Eastern Michigan at Michigan
Steve "Link Man" Preview:
A year ago UM and EMU were sitting at home during the bowl season, both nursing the same 3 and 9 record. Heck, both teams even lost to Toledo. Flash forward a year and the two teams are on very different tracks Eastern has opened their season without a win, meanwhile Michigan is riding high on a perfect 2 and 0 record. That is what should have UM fans concerned: will the wolverines have a ND hangover, or will Eastern wake-up under first-year (former Defensive Coordinator) EMU head Coach Ron English?
Why the Eagles will win:
The Eagle’s are picked to finish with the same abysmal record as last year, and so far are well on their way to fulfilling this prediction. But, do not be fooled – this offense put up decent numbers last year under QB Andy Schmitt. He completed 62.6 percent of his passes for 2,644 yards and 15 touchdowns. Schmmitt’s Achilles’ heel is that he throws about a 50% pick to TD pass ratio and is already above that this year, tossing 4 picks coupled with 2 TD’s. EMU has much of the receiver corps back but lost some key seniors.
But, this is why EMU will win. They have a running back, Dwayne Priest, who is averaging 5.8 yards per carry, averaged over a hundred yards a game, and scored two TD’s. If Obi Ezeh is still reeling from a lackluster performance at ND, and does not play with confidence, an EMU team that took Northwestern to the wire last week could make noise. The EMU’s, even having been down by over two TD’s, stormed back in a hostile house and lost by a field goal with eleven seconds left. Such is the stuff that could stun an underestimating team and fan base. If UM takes this team lightly and does not perform in a kill and never look back attitude, like it did with several leads at ND and WMU, the Eagles may help Ron return home with his first Eastern W. This is a trap game in which a winning hangover could reverse all the praise RR and crew are receiving.
Why the Wolverines will win:
Michigan is simply clicking on all cylinders on offense and freshman QB Tate Forcier is playing a field general role way beyond his years. Simply put, the offense at UM is beyond what EMU will experience the rest of their season. Weapons abound against an EMU defense, under center, at receiver with Hemmingway returning, and healthy backs Minor and Brown pounding the ball on a rather bleak EMU defense. Expect the RB corps to build a large and commanding margin, which opens up the downfield passing much like we saw during the WMU game. This UM team simply has too much speed operating in a no huddle situation that will wear out a bewildered Eagle Defense. The defense will have much more success on the ends against this team and will be in the backfield all day. None-the-less UM needs the DB’s to step up and play as well or better than they did at ND and tackle at the level seen versus Western. Expect to see this as a good learning experience for the second teamers and freshman, as the starters will have their way on both sides of the pigskin. RR already is grounding the team on all the team failures in the first two games, hopefully that reality check has the team hungry and eyes open.
Come back later today to see GBMW Preview and also the predicitons for the game.
Thanks for stopping by Go Blue Michigan Wolverine
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Written by Steve
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