The Michigan Wolverines are going back on the road this weekend, as a matchup with USC awaits. When the Big Ten expanded to include some teams from the Pac-12, these are the types of matchups people were excited about.
The Wolverines beat the Trojans in Ann Arbor last year and are now hoping to do it again out in Los Angeles. Both teams already have one loss, so this game has massive implications for each side.
Here are a few bold predictions for the contest.
Michigan will rush for 300 yards
Yes, this is a huge number for rushing yards — especially against a team that only allows 108.4 on average per game — but Michigan can pull this off. The Wolverines nearly hit the 300 mark against Nebraska and just ran for 175 against the then-No. 1 rush defense in Wisconsin. Justice Haynes, Jordan Marshall and Bryce Underwood have all shown the ability to break off explosive runs at any given moment, so I believe there will be a few big runs on Saturday.
Justice Haynes will score 3 TDs
A big day on the ground for Michigan means a big day for Haynes. He has been fantastic so far this season, rushing for 654 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging nearly eight yards per carry. Haynes should be in the Heisman conversation with those numbers through just five weeks, and maybe once he puts up three scores against USC this weekend, people will talk about him more nationally.
Michigan will win by two scores
USC’s defense, specifically the run defense, looked very questionable the last time the Trojans took the field against Illinois. The Fighting Illini ran for nearly 200 yards against USC, and they had a lot of success moving the ball in a 34-32 win. It seems like Michigan should have the advantage in the trenches, but the Trojans are still favored in this one.
Not only will Michigan win as the road underdog, but the Wolverines will win comfortably. Michigan will run the ball with success similar to the Nebraska game, and the Trojans won’t have an answer for it. The final score will be 38-28.
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