Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood is starting “for now,” according to head coach Kyle Whittingham, and those two words alone should have every Oklahoma fan on high alert. It’s only Week 2, and we’re already seeing some wild college football action, but the Wolverines’ offensive struggles are front and center heading into a brutal rematch with the Sooners.
Michigan’s QB Conundrum and the Sooners’ Challenge
Look, last season Oklahoma walked away with a 24-13 win against Michigan. Then, Week 1 this year, Michigan barely scraped by Western Michigan, winning 13-12. How’d they do it? They scored on the opening possession, then literally didn’t cross the Western Michigan 50-yard line again until the *final play* of the game. That’s not exactly inspiring confidence. QB Bryce Underwood didn’t exactly light it up against Western Michigan, and Whittingham’s “for now” comment? Yikes. That’s a huge flashing sign.
Everyone and their grandma is betting on Oklahoma or the Under based on last year’s score and Michigan’s Week 1 flop. But that feels way too simple, doesn’t it? I’m not taking those “easy” wagers. My gut says something different. To actually get anything out of Underwood against a fierce Oklahoma defense, Michigan has to play to his strengths, and right now, that’s rushing the football. He had nine carries against Western Michigan, and if Michigan has any sense, that number is absolutely going to skyrocket this weekend. They had chances to run him more in Week 1 and just… didn’t. They’re going to against Oklahoma, trust me. And remember, in college football, sacks count as rush attempts, which is just another layer to this whole thing if Oklahoma’s D line gets to him.
Ohio State’s Offense Needs a Reality Check in Texas
Speaking of rematches, Ohio State is heading down to Texas after beating the Longhorns 14-7 in Week 1 last season. Picking a straight winner for this one? Nah, I’m staying away. Too unpredictable. But what’s not unpredictable is Ohio State struggling to put points on the board against solid defenses, and that’s exactly why I’m taking the Buckeyes’ team total Under here.
Yeah, their offense is loaded with playmakers, some of the best in the country even. And the offensive line is supposedly “trending to be much better this season.” But let’s look at the tape from last year. They scored 14 against Texas, then only 10 against Indiana in the Big Ten title game, and just 14 against Miami in their Playoff loss. A lot of that low scoring can be pinned on first-time starting quarterback Julian Sayin, who just didn’t play well in those big matchups. Plus, the blocking was rough at times in those contests. Is this offense suddenly going to “scale up” against Texas on Saturday night? I don’t buy it yet. This is offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s first road game with this crew, and honestly, I can see some serious clunkiness early on as they try to figure out what actually works against that Texas defense. It’s gonna be a grind.
So, get ready for some intense Week 2 action. Will Michigan finally unleash Underwood’s legs, or will Oklahoma shut them down? And can Ohio State’s offense actually put up a fight on the road in a tough environment? You know I’ll be glued to the screen, watching every single snap.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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