2018 Michigan gameday #7: vs. Wisconsin

It's crunch time in Ann Arbor, and I don't just mean the leaves on the ground as fall has arrived in full force.  We've reached the toughest three-game stretch of the season for the Wolverines:  today's game, a trip to face Michigan State, then a return home against a Penn State team that will likely remain ranked.  5-1 Michigan (#12) has won five straight, including a trio of conference games, since the opening week loss to Notre Dame.

Last week's homecoming tilt with Maryland went quite well for the Wolverines, as Jeff and I can personally attest.  All three phases got it done besides a special teams TD and a couple garbage time scores, and QB Shea Patterson had what was probably his best game since migrating to Ann Arbor.  Plus that hurdle by Ben Mason (a FB!) was ridiculous.

Now Michigan has to deal with its first ranked team since week 1, #15 Wisconsin, who are 4-1, though as usual for the Badgers the devil is in the details.  Their win at Iowa was good but the preceding week they fell to a mediocre BYU team, and the rest of their schedule is weak as usual.  Penn State is their only real challenge remaining as the enjoy their annual feast of the Big Ten West.

Aside from some health issues on the defensive line Michigan appears to be catching the Badgers at home at a good time.  Wisconsin brings their usual beefy OL, video game stats-compiling RB, and above average QB to the table, but a below-average defense beset by injuries and an away night game against a humming Michigan team make this a tall challenge.  That likely explains the two-score spread, though I have a feeling this one will finish closer than that.  It's crazy for me to believe that the series between the teams has been absolutely dominated by Michigan, which leads 50-15-1.

So rest assured I'll be nervously watching tonight at 7:30 EST, and hopefully I'll be treated to one of the biggest wins of coach Jim Harbaugh's tenure at Michigan!

LET'S GO BLUE