Will Michigan let it rip on offense?
We're playing two incredibly flawed defenses in Wisconsin and MSU. These are not the 2017, or even 2016 Badgers on defense. Similarly, the Spartans are struggling, as they have been since 2014, to defend the pass. Both teams (especially Wisconsin) have really struggled to rush the passer.
But will UM actually take advantage? Because if we don't, both have the rushing defenses to turn this into a low scoring game, minimize the number of possessions for both teams and pull an upset.
This offensive staff should be under the gun the next two weeks. There's no reason to think that if UM comes out aggressive and throws the ball downfield, that we won't score in the high 20s or low 30s.
I don't think Wisconsin is anything more than a borderline top 25 team right now (not convinced they're a huge step up from Northwestern especially at home), and MSU is a fringe bowl team. If we've arrived, we should win both games comfortably, but that will only happen if we don't try to shove the ball down their throat from the first quarter on.
No excuses the next two games. UM should win both, and then have a week off to regroup for a top 10 PSU team. Lose either of these games and the criticism on Harbaugh will reach a level we haven't seen it yet.
We're playing two incredibly flawed defenses in Wisconsin and MSU. These are not the 2017, or even 2016 Badgers on defense. Similarly, the Spartans are struggling, as they have been since 2014, to defend the pass. Both teams (especially Wisconsin) have really struggled to rush the passer.
But will UM actually take advantage? Because if we don't, both have the rushing defenses to turn this into a low scoring game, minimize the number of possessions for both teams and pull an upset.
This offensive staff should be under the gun the next two weeks. There's no reason to think that if UM comes out aggressive and throws the ball downfield, that we won't score in the high 20s or low 30s.
I don't think Wisconsin is anything more than a borderline top 25 team right now (not convinced they're a huge step up from Northwestern especially at home), and MSU is a fringe bowl team. If we've arrived, we should win both games comfortably, but that will only happen if we don't try to shove the ball down their throat from the first quarter on.
No excuses the next two games. UM should win both, and then have a week off to regroup for a top 10 PSU team. Lose either of these games and the criticism on Harbaugh will reach a level we haven't seen it yet.
