Preview: Battle of Undefeated Teams with Maryland Traveling to Michigan

(photo by Sarah Coull) Maryland moved to 3-0 after a tough 34-27 win against SMU on Saturday night. Now the Terps move onto undoubtedly its toughest opponent thus far as they travel  to Ann Arbor this weekend for a 12 PM kickoff. Maryland opens up as a 17-point underdog against Michigan according to FanDuel Sportsbook. Maryland is 2-1 against the spread through the first three weeks of the season. ESPN gives Maryland a 15.3% chance to top Michigan this weekend. Michigan Wolverines Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh, 8th year at Michigan, 61-24 16th year overall, 119-51 2021 Record: Overall: 12-2, Conference: 8-1, 2022 Record: 3-0

Michigan Wolverines Offense Cade McNamara is expected to start with JJ McCarthy out with an injury according to Harbaugh. He’ll be tasked to lead the Michigan offense that is first in the Big Ten in scoring offense, averaging 55 points per game heading into conference play. The health of WR Ronnie Bell, who missed most of last year with a knee injury, is a huge deal, but he’s back along with leading receiver Cornelius Johnson and excellent pass catching TE Erick All. Throw in the explosion of Andrew Anthony and this is a great group of receivers if Bell is back to form. The addition of Olusegun Oluwatimi from Virginia at center settles the front five helped by All-Big Ten guard Zak Zinter is back along with left tackle Ryan Hayes. 20-touchdown back Hassan Haskins is done, but Blake Corum is back after running for 952 yards and 11 scores. He’s the starter and is coming off a five-touchdown performance, while Donovan Edwards will get more work after finishing third on the team with 174 yards and three scores. Through three games thus far, Corum has 34 carries for 235 yards and seven touchdowns. Bell has 14 catches for 181 yards and one touchdown.

Michigan Wolverines Defense It’s not like the Vanderbilt defense set the world on fire last year, but defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is taking over the same role with the Wolverines and has his unit allowing just 5.7 points per game. He’s an upcoming star who spent years with the Baltimore Ravens, and now he has to reboot the defense that allowed 330 yards just 17 points per game. The combination of 326-pound all-star Mazi Smith and 275-pound junior Kris Jenkins should be solid. Several of the top tacklers are gone, but Junior Colson is in the middle at one linebacker job after finishing fourth on the team with 61 stops, and Nikhai Hill-Green will work on the outside coming off a 50 tackle season. The secondary might be missing some big parts, but it’ll be more than fine as they allow less than 100 yards per game through the air. It’ll be a test for Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa but there are plenty of options to play around with starting with all-Big Ten caliber DJ Turner and veteran safety RJ Moten.

Michigan Wolverines: Key TransferC Olusegun Oluwatimi, Sr. Michigan isn’t doing much in the transfer portal, but got a good one in the 6-foot-3, 310-pound Oluwatimi to take over in the middle of the line. He started his career at Air Force, moved to Virginia, and he turned into an All-America-caliber blocker who’ll step right in and be one of the Big Ten’s best for the ground game. Prediction- Michigan 41 Terps 27 Related Links VIP: injury notes, feedback from weekend visitors (+) Local ’24 QB Feels Love, Sees Fit in College Park Watch: Locksley, players recap win vs. SMU Miscues loom large as Maryland tops SMU 34-27 Instant reactions: Maryland 34, SMU 27 The List: Local flavor headed to campus (+) Another BBall visitor this weekend (+) VIP: Staff checking on local targets on Friday night (+) Maryland checks in on 2024 guard (+)