Michigan Football: Preview, prediction, live stream vs. Indiana in Week 7
By Shawn Ekwall
Michigan Football looks to rebound from last week’s disappointing loss to Michigan State. Here’s everything you need to know for the Indiana game.
Michigan quarterback Wilton Speight will continue to miss time with an injured back he suffered in late September against Purdue. That means John O’Korn will make his third start against the Hoosiers on Saturday.
O’Korn struggled against Michigan St, being intercepted on three consecutive possessions in the second half of the Wolverines’ 14-10 loss in Ann Arbor. Obviously, O’Korn must improve if Michigan wants to remain in the hunt in the Big Ten East. How the Wolverines respond to the disappointing loss to the Spartans will go a long ways in determining the outcome against Indiana.
A much-improved Hoosiers’ defense pitched their first shutout of the season in last Saturday’s 27-0 win over outmatched Charleston Southern. Indiana’s defense held the Buccaneers to just 134 yards of offense. An amazing stat from the game was the Buccaneers did not complete a pass the entire game.
Obviously the task at hand is much more difficult against Michigan. Although the Wolverines rank 84th in the FBS in total offense, averaging just 385.8 yards per game. Expect the rejuvenated Hoosiers’ defense to give O’Korn and the Michigan offense fits.
Indiana sits at 3-2 overall, but both losses have come to Big Ten East heavyweights — Ohio State and Penn State. If the Hoosiers have any desire to stay in the conference race, a win Saturday is imperative.
Here’s how you can watch Saturday’s battle between the Wolverines and Hoosiers:
Date: Saturday, Oct. 14
Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
Location: Bloomington, Ind.
Venue: Memorial Stadium
TV: ABC
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Keys to Victory
Redshirt Freshman quarterback Peyton Ramsey made his first career start for the Hoosiers against Charleston Southern. His solid outing ended with 321 yards and two touchdowns through the air. The real test comes Saturday against the nation’s top-ranked defense. He has some talented play makers on offense. Can he make enough plays to put Indiana in position to win?
Michigan needs to find a consistent ground game to take the pressure off O’Korn. The Wolverines have been using a committee of backs early in the year, although Karan Higdon had the most productive game against the Spartans. Look for Michigan to run the ball, limit mistakes and put its defense in advantageous situations.
Prediction
First-year Indiana coach Tom Allen has certainly injected life into the program. The man coaches each game with the same energy he expects from his players. Expect a lot of energy from the players, coaches and fans early on.
Next: NFL Mock Draft 2018: First round after Week 6
I expect the Hoosiers to start fast, getting the Wolverines on their heels. This game has upset written all over it, if Michigan turns the ball over like it did a week ago. Expect Michigan to grind it out, while its defense converts a late Hoosiers’ turnover into the winning score.
Final Score: Michigan 23, Indiana 20