3 reasons that Michigan football will beat Illinois in a top-25 matchup

Another difficult matchup awaits Michigan football this week. Illinois is the third-ranked opponent that U-M has faced so far this season and there are three others on tap: Indiana, Oregon, and Ohio State.

The schedule actually was even more difficult than we anticipated at the beginning of the season. You can make a legitimate argument that the Wolverines will face the top three teams in college football this season, as well as a bevy of ranked opponents.

This Illinois team feels like the 2022 team, yet, it's different. The defense is solid and is doing a good job of getting takeaways, but Luke Altmyer is a huge part of why Illinois is 5-1. The Fighting Illini have only lost to Penn State and earned an impressive win at Nebraska in overtime.

The Wolverines are a 3.5-point favorite going on the road and here are three reasons why they'll leave Champaign with a win.

Illinois isn't great against the run

The Fighting Illini allow 346 yards per game and 20 points. That ranks 30th in college football but one big weakness for Illinois is a run defense that allows 149 yards per game, as well as 4.5 yards per attempt.

The Wolverines haven't been great at running the football this season, at least by their standards. However, Michigan football is getting 191 rushing yards per game and averaging 5.1 per rush.

You might not think that Jack Tuttle will help the run game, but as Jeff Fisch said at halftime of the Washington game, it makes teams play actual defense. The box will still be loaded. Illinois is going to force Tuttle to prove he can make some throws, but it won't be as bad as it was.

The offensive line has had a week to get right and if Sherrone Moore is worth his salt as Michigan football head coach, this team will smash its way to over 200 yards on Saturday.