Michigan Football: Game-by-Game Predictions for 2022

All the pieces got here collectively (lastly) for Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines in 2022, beating Ohio State in The Sport, successful the Huge Ten Championship Sport in convincing trend, and an look within the Faculty Soccer Playoff. Regardless of returning simply 64 % of their general manufacturing from a 12 months in the past, and a few main departures on protection, the Wolverines are anticipated to problem for an additional convention title this season.

Michigan Soccer 2022 Season Preview and Prediction

One motive why the Wolverines are as soon as once more thought of title contenders within the convention is the manageable schedule on faucet for 2022. Calling Michigan’s non-conference schedule a cakewalk could be an insult to truffles. The mixed file of its three non-conference opponents — Colorado State, Hawaii, and UConn — in 2021 was 10-27.

Digging into the guts of their Huge Ten slate, the Wolverines profit from not dealing with West Division favourite Wisconsin for the primary time in six years. A superbly-timed bye week is scheduled in Week 8, sandwiched in between matchups with Michigan State and Penn State, each of whom should journey to Ann Arbor. The Sport in opposition to the Buckeyes in Columbus shall be an absolute meatgrinder for the Wolverines, given the beatdown they placed on their rivals a 12 months in the past, however the whole lot main as much as the finale units up nicely for Michigan to have one other profitable 12 months.

Can the Wolverines efficiently repeat as Huge Ten champs in 2022? The consultants at Athlon Sports activities chime in as they decide each sport on Michigan’s schedule this season. 

Steven Lassan (@AthlonSteven)
Jim Harbaugh’s group had a breakthrough 2021 season by successful the Huge Ten and incomes a visit to the CFB Playoff. Replicating that path in ’22 would require the Wolverines to beat some key personnel departures, however a good schedule and an offense on the rise (35.8 factors a sport final 12 months) ought to preserve Michigan within the hunt for a playoff journey as soon as once more.

A standout protection led the way in which for Harbaugh’s group final 12 months by limiting opponents to 17.4 factors a sport. Nevertheless, ends Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo (mixed 25 sacks), security Dax Hill and cornerback Vincent Grey have departed, leaving simply three starters in place for ’22. Additionally, there’s a brand new coordinator (Jesse Minter) with Mike Macdonald leaving for the NFL. Though a complete collapse could be a shock, a small step again is predicted contemplating the massive names leaving Ann Arbor. Nevertheless, Michigan could make up for the defensive losses with its firepower on offense. Whether or not it’s J.J. McCarthy or Cade McNamara on the helm, scoring factors gained’t be an issue behind one of many nation’s prime backfields, receiving corps and features.

If Michigan can survive the street trek to Iowa on Oct. 1, 11-0 earlier than the showdown with Ohio State is inside attain. And if the Wolverines end the season at 11-1, that also is perhaps ok to make the playoff this fall. The offensive firepower is there – it is all about how Michigan’s protection reloads.

Mark Ross (@AthlonMarkR)
So what do Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines bear in mind for an encore? That group set the bar fairly excessive and there is loads of expertise that is moved on, particularly on protection. Nevertheless, the offense seems to be in even higher form and the schedule is actually manageable. Michigan should not break a lot of a sweat in September with the primary take a look at approaching the street in opposition to Iowa to start out October. Afterward, the Wolverines get Penn State and Michigan State each at dwelling and with a bye week in between. There could also be a possible lure sport mendacity in wait (vs. Nebraska on Nov. 12?) however extra seemingly than not their season will, as soon as once more, come right down to The Sport in Columbus in opposition to an Ohio State group that desires payback. So it is completely attainable that Michigan may very well be 11-0 (or 10-1 relying on the Iowa sport) getting into the final week of the common season, placing the Wolverines only one victory away from a shot at back-to-back Huge Ten titles (and positioned for a return to the Faculty Soccer Playoff), though it may be argued that this group is not so good as final 12 months’s championship squad.

Mike Bainbridge (@MBainbridgeCFF)
The Wolverines ought to be capable of navigate by the primary 4 weeks with relative ease with a cupcake non-conference schedule and a house bout with Maryland, a group wherein Michigan has dominated lately. The most important intrigue by the primary month is more likely to be which quarterback performs at the next clip between Cade McNamara and J.J. McCarthy as they’re locked in a contest mid-way by fall camp. The actual season will begin on Oct. 1 with a visit to Iowa Metropolis which has turn into a home of horrors of types for the Wolverines. Ought to Michigan come out of that matchup unscathed, the schedule is favorable to the place the Wolverines will seemingly be favored each week main as much as The Sport in Columbus to shut out the season. Due to the modifications on protection, dropping two premier move rushers in Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo, repeating 2021’s success may show to be too troublesome, however a 10-2 follow-up after final season could be an accomplishment.

Podcast: The Huge Ten’s New TV Deal, Main Information at Wake Forest and What Do Coaches Consider Your Workforce?