As we all know Michigan’s home opener last year was an embarrassment. This year the Wolverines bring a Utah team into the Big House that has BCS bowl aspirations. Michigan will also be breaking in a new head coach, offensive philosophy, starting quarterback, starting running back and it’s wide receiving corps.
That’s enough for me to be very scared. I know that Coach Rodriguez will be able to bring in top-shelf talent (Terrelle Pryor notwithstanding) to run his spread offense. The problem is that the talent hasn’t arrived in Ann Arbor. They’re still in high school. And frankly they may be more suited to lead the Wolverine offense than either potential starting quarterback (Nick Sheridan or Steven Threet). I’m sure those guys are great guys, but if you asked either of them if they realistically thought they would start a season as the University of Michigan’s first-string quarterback I have to believe they’d have said “No way!”
Everyone has said that Michigan’s defense is (and will have to be) it’s strength, and I agree. But if their offense is terrible and turns the ball over all the time, they won’t be able to overcome it (ask Brian Urlacher and the 2006 Bears defense).
Now onto the Utah game. Utah runs the spread offense that gave Michigan fits last year against App. State and Oregon. One thing has changed, the defense faces a similar offense every day at practice. And that can only help. Utah’s offense will return 4 players who suffered injuries last year.
Starting quarterback Brian Johnson, wide receiver Brent Casteel, and running backs Matt Asiata and Darrell Mack are all coming off injuries for Utah. This could prove to be very bad for the Michigan defense. I think the Michigan defense will need to put some points on the board for Michigan to come out on top. Hopefully Michigan will be able to withstand their attack and put enough points on the board to escape a second home opener loss.
Prediction
Utah 24
Michigan 27
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