Isaiah Hole.
Ten Things I Think Will Happen For Michigan vs. Illinois
Michigan is a massive 22-point favorite over the Illini so it's hard to predict exactly what will happen tomorrow. Does Michigan blow out Illinois allowing some backups to get a lot of run? Is it closer than expected forcing U-M to say in its main game plan for the duration? Does everyone stay healthy? Those are questions you can ask before every game but they get even dicier against a severely outmatched opponent.
Michigan's games have been tough to predict because even five games in we're still trying to figure this team out. As 22-point favorites over the Black Knights of Army, Michigan escaped with a three-point win in double overtime. As 3.5-dogs against the Badgers, U-M limped away from Madison after a 21-point loss that was actually much worse. The Wolverines were favored by 27.5 over Rutgers and won by 52 in an offensive explosion compared to weeks prior. Then there's last week. The 10-point offensive clunker against the Hawkeyes that somehow resulted in a win. That makes these guesses tricky, but here are some specific predictions on how the action will look this Saturday.
Player Predictions
Joe Milton will play in the first half
After looking pretty good for more than a quarter against Rutgers, I thought Milton would see the field early against Iowa and it didn't happen — at all. This week, against another bad opponent, Milton will get some run. I think it could happen early just to switch things up a bit. Maybe he runs the ball a few times and maybe they let him wing it down the field a little.
Erick All will record a catch
It's pretty surprising that two of Michigan's most hyped freshmen, All and wide receiver Mike Sainristil, only have one catch between them. All is still looking for reception No. 1 in a winged helmet and I think he finally gets it this weekend. Illinois' defense is susceptible to passes over the middle and in front of the safeties so tight ends should be open. With Sean McKeon likely still out, All finally gets into the box score.
Zach Charbonnet and Christian Turner will both score a touchdown
Everyone is having success running the ball against Illinois. Last week the Golden Gophers piled up 332 yards on the ground and the week before that, Nebraska had 316 yards rushing, so I expect Michigan to do the same. Both Charbonnet and Turner have scored rushing touchdowns on the year and there should be an opportunity for them to do so in the same game for the first time this year against the Illini.
Aidan Hutchinson will record a sack
Hutchinson has been Michigan's most consistent performer along the defensive line and should have plenty of opportunities to get his hands on the quarterback tomorrow. Illinois' offensive line isn't very good and with a third-string quarterback under center, expect the offense to look out of sync. I don't know if the Wolverines will rack up eight sacks like they did last week against Iowa, but Hutchinson should be able to get to the QB tomorrow as well.
Ambry Thomas will be involved in another turnover
Thomas has always been a ballhawk and a playmaker dating back to his days at Martin Luther King High School in Detroit. He has continued that at Michigan and has two interceptions and two fumble recoveries on the year. I expect Illinois to struggle on offense tomorrow and turn it over and frequently, Thomas has been a part of those situations.
Team Predictions
No Michigan quarterbacks will throw an interception
Michigan's offense should roll against Illinois and part of that involves taking care of the ball. The fumbles have slowed down but Patterson threw a pretty bad interception last week. It's not a guarantee that Joe Milton will play but he's had interception issues when he has. Tomorrow against the Illini, they will take care of the ball through the air.
Michigan's defense will record at least three sacks
Last week's performance against Iowa was a thing of beauty. Getting to the quarterbacks eight times is very hard to do so it's unfair to expect that kind of production again. With that said, I expect Don Brown to keep his foot on the gas, which should result in a lot of quarterback pressure against a bad team and an inexperienced QB.
Michigan will never trail
No one thinks Illinois can beat Michigan but a road game is a road game. I think Michigan will jump out early and lead from the beginning, which will go a long way in deflating the Illini. The Wolverines are far more talented than Illinois and it should look like that from kickoff.
Michigan will keep Illinois under 13 points
If the Wolverines can keep a pretty solid Iowa team to just three points, keeping a bad Illinois team under 13 should be a piece of cake. Throw in the fact that they're struggling just about everywhere and will likely be fielding a third-string quarterback and 13 points seems almost unattainable for the Illini. Michigan's defense feels like it's starting to hum along and that should make for a long day for Lovie Smith and his boys.
Michigan will cover the spread
The Wolverines are favored by 22 and should be able to cover. Illinois isn't quite Rutgers bad but they're pretty hapless. They are at home, which factors in a bit, but U-M should roll and win by at least 23 points.
What do you think of the predictions this week? Do you have any of your own? Comment below!!!
