Meet Minnesota - Opponent #9

[HailHailToMichigan]

2017 Record: 4-4 (1-4 B1G)
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111th in Total Offense (338ypg, 25.1ppg)
116th in Passing Offense (156ypg)
48th in Rushing Offense (182ypg)
107th in First Downs (145)
97th in 3rd Down Conversions (35.7%)
100th in Offense Efficiency
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19th in Total Defense (317ypg, 18.8ppg)
24th in Pass Defense (184ypg)
36th in Rush Defense (133ypg)
T-98th in Sacks (12)
T-41st in Interceptions (8)
35th in Defensive Efficiency
61st in Special Teams Efficiency


History vs. Michigan:
Michigan Leads all-time series 74-25-3
Last meeting: 2015 at Minnesota - 29-26 Michigan

This Season:
vs Buffalo - W 17-7
at Oregon State - W 48-14
vs Middle Tennessee State - W 34-3
vs Maryland - L 31-24
at Purdue - L 31-17
vs #21 Michigan State - L 30-27
vs Illinois - W 24-17
at Iowa - L 17-10​

Quarterback: Conor Rhoda 6'3" 215 lbs (RS Sr.)
Rhoda has completed 59/109 (54%) of his passes with 839yds and 5 TDs to 4 INTs. He also has 11yds rushing on 18 attempts with a long of 7.

Running Backs: Rodney Smith 5'11" 205 lbs (RS Jr.) and Shannon Brooks 6'0" 210 lbs (Jr.)
Smith has 627yds rushing on 153 carries (4.1ypc) with 2 TDs and a long of 51yds. He's also added 11 catches for 72yds with a long 22. Brooks has 369yds rushing on 79 carries (4.7ypc) with 5 TDs and a long of 40 and 5 catches for 59yds.

Wide Receivers: Tyler Johnson 6'2" 185 lbs (So.) and Eric Carter 5'11" 195 lbs (RS Sr.)
Johnson has recorded 31 catches for 591yds and 7 TDs with a long of 67. Carter has 4 catches for 86yds with a long of 35.

Tight End: Nate Wozniak 6'1" 275 lbs (RS Sr.)
Washingotn has caught 7 balls for 104yds with a long of 50.

Left Tackle: Donnell Greene 6'7" 345 lbs (RS Jr.)
16 career starts.

Left Guard: Garrison Wright 6'4" 320 lbs (RS Sr.)
21 career starts.

Center: Jared Weyler 6'4" 305 lbs (RS Jr.)
16 career starts.

Right Guard: Connor Olson 6'5" 295 lbs (RS Fr.)
8 career starts.

Right Tackle: Sam Schlueter 6'6" 298 lbs (RS Fr.)
2 career starts.

Defensive Tackles: Steven Richardson 6'0" 300 lbs (Sr.) and Gary Moore 6'4" 295 lbs (RS Jr.)
Richardson has 14 tackles with 2 for a loss a forced fumble and fumble recovery. Moore has 12 tackles with 2.5 for a loss, a sack, 2 forced fumbles and 2 pass deflections.

Defensive Ends: Carter Coughlin 6'4" 220 lbs (So.) and Nate Umlor 6'5" 269 lbs (Fr.)​

Coughlin has 22 tackles with 8.5 tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks as well as a forced fumble. Umlor has 7 tackles in limited action.

Outside Linebackers: Johnathan Celestin 6'1" 220 lbs (Sr.) and Kamal Martin 6'3" 229 lbs (So.)
Celestin has 60 tackles with 4.5 for a loss, 1 sack, a fumble recovery, 2 pass deflections and an INT that he returned 31yds for a TD. Martin has totaled 32 tackles with 5 for a loss, a sack, 2 forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, an INT and a pass deflection.

Middle Linebacker: Thomas Barber 6'1" 240 lbs (So.)
Barber leads the team with 75 tackles with 8 for a loss and 0.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, an INT and he has 1 pass deflection.

Cornerbacks: Adekunle Ayinde 6'0" 205 lbs (RS Sr.) and Justus Harris 5'10" 175 lbs (Fr.)
Ayinde has 33 tackles with 2.5 for a loss, 4 pass deflections and an INT. Harris had his first career start last week. He has 7 tackles with 0.5 for a loss.

Free Safety: Daletavious "Duke" McGhee 6'1" 205 lbs (RS Sr.)
McGhee has 22 tackles, with 1 tackle for a loss, a forced fumble, 2 pass deflections and 1 INT.

Strong Safety: Ken Handy-Holly 6'2" 200 lbs (Fr.)
Handy-Holly was another true Freshman forced into starting his first game last week. He has 3 tackles, with a forced fumble, fumble recovery and a pass deflection.

Punter and Kicker: Ryan Santoso 6'6" 250 lbs (RS Sr.) and Emmit Carpenter 6'0" 199 lbs (RS Jr.)
Santoso has punted 41 times this year with an average of 43.7yds with a long of 68. 9 of his punts have gone for 50+ yards with 13 downed inside the 20 and 15 fair caught, 5 touchbacks. Of his 37 kickoffs, only 14 were touchbacks. Carpenter is 11/15 on FGs with a long of 49.

Returners: Drew Hmielewski 6'1" 195 lbs (RS Fr.) and Shannon Brooks 6'0" 210 lbs (Jr.)
Hmielewski has returned 4 punts for an average of 6.3yds with a long of 13. Brooks has returned 18 kickoffs with a 19.3yd return average and a long of 35.

Players to watch:​

Tyler Johnson - WR
Carter Coughlin - DE
Johnathan Celestin - OLB

Thomas Barber - MLB

Prediction:​

They are painfully average at best. Their defense is the strength of the team but they will be with 2 true freshman making only their 2nd starts in the secondary. One at a corner and one at safety. This should benefit Peters, if the weather allows for passing that is. The linebacker position is the only real area of strength for them entering this game. They have no receivers outside of Tyler Johnson so little to no threat there and their running backs are alright.

Weather is the great equalizer but I do not for-see a game riddled with mistakes and turnovers like the last time we found ourselves in this scenario. I also don't think Minnesota will be able to capitalize enough even if there are a few or that they will be absent of any themselves. Even if the game is grounded we should have no issues grinding out a win, especially on defense. Many Minnesota fans are legitimately wondering how they will even score a point. I'll give them more credit than that.

Michigan wins 31-13

This years predictions:
Week 1: Michigan/Florida 37-13 (33-17 actual)
Week 2: Michigan/Cincinnati 48-0 (36-14 actual)
Week 3: Michigan/Air Force 34-13 (29-13 actual)
Week 4: Michigan/Purdue 38-17 (28-10 actual)
Week 5: Michigan/MSU 27-10 (10-14 actual)
Week 6: Michigan/Indiana 27-13 (27-20 actual)
Week 7: Michigan/Penn St 16-17 (13-42 actual)
Week 8: Michigan/Rutgers 38-6 (35-14 actual)​

 

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