Tag: game preview

Preview: Michigan vs. Ohio State

RUSH OFFENSE vs. OHIO STATE RUSH DEFENSE
Michigan had a solid rushing effort last week against Maryland despite being down the top two running backs and ranks #10 nationally (223.5 yards/game) and #10 in yards per carry (5.59). Running back Jordan Marshall (143 carries, 871 yards, 10 touchdowns) should be back from the injury he suffered two games ago, while Bryson Kuzdzal (20 carries, 100 yards, 3 TD last week) had a bit of a breakout game and showed some nice speed, patience, and vision in his first career start. One key aspect may be the health of fullback/tight end Max Bredeson, who was in a boot by the end of last week’s game. The offensive line has improved somewhat in the running game, despite three redshirt freshmen starting. Meanwhile, Ohio State is #2 in rush defense (80 yards allowed/game) and #4 in yards allowed per carry (2.67). They have not allowed 100+ yards on the ground since week one against Texas. Senior LB Sonny Styles (6’4″, 243) leads the team with 62 tackles, followed by junior LB Arvell Reese (6’5″, 243) with 59. Junior DT Kayden McDonald (6’3″, 326) is a force in the middle of the defense with 47 tackles and 8 tackles for loss, and he’s been more productive than Detroit Lions 1st round pick Tyleik Williams was last season. Senior DE Kaden Curry (6’3″, 260) leads the team with 13 tackles for loss, and junior safety Caleb Downs (6’0″, 205) plays down in the box and has made 5 tackles for loss himself. This is going to be strength against strength.
Advantage: Ohio State

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Preview: Michigan vs. Maryland

MICHIGAN OFFENSE

• Passing offense: #102 (195.1 yards/game)
• Rushing offense: #12 (223.0 yards/game)
• Total offense: #41 (418.1 yards/game)
• Scoring offense: #68 (27.7 points/game)

MARYLAND DEFENSE

• Passing defense: #71 (221.1 yards allowed/game)
• Rushing defense: #104 (171.8 yards allowed/game)
• Total defense: #89 (392.9 yards allowed/game)
• Scoring defense: #61 (23.5 points allowed/game)

MARYLAND OFFENSE

• Passing offense: #64 (233.3 yards/game)
• Rushing offense: #118 (110.6 yards/game)
• Total offense: #103 (343.9 yards/game)
• Scoring offense: #101 (23.4 points/game)

MICHIGAN DEFENSE

• Passing defense: #47 (201.8 yards allowed/game)
• Rushing defense: #12 (96.3 yards allowed/game)
• Total defense: #17 (298.1 yards allowed/game)
• Scoring defense: #12 (17.7 points allowed/game)

ROSTER NOTES

• Maryland players offered by Michigan include: LB Neeo Avery, OL Aliou Bah, WR Jalil Farooq, RB Iverson Howard, DE Zahir Mathis, DT Joel Starlings, RB DeJuan Williams
• Maryland DT Joel Starlings was committed to Michigan at one time but signed with North Carolina before transferring to Maryland this season
• Maryland OC/QB Coach Pep Hamilton coached at Michigan from 2017-2018
• Maryland assistant WR coach Derek Kief was recruited by Michigan in the class of 2014
• Former Maryland all-Big Ten performer Will Likely is now a defensive assistant for the Terrapins
• Maryland players from the state of Michigan include: RB Nolan Ray (Birmingham Brother Rice)
• Michigan players from the state of Maryland include: DE/LB Jaishawn Barham, DE Devon Baxter, DB Jeffrey Chukwu, DE Lugard Edokpayi, DE Derrick Moore, DE Dominic Nichols, LB Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng, S Kainoa Winston
• Michigan DE/LB Jaishawn Barham played his freshman and sophomore seasons (2022-2023) at Maryland

LAST TIME THEY PLAYED . . .

• On November 18, 2023, Michigan beat Maryland by a score of 31-24
• QB J.J. McCarthy completed 12/23 passes for 141 yards and 1 interception
• Maryland LB Jaishawn Barham (now playing for Michigan) intercepted McCarthy
• RB Blake Corum ran 28 times for 94 yards and 2 touchdowns
• WR Semaj Morgan ran for a 13-yard touchdown
• Michigan recorded 5 sacks and 2 interceptions of Maryland QB Taulia Tagovailoa (21/31, 247 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT)

