Scouting report, prediction for Michigan game
Matchup: No. 19 Michigan 6-2, 4-0 Big Ten; Minnesota 1-7, 0-4.
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m., Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor.
TV/radio: Channel 7, ESPN Classic; WOMC-FM (104.3), CKLW-AM (800), WTKA-AM (1050).
Line: Michigan by 23.
Injuries: Michigan — TB Mike Hart (ankle), QB Chad Henne (shoulder), questionable; OG Alex Mitchell (knee), doubtful; TE Mike Massey (knee), TB Kevin Grady (knee), out. Minnesota — RB Amir Pinnix (hip), questionable; RB Jay Thomas (knee), doubtful; S Duran Cooley (knee), LB John Carlson (knee), out.
When Michigan has the ball: Henne and Mike Hart are expected to sit out today, so the younger players will get a chance to show what next year may look like. Freshman quarterback Ryan Mallett has skills that most players in the nation would kill for. At 6-feet-7 he can sling the ball downfield, yet still is fleet enough to scramble for a 20-yard gain, as he did at Illinois last week. He just needs to make better decisions with the ball, as demonstrated by his red-zone interception against Illinois. Fortunately for him and for Michigan, the running game appears solid, with a strong offensive line and multiple backs. Sophomore Carlos Brown showed last week he can handle a game’s worth of carries and Brandon Minor should be stronger after giving his injured ankle another week to heal. As much as Mike Hart wants to play, everyone realizes there’s no need to subject his recovering right ankle to any potential setback. Minnesota’s defense is the worst in Division I-A, surrendering 533 yards per game — and the Gophers aren’t even consistent in the areas with which they struggle. Against Bowling Green, Miami (Ohio), Purdue and Northwestern, they allowed more than 245 yards rushing. Last week, they gave up 394 rushing yards by North Dakota State. But against Florida Atlantic and Ohio State, as well as Miami and Northwestern, the pass burned them. The Gophers’ best defender is safety Dominique Barber, who is sixth in the Big Ten with 73 tackles. That’s impressive for him but a sad commentary on the Gophers’ weak front seven.
When Minnesota has the ball: Freshman quarterback Adam Weber has shined this year, directing an offense that has produced 438 yards per game, 25th nationally and second in the Big Ten. Weber passes and runs as he tries to operate within new coach Tim Brewster’s open offense, but he has little help in the backfield: Pinnix, the team’s leading rusher, averages just 70 yards per game. Instead, the Gophers have relied on the receiver pair of Eric Decker, who catches nearly seven passes per game and averages 81 yards; and Ernie Wheelwright, who already has eight touchdown catches. Michigan’s resurgent defense was able to stuff potent Northwestern — the Big Ten’s most productive offense — and will look to do the same against Minnesota. Yet it may be a bit more difficult, given the Gophers’ strong offensive line, which has allowed just six sacks in eight games. Michigan is tied for second nationally in turnovers gained (25), while Minnesota is tied for second-worst (24). This seems like the logical place for the game to tilt toward the Wolverines.
Prediction: Michigan 35, Minnesota 17.
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