(Photo: Clutchpoints)
Saturday Spotlight
(10) Michigan Wolverines at Washington Huskies
Michigan: I can admit that after seeing them lose to the Texas Longhorns in week two, I was uncertain what direction this football team was heading. I understand that replacing talent from a title-winning squad a year ago will never be easy. Let’s look at everything they’ve lost. Jim Harbaugh left to take the head coaching job with the Los Angeles Chargers, J.J. McCarthy, Blake Corum, Cornelius Johnson, Zak Zinter, and Roman Wilson and that’s just to name a few all were on the title-winning team a season ago and all are playing in the NFL. Going back to the game against Texas, they were punched in the mouth and Texas made that an ugly game as they were also able to move the ball on one of the best defenses in the country. Michigan has won every game since that week two loss and they’ve done so because of their identity. Let’s just admit that we know J.J. McCarthy isn’t walking through that door anytime soon. Neither Davis Warren nor Alex Orji are the answers at Quarterback, so what did this force Sherrone Moore to do? Dive into his Offensive Line background and run the football! Get back to your identity and watch how things work for you. Against USC in the Big Ten opener, they ran the football and ran it some more until USC did something to stop which they didn’t. Against Minnesota last week, they had to grind another game out. I said this to Israel Rivera and Matt James on “College Football Showdown” last night and that’s Michigan is the college football version of the New England Patriots meaning they don’t have the passing attack to threaten defenses. Tonight, they travel west.
Washington: They were such a fun team to watch in 2023. Kalen DeBoer had them playing confidently, Michael Penix Jr was a Heisman Candidate, Rome Odunze was one of the best Wide Receivers in the country, Dillion Johnson was in the backfield and they had a defense that was one of the best in the nation. Also, they won the Pac-12 in its final season. A year later, Penix is in Atlanta with the Falcons, Rome paired up with Caleb Williams in Chicago and Kalen left Seattle to take the job in Tuscaloosa after Nick Saban announced his retirement. Also, this program is a member of the Big Ten now. Lots have transpired over these months for them. They hired Jedd Fisch to replace Kalen and they’ve lost more games so far this year than they have all last season altogether. Replacing Penix for the Washington Huskies this year is Will Rogers, the former Mississippi State Quarterback who broke several records playing in the air raid offense. Now, he’s playing in more of a pro-style offense and isn’t being depended on to throw the football 40 to 50 times a game which is a good thing. They’ve built this offense through Jonah Coleman who’s been the workhorse for them. Washington has still been able to move the ball down the field despite its struggles in the red zone. Defensively, they’re run by Steve Belichick, Bill’s son, and just like his father, he’s focused on the fundaments. They welcome Michigan to town for a primetime game tonight.
Michigan X-Factor: Josaiah Stewart– Pay attention to this guy. This is a magnet when it comes to pursuing the football. Josaiah has that strong nose for the football and gets home unblocked most of the time because he uses his speed to his full advantage. He was on the title team a year ago and people don’t realize how dominant he is until you sit and actually watch him. Against the pass, he’s always in the Quarterback’s face. I can’t wait to see what Washington has in store for him. This will be a tough Offensive Line for the Wolverines to face.
Washington X-Factor: Will Rogers– I don’t think he’s key just for this game tonight, he’s key for their entire season. This football team will go as far as Will Rogers takes them. As a passer, Will spreads the ball around and if you’re open, he’s getting you the football. With him not having to take so many shots down the field, the Huskies have developed a strong intermediate game and have had success. Will can also run the tempo offense to perfection. That’s another way he can attack this stingy Michigan defense.
Final Thoughts: January 8th, 2024. That was National Championship Monday Night and we had two teams not from the SEC for once playing for the title. Both entered at 14-0. Michigan won this game and did it by pounding the football and making life miserable for Penix. Then, Jim leaves on a high note after winning that championship he so desperately coveted. All these months later, both teams are different, but we have a rematch of a title game, something we don’t get much of during the regular season in college football. This Michigan offense must step it up and though the passing game has struggled, the offensive numbers haven’t been bad. Michigan must start quickly in this hostile environment. One thing I noticed when the Wolverines played USC and Minnesota is that their secondary was attacked often. If those two can do that, what makes you think Washington won’t? Washington must attack in the red zone against a Michigan defense that has been one of the best in the red area of the field. If Michigan doesn’t get out to an early lead, it could be a long night for them. I trust this Washington offense more and I’m going with the upset. I like the Huskies to get their revenge.
Prediction: Washington 23, Michigan 14
