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TheMichiganDaily, www.michigandaily.com

What to Watch 
For vs. Rutgers

With two losses on the 

season, it might seem as if the 
Michigan football team (2-2 Big 
Ten, 5-2 overall) doesn’t have 
much left to play for. 

But 
according 
to 
the 

Wolverines, that isn’t at all 
the case. Even with a lowly 
opponent like Rutgers — which 
suffered a notorious 78-0 loss 
to Michigan in its own stadium 
a season ago — coach Jim 
Harbaugh and his team spent 
the week stating that there 
would be no drop-off in their 
effort level.

While the Wolverines might 

be tempted to overlook them, 
this isn’t the same Scarlet 

Knights team as in 2016. The 
new-and-improved 
Rutgers 

(2-2, 3-4) will likely pose a 
larger challenge than expected, 
and Michigan can’t afford any 
more slip ups this season.

Here’s what to watch for 

when the Wolverines face the 
Scarlet Knights on Saturday:

1. Will Brandon Peters see 

the field?

With each incomplete pass 

fifth-year senior quarterback 
John O’Korn threw against No. 
2 Penn State, anticipation built 
for an appearance from the 
redshirt freshman signal caller.

Though Peters never ended 

up taking the field in State 
College, the Michigan faithful 
have made it clear that a change 
will be desired under center 

and no interceptions.
Edge: Michigan
Rutgers 
pass 
offense 
vs. 

Michigan pass defense

The Scarlet Knights reopened 

their 
quarterback 
competition 

after their original starter, Kyle 
Bolin, had a horrific game in 
Rutgers’ 56-0 loss against Ohio 
State, when he threw for under 60 
yards. Giovanni Rescigno has held 
the starting job ever since.

Rescigno, a Michigan native, 

led his team to two straight wins, 
but he completed just 50 percent 
of his passes for a combined total 
of 176 yards.

He 
shouldn’t 
pose 
a 
big 

threat to the Wolverines’ fifth-
ranked pass defense. Sophomore 
cornerback Lavert Hill is drawing 
comparisons to former Wolverine 
and All-American Jourdan Lewis, 
and 
he 
leads 
the 
secondary 

with seven pass break ups, two 
interceptions and one pick-six.

Penn State’s receivers got the 

better of the Wolverines last week, 
but expect Hill and the others to 
come into this weekend hungry 
for a win.

Edge: Michigan
Special teams
With only one special teams 

touchdown, the Wolverines’ punt 
and kick returners haven’t made 
as much of an impact as last year. 
Two freshman handle Michigan’s 
returner duties: wide receiver 
Donovan Peoples-Jones takes the 
punts and defensive back Ambry 
Thomas returns kickoffs. Both 
have shown potential — Peoples-
Jones returned one punt for a 
touchdown against Air Force — 
but neither have made a significant 
impact.

Defensively 
though, 
the 

Wolverines haven’t allowed a 
single special teams touchdown. 
Rutgers returns each punt an 
average of 10 yards and each kick 
an average of just 14, which should 
not threaten Michigan’s special 
teams defense unit much.

In 
the 
kicking 
game, 
the 

Wolverines have the advantage as 
well. In close games at the start 
of the year, redshirt freshman 
kicker Quinn Nordin proved to be 
a difference maker.

With light wind and just a two 

percent chance of rain in the 
forecast, Nordin will be expected 
to hit every field goal he takes 
within 50 yards this weekend.

Edge: Michigan
Intangibles
Both teams have plenty of pride 

on the line. The Wolverines want 
to return to the AP Top 25, and 
Rutgers wants to wash out the foul 
taste of last year’s 78-0 whooping. 
Having slipped out of national 
attention, 
Michigan 
hopes 
to 

improve after the team’s worst 
loss since Harbaugh arrived.

Junior receiver Grant Perry 

said that the Wolverines want 
to take out all their frustration 
on Rutgers. If they do that, the 
Scarlet Knights don’t have much 
of a shot.

Edge: Michigan
Prediction: 
Michigan 
31, 

Rutgers 0

BREAKDOWN
From Page 6

AMELIA CACCHIONE/Daily

Fifth-year senior quarterback John O’Korn may not remain the starting signal caller for the Wolverines for much longer if his offensive struggles persist Saturday against the Scarlet Knights in Ann Arbor. 

BETELHEM ASHAME

Managing Sports Editor

