Michigan vs East Carolina Preview: What to Expect in the Season Opener
After a second-straight Big Ten title and College Football Playoff appearance, expectations for Michigan football are sky-high. The Wolverines kick off their 2023 season against the East Carolina Pirates during Labor Day weekend. Michigan enters the matchup with 15 consecutive victories in Ann Arbor. However, the Wolverines will be without head coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore as they serve self-imposed suspensions for recruiting violations. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter will be acting head coach in Harbaugh’s place while quarterbacks coach Kirk Campbell will serve as the offensive play caller in Moore’s stead.
East Carolina has shown steady improvement over the first four years of head coach Mike Houston’s tenure. East Carolina is coming off one of its best seasons in recent memory. The Pirates finished last season with an 8-5 record, including a victory in the Birmingham Bowl over Coastal Carolina. They finished with consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 2013 and 2014. This is the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
Get to Know the Opponent
Despite back-to-back winning seasons, the Pirates must replace a majority of their production from last season. Four-year starting quarterback Holton Ahlers and standout starting running back Keaton Mitchell are among the most notable departures from last season. Rather than using the transfer portal, East Carolina will turn to fourth-year sophomore Mason Garcia at quarterback. Listed at six-foot-five and 249 pounds, Garcia is a big-bodied passer with a very good arm and good running ability for his size. He has just 38 career passes to his name, but he is a talented player with upside.
Additionally, the Pirates have a stable of running backs ready to replace Mitchell. Rahjai Harris and Marlon Gunn Jr. are expected to handle the bulk of the load in ECU’s rushing attack. Harris suffered an ACL injury last season but has fully recovered. Georgia Southern transfer Gerald Green and Kamarro Edmonds also provide good depth to the Pirates’ backfield. East Carolina’s top three pass catchers from last season are gone, but senior receiver Jaylen Johnson and tight end Shane Calhoun are guys to watch.
On defense, the Pirates boast one of the stronger run defenses in the country. Much of that front seven is back in 2023, but ECU went ahead and added multiple linebackers from the portal, including South Carolina State transfer B.J. Davis. Veteran safeties Julius Wood and Teagan Wilk are a strong tandem on the backend. Wood racked up 88 tackles, two interceptions, six pass breakups, and three forced fumbles last season.
Game Outlook and Prediction
The Pirates have plenty of positives about their team for Michigan to worry about. Despite losing much of their production and experience from last season, Garcia is a talented quarterback with solid weapons around him. His dual-threat ability will make him tougher to defend than most quarterbacks. However, Michigan has one of the better front sevens in the nation, so East Carolina may have to rely on the passing attack to move the ball. Additionally, one of the Pirates’ biggest strengths is their ability to win the turnover battle. Last season, they created 19 takeaways on defense while doing a good job of protecting the football on offense.
East Carolina is an up-and-coming program, but the talent on its roster may not be enough to overcome the second-ranked team in the nation. Michigan enters the matchup as a 35-point favorite for good reason. The Wolverines boast one of the best running back tandems in the nation in Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards. That duo happens to run behind Michigan’s deepest offensive line in the Harbaugh era and J.J. McCarthy is capable of beating teams through the air. Michigan’s explosive offense is coupled with a strong defense that should once again be among the best in the country this season.
Overall, East Carolina has a strong run defense, but that front seven has yet to face a rushing attack like Michigan’s. Expect the Michigan ground game to give the Pirate defense fits. Despite the talent on offense, the revamped Pirates’ inexperience may prove too difficult to overcome against a tough Michigan defense. The Pirates did a good job of protecting the football with an experienced starter at quarterback last season but expect there to be growing pains with a young pass behind center. The Minter-led Wolverines should handle their business and come out on top of this matchup with a comfortable margin.
Final Score Prediction: Michigan 45, East Carolina 10
Date: Saturday, September 2
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI
How To Watch: Peacock
East Carolina’s 2022 Record: 8-5
Photo courtesy: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
