Michigan vs. UNLV Preview: Wolverines Once Again a Heavy Favorite
Michigan enters this week’s matchup coming off a comfortable 30-3 win over East Carolina. The Wolverines will once again be without Jim Harbaugh as he is still serving his school-imposed three-game ban for alleged recruiting violations. Offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore is back as play caller this week. However, the Wolverines will turn to running backs coach Mike Hart and special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh to handle head coaching duties.
The Barry Odom era at UNLV started in the victory column last week as the Rebels claimed a 44-14 win over Bryant. However, UNLV has struggled to put together steady success in recent years. In 2022, UNLV finished the season 5-7 overall and 3-5 in the Mountain West, which led to the firing of head coach Marcus Arroyo. The Rebels’ last winning season came a decade ago, but Odom has them off to a good start. The programs last met in Harbaugh’s first season in 2015, which ended a 28-7 victory for Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Get to Know the Opponent
The Rebels are led by junior quarterback Doug Brumfield who offers an intriguing skillset. The 6-6, 225-pound southpaw is an intelligent passer and pairs his above-average arm with good accuracy. His performance last week was a mixed bag, but he is a talented dual-threat playmaker. UNLV lost some weapons around Brumfield, which includes standout running back Aidan Robbins who transferred to BYU.
UNLV was active in the transfer portal in order to surround Brumfield with resources. Pittsburgh running back Vincent Davis Jr., JUCO wide receiver Jacob De Jesus, and William & Mary running back Donavyn Lester are among the most notable additions. Davis only carried the ball three times last week, but he showed off his explosive playmaking ability with a 69-yard touchdown run. The Rebels also returned standout wide receiver Ricky White who led the team in receiving last season.
The Rebels brought in a plethora of transfers on defense led by former Arkansas linebacker Jackson Woodard. He was all over the field last weekend and led the team with 12 tackles. Safety Jaxen Turner and cornerback Thomas Anderson are the most notable additions to the secondary. Both players should make an immediate impact alongside returners Johnathan Baldwin and Jerrae Williams.
Game Outlook and Prediction
Brumfield is a key player for Michigan to keep contained. His dual-threat playmaking ability could give the Michigan defense fits. Michigan’s front seven is a talented bunch that should be able to keep the UNLV rushing attack contained, but there are still questions surrounding the banged-up Wolverine secondary. With Will Johnson still getting back to full health, the Wolverines will be relying on Josh Wallace and Keshaun Harris to keep Rebel receivers White and De Jesus contained.
The transfers on defense make UNLV a better team on paper, but the Rebels still gave up over 400 yards of offense to Bryant last week. Michigan has a much more talented offense led by quarterback J.J. McCarthy and running backs Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards. Combine the elite playmakers with one of the best offensive lines in college football and this could be a productive day for the offense. Expect another solid passing performance from McCarthy, but all eyes should be on the rushing attack this week. East Carolina held the Wolverines to just under four yards per carry last week and there seemed to be noticeable communication issues up front.
Expect Michigan’s rushing attack to get back on track this week and to iron out some of those communication errors that plagued them before. UNLV’s struggles to contain the Bryant offense do not bode well for this week’s matchup. The Wolverines are a 36-point favorite for good reason. Their offense is one of the most talented in the nation and can hit explosive plays at any moment. Michigan has explosive playmakers on both sides of the ball, which should help secure another comfortable victory.
Final Score Prediction: Michigan 42, UNLV 10
Date: Saturday, September 9
Game Time: 3:30 ET
Venue: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI
How To Watch: CBS Sports, Fubo TV
UNLV’s 2022 Record: 5-7
Photo courtesy: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
