Michigan
Big Ten Week 5: Previews and Predictions for Michigan, Minnesota, and More – NBC Sports
In two weeks, the Massive Ten has gone from having 5 ranked groups to a few: Wisconsin fell out of the rankings after Week 2 and this week, Michigan State was dropped after a poor exhibiting at Washington (39-28 remaining).
The three groups that stay within the high 25, although – (3) Ohio State, (4) Michigan, and (14) Penn State – seemed nice in Week 3 matchups that included Michigan’s 59-0 shutout towards UConn and a powerful 41-12 win for Penn State on the highway at Auburn.
Luckily for Michigan State, their loss to a possibly-better-than-we-thought Washington crew wasn’t the worst exhibiting within the convention final Saturday; that accolade goes to Nebraska, whose loss to No. 6 Oklahoma wasn’t as shut because the 49-14 rating makes it sound.
Week 4 options eight Massive Ten groups of their first convention matchups of the season, together with Michigan and Ohio State, each enjoying at dwelling.
Maryland’s journey to the Massive Home ought to be telling for No. 4 Michigan
The Michigan Wolverines (3-0) have gained their first three video games by a mixed rating of 166-17, and but, it’s not clear how good the crew is. Its all-home schedule towards Colorado State, Hawaii, and UConn hasn’t put Michigan to the check thus far – they’re blowing out groups that they need to be blowing out, which doesn’t inform us a lot.
That isn’t to say Michigan is more likely to lose to Maryland (3-0) on Saturday; Michigan is best on paper throughout the board and it’s unlikely they provide this recreation away to the Terps, who’re additionally undefeated (albeit much less convincingly) via three non-conference video games. However a crew worthy of the No. 4 rating will make a win look simple and shut down the Maryland offense (Michigan is permitting a third-best 194 yards per recreation), and a crew undeserving of that rating… gained’t.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh didn’t give away a lot when requested about how Michigan has ready for his or her first convention check, remarking solely on the nice work ethic and management he’s seen from his gamers. However he did notice that they’ve their guard up after successful the convention final season: “There’s a giant goal [on our backs]. Everytime you’re a defending champion, it’s gonna be there.”
Maryland coach Mike Locksley put the Terrapins’ psychological method merely on Tuesday when he mentioned, “Now we have nothing to lose.” He famous that Michigan has been extra disciplined than his crew via three video games, citing penalty numbers: Michigan is third-best within the FBS in penalty yards given away this season (65); Maryland is third-worst (271). “We all the time discuss attempting to shut the hole on groups like that,” Locksley instructed reporters on Tuesday. “This affords us a possibility to see how and the place we match.”
“[We’ll] attempt to play to the perfect of our capacity and hold the sport actually tight and get it to the fourth quarter. And also you by no means know what can occur.”
No. 3 Ohio State places offense to first large check towards Wisconsin
Third-ranked Ohio State (3-0) faces its first convention check in internet hosting Wisconsin (2-1), which was ranked 19th earlier than shedding in a Week 2 upset to Washington State. Ohio State opened with a giant win at dwelling towards Notre Dame, a win that misplaced a few of its luster after Notre Dame misplaced to Marshall in Week 2.
That mentioned, the Buckeyes are the perfect offensive crew within the nation via three weeks with a mean 565.3 yards per recreation, and Wisconsin is anticipated to be the perfect protection the crew has confronted thus far. After OSU put 77 factors on Toledo in Week 3, offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson mentioned, “Pretty much as good because the offense would possibly look, the offense isn’t good till the tip of the 12 months and you’ll see how robust and the way constant it’s.”
“Wisconsin epitomizes Massive Ten soccer,” OSU coach Ryan Day mentioned on Thursday, noting the Badgers’ bodily model of play and calling Wisconsin QB Graham Mertz and RB Braelon Allen “the perfect we’ve seen” at each positions.
