Michigan Football: What to watch for Wolverines against Indiana

Michigan football is taking on Indiana this Saturday in search of a bounce-back win and here’s what to expect. 

After Michigan football lost to MSU last week, a lot of Michigan fans acted like the sky was falling and the world was going to end.

Again, losing to a rival is painful, yes? But it’s not the end of the world. Michigan now turns their attention to the Indiana Hoosiers, losers of the last four in a row. I still don’t get why the game had to be flexed to primetime, but it is what it is. Here are a few things to watch in that game.

Can Michigan start out fast and go up big early?

More often than not, Vegas tends to know how a game will turn out in terms of the winning total of a team. Michigan is heavily favorited over Indiana. So, Vegas expects Michigan to easily win the game against Indiana.

That will be the big question though. Michigan’s players held a players-only meeting on Monday to go over some things and to keep motivation high for the games moving forward, so that will definitely be something to watch.

Indiana will be starting their third-string QB Donovan McCulley on Saturday, so Michigan needs to take advantage of this tremendous drop-off in QB talent, force some early turnovers on defense, and try to break the game open as fast as possible.

There should be no more sleep-walking with Michigan down the stretch. They need to come ready to play, be motivated to obliterate Indiana. Remember, now that the CFP rankings are out, every game matters a little bit more to the playoff committee. Style points and points, in general, do matter now.

If Michigan football struggles with Indiana for a majority of this game, then that doesn’t look good at all for the Wolverines and their perception.

I don’t expect this to happen though. I expect Michigan’s defense to force some three and outs early, get off the field, and I expect them to generate some pressure/sacks and turnovers.