Michigan Football: 3 reasons Wolverines will beat Northwestern

A tough team to upset

Michigan football’s formula for success is playing solid defense, running the ball, and not making mistakes and so far this season, it has worked like a charm.

The Wolverines are fourth in the Big Ten in allowing just 15.5 points per game, which is also eighth in the nation. And one huge difference from this year to last year has been limiting big plays.

Nebraska certainly hit on a few but Michigan hasn’t given up as many long touchdowns, which tended to happen because Don Brown was selling out to blitz and leaving safeties one-on-one with receivers or linebackers one-on-one with receivers.

Michigan is more of a bend but don’t break type of defense this season. The pass rush is outstanding and that’s something that will make a difference Saturday.

Both Northwestern and Michigan have 14 sacks each, but Michigan leads the Big Ten in the fewest sacks taken, by a wide margin.

McNamara has been sacked only once this season and the Wolverines have taken two total. He has also just one interception and that happened because he thought Nebraska was offsides and assumed there was a free play.

He’s the only QB in the country without a turnover-worthy play according to Pro Football Focus.

So on top of trying to slow down Michigan’s running game, Northwestern needs to force McNamara into mistakes and he just doesn’t make them.

Pulling upsets usually requires turnovers or some crazy things to happen on special teams (Michigan is solid there too) and it’s hard to see Cade giving it away with mistakes.

And if Northwestern doesn’t win the turnover battle, it’s really hard to see the Wildcats leaving Ann Arbor with a win.