FootballSaturday, November 4, 2017
8
as
well
as
the
Michigan
faithful.
He
may
have
jumpstarted
the
Wolverines’
struggling offense last Saturday,
but he needs to show that he can
have that much of an impact on a
regular basis.
Peters will have his work
cut out for him in a matchup
against the Golden Gophers’
20th-ranked defense. In eight
games, Minnesota has given up
just eight touchdowns through
the air. It has also allowed an
average of 114 passing yards
per game, which is 10 less than
Peters gained last Saturday.
While Peters has yet to throw
an
interception,
the
Golden
Gophers have forced eight and
returned them for 98 yards.
Peters is bound to face some
bumps in the road eventually.
They might come sooner than
expected Saturday night.
Edge: Minnesota
Michigan run offense vs
Minnesota run defense
It’s not every day that a ground
game gains 334 yards. But last
Saturday was no ordinary day
for the Wolverines’ running
back rotation. Junior Karan
Higdon and fifth-year senior Ty
Isaac both eclipsed 100 yards
rushing, and Higdon teamed
up
with
redshirt
freshman
Kareem Walker to score three
touchdowns.
As
far
as
Michigan
is
concerned, it was no fluke.
After
starting
the
season
with
concerning
flaws,
the
offensive line has been on the
mend according to fifth-year
senior Patrick Kugler. With a
mentality to open up holes for
the Wolverines’ talented backs,
Kugler and his unit have worked
to resolve the little mistakes that
plagued them for much of the
year.
Regardless, Minnesota will
provide
a
more
challenging
test
than
they
have
faced.
The Golden Gophers’ trio of
linebackers,
Thomas
Barber,
Jonathan Celestin, and Carter
Coughlin, have the ability to
wreak havoc in stopping the
run. Barber leads the team with
75 tackles, Coughlin leads with
8.5
tackles-for-loss
and
4.5
sacks, and Celestin has both an
interception return and fumble
recovery.
The
running
backs
and
offensive line had their best
outing against Rutgers, and that
momentum should be enough
to push them past Minnesota’s
tough front.
Edge: Michigan
Minnesota pass offense vs
Michigan pass defense
More often than not, operating
an offense with two different
quarterbacks is a recipe for
disaster. Despite relatively solid
numbers
from
Minnesota’s
Conor Rhoda and Demry Croft,
the Golden Gophers are no
exception.
Minnesota has one of the
worst offenses in the nation,
ranking 110th nationally in total
offense. Rhoda and Croft have
combined for 1,251 yards and just
nine touchdowns in eight games
played. They should be grateful
to have a target like receiver
Tyler Johnson, who has caught
31 passes for 591 yards and seven
of those scores.
Michigan,
on
the
other
hand, has one of the best pass
defenses in the country. Ranked
as the fifth-best unit in passing
efficiency,
the
Wolverines’
secondary has held opponents to
just six total scores this season.
While their individual statistics
might not stand out as much, the
chemistry of the back four has
been a strength for Michigan.
Whichever quarterback takes
the field will have a hard time
breaking through the defense in
the air.
Edge: Michigan
Minnesota run offense vs
Michigan run defense
As is the case with the
Wolverines,
Minnesota’s
run
game is the dominant offensive
unit. And it has a trio of backs
of its own in Rodney Smith,
Shannon
Brooks
and
Kobe
McCrary.
The three have combined for
12 touchdowns, with Brooks
and McCrary coming up with
five each. Smith is the lead back,
though, as he has received the
vast majority of carries with 153.
Together, they have helped the
Golden Gophers rank in the top-
50 nationally with an average of
182 yards per game.
Despite Minnesota’s strength
in this area, Michigan has a
strength of its own, too. The
Wolverines’
defensive
line
has
only
improved
as
the
season has progressed, with
the combination of fifth-year
senior tackle Maurice Hurst
and sophomore defensive end
Rashan Gary continually causing
fits for opposing offenses.
As good as Michigan’s front
four is, it may not be able to
contain
Minnesota’s
running
back trio, though.
Edge: Minnesota
Special teams
It hasn’t been the best of times
for redshirt freshman kicker
Quinn Nordin.
After missing a PAT against
Penn State amid rousing boos
for the one-time Nittany Lion
commit, Nordin missed another
kick against Rutgers — this
time, a 37-yard field goal. He
is still 14-for-17 on the year,
which is good for an 80-percent
completion rate, but his recent
string of games hasn’t been the
most encouraging.
Nordin will be up against
a kicker with a comparable
record in Golden Gopher Emmit
Carpenter, who is 11-for-15 — a
73.3 completion percentage.
In a game that could turn out
to be closer than expected, one
of these two kickers might play a
role in the decision.
Edge: Push
Intangibles
While it may not have been
long since Michigan’s last home
night game, it has been a long
time since the Wolverines played
host to Minnesota. They won’t
want to remember it.
In the midst of Michigan’s
catastrophic 5-7 season back in
2014, the Golden Gophers came
away with a 30-14 victory. That
was all before Harbaugh took
over the program.
Under
his
watch,
the
Wolverines brought the Little
Brown Jug back to Ann Arbor in
2015. They won’t want to give up
another trophy.
Edge: Michigan
Prediction:
Michigan
21,
Minnesota 17
The Wolverines will face a tough task against Minnesota
BREAKDOWN
From Page 7
Minnesota at
Michigan
Matchup: Minnesota
1-4 Big Ten, 4-4
overall; Michigan
3-2, 6-2
When: Saturday
7:30 P.M.
Where: Michigan
Stadium
TV/Radio:
FOX
EVAN AARON/Daily
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and his team are eager to keep the Little Brown Jug in Ann Arbor on Saturday night after taking it back from Minnesota two years ago.