Michigan Monday: Too Early Look at UTEP

The Michigan Wolverines are 2-0, when I turned off the TV and was in the shower two weeks ago, I wondered to myself if this season was a total wash already after 1 huge upset by Western Michigan.  Now, Michigan is sitting at 2-0 and I'm not sure I even believe it.  

Michigan lost a little shine off its win after Ohio State lost its big lead in Austin and The Ducks got embarrassed by OK State.  But I will take a quiet upset win, where Michigan's defense was dominate outside a couple bad plays. 

Now it's "a get better week" against UTEP who lost to Oklahoma by 51 points just over a week ago. 

UTEP:

Best Win: Texas Southern 51-10 

Worst Loss: Oklahoma 51-0

Pass: 162.6 yards Per (201st)

Run: 182 per (58th)

Score: 25.5 (91st) 

Give up: 30.5 (118th) 

This team has a weird 51 thing going on.  They lost by 51 in week 1 and scored 51 in week 2.  Maybe we can keep that trend going by the Wolverines scoring 51 on Saturday afternoon. Here is a deep thought, is North Dakota State the best team in the new Mountain West in their first year of FBS Football?

Michigan is in no place to overlook any opponent and there is plenty to work on this week in practice.  The Wolverines need to find a functional offense and clean up some play on the defensive side of the ball. 

Not to mention, a ranked Iowa team coming in 2 weeks, a ranked PSU rolling in 3 weeks, and the National Champs in just over a month.  A trip for the "Little Brown Jug" is in there as well. 

• Michigan now #19 in both polls 

• Nice to see the National Champs back together on Saturday picking up their rings and enjoying an upset football win! 

• Quick question for the BHB Inmates: How does Cole Sullivan transfer to OK and not even start? He did make one nice play that I saw on TV.  He would be the star of the Michigan Defense right now. 

Post Game: Secondary Help

The Oklahoman

In my preview to Coach Whitt, I told him Michigan had to win this game on defense and they sure as hell did.  The secondary locked down the Oklahoma WR's and for the most part got Mateer on the ground when he scrambled.  The pass rush showed up and Michigan ended the game with a big sack by Marshall. 

In the 3rd quarter the secondary was doing its best to lose the game.   A terrible personal foul call on Hill and letting the Big Oklahoma TE run wild in the secondary.  Not to mention back to back terrible plays by Earls with a face mask and a blown assignment for a butt naked TD pass. 

Bryce was effective but the offense was very basic all game.  

There is plenty to clean up and that's why we do Cheers and Jeers:

Cheers:

• Michigan Defense making winning plays and basically scoring the winning TD 
• John Henry Daley had his best game as a Wolverine with 3 TFL's
• Marshall closed the game with a sack 
• NOB out there making plays 
• Another solid effort by Bowles 
• Secondary for locking down the WR's
• Get the ball to JJ! 
• Hiter had a few nice catches 
• Marshall catching all the punts
• Our punter is an All American 
• Butkowski had a nice field goal 

Jeers:

• The offense needs work 
• Bryce was the leading rusher 
• Oline played better but there just not enough holes 
• Michigan needs to find a way to pass the ball
• 11 Penalties for 90 yards is unacceptable 
• The mental mistakes are unacceptable 

This was a great win as the Wolverines and Bryce were the joke of the week, now they just upset the #11 team in the nation.  This is a huge win for Coach Whitt and this team.   They need to focus on getting better next week and finding more options on offense.   Bryce running the ball non-stop scares me with his fumbling issues and his health.  Mateer was gassed at the end of the game.

Huge win and it feels great!  Now go get better again! 

Oklahoma Preview

Time: Noon 

Location: Big House 

Weather: 77 feels like 87 

TV: Fox 

Line: Michigan +5.5

This is a tale of two programs through one game.  Neither team let in a touchdown in Week 1.  One team won 51-0 another one won a Hail Mary.  One team is ranked 11th in the country the other was ranked 16th but no longer ranked.  Oklahoma was posed to make a title run last year after their Michigan win, they got to the playoffs but their QB got hurt after the Michigan game and they weren't the same the rest of the year.   Any chance that OK State shows up on Saturday?  

Dear Coach Whitt,

I'm not sure I have words for what happened last Saturday night.  I do have some advice for you as you got a Michigan Head Football coaching experience in one fire hose blast.   First off, the all maize uniforms are weird and we don't like them.  Secondary, Michigan does not play well in night games at the Big House. Third, Michigan has a tendency to be very sleepy in its first game of the year at home.   

I'm sure you also learned that no matter the opponent you will get that team's best effort times 10.  Something makes the other team play at another level when they see that Maize and Blue.  This job is unique and nothing like Utah.   You have your hands full this week to not be embarrassed on Saturday.

Lou Holtz used to say that there are no greater improvements then between Game 1 and Game 2.  I sure hope that is the case for your team.  Outside of punting and not allowing a TD, there wasn't much to love from last week.   When everything is broken, where do you start to fix the problem was your greatest issue this week during practice.  

It has to start at QB.  I think Bryce has potential but he is snake bitten, falls back into old bad habits, and completely lacks confidence in his play.  It's hard to bench someone that is making so much NIL but that might be the right approach, he has never been able to watch and learn in college and he currently isn't equipped with the proper experience to deal with fire hose of college football yet.  I think Carr has better fundamentals but he is not ready for Oklahoma.  That leaves BFN if he knows the offense.  

These are very difficult decisions and reason your in this role.  You inherited Bryce and maybe he can't be fixed in a way that will win you football games this year.  If that is the case, we need to move on quickly.  On the other hand, the kid has a ton of talent and if you can fix him, his upside is through the moon.  Good luck with that decision. 

This week can change your season.  It's an opportunity to flush the Hail Mary that still seems be a topic on all the sports shows.  Or it can be one of the most embarrassing loses of your career.   The game will need to be won on defense for the Wolverines.  No matter how much your OC learned or Bryce can execute, it won't be enough to beat The Sooners, without a dominating defense.  In fact the defense probably has to score for Michigan to win.  

Final advice, the turnovers and penalties are not acceptable.  That is not Michigan Football and has to be fixed right away.   Finding a way to score points against Oklahoma's defense will need another Big House Miracle and I think you've spent those dollars.   My only hope is Michigan surprises us once a year in a game and I hope its this weekend.  Again coach, I'm at a loss for words and please don't embarrass the program on Saturday. 

Oklahoma 31 Michigan 10

Big Ten Preview Week 2

Last weekend outside of the Boise State - Oregon game there wasn't much to look at in the Big Ten.  Yes, there was a game in A2 that had a controversial finish.   This weekend there are some bangers!  Ohio State traveling to Texas is the big dog and Oklahoma in the Big House could be a good game if the Wolverines find an offense.  

Friday:

Rutgers @ BC (-3.5) Both teams suffered bad loses last weekend and neither program is on the rise, with both coaches seat sort of hot.  Not sure anyone wants to coach Rutgers.  Rutgers 14 BC 17 

Saturday:

Howard @ IU (-56.5): WTF?  IU really needs to be embarrassed about this non-conference schedule.

Oregon (-23.5) @ OK ST:  I don't blame the Ducks for this one, OK State was once a fine football program.  Oregon 38 OKST 7

Penn State (-23.5) @ Temple: Interesting road game for the Nittany Lions.  I expect Temple to stay in the game for about 2 quarters.  PSU 28 Temple 14

Wake Forest (-3) @ Purdue: I think Purdue will surprise a few folks this season.  Purdue 24 Wake 21

Utah State @ UW (-26.5):  The Apple Cup was close for awhile but I think Utah State will not compete in Seattle.  UW 28 Utah State 9

Miss St @ Minn (-1.5):  This is an interesting game and not a normal visitor for the Golden Gophers.   I like the SEC in this one MSU 27 Minn 21

Duke @ Illinois (-6): Duke were the ACC Champs last season and now all their good players play for Miami.  Illinois 19 Duke 13

EMU @ MSU (17.5):  I think the Hurons/Eagles keep this game a bit closer than we think.   EMU 17 MSU 27 

Maryland (-12.5) @ UConn: This is what I'm taking about an old Big East match-up.  Let's bring back Big East Football!  (Maryland was never in the Big East but could be now with a few phone calls!)  Maryland 28 UConn 10 

Bowling Green @ Nebraska (-29.5): Bowling Green, Nebraska sounds like a nice city to live in.  Bowling Green, Florida has one of best Golf Resorts in the country.  Nebraska 44 BGSU 13

SDSU @ UCLA (-12.5): I wonder what Brady Hoke is doing these days?  UCLA 17 SDSU 14

Western Illinois @ Wisconsin (-38.5):  Ok.  Wisc 52 WIU 3

OSU @ Texas (-1.5):  Game of the Week.  I like Texas in this one in a very close game.  It will probably be 110 degrees at night.  Texas 28 OSU 24

ISU @ Iowa (-14):  Iowa seems to have an offense now but these games are always close.  Iowa 21 ISU 17 

Louisiana @ USC (-30.5) This game kicks off at 11:00 PM EST.  USC 45 Louis 6