Summary Points:
Michigan has four tough games coming up
The Wolverines’ toughest will be on the road against USC
A rivalry game against Michigan State could produce fireworks
The Michigan Wolverines have a chance to vault up the AP Poll in the next four weeks with quality opposition on the schedule in Ann Arbor and two road venues in the Big Ten Conference.
The Wolverines’ schedule is one of the nation’s toughest this season counting their difficult early season road game against the Oklahoma Sooners, a 24-13 Oklahoma victory.
Coach Sherrone Moore’s team will take on the Wisconsin Badgers this week followed by a road trip to take on the USC Trojans, a team that has historically been a thorn in Michigan’s side despite a Michigan win at home last season.
A home game against Washington and a road test at Michigan State will wrap up the daunting four-game stretch.
Here are four quick predictions for the Wolverines’ next four games, subject to change in the coming weeks depending on injuries, performances and other factors:
Oct. 4 vs. Wisconsin-
Michigan is favored by 16.5 points in this game and appears to have a better all-around team than Luke Fickell’s Badgers at this point of the season.
Fickel”s QB Danny O’Neil has a quick, unorthodox at times release that could throw off the timing of Michigan’s defense.
The Badgers have a veteran defense that could challenge freshman QB Bryce Underwood by giving him different looks throughout the contest.
Expect Michigan to rack up 20 or more points by the fourth quarter and Wisconsin to score late to make it look more respectable on the final score sheet.
Prediction: Michigan 20, Wisconsin 17
Oct. 11 at USC-
The Trojans have put up 30 or more points in all five games this season but lost 34-32 to Bret Bielema’s Illinois Fighting Illini last week.
The Trojans are a sack-happy team with 17 so far through five games, ranked fourth in the country and tied with the Buffalo Bulls of the Mid-American Conference.
Michigan’s running game and pass protection will be paramount in this game and Underwood must avoid the big mistake.
Michigan shredded the Trojans on the ground last season en route to a comeback win.
This game looks like a coin flip with Michigan holding a coach edge and Underwood and his offensive line’s performance likely the deciding factor.
Prediction: USC 35, Michigan 30
Oct. 18 vs. Washington-
The Wolverines ran into a buzzsaw in Seattle last year as the Huskies wanted, and got, revenge for their national title game loss in early 2024.
Michigan has the defensive depth and continuity on that side of the ball to stifle the Huskies’ offense the way Ohio State did last week on the road.
Expect Michigan’s defense to make a statement and Underwood to settle in and perform well in the friendly confines of Michigan Stadium.
Prediction: Michigan 34, Washington 17
Oct. 25 at Michigan State-
Many pessimistic Wolverines fans had last year’s game pegged as a loss with former walk-on QB Davis Warren starting and the Wolverines’ anemic offense going up against talented MSU QB Aidan Chiles.
The Wolverines held Chiles in check and scored enough points to keep the Paul Bunyan Trophy in Ann Arbor for another season.
This year’s game in East Lansing looks like a season definer for the Wolverines’ rivals to the northwest yet again.
Chiles has likely been circling this game on his calendar with a goal of proving himself as talented as Michigan’s anointed five-star Underwood.
Expect a few big plays early from MSU but for the Michigan offense to later settle down and score enough points to win in a hostile environment.