Michigan should triumph back at home
By LUKE PASCI4
Daily Sports Editor
Well, a lot has changed since
the last time Michigan played at
the Big House.
The Wolverines (4-1 Big Ten,
6-3 overall) return home follow-
ing an eventful two-game stint
on the road - a
23-9 loss against N'Westem
Nebraska and
a 35-13 victory at Michigan
over Minnesota. Matchup NU
In the loss to 3-2, 7-2; Mich-
the Cornhusk- igan 4-1 6-3
ers, Michigan When: Sat
lost both its urday noon
starting quar-
terback Denard Where: Michi-
Robinson to an gas Stadium
elbow injury and TV/Radio:
severely hurt its ESPN
chances to get to
the Big Ten Championship Game.
Saturday, a talented North-
western team (3-2, 7-2) comes
into town. Michigan no longer
controls its own destiny to get to
the championship, but the only
thing it can do to keep the chance ERIN KiRKLAND/Daily
alive is keep winning. Sophomore wide receiver/quarterback Devin Gardner filled in admirably for senior Denard Robinson last Saturday in Minneapolis. Michigan beat Minnesota, 35-13.
Michigan pass offense vs.
Northwestern pass defense
Northwestern has surrendered
272 passing yards per game this
season, which is the worst total
in the conference. Still, Michigan
offensive coordinator Al Borges
tends to stick to his guns, and the
Wolverine offense will still have a
run-first mentality.
But .Robinson and Gardner
have the ability to find a groove
in the passing game. Last week,
after a rough first quarter that
;included an interception, Gard-
ner settled down and took con-
trol of the tempo. He finished the
game 12-of-18 passing with a pair
of touchdowns.
Northwestern's pass rush isn't
special, and the coverage tends to
be shoddy at times, so both Rob-
inson and Gardner should be able
to hit their targets.
Edge: Michigan
Michigan rush offense vs.
Northwestern rush defense
Michigan's running backs have
underperformed this season, and
it's no secret. But if Robinson
plays Saturday, the Wolverine
rushing attack is still among the
most dynamic in the country.
Michigan coach Brady Hoke has
stayed mum this week regarding
the health of Robinson's throw-
ing elbow, and his status is totally
up in the air.
If Robinson is not available,
junior quarterback Devin Gard-
ner will start in his place, as he
did at Minnesota last weekend.
Gardner doesn't run the read
option as much as Robinson, and
he'll find himself under center
more often, with fewer designed
runs.
That puts a greater burden on
junior running back Fitzgerald
Toussaint and sophomore run-
ning back Thomas Rawls, as well
as the offensive line, to produce in
the ground game.
Northwestern's linebacking
corps is solid. Northwestern has
the worst pass defense in the Big
Ten and teams have been throw-
ing at will against them. The
Wildcat front seven has been very
adept at stopping the run so far
this season.
Edge: Push
Northwestern pass offense vs.
Michigan pass defense
Though Northwestern prefers
finding space on the ground, the
Michigan secondary needs to be
wary of the big play over the top.
When the opportunity presents
itself, Colter isn't afraid to launch
the ball deep should a receiver
find room behind the safeties.
Against Iowa, one of his six com-
pletions was a 47-yard touchdown
strike to Christian Jones.
Still, the Wildcat receiv-
ing corps is relatively weak,
and Michigan's defensive backs
should be able to reel them in eas-
ily. The Wolverines have given
up the fewest passing yards per
game (145) and the fewest touch-
downs (six) in the Big Ten.
Edge: Michigan
Northwestern rush offense vs.
Michigan rush defense
Northwestern's offense
employs a run-heavy spread,
but its operation is dependent
on whoever the hot hand is at
quarterback. The Wildcats have
tried out both junior Kain Colter
and sophomore Trevor Siemian.
Colter has started lately, which
makes sense because the offense
is a bit more dynamic with his
dual-threat capabilities.
In Northwestern's last game,
against Iowa, Colter kept the
ball on the ground 26 times and
picked up 171 yards, and he only
threw the ball nine times. And
the fact that he could also hand
the ball to junior running back
Venric Mark, who has compiled
over 1,000 yards this season,
makes matters tricker.
Michigan's front seven will be
busy on Saturday, and Hoke will
likely clog the box as much as
possible.
The Wolverine rush defense
has been average through the
course of the season, but it has
improved in recent weeks against
Michigan State, Nebraska and
Minnesota.
Expect the Wildcats keep it on
the ground throughout the game.
Edge: Northwestern
Special teams
Michigan redshirt junior kick-
er Brendan Gibbons was named
a semifinalist for the 2012 Lou
Groza Collegiate Placekicker
Award, given annually to the best
kicker in the country, on Nov. 5.
He is 15 for 17 on the year, and
he knocked through a career-long
52-yarder at Nebraska two weeks
ago.
But Northwestern placekicker
Jeff Budzien, has been equally
impressive, good on 11 of his 12
attempts this season.
Overall, the Wolverines' spe-
cial-teams play has been messy
recently, as punter Will Hagerup
has been shanking punts and the
coverage unit has been porous.
Michigan will have its hands full
with Mark, who has a pair of punt
returns for touchdowns this sea-
son.
Edge: Northwestern
Intangibles
There's nothing quite like
home.
Michigan returns to the Big
House for the first time in 21 days,
and fans will be excited to see the
Wolverines back in action. Ryan
Field, in Evanston, holds about
50,000 fans. This weekend, over
twice as many people will sit in
Michigan Stadium, screaming at
the Wildcats.
Pat Fitzgerald is a great coach,
and he will do everything in his
power to get his players ready.
But they might not be ready for an
atmosphere like this.
Edge: Michigan
Final score (with Robinson):
Michigan 35, Northwestern 10
Final score (without Robinson):
Michigan 24, Northwestern 13
$ j FootballSaturday - November 10,.201 2