Utah at Michigan Predictions:

Well here are our predictions for the upcoming Utah Utes game against Michigan Wolverines Saturday at 3:30pm EDT on your local ABC and if not there it will be on ESPN2 in your area.

This week we have our normal guys that help out this blog (CoachBt, MaizeMan, Josh Turel and myself). Also every week we will have a guest to see how he does. So if your interested email us if your interested in being a special guest predictor.

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Special Guest Poster (Heb 1966):

Each time The University of Michigan has gone outside the program, in the past 100 years, to hire a new head coach, the gamble has paid off. Will Rich Rodriguez follow in the footsteps of Yost, Crisler and Schembechler? Will the beginning of the Rodriguez era be a happy one? We will not know the answer to the first question for several years, but the second question will be answered on Saturday, when Utah visits Ann Arbor.

Though most of the so-called college football experts are choosing Utah, I like Michigan because:

1. Michigan's defense is both talented and experienced. They practice everyday against a spread offense and will do a better job of defending it. I think the Michigan defense is good enough to keep a talented Utah offense under 20 points.
2. Emotion has to be on the side of Michigan. Home opener. Appalachian State memory. First game of the new regime and a ton of bulletin board material from the Ann Arbor News, to the Free Press to Sports Illustrated to ESPN. There will be no letdown this year.
3. Conditioning. Barwis has these guys ready and they will be able to play for four quarters.
4. Family. Despite the remarks of Justin Boren, this is a very close group that will play as one.

Final Score: Michigan 31, Utah 17.

CoachBt:
This is game of strength vs. strength. Utah offense against Michigan defense. So more than likely special teams will be very important. Michigan wins at home in close game. Something like 27- 24.

MaizeMan:
Being my pessimstic self---I am going with Utah 24-21.

Josh Turel:
I think Michigan is in a tougher situation than people realize. With so many new starters on offense and so many freshman being counted on to contribute, it's going to a year for growing pains. If the first game from last season told us anything, it's that Michigan doesn't win games just because their Michigan anymore. While the defense should be pretty solid this year, Utah matches strength upfront with four starters returning off a good offensive line. I still think Michigan sneaks their way by, but a loss to Utah would not be a shocker.Michigan-14Utah-13

ErocWolverine:
Well time for a new era in Michigan football. We are going to see how well this team plays against a spread right away. Utah has a lot of skilled players back on offense and might move the ball a lot on our defense. Where our offense might look better than it really is because Utah has a very young defense. I am going to say a close game 21-17 Michigan pulls it out for the first win in the Coach Rod era at Michigan.