigan Football: 3 keys to avoiding an upset against Illinois

Take control of the game early

Getting off to a fast start is always important, but on the road, it’s an even bigger deal.

Against Wisconsin, Michigan football was down 14-0 before the blink of an eye and in that game, the Wolverines never got off the mat.

Obviously, Illinois is a much-different animal, however, if UM struggles early, it could give the Illini confidence and that’s the last thing Michigan wants to see.

Another reason why a fast start is important is that Illinois’ best player is probably running back Reggie Corban and if UM can grab an early lead and force the Illini to play from behind, it can help to neutralize their best weapon.

It will also allow Don Brown to crank up the pressure on Brandon Peters, which should yield favorable results for the defense. Yet, that kind of thing is hard to do when the score is tied and Illinois can be patient in terms of down and distance.