What’s Harbaugh’s worst loss at Michigan? Michigan State lost 49-7 to Iowa, so was that it last week? Or was it getting wiped off the field by a team you hadn’t lost to since 1987? The Hoosiers are a better program right now than the Spartans, so there’s less shame in a competitive sense. But still, even Rich Rodriguez (2-0) and Brady Hoke (2-0) managed not to lose to Indiana.
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RUSH OFFENSE vs. INDIANA RUSH DEFENSE
It’s too early for advanced stats, so Michigan is #25 in rushing average (204 yards/game) and still #4 in yards per carry (6.28) despite an overall poor effort last week against Michigan State. The Wolverines did not play well up front against an attacking, downhill defense, and the team may be without its only returning starter, right tackle Jalen Mayfield, due to an injury. Hassan Haskins leads the team at 9.9 yards/carry with 3 touchdowns. Indiana is #80 in rush defense (185.5 yards allowed/game) and tied for #73 in yards allowed per carry (4.36). The leading tacklers are junior middle linebacker Micah McFadden (6’2″, 235) and junior safety Jamar Johnson (6’1″, 197) with 16 takedowns each.
Advantage: Michigan
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IT’S A TRAP! I was expecting a relatively close battle (I predicted 28-17 Michigan), and the great and powerful Lee Corso predicted an Indiana victory. But it turns out Michigan had other ideas this year. After a slow start on defense, the Wolverines defense put the clamps on Indiana. Michigan was down 14-7 at one point and then scored 32 unanswered points the rest of the way. Indiana’s secondary was severely outmatched in this one, and Michigan took advantage to the tune of 366 passing yards and 5 touchdowns through the air.
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As you may have noticed, I have been posting a little more regularly this week. Life is still kind of crazy, but unfortunately, we’re out of the playoffs, so that opens up some time.
RUSH OFFENSE vs. INDIANA RUSH DEFENSE
Michigan is #67 in rushing offense (162 yards/game) and #78 in rushing average (4.08 yards/carry) after a pretty meager week slamming into Michigan State’s front. Leading rusher Zach Charbonnet (589 yards, 11 TD) seems to be on a pitch count, while Hassan Haskins (439 yards, 3 TD) and Tru Wilson (216 yards, 1 TD) have stepped up in recent weeks. Indiana is #46 in rush defense (140 yards allowed/game) on 3.86 yards per carry, which is tied for #45 nationally. Sophomore middle linebacker Micah McFadden (6’2″, 232 lbs.) leads the team in tackles with 46, followed closely by weakside linebacker Reakwon Jones (6’2″, 233) with 43 tackles. Sophomore defensive tackle Demarcus Elliott (6’3″, 328) is a burgeoning star on the inside with 36 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks.
Advantage: Michigan
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Zach Gentry (image via Arizona Daily Star
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We wanted a win and no injuries! Mission 50% accomplished. As far as the final score, all I really wanted was a Michigan victory to keep the chances of a Big Ten title and the playoffs alive. I know there was some consternation about whether Michigan would win big or not, but it doesn’t really matter at this point. The other part was a little bit harder to accomplish. Berkley Edwards was sent off on a stretcher after being the target of a helmet-to-helmet hit on a kickoff. Indiana’s starting right guard jumped on Chase Winovich as he laid on the ground, resulting in Winovich being sent off for the rest of the game. Edwards is surely in concussion protocol – perhaps among other things – and Jim Harbaugh said that X-rays were negative for Winovich. I would not expect Edwards to return for next Saturday, and it’s unclear whether Winovich will be available next week, or whether he will be hampered by whatever injury he suffered. The Winovich injury would be a huge blow for the Wolverines, as he’s perhaps the team’s most consistent defensive player and the third-leading tackler. Against an Ohio State team that excels at passing the ball, the absence of Winovich could be a game-changer.