Michigan Football: 5 Realistic predictions for Joe Milton in 2020

How many touchdown passes?

As far as playing experience, Milton doesn’t have a ton. In two seasons, he has thrown 11 career passes and also run the ball 12 times for 47 yards. He’s also accounted for three total touchdowns (two rushing) and one interception.

Just like with passing yards, I took a look at other quarterbacks in the Harbaugh era and found if you took out 2017, Michigan football QBs have averaged 1.7 touchdown passes per game.

Even if you include that season, which featured an abysmal 0.7 touchdown passes per game, the average is 1.5, which is 18 over a 12-game schedule.

By nature, touchdown passes can hard to predict because sometimes, it can depend on how much your team is willing to throw near the goal line. With his size and athleticism, I wouldn’t be shocked if Milton ran quite a bit near the end zone. We also know Harbaugh loves Ben Mason down in that area and it’s hard to blame him, minus the fumble against Wisconsin.

All that said, I think a fairly safe prediction for Milton is 15 touchdown passes. That would be an average of 1.7 over nine games. There’s a good chance he will eclipse that number and be closer to two touchdowns per game, which is essentially what Shea Patterson did in 2018 and 2019, so 18-20 is likely too. In terms of total touchdowns, more than 20 isn’t that bold a prediction.