STAFF PREDICTIONS
WolverinesWire staff writers Isaiah Hole and Trent Knoop will share their thoughts on the game, two soft predictions, one bold prediction and the final score.
Isaiah Hole:
It’s weird to say, but UConn might be Michigan’s toughest test, yet.
It doesn’t really say much, considering it’s still very much an overmatched team, but the Huskies have gone from being the worst team in college football — with four wins in the four seasons previous to 2022 — to looking mildly competitive in the first three games, which includes a win over an intra-Connecticut directional school.
Jim Mora is a really good coach, but not good enough to upset the Wolverines. There just isn’t enough talent on the roster, and maybe it would have looked different if Penn State transfer QB Ta’Quan Roberson hadn’t been injured in the season opener. This is another game where Michigan should be able to play deep into the bench if it wants to, as the defense is overmatched, while the offense could potentially challenge the Wolverine run defense.
Could.
What will be interesting to see is if Michigan does like it has in the past two games, emptying the bench in the second half. Or, will the Wolverines play this as a warm-up for Big Ten play starting next week and keep the starters in? Either way, it should be the third-straight bloodbath, otherwise something has gone horribly wrong.
-Soft predictions
- J.J. McCarthy completes 75% or more of his passes again
- Michigan gets five sacks
-Bold prediction
- Michigan’s starters hold UConn to under 100 yards of total offense
-Final score prediction
- Michigan 52, Connecticut 10
Trent Knoop:
I like Jim Mora a lot and I like how he took on one of the biggest challenges in all of college football, coaching UConn.
While the Huskies already have one win and matched last year’s win total, this still isn’t a good team and I don’t know when it will be. There is a reason the maize and blue are favored so high — for the third straight week.
There is a huge gap in talent level between the two teams. Both teams are on their backup quarterback from the first week of the season, but for two entirely different reasons. Michigan has a five-star sophomore in J.J. McCarthy who won the job outright from Cade McNamara. On the other hand, UConn lost its starter due to injury, so the Huskies are trotting out a true freshman that is turnover prone. Not a good matchup for UConn.
I’m guessing this game is over by halftime, and McCarthy will not see many snaps in the second half. As long as the maize and blue can get out of this game injury free I would say everything was a success.
-Soft predictions
- J.J. McCarthy throws over 200 yards
- Michigan forces two turnovers
-Bold prediction
- Braiden McGregor has three sacks
Final score prediction
- Michigan 56, Connecticut 7
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