Preview: Michigan vs. Notre Dame

White shorts?  I hope this picture was taken before Labor Day.

Pass Offense vs. Notre Dame Pass Defense

Michigan's receivers didn't have a chance to look particularly great against Western Michigan last week, with only one big play (Junior Hemingway's 37-yard reception) coming in the passing game.  There are some capable receivers, though, and Jeremy Gallon looks like he's become a more frequent target this season.  In last year's matchup, Denard Robinson was able to use the short passing game on the way to a 24-for-40 day with 244 yards and 1 touchdown.  The Fighting Irish played pretty well on defense this past Saturday in allowing only 128 yards passing and 4.3 yards per attempt.  I expect Robinson to throw a lot of short passes this Saturday, too, while taking a couple shots downfield.  The Irish have some solid defensive backs and Robinson's downfield accuracy is mediocre at best, so any passing yardage will be hard earned.

Advantage: Michigan

Rush Offense vs. Notre Dame Rush Defense

Michigan's top two running backs (Michael Shaw and Vincent Smith) combined for 12 carries and 29 yards last year, even though the Irish were keying on quarterback Robinson (28 carries, 258 yards, 2 touchdowns).  Brady Hoke and Al Borges plan to run Robinson less this season, which means he won't be getting 28 carries, and I still have my doubts about whether they can be as effective at creating running lanes for the fleet-footed quarterback.  If Michigan wants to run the ball, they seem to have two options: either run Robinson a lot and hope that he breaks one, or line up in the I-formation and pound the ball.  The latter takes away some of Robinson's strengths, and the former might get Robinson dinged.  If I'm the Notre Dame defensive coordinator, I stack the box and make Robinson beat me with his arm.

Advantage: Notre Dame

Pass Defense vs. Notre Dame Pass Offense

Newly minted starting quarterback Tommy Rees played about one half of football on Saturday and threw for 296 yards and 2 touchdowns.  He also threw 2 interceptions, but that's beside the point . . . which is that Rees could very well carve up Michigan's secondary.  Last year starter Dayne Crist was 13/25 for 277 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception when he left the game with an injury.  And while Michigan's secondary has improved since then (no more Cam Gordon at free safety, for example), cornerback Troy Woolfolk's sprained ankle suffered in the Western Michigan game might prove to be a problem.  Wide receiver Michael Floyd is a threat to win the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver and had 12 receptions for 154 yards and 2 touchdowns last week.  Michigan has the options of covering the 6'3", 224-pounder with a slightly hobbled Woolfolk, a diminutive Courtney Avery, or a physically inferior J.T. Floyd.  The Irish also have an effective tight end in Tyler Eifert and a pass receiving threat out of the backfield in Cierre Wood.  Defensive coordinator Greg Mattison will likely have to call some creative blitzes to get to the quarterback, which will leave somebody on an island with Floyd . . . and that could get ugly.

Advantage: Notre Dame

Rush Defense vs. Notre Dame Rush Offense

The Wolverines' rush defense didn't look particularly effective against WMU's offense.  While they didn't allow any huge plays, they also got gashed several times on misdirection.  If linebacker Cam Gordon returns this week from his back injury, that could help keep some of the young guys off the field, but I'm not holding out much hope for Michigan to stuff the run.  Notre Dame running backs combined for 22 carries and 109 yards in last season's matchup, and running back Cierre Wood is coming off of a 21-carry, 104-yard performance against South Florida.  I don't expect Wood to have a career day against Michigan, but it would not surprise me to see him replicate last week's game.  With Notre Dame's ability to pass the ball and throw to Michael Floyd on the outside, that might prevent Greg Mattison from allowing the safeties to poke their nose up into the box.
Advantage: Notre Dame


Predictions

• Denard Robinson throws his first two interceptions of the year
• Robinson throws for 225 yards but gets "bottled up" for less than 80 yards rushing
• Michael Floyd goes for 120 yards and 1 touchdown
• We see Michigan's first trick play of the season
• Final score: Notre Dame 31, Michigan 27