The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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40 THE WOLVERINE SEPTEMBER 2019 Few can appreciate how tough it is in that environment, unless they've been there. The Wolverines and Nit- tany Lions have been swapping home blowouts back and forth (Michigan winning 49-10 in 2016 and 42-7 in 2018, wrapped around a 42-13 loss in Happy Valley in 2017). The Nittany Lions figure it's their turn again. But with a senior quarter- back and a host of players who know what it's like under the lights at State College, Michigan could break serve. Opponent: Notre Dame (12-1) Date: Oct. 26 Venue: Michigan Stadium ESPN FPI Rank: 7th DEFCON Level: 1 The schedule gets real for the Wol- verines at Penn State, and certainly doesn't let up in the return home. Har- baugh wanted the Irish back on the schedule in the worst way, and may have gotten his wish. U-M will be coming off the physi- cally and emotionally draining battle at Penn State. Notre Dame will be com- ing in rested and ready, off a bye week. The Irish will also invade with a pair of defenders in Khalid Kareem and Julian Okwara who combined for 12.5 sacks a year ago, in a 12-1 College Football Playoff season. It is a setup fortnight for what very well could be Michigan's first loss of the 2019 season. If Penn State doesn't do the job, it could tenderize the Wol- verines for an Irish meat cleaver. Then again, this one will be in The Big House, likely under the lights. It doesn't get any bigger, especially as a regular-season non-conference game. Predicted Michigan record through October: 7-1 NOVEMBER Opponent: Maryland (5-7) Date: Nov. 2 Venue: Michigan Stadium ESPN FPI Rank: 68th DEFCON Level: 3 Here is massive trap game No. 1. Coming right after the one-two punch of at Penn State and versus Notre Dame, and right before the emotion-saturated fistfight against Michigan State, a trip to College Park could all too easily be seen as a quick getaway win. That's especially so since Michigan holds a 7-1 all-time series lead, mak- ing the Terrapins turtle by an average 35.8-11.9 score. Under Harbaugh, the Wolverines are 4-0 against the Terps, never winning by fewer than three touchdowns. That's the good news. The bad news is, Maryland can be danger- ous, especially at home. Just ask Ohio State. The Buckeyes rolled into Col- lege Park a year ago, maybe taking a peek one week ahead, to Michigan. OSU then found itself in a fight for its life, barely surviving a 52- 51 shootout in overtime. Michigan needs to be ready to avoid that sort of scare. Opponent: Michigan State (7-6) Date: Nov. 16 Venue: Michigan Stadium ESPN FPI Rank: 14th DEFCON Level: 1 But for the flukiest bounce in the history of the series and a poor mon- soon response, Harbaugh could be 4-0 against Gang Green. He is not. He is 2-2, allowing MSU to maintain its arms-locked, "Where's the threat?" stance. The upside for Michigan going into this one involves a bye week prior to it. That will allow for a breather from the gauntlet of October and more time to concentrate fully on the Spartans. They're worth a second look, ugly uniforms notwithstanding. They re- turn what figures to be a very strong defense and veteran fifth-year senior quarterback Brian Lewerke (in a re- vamped offense) looking for revenge after the Wolverines beat him up at Spartan Stadium last year. Bush won't be around to stare down the Spartans in any attempt at pregame intimidation. Who will do so once the game begins remains to be seen. When Michigan State quarterback Brian Lewerke was healthy in 2017, he led the Spartans to a 10-3 overall record and No. 15 ranking in the final Associated Press poll. He was limited to 10 starts in last year's 7-6 cam- paign and is looking for a rebound as a fifth- year senior. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN STATE The last time Notre Dame played at Michigan Stadium was in 2013, when the two teams squared off under The Big House lights in front of 115,109, which at the time was the all-time attendance record for any level of football. The Wolverines won that one 41-30, and it could be another night game this fall. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL