Staff predictions: Michigan Wolverines football vs. Indiana Hoosiers

It’s that time of year again — trying to figure out how Michigan football will respond coming off a tough loss with bad calls and bad breaks and significant coaching mistakes.

In Ann Arbor the last several years, it’s known as ‘November.’

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We kid, of course (a little). This time around, though, U-M still controls its destiny. The Wolverines are just outside the top five of the initial playoff rankings and have everything on the table despite another loss to MSU that should have been a win.

Now, as he does this time of year, here comes Tom Allen playing the part of the obnoxious and annoying uncle at the dinner table. He’s invited but not really welcome, usually does just enough to make the party uncomfortable but not ruin it (minus last year, when nobody really cared anyway) and always talks big, win or lose.

His kids aren’t always able to back him up, but they always give it their best, especially when they see their big cousins in Ann Arbor.

This year, Allen’s Indiana Hoosiers are 0-5 in Big Ten play. You never really know what to expect from one week to another — they played Michigan State tough but were hammered by Ohio State and Iowa, recently lost to Maryland — but many figured the Hoosiers would be better. Injuries haven’t helped, but this has certainly been a step back for the program.

They could get back on track with a victory Saturday, but that’s as likely as our Doug Skene winning staff picks.

Congratulations to Doug Karsch, last week’s winner. This Saturday’s victor receives Skene’s old pitching wedge I borrowed but never returned (rooting for you, No.72. It doesn’t really work well, and it just takes up space in the bag).

The Picks:

CHRIS BALAS: Contrary to popular belief among the ‘fire everyone’ crowd, U-M is still in this thing. Michigan will win the next three, starting Saturday, to provide (false?) hope that they can beat the Buckeyes and still claim a Big Ten East title. Michigan 37, Indiana 7

JOHN BORTON: Michigan puts it in make or break mode, and crosses off the first of four. The Wolverines can’t get the previous one back, but they CAN finish better — and will. Michigan 38, Indiana 17

CLAYTON SAYFIE: Michigan went to overtime with an Indiana team that finished 5-7 the week after suffering a heartbreaker to Michigan State in 2017. This Michigan team, though, is much better than it was back then, and the Hoosiers are banged up and reeling.

Likely starting quarterback and 18-year-old Donven McCulley is going to have a tough time in the pocket behind a struggling offensive line against Michigan’s elite edge defenders. The Hoosier defense can be strong against the run, but Michigan has proven it isn’t one-dimensional.

Wolverines win under the lights for the ninth time in 11 primetime home games. Michigan 31, Indiana 10

ANTHONY BROOME: Indiana is famous for getting into some chippy and annoyingly close games with the Wolverines. However, I don’t see it this year. They are on their third and fourth quarterbacks of the season and didn’t look all that great when their starter was healthy.

This is far from the Tom Allen team that was envisioned coming into this year and the storybook season isn’t happening. The Hoosiers scored 15 points against MSU and seven against the Buckeyes. I expect more of the same Saturday. Michigan seems to have turned the page and all indications are that it’s been a good, focused week of practice. The Wolverines take a step in the direction of staying in the Big Ten East race and grab a big win. Michigan 38, Indiana 10

DOUG SKENE: Indiana’s defensive front is nowhere close to what it was a year ago.  Michigan SHOULD come out focused and demonstrate that they are ready to run the table and win the Big Ten.

Now for the realities: Michigan has struggled to deal with Indiana for the last 4 years.  Last year, Indiana toyed with Michigan after the 24-7 halftime lead.  In recent years, November games have been where the Michigan program fades to irrelevance.
This Michigan team and staff ARE different but will need to prove that this November is time to Ascend!…Instead of declining to their normal third place Big Ten East spot.  

C’mon Michigan!!!  You can do this! Michigan 35, Indiana 13

DOUG KARSCH: Sluggish… that’s how many teams look the week after an emotional loss. All the talk all season long has been about how this Michigan team was “different,” and had “great chemistry.” And all that talk was nice, but I didn’t think we’d really start to find out if they were “different,” until they lost. These next few weeks is truly what determines that. I talk to players one-on-one each week … I’m buying in. There is a moxie and high-level of football smarts that exceeds previous teams. What I can’t tell in talking to them is how tough they are. I think we start to find out tomorrow. Michigan 35, Indiana 13

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