7B
TheMichiganDaily, www.michigandaily.com

given
the
pressure
that
Broncos’
quarterback
Jon
Wassink will face, but could
see a different kind of battle
on Saturday than they did
the previous week. Western
Michigan’s D’Wayne Eskridge,
at 5-foot-9, put up video game
numbers
against
Syracuse,
hauling in eight catches for
240 yards and two scores. His
counterpart, Jayden Reed, had
a noteworthy seven receptions
for 121 yards and a touchdown
himself.
The numbers are
jarring,
but Wassink will likely have
less time to throw. Michigan’s
secondary is still elite, and will
ultimately have what it takes to
limit the Broncos’ aerial attack.

Edge: Michigan

Western
Michigan
run
offense
vs.
Michigan
run
defense

LeVante
Bellamy
has
4.4
speed and a solid offensive
line that helped him pull off
a 64-yard touchdown versus
Syracuse. But he is largely
unproven and has never faced a
defensive front like the one the
Wolverines boast.
Last Saturday, Michigan often
found
itself
overcommitting
against dual-threat quarterback
Brandon Wimbush, who had
success finding his receivers
on crossing patterns or taking
off
running
himself.
But
Wassink isn’t Wimbush, and the
Wolverines mostly had success
stuffing Notre Dame’s running
backs.
Western
Michigan
doesn’t
bring anything that Michigan
either
hasn’t
seen
or
has
gotten burned on in the past.
With Rashan Gary and Chase
Winovich coming around the
edges and Devin Bush and
Khaleke Hudson crashing down,

the defense should have its way
on Saturday.

Edge: Michigan

Special teams

Early on, the Wolverines’
and
Broncos’
special
teams
units are hardly differentiable,
though
Michigan
holds
the
slight advantage. Sophomore
Ambry Thomas broke off a
99-yard kick return touchdown
when the Wolverines needed it
in the worst way against Notre
Dame. But sophomore Donovan
Peoples-Jones misplayed a punt
return to end the first half and
showed little more. Sophomore
Will Hart booted three punts
for an average of 44 yards,
compared to the Broncos’ five
punts and 36-yard average.
Michigan redshirt sophomore
kicker
Quinn
Nordin
hit
a
28-yard field goal, but missed

his chance at a second when
Hart botched a hold. Western
Michigan’s Josh Grant missed
his only attempt of the year,
but was 6-for-6 on extra points.
Both teams have their respective
issues, but the Wolverines have
had the more concrete results to
start.

Edge: Michigan

Intangibles

Michigan has the most at
stake given its expectations and
desire to rebound. Patterson,
while
showing
flashes
of
confidence, is still looking to
prove his worth alongside his
receiving unit. The offensive
line, deemed a strength by Ruiz,
needs immediate improvement.
Western Michigan is still
working out the kinks with its
second-year coach Tim Lester.
The Broncos are young and

introduced
the
second-best
recruiting class in the Mid-
American Conference, but are
still putting the pieces together
after an undefeated 2016 season.
That chemistry doesn’t seem
like it can happen at Michigan
Stadium.

Edge: Michigan

The
Wolverines
have
the
upper hand in every category,
but
as
seen
on
Saturday,
improvement
opportunities
are aplenty. Western Michigan
has playmakers, but its defense
could face problems against a
Michigan offense that is still
figuring through things on its
own.

Prediction:
Michigan
41,
Western Michigan 17

KATELYN MULCAHY/Daily
The Michigan football team is favored to win Saturday’s home opener against Western Michigan by 25.5 points, despite falling to No. 12 Notre Dame, 24-17, last Saturday in the season opening game.