The Michigan Wolverines were impressive in their Week 1 win over the Western Michigan Broncos. Michigan waltzed to a 47-14 victory over the MAC school, even pouring it on at the end with a 69-yard touchdown pass from J.J. McCarthy to Daylen Baldwin while up 33 points with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter. The Wolverines will face a tougher test when the Washington Huskies come to the Big House this week, but Washington limps in at 0-1 after a season-opening loss to FCS Montana.
This game will take place at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan on Saturday, September 11, 2021, at 8 p.m. ET. ABC will be the network broadcasting this game.
College Football Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Washington Huskies +7
Michigan Wolverines -7
Total 49
Michigan looked sharp on offense last week. The Wolverines had a lot of issues on that side of the ball during the 2020 campaign, but they were able to put those problems behind them in their season opener.
Cade McNamara didn’t throw the ball much, but he was very efficient when he did take to the air. McNamara completed 9 of 11 passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns, posting an 89.9 QBR in his first start of the season. That took some pressure off his shoulders given what we saw from Michigan’s air attack in 2020.
The Wolverines were very good on the ground too. They teamed up to run the ball 43 times for 335 yards and three touchdowns. Blake Corum ran for 111 yards and a score, while Hassan Haskins ran for 70 yards and a touchdown. A.J. Henning had a 74-yard touchdown run too in the blowout win, helping stamp the victory.
It won’t be as easy to move the ball on Washington’s defense this weekend. The Huskies have a great defensive mind at head coach in Jimmy Lake, and they held Montana to just 232 total yards and 10 first downs in their opener. The Grizzlies converted just two of their 13 third down opportunities, and they averaged a mere 4.6 YPA in the passing game.
Washington did not look good on offense last week. Dylan Morris had the worst game of his young career under center. Morris completed 27 of 46 passes for 226 yards and threw three interceptions as the Huskies failed to score a point after their opening touchdown drive. It was his second three-interception game, so Lake might have a quick trigger with Morris if he struggles out of the gate this week. The Huskies have options behind Morris as Patrick O’Brien was a starter at Colorado State for the last two seasons, and Sam Huard is a five-star recruit and the son of Damon Huard and the nephew of Brock Huard.
Something that might bode well for Morris in this game is that Washington was without its top four wide receivers last week. Terrell Bynum, Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan, and Ja’Lynn Polk all missed most or all of the game per the Seattle Times, and at least a couple of those receivers are expected to be on the field this week.
Richard Newton had 21 touches for 85 yards against Montana, so Washington will look to get more from its starting running back this week. Tight end Cade Otton will once again be a favorite option though after he caught eight passes for 82 yards to lead the Huskies last week.
This Michigan defense has retooled under new defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald. The Wolverines looked strong last week against the Broncos, but there is much more talent on this Huskies’ offense.
Prediction
The under is the best bet in this game. Washington’s defense is going to shut down this Michigan offense, but the Huskies won’t do much when they have the ball.
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