After notching consecutive wins over Michigan State and Washington, the Michigan football team will look to make it three wins in a row over Purdue.
Underwhelming “D” against a competent “O”
You only have to visit a couple of fancy stats websites to figure out that Purdue’s defense is not very good. The reason is not scheme or coaching, but the personnel are either not very good Big Ten transfers or up-transfers struggling with the higher level. First-year head coach Barry Odom fabricated this defense via the portal, and at times, these new Boilermakers hold their own. Unfortunately, "at times" means "not often enough." But when you look at the bench for reinforcements, it's even more grim. Expect moments of competency from their conservative base 4-2-5, but these will be few and far between.
Those same sites have Michigan’s offense firmly in the middle of the Big Ten for total offense, not very good, but good enough. Personnel is the reason here too: freshman QB, injuries have shuffled the line, same with the tight ends, and the receivers are just guys after senior Donaven McCulley. The running game is solid to almost-dominant. Senior Justice Haynes has been dinged up, and giving him rest going into a bye week is probably the move. Seems like power running behind senior captain Max Bredeson is also probably the move.