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Newsstand: Analyst Joel Klatt makes pick for Michigan vs. USC

clayton-sayfieby:Clayton Sayfie•09/20/24•

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FOX analyst Joel Klatt broke down Michigan vs. USC and made his prediction ahead of Saturday’s top-20 showdown. From On3:

Klatt’s pick: USC 28, Michigan 17: After an early-season off week, USC is poised to play its second game against a ranked opponent this season, once again entering a top-25 showdown away from the Coliseum. The Trojans and their revamped defense, piloted by coordinator D’Anton Lynn, will go up against a Michigan offense that’s trying out its second starting quarterback, Alex Orji, who has just seven career pass attempts but is a dynamic runner. Klatt believes the game will come down to the Wolverines’ defensive philosophy. He thinks defensive coordinator Wink Martindale has to blitz significantly less than he has been. Otherwise, Klatt sees USC quarterback Miller Moss manipulating the pocket — like Texas’ Quinn Ewers did two weeks ago — and making Michigan pay.

“I don’t think that Michigan is going to change their philosophy on defense,” Klatt said. “Therefore, I think USC is going to carve them up a little bit. I think they’re going to get a lead. And I don’t know if the Alex Orji offense can come back. That’s something that we don’t know. Michigan has to play from in front in this game and with this quarterback. They have to play from in front, which is another reason why they should not blitz on the defensive side. That goes against the play caller’s nature on the defensive side. So I think they blitz, I think that fall they behind, and I think USC wins this game, 28-17.”

Michigan’s Big Ten basketball schedule for 2024-25 has been released.

Video of Michigan basketball workouts.

Michigan will hold its first-ever ‘stripe out’ Saturday against USC. Fans in even numbered sections are encouraged to wear blue, while fans in odd numbered sections are encouraged to sport maize. The stripe out look is even now featured in the EA Sports College Football 25 video game.

Quote Of The Day

“It brings a smile on my face when I think about it. I think about the people, the journey that we all went on together. Whether it’s with the coaches, and Jim [Harbaugh], the coaching staff, to the student-athletes in the recruiting process to NIL changing, the landscape with the transfer portal and all that and what it meant, the Champions Circle pulling together to help us maintain that team.”

— Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel on the football team’s 2023 national championship (via an exclusive interview with The Wolverine)

Headlines Of The Day

• John Borton, The Wolverine: EXCLUSIVE: AD Warde Manuel talks Michigan football, Jim Harbaugh departure, Sherrone Moore
• Clayton Sayfie, The Wolverine: Previewing Michigan vs. USC with a Trojans insider
• Chris Balas, The Wolverine: Keys to the Game: Michigan football vs. USC
• Chris Balas, The Wolverine: Staff Predictions: Michigan football vs. USC
• Anthony Broome, The Wolverine: Meet Michigan’s newest potential X-factor: ‘Marlin Klein’s damn good at football’

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