Both Michigan and Washington enter this week with questions surrounding their team, with more cause for concern on the Husky side. These are two far different teams than we saw in the National title game, yet once again it would seem the Wolverines hold the edge. Here are three reasons Michigan will leave the Pacific with a win.
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Michigan Still Has the Same Identity
Even though Blake Corum has since moved onto the NFL, Michigan still holds it’s run and pound mentality.
The offensive line looked rough towards the beginning of the season, but it has since gelled. Kalel Mullings and (backup) Donovan Edwards finally got the ball rolling against USC. Even the QB situation looks slightly better than under Davis Warren (3 INTs a game is unacceptable.)
On the defensive side, the DL is a force to be recognized with. The entire unit has three top 10 picks starting and more waiting in the wings. Michigan still has it’s physical mentality and that will play to its advantage.
Michigan Thrives in Hostile Environments
Ever since the 2021 game against Wisconsin, Michigan has been on a tear in road games. They’ve since took on Penn State, Ohio State, and a ranked Michigan State, every time coming out with a win.
It will be Michigan’s first road test of the season though, as they’ve had all home games up to this point. How Alex Orji will do under ever more pressure has yet to be seen, but this is a team that has always thrived when the odds are against them.
Michigan is an Underdog
Since 2021, Michigan hasn’t found itself as an underdog very often due to their success, but when they do, they’ve generally performed well. In fact, Michigan has beaten the spread in 3 of their last 4 games as an underdog, including their notable wins against Ohio State in both 2021 and 2022.
During the Harbaugh era (through 2023), Michigan went 4-12 straight up and 7-9 against the spread as underdogs, indicating they tend to be competitive even when not favored.
Although Jim Harbaugh is no longer the Head Coach in Ann Arbor, it should be noted that 1 of Michigan’s last three wins on the road have been under Sherrone Moore. If Moore can repeat the same success that he found against Penn State, there’s no reason that the Wolverines can’t come out of this rematch with a win.