Defense, defense, defense. That's what you can expect when you tune into the game on Saturday afternoon between the Michigan Wolverines and the Northwestern Wildcats. Northwestern 5-0 (1-0) comes in ranked 13th in the nation while Michigan 4-1 (1-0) comes in ranked 18th in the nation.
This game will be played in Ann Arbor so Michigan has that advantage but both teams come in playing great football and armed with the two best defenses in the nation. Northwestern has allowed just 7.0 points per game so far this season which is tops in the nation while Michigan isn't far behind allowing just 7.6 points per game including two consecutive shutouts.
Michigan's lone loss came back in week one to a Utah team that is now ranked fifth in the nation so there is no shame in that loss. Since that loss they have dominated everyone else on their schedule including a 31-0 drubbing of BYU.
Michigan will be without defensive end Mario Ojemudia for this game and the rest of the season after he suffered a season ending Achilles tendon injury. Ojemudia led the team in tackles for loss before injuring the Achilles in last weeks win over Maryland and they will need other guys to step up.
The Wolverines have been putting up points this season but quarterback Jake Rudock has not had a great start to the season. Rudock has thrown just five touchdowns compared to six interceptions. Jim Harbaugh has instead been leaning on the running game and De'Veon Smith who has four rushing touchdowns and 331 yards. Smith injured his foot last week but is expected to be fine for this game against a team he dropped over 100 rushing yards against last season.
Northwestern's defense is led by linebacker Anthony Walker who leads the team with 44 tackles, 8.5 of which have been for a loss. The Wildcats have pitched two shutouts themselves this season but they feel as though Michigan is the toughest team they will have played up to this point.
The Wildcats too rely heavily on the run game and their bellcow running back Justin Jackson who already has 138 carries this season. Jackson has run for more than 600 yards so far but he was stuffed by Michigan a year ago to the tune of 17 carries for just 35 yards.
Freshman quarterback Clayton Thorson has only attempted 113 passing attempts this season which is less than half of the amount of rushing attempts the team has. Thorson has thrown for 711 yards and four touchdowns but he has also rushed for 165 yards and a team leading four touchdowns.
Rudcock and Michigan have won the past two meetings with Northwestern. Last season's game was a defensive struggle that ended in a 10-9 Michigan win on the road. In that game Ojemudia had two sacks but he won't be available for this one.
Both of these teams are trying to keep pace in their respective divisions in the Big Ten which looks like one of, if not the, best conferences in football. Another 10-9 score would not be a surprise this season as it should be a good, hard fought game of Big Ten football.
The game kicks off at 3:30 P.M. and for the live broadcast you can go here. For the Michigan radio broadcats go here and for the Northwestern radