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2009 Michigan College Football Predictions

Written by Jimmy Boyd

mich 7909 You almost have to do a double take when you look back and see that Michigan finished 3-9 in 2008, including 2-6 in Big Ten play. A mid-October loss to Toledo and a 7-42 blowout loss to rival Ohio State especially stung. While Michigan faithful aren’t used to suffering through rebuilding phases, they are going to have to give Rich Rodriguez a little time to bring in the right players to fit his system. Rodriguez has a proven track record and I believe the wins will pile up once again. It just might take another year or two. Michigan is listed at +10,000 to win the 2009 BCS championship.

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Offense – It was hard to watch the Michigan offense last season. Big Blue averaged just 20.3 points per game (99th nationally) and 290.8 yards per game (109th nationally). The quarterback position, the most important position is Rodriguez’s offense, was particularly tough to watch. Michigan’s passing attack ranked 108th in the country, averaging only 143.2 yards per game. Junior Nick Sheridan returns, after completing just 46 percent of his passes, to likely assume the backup role behind freshman Tate Forcier. There’s plenty of hype surrounding Forcier, who looked good this spring, but his inexperience figures to prime Michigan fans for a rollercoaster ride. There is also some hype surrounding incoming freshman Denard Robinson whose speed would be a good fit in the Rich-Rod spread. Michigan was an average running team in 2008, gaining 147.6 yards per game on the ground (59th nationally). The running game should improve this season as long as the Wolverines can pose more of a threat through the air to keep opposing defenses from stacking the box. Brandon Minor should get the starting nod at running back following a season in which he rushed for 533 yards and nine scores. Carlos Brown and Michael Shaw should get some carries as well. A guy to watch for is true-freshman Vincent Smith who resembles some of the scatbacks Rodriguez brought in at West Virginia. He looks like a future game-breaker for the Wolverines. Martavious Odoms and Greg Mathews lead the wide reciver unit. Odoms pulled in 49 passes for 443 yards last season as the team’s top returning target. An offensive line returning four starters will try to pull the whole thing together.

Defense – The 2008 Michigan defense spent way too much time on the field as the offense failed to move the football. Hopefully, the offense will give the “D” more of a chance in 2009. Up front, the Wolverines lose three starters so they will be depending on newcomers to step up. Defensive end Brandon Graham does return after a season in which he posted 20 tackles for loss, including 10 sacks. The Wolverines return all three starting linebackers so this unit will be a strength, but there is no depth behind them. Obi Ezeh will line up in the middle with Stevie Brown and Jonas Mouton on the outsides. Michigan’s pass defense was pretty weak last season, giving up 230.0 yards per game (87th nationally). Lockdown corner Donovan Warren returns, but he’s going to need some help. The coaching staff will experiment with moving corner Troy Woolfork to safety to try to shore up that spot.

Prediction: 8th Big Ten – The Wolverines will be improved in 2009 and a bowl game isn’t out of the question, though it will be asking a lot. Quarterback and both the defensive front and back are concerns that figure to keep Michigan toward the bottom of the conference. Michigan is listed at +1000 to win the Big Ten.

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