5 Things Michigan Football must do to beat TCU

Get the passing game going

Obviously, Michigan can’t just abandon the pass. If TCU sells out to stop the run and they somehow limit Michigan’s rushing attack, it will be very important for the passing game to be on point.

I expect TCU’s Jim Thorpe award-winning CB Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson to cover Ronnie Bell.

I don’t know how good a Big-12 CB actually is, but I guess we’ll see when the two match up with each other.

Hodges-Tomlinson is really the only bonafide star in TCU’s secondary, so Michigan should be able to get what they want by passing to Cornelius Johnson, Roman Wilson, and Luke Schoonmaker/Colston Loveland.

I’d like to see Michigan’s offense uncork a few more deep passes than we’ve seen throughout the year. Similar to Ohio State. Just let it loose.

You don’t win these playoff games by being passive and not taking chances. No, Michigan needs to play unafraid, have fun, and just ball out.

Obviously, taking care of the football is first priority, and JJ McCarthy will need to make smart decisions, but he’s only thrown three picks on the year. I trust his decision-making.

TCU plays a 3-3-5 base defense, similar to Ohio State, so unless they change their base defense to defend Michigan’s run game, they will be susceptible over the top to deep passes if they get too aggressive or their DBs slip up in coverage.