Michigan Mailbag: The Game Edition

Happy Friday! We’re just one day away from The Game. Freshman Bryce Underwood helped lead his team to a resounding victory over the Maryland Terrapins last weekend, and now we’re just one day away from seeing him on the field in the biggest rivalry in all of sports.

On Sunday, we asked you to submit questions on The Feed, and your responses did not disappoint. Here are some answers to this week’s Michigan Mailbag.

Go_Wolverines: What’s your single biggest concern for Michigan during The Game?

If I have to pick just one concern, I think it’s Ohio State’s receivers and how they match up against Michigan’s defense. We didn’t see the best outcome against USC; if Wink Martindale didn’t use that game as a learning moment, I’m concerned about giving up too many big plays against the Buckeyes. Ohio State did have two of its players sit out against Rutgers, as Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate are both dealing with injuries. If defensive backs Zeke Berry and Jyaire Hill can make some big plays, it’d certainly help turn the tide in Michigan’s favor.

SonicsAaron: What are the keys to the game?

We know how important the ground game is when it comes to this rivalry, and Michigan will need another big game from the running backs on Saturday. The Wolverines will also need to trust Bryce Underwood and his ability to manage the offense. On defense, I’d like to see Martindale let his guys make some plays and not get too weird with the scheme. Michigan has players, but if they’re being asked to do too much, it could be a repeat of the USC game again.

fredfier…: Will Jordan Marshall be healthy enough to play?

I sure hope so. The coaching staff hinted he didn’t have anything serious going on, and they were able to give him another week of rest when the Wolverines handled Maryland. He’s such a tough player so it’s hard to see him not playing on Saturday, especially given everything that’s on the line. Head coach Sherrone Moore reinforced that on his radio show on Monday as well, saying they held him out as a precaution against Maryland and that he will be good for The Game.

David Lewis 2: How can you guarantee 2 inches of snow at game time?

It’d be wonderful if I could guarantee the weather conditions. David makes a great point about the weather, though. Michigan, over the past few seasons, has been built on the run game, and a snowy game day seems like it’d benefit the Wolverines. There is a chance of snow in the forecast, so it would certainly be memorable to have the Wolverines get another win on a snowy day in Ann Arbor.

VictorsV2317: In order for Michigan to win The Game they must _____?

Win the turnover battle. For me, this is one area where the Wolverines need to excel. If the defense can give the offense a short field or even get points on the board, it would certainly tip the scales in their favor. There are a lot of aspects of this game, like winning at the line of scrimmage and not settling for field goals, but the turnover battle would force Julian Sayin into a situation he hasn’t been in very often this season.

BradyBoy: When Michigan beats Ohio for the 5th time in a row, is Ryan Day’s job in jeopardy?

I don’t feel nearly as confident as BradyBoy about Michigan’s chances of picking up a fifth straight win over Ohio State. I do think the question about Ryan Day’s job security is interesting. In the past, I’d say of course, his job is in jeopardy if he loses. However, the expanded College Football Playoff shows us the Buckeyes don’t need to win against Michigan to get to the National Championship. Their fans may hate losing to Michigan, but I’m not sure the administration really cares if the Buckeyes are still going to the CFP. It’ll certainly be an interesting conversation after the game if Michigan wins.

Von Lozon: What are the Top 3 side dishes for Thanksgiving?

I think that I’m going to get some heat for my three favorite side dishes, but here they are:

1. Cranberry Sauce

2. Sweet Potato Casserole (With a brown sugar and pecan topping)

3. Stuffing

Debate in the comments if you must, but for me, it isn’t Thanksgiving if you’re missing those sides. Green bean casserole, mashed potatoes and rolls are also great, as is mac and cheese. If I could pick them all, I would.