PREDICTION

• Michigan 31, Maryland 17

Preview: Michigan vs. Purdue

RUSH OFFENSE vs. PURDUE RUSH DEFENSE
The big question this week is about RB Justice Haynes, who was seen in a walking boot earlier this week. He’s one of the top few backs in the country this season. Michigan is #14 in rushing (220.1 yards/game) and #10 in yards per carry (5.75). If Haynes can’t go, it will be Jordan Marshall (99 carries, 544 yards, 5 TD) and freshman Jasper Parker (15 carries, 65 yards, 1 TD) who will likely handle most of the carries. The offensive line and tight ends are doing a fairly good job run blocking, especially considering three starters are redshirt freshmen. Purdue is #76 in rushing defense (149 yards allowed/game) and #61 in yards allowed per carry (3.95). Odom is a former defensive coordinator with a pretty solid track record, but the Boilermakers have been up and down, giving up 254 yards on the ground to Notre Dame and just 30 rushing yards to Minnesota. They’re led in tackles by senior LB Mani Powell (6’2″, 230) with 76 stops, sophomore LB Charles Correa (6’3″, 230) with 72, and senior S Tahj Ra-El (6’2″, 208) with 68. The team is #33 in tackles for loss (including 6.25 per game), led by senior DE C.J. Nunnally IV (6’3″, 265) with 7.5 and Powell with 7.0. Michigan has shown that it is committed to running the ball, and they should be able to do so pretty consistently, even if Haynes has to sit.
Advantage: Michigan

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Preview: Michigan vs. Michigan State

RUSH OFFENSE vs. MICHIGAN STATE RUSH DEFENSE
Michigan is #22 in rushing offense (212.1 yards/game) and #10 in yards per carry (5.78). The team took a little bit of a hit over the past six quarters without star running back Justice Haynes (95 carries, 705 yards, 7 TD), who missed last week’s game after getting hurt against USC. Haynes could possibly return, but the running back position is still in solid hands with Jordan Marshall (25 carries, 133 yards, 1 TD last week). It’s just not very deep since the next two guys are true freshman Jasper Parker (15 carries, 65 yards, 1 TD) and walk-on Bryson Kudzdal (6 carries, 30 yards, 1 TD). Starting LT Evan Link will also be out after suffering a leg injury last week, so Michigan will be starting three redshirt freshmen on the offensive line: LT Blake Frazier, RG Jake Guarnera, and RT Andrew Sprague. Michigan State is #52 in rush defense (131.3 yards allowed/game) and #81 in yards allowed per carry (4.24). Against other Big Ten teams, they’re giving up over 39 points per game, 5.1 yards/carry, and 181 rushing yards/game. Junior LB Jordan Hall (6’3″, 238) leads the team with 51 tackles, followed by senior LB Wayne Matthews III (6’2″, 230), a former Old Dominion Monarch with 41 stops. Former Michigan DT commit Alex VanSumeren (6’3″, 295) ranks third on the team with 29 tackles. The only Big Ten team the Spartans have “stopped” on the ground is Nebraska (31 attempts, 67 yards, 3 TD), but that game included 5 sacks for 35 yards, so the true rushing numbers were more like 26 carries for 102 yards. In other words, Michigan should be able to run the ball pretty consistently even if Haynes is out.
Advantage: Michigan

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Preview: Michigan vs. Wisconsin

RUSH OFFENSE vs. WISCONSIN RUSH DEFENSE
Michigan is the #8 rushing team in the country (253.5 yards/game) and #2 in yards per carry (6.67) after an outstanding showing over the past couple games. RB Justice Haynes (66 carries, 537 yards, 6 touchdowns) is getting buzz in Michigan circles as a potential Heisman candidate after four straight 100+ yard games, including runs of 75, 75, 59, and 56 yards over the first four weeks. I think Heisman talk is premature, but he’s fast and tough and has shown good vision. QB Bryce Underwood has 17 carries for 175 yards and 3 touchdowns over the past two games, and backup RB Jordan Marshall (16 carries, 132 yards, 3 TD over the past two games) has come alive, too. Michigan should be closer to full strength up front after the bye week, too, after playing games without LG Giovanni El-Hadi and RG Brady Norton. Wisconsin is #1 in rushing defense (50 yards allowed/game) and #3 in yards allowed per carry (2.11). Their worst performance was allowing 72 yards on 3.27 yards/carry against Alabama, so it’s a formidable run-stopping unit. They start former Grand Valley State/LSU DT Jay’viar Suggs (6’3″, 299), who was recruited by Michigan as a transfer going into 2024, and fifth year senior NT Ben Barten (6’5″, 330) on the defensive line. The two leading tacklers are junior LB Christian Alliegro (6’4″, 247) and redshirt junior LB Tackett Curtis (6’2″, 235) with 22 and 20 stops, respectively. This will be the key matchup, because Michigan’s offense depends on running the ball and Wisconsin’s lone strength is its run defense.
Advantage: Wisconsin

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