As Michigan football gets set to take on Indiana on Saturday, it's hard to know what to expect.
Tommy Carr is the biggest reason for that. Michigan's defense should be fine. But the defense was also fine against Minnesota in a road loss.
Poor quarterback play can sabotage a team. Poor coaching can, too, and Michigan football was dealing with both during the first five games of the season.
Carr gave the Wolverines a spark. He wasn't the reason the running game finally got going, though. Jason Beck called some plays his offensive lineman can execute and the Wolverines had three explosive runs in one half.
This will be a much different challenge for Tommy Carr and the Michigan offense. With that in mind, here are five fearless predictions for Saturday.
Josh Hoover gets intercepted
Through seven games. Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover hasn't thrown an interception. He hasn't always been sharp, like when he led a wide-open Nick Marsh out of bounds last week on what would have been a winning touchdown against Ohio State.
I don't see Indiana running the ball well against Michigan, which allows just 2.6 yards per rushing attempt in conference play. The pass rush needs to be better, but if Indiana's running game can't get going, the Wolverines should be able to attack with blitzes, too, something Nebraska had success with.
Hoover will get uncomfortable and maybe Rod Moore, Chris Bracy, or Jyaire Hill get their hands on an interception.
Tommy Carr runs for more than 50 yards and a touchdown
Carr is a gamer. We'll see what that means in this game. Recruiting experts didn't think he was as good as his brother, but he's looked the part the moment he stepped on campus.
Throwing the ball might be difficult, especially if Indiana gets the lead and Michigan can't run the ball. The Wolverines will keep it close, though. It will be low-scoring, but six points for Michigan will come on a Tommy Carr touchdown run. He will also have more than 50 yards rushing (100 yards passing might be tough).
Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh don't go off
That seems like a bold prediction after last week. Michigan gave up way too many passing yards to Penn State (267). Chase Sowell had 11 receptions for 145 yards, and this wide receiver tandem might be the best in college football.
Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh both feel like first-round picks. They can both move around the formation, go get jump balls and make things happen after the catch.
Michigan will hold each receiver under 100 yards, but they will catch a touchdown each. They will have to work for it, though and there will be some bumps for the Indiana passing game along the way.
The real Jordan Marshall finally stands up (Over 100 yards)
Jordan Marshall hasn't received more than 14 carries in a game all season. His season high is 59 rushing yards. Savion Hiter deserves carries. He got 78 yards on 11 attempts last week.
Marshall rushed for 59 yards on 11 attempts against Iowa. That was a solid effort. Imagine if the coaching staff called more runs like last week (outside zone), which this team got really good at last season. Running is also a great way to slow down some of Indiana's stunts and simulated pressures.
Michigan might catch them in a stunt, like it did against Nebraska last season, and get an explosive run. The Indiana defense is good, but Jordan Marshall is due for a breakout game.
The Michigan captain will get over 100 yards total and will have an explosive run.
More 3-and-outs than scoring drives
That doesn't just mean for Michigan football. The Wolverines had four possessions in the second half last week that ended in a punt with less than four plays.
Indiana's offense is solid, but Hoover isn't a running quarterback, and their run game was stuffed at Nebraska. I expect a similar game (Michigan's defense is better than Nebraska's), although the Wolverines aren't as explosive on offense unless Carr unlocks something.
If Michigan uses the same run plays as last week in the second half, it will sustain more drives, but this feels like a low-scoring game with plenty of punts and only a handful of scores for each team.
Prediction: Indiana 21, Michigan 16
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