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The Michigan football team will get its first chance to rebound from last week’s crushing loss to Texas when Arkansas State, led by former CMU coach Butch Jones, visits the Big House at noon Saturday.
Five Free Press sports reporters give their picks between the Wolverines, who are favored by more than three touchdowns, and the Red Wolves.
Tony Garcia
Arkansas State is expected to compete for the Sun Belt this year and can throw the ball. Michigan gets the perfect opponent to improve its running game – the Red Wolves’ defense is No. 114 in the nation, allowing 199 yards per game. This week, Michigan’s offense goes back to basics, with Kalel Mullings breaking the 100-yard mark with two scores. The selection: UM 30, Arkansas State 7.
Tracking the Red Wolves: Michigan vs. Arkansas State Football Prediction and Scouting Report
Carlos Monarrez
With a big new contract under his belt, head coach Sherrone Moore must prove he’s worth it with a convincing comeback game against the 2-0 record-holder Red Wolves. Given Arkansas State’s weak run defense, that shouldn’t be a problem. The Wolverines will have it so easy that they can start planning for USC at halftime. The selection: UM 38, Arkansas State 13.
Rainer Sabin
Arkansas State was coming off a loss to Central Arkansas after a controversial call at the end of their opener. They’re not a great team and shouldn’t pose much of a threat to Michigan. But the Wolverines are in a bit of a funk right now with a sluggish offense and a weak defense.
Last weekend’s loss to Texas shattered Michigan’s aura of invincibility, and it could take a while for the Wolverines to recover from that loss, so this game could be uncomfortably close in the early going before the reigning national champions assert their superiority and pull away. The selection: UM 33, Arkansas State 14.
Jeff Seidel
The Wolverines will win this game, I have little doubt about that. But I’m very interested to see how Michigan fares against a team like that, because it will put the Texas debacle into perspective. Was Texas so dominant because it was headed for an appearance in the national championship game? (Probably.) Or did Michigan look so bad because they lost so much talent? This game will give us a clue. The selection: UM 31, Arkansas State 10.
Michael C.
Hey, we have no idea who the Wolverines are. Is Fresno State really good? Will Texas win nationals? I bet Michigan is somewhere between its first and second performances. That could be a scary place, though. The selection: UM 27, Arkansas State 16.