The Badgers rebounded in Week 3 with a 66-7 win over New Mexico State, however that hasn’t modified their underdog standing going into Saturday at The Shoe, the place Wisconsin hasn’t gained since 2004.
Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst complimented the formidable Buckeyes offense, calling C.J. Stroud “a heck of a quarterback” and remarking on the problem his protection will face in OSU: “They do an ideal job of threatening and utilizing the entire subject.”
Ohio State will don blackout uniforms for the primetime matchup, which is the crew’s fourth straight dwelling recreation.
Michigan State appears for rebound towards Minnesota crew with momentum
Of all of the Massive Ten contests in Week 4, this one figures to be essentially the most intriguing. Michigan State (2-1) is unranked for the primary time this season after the Spartans struggled to compete at Washington final week, which might make the house recreation towards Minnesota (3-0) a revenge recreation or a letdown spot.
Head coach Mel Tucker known as the Washington end result “very disappointing” after the Spartans’ secondary bought chewed up by the Huskies, led by QB Michael Penix Jr. Tucker listed the foremost points as poor communication and missed assignments quite than schematic issues, and mentioned he took the failures personally: “I’m a horse—t soccer coach proper now.”
“We’re going to be outlined by how we reply,” Tucker mentioned. “Now we have to boost our stage of depth in what we’re doing…It’s important to be taught from adversity.”
Minnesota has earned three stable wins in non-conference play thus far, exhibiting stability with nice numbers on either side of the ball: the Golden Gophers are second within the FBS in offensive yards per recreation (554.7) and second in yards allowed per recreation (170.3).
“We all know it’s going to be a hostile setting… They’re a harmful soccer crew,” Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck mentioned this week, particularly noting the power of the Michigan State defensive entrance, which gave up solely 30 rush yards to Washington final Saturday.
Minnesota will want some productiveness on the bottom, particularly after huge receiver Chris Autman-Bell suffered a season-ending leg damage in Week 3 towards Colorado, for which he underwent surgical procedure on Wednesday. Autman-Bell was main the Gophers with 11 receptions and 214 receiving yards.
The Gophers are averaging a second-in-FBS 312.7 rush yards per recreation thus far, however the Spartans current the primary large defensive problem of their season.
As Michigan State adjusts its defensive method and Minnesota tweaks its offense, this recreation is anticipated to be an in depth one: Minnesota is a slight highway favourite coming into the weekend.
Iowa heads to Rutgers for Defensive Conflict
The Iowa Hawkeyes (2-1) and Rutgers Scarlet Knights (3-0) face off Saturday night time with Rutgers at dwelling, seeking to begin the season 4-0 for the primary time in a decade (2012).
It gained’t be a simple path for the Scarlet Knights, whose quarterback state of affairs leaves a lot to be desired – Evan Simon and Gavin Wimsatt mixed for 59 go yards towards Temple in Week 3 – and who seemingly gained’t catch a break towards an Iowa protection that’s allowed 13 factors throughout three video games this season.
Rutgers coach Greg Schiano mentioned there are “a number of” offensive issues he desires to repair, and in addition mentioned injured QB Noah Vedral’s standing shall be a game-time determination on Saturday. The current passing numbers for the crew make a Vedral return all of the extra interesting to the Rutgers devoted.
Reverse Iowa’s famend protection, Rutgers boasts sturdy defensive stats as properly – the crew is second in FBS in rush yards allowed (lower than 33 per recreation) and Iowa has scored three of its lowly 4 touchdowns this season on the bottom.
Iowa is coming off a simple however lengthy 27-0 win over Nevada in Week 3: with practically 4 hours of climate delays, the sport lasted nearly seven hours.
Head coach Kirk Ferentz acknowledged the parallels between his crew and Schiano’s, noting the protection but in addition the sturdy punters each groups will deliver to the sport.
“They don’t do dumb issues,” Ferentz mentioned of the Knights. “They make you earn something you get.”