NFL
By: Joe Cardoso
We lost…get over it. No time in the Big Ten, Michigan hits the road to play Minnesota, and the battle of the Little Brown Jug is on the line. Noon kickoff with the Fox pregame show live from campus adding to the drama.
Did Anything Go Right Last Week?
Well, we outgained Iowa 429-285 but came up one point short. It was the sort of loss that comes down to a moment here or there and not too much about talent. Our defense has still not given up a rushing TD, looking like the clear strength of the squad.
Bryce Underwood found a rhythm the last 2 games; he has 4 touchdowns and almost 500 yards throwing. The Western Michigan games seem like a lifetime ago already. Andrew Marsh is his favorite target, giving us a piece to build around.
The Stakes
With the same record, Minnesota is riding high from a win over Washington. Michigan can’t go 0-2 in Big Ten play; we lead the series and have won 5 in a row versus them. Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck is 0-4 in the Little Brown Jug games, with their last win coming in 2014! Still, a confident home team is always dangerous.
3 Keys to the Game
-Finish the Job unlike last week; put points on the board and turn drives into touchdowns. Protect the football. A slow start on the road could give the home fans something to believe in. This is a Gophers team that lost to Mississippi State by 25 points.
Keep Drake Lindsey Uncomfortable. He will be the most talented quarterback we have faced so far this season. Front four needs to apply pressure but keep contain. While the secondary keeps it all in front of them. Forcing them to just throw the ball and keep the no-rushing touchdowns allowed streak alive. That is how you control the game.
Find some offensive balance. We rank 104th in passing offense, while we sit at 89th in rushing. Jordan Marshall and freshman Savion Hilter have been splitting carries; someone needs to grab the job. We know a run game loosens things up for Bryce and keeps us ahead of the chains.
Picks
Michigan has a better defense, history on its side, and wants to get the bad taste out of its mouth from last week. Expect a tight, physical game, with the Jug staying in Ann Arbor: Michigan 27-17 win
