With the difficulty of Michigan's first six games, which included three road trips against teams now ranked in the AP Top 25, a 4-2 record isn't all that surprising.
What has made Michigan fans restless has been the way Michigan football lost on the road to Oklahoma and USC.
Michigan's defense couldn't stop the Trojans. It was one of the worst performances we have seen from a Michigan defense in a long time.
Sherrone Moore has come under fire. Wink Martindale has too after his defense has allowed 27 points per game to those three ranked opponents and an average of 281 passing yards.
Michigan is at a "crossroads," says Jake Butt. He's not wrong. This game is an inflection point, and here are five predictions for a must-win game vs. Washington.
Michigan runs for 200 yards
This won't be easy. Washington has a solid defense. They have allowed Rutgers and Ohio State to rush for over 100 yards this season, but that's it. The Huskies are allowing just 3.1 yards per attempt and 82 yards per game.
Ohio State is the only team to average more than four yards per rushing attempt. Rutgers was at 3.9. Michigan, for as poorly as it played against USC, still rushed for 109 yards. Both backs averaged 4.9 yards or more.
Justice Haynes may not play. Jordan Marshall was good against USC. He could have been better, but either way, it would help to get Bryce Underwood more involved. We have not seen much in the way of him running the ball since the Central Michigan/Nebraska games.
With the offense struggling a little, only 37 points over the past two games, more Underwood runs, could provide a spark.
Demond Williams, the Washington quarterback, has attempted 64 (non-sack runs) this season. Underwood has 24. The number should be closer to even on Saturday.
It makes sense to be smart with Underwood. But a loss on Saturday probably ends Michigan's playoff hopes so if they are going to run Bryce, now is the time.
If they do, Michigan will run for 200 yards.