2017 First Glance: Week Seven Michigan Wolverines
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Indiana is looking for their first win over Michigan in 30 years in Week Seven. Image: Lydia Knoll IUSTV
Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)
We have sped through September, and all the way to the second Saturday in October. The Hoosiers’ open week in October 7th, after a clash with Penn State and prior to hosting Michigan and it comes almost right smack in the middle of the season. Coming off of an open date isn’t necessarily a great thing. Yes, it let’s players get healthy and back in the lineup (hopefully that won’t be too necessary for IU), however teams usually come out a little bit rusty, especially on offense. IU hasn’t won a game coming off an open week since 2013 when they knocked off Penn State 44-24. They lost to Wake Forest in 2016, Iowa in 2015, and in an odd double open week season in 2014 IU dropped games to Bowling Green and Michigan.
Week Seven: Michigan Wolverines
Date & Time: Saturday, October 14th, Noon
Venue: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana
TV: TBA
Wolverines at a Glance
Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh
Entering his 7th year overall and 3rd at Michigan
Overall Record: 49-27
At Michigan: 20-6
Wolverines Last Season: 10-3 (7-2) Lost 33-32 to Florida State in the Orange Bowl
Wolverine Returning Leaders
Passing: Wilton Speight (61.6 pct. 2,538 yards 18 TDs 7 INTs)
Rushing: Chris Evans (88 att. 614 yards 7.0YPC 4 TDs)
Receiving: Grant Perry (13 rec. 183 yards 14.1 YPR 1 TD)
Tackles: LB Mike McCray (76 tackles 8 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 7 PBU 2 INTs)
Pre-Season Predictions
Athlon’s: 3rd in the Big Ten East
Lindy’s: 3rd in the Big Ten East
Street & Smith’s: 3rd in The Big Ten East
Phil Steele: 3rd in the Big Ten East
Impact Newcomers For The Wolverines
1. Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR- Michigan has to replace their top two wide receivers from a year ago. That usually could be an issue, but Michigan brought in top receiving prospect Donovan Peoples-Jones. He has solid size at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds. Watching his matchup with Rashard Fant and the IU secondary will be entertaining at the very least.
2. Aubrey Soloman, DT- Another big time recruit along the defensive line will start the season behind some veterans, but like Rashan Gary last season, Soloman will see playing time in a reserve role at nose tackle.
3. Cesar Ruiz, C- It’s not often that a true freshman is supposed to see time at center at Michigan, but Cesar Ruiz was in for spring practice and has found his way onto the Michigan two-deep.
4. Ambry Thomas, CB- Any cornerback who is dressing for Michigan has gigantic shoes to fill as Jourdan Lewis and Channing Stribbling are off to the NFL. Thomas was in for spring practice as well and while he is behind some other upperclassmen who have waited their turn, if they falter Thomas can step in and inject some youth into that side of the ball.
Why The Wolverines Will Win
The Michigan Wolverines have had their way with Indiana for the better part of 50 years going 36-1 over the last 37 matchups and 55-9 all-time. Head coach Jim Harbaugh has had some great success at Michigan, even if he has not yet caught Ohio State. The Wolverines have plenty of weapons on both sides of the ball despite the fact they haven’t seen the field all that much.
Michigan’s defense was stacked at every level last season and will have to replace 10 starters in 2017. Luckily for Michigan, they return a lot of players who have gotten their feet wet. The defensive line will again be stout as Rashan Gary, a former number one high school player, is back along with veterans Mo Hurst and Chase Winovich. Senior Mike McCray will lead the linebackers and junior Tyree Kinnel will try and revamp a secondary that lost a ton of NFL talent.
Offensively, Michigan will have to break in a new tight end, two new receivers, and a running back. The offensive line is stout and Wilton Speight is a very capable quarterback who will have the nation’s number one wide receiver recruit to help him with the losses of Amara Darboh and Jehu Chesson.
If Michigan plays to their abilities, it could be more of the same for the Wolverines when they roll into spoil homecoming in Bloomington.
Why The Hoosiers Will Pull Off the Upset
Once again the Indiana Athletic department scheduled a top-10 team for homecoming. In 2014 it was Michigan State and last year it was Nebraska. The Hoosiers are hoping a large crowd can propel them over the hill and grab that elusive win over the Wolverines.
Indiana does match-up well with Michigan though. IU’s veteran receivers could be an issue for the inexperienced Michigan secondary and there shouldn’t be a blizzard in Bloomington on Oct. 14 (who knows) to mess with the passing and kicking games. Defensively, IU’s secondary and linebackers were an issue for Michigan in last year’s game and that matchup could favor the Hoosiers again in 2017. IU needs to get a pass rush going against the offensive line, something that was missing in 2016 as IU whiffed on several game changing sacks.
IU will be rested and energized by a large crowd. The Hoosiers will need to start this nooner fast and catch Michigan asleep at the wheel. If they do, it could be a historic day for the Hoosier Football program.
Final Analysis
The Hoosiers have come away with a win just once since 1967 against Michigan, but IU has given the Wolverines a scare the last couple of years. Michigan could possibly be the third top-10 team Indiana will play in 2017, which says how loaded the Big Ten East is. But is 2017 the year IU scores the win against Michigan?
Probably not, while Michigan is replacing 10 starters on defense and their top three receivers on offense, they are still extremely talented. Jim Harbaugh will be trying to keep pace with Ohio State and Penn State in the race for the East crown and he won’t let his squad over look IU and a sleepy Noon kickoff.