Michigan football will host Bowling Green on Saturday night and here are three keys to a Wolverines win against the Falcons.
Michigan football is a heavy favorite for the third straight game to open the 2023 season. This time, the Wolverines are a 40.5-point favorite over Bowling Green.
The Wolverines didn’t cover the spread in the first two games, although they were close. Michigan football has been dominant, winning the first two games by a combined score of 65-10.
Michigan’s starting defense hasn’t surrendered a point yet this season. Starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy is completing 87 percent of his passes and doesn’t have an interception.
Bowling Green was 6-7 last season and went to a bowl game. So far, the Falcons are 1-1, and here are three keys to a Wolverines win.
Don’t focus too much on the run
You get the feeling that Michigan football will be looking to establish its running game. Things have been sluggish so far, even though Blake Corum is averaging more than six yards per attempt.
Donovan Edwards hasn’t gotten going yet and while it would be nice for the running game to get going this week, Michigan can’t forget about McCarthy and the passing game.
It’s fine to be more conservative but if defenses are giving the Wolverines a more friendly situation to pass the ball, then let McCarthy throw it all damn day.
Michigan football should be able to run the ball whenever it wants, regardless of how many people are in the box. That’s what Jim Harbaugh said Georgia is able to do. Michigan hasn’t so far this season.
That should change on Saturday but don’t emphasize the running game so much that it plays into the hands of the defense if it stuffs the box again.
Keep the turnovers coming
If there is one thing Michigan football hasn’t really done on defense through two games — it’s take the football away.
The only takeaway the Wolverines have grabbed so far this season was the interception Mike Sainristil had in the opener against East Carolina. Michigan didn’t have any sacks in the first game. That was a question and the Wolverines answered it with five a week ago.
Bowling Green is 1-1 thanks to a win last week over Eastern Illinois. It also has a road loss to Liberty and one reason for that is five giveaways in two games.
The Wolverines have only given the ball away once on offense, but have only taken it away once. It would be nice to see that second number increase this weekend and against a team that’s turned it over 2.5 times per game, there’s a good chance of that happening, especially if the pass rush has a similar showing to last week.
Focus on the task at hand
There have been lots of distractions for Michigan football. Jim Harbaugh has been suspended for three games. Offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore also missed a game.
However, it does feel like the Wolverines have been a little complacent. Michigan football was pretty sharp in the first half against East Carolina and UNLV, but there are a few little things that could be improved such as the running game or taking the ball away.
Bowling Green isn’t a team with the horses to challenge Michigan. Connor Bazelak is a former Missouri/Indiana starter but is throwing for just 195 yards per game. The defense also isn’t great and is allowing 357 yards total and hasn’t faced a team like Michigan football.
The Wolverines were sharp during their first two wins, but it would be nice to see some of those things cleaned up. Michigan hasn’t played its best quite yet and while it’s hard to do that against Bowling Green, the idea is always to get better.
Let’s see if the Wolverines do that instead of just showing up and winning, which they should be able to do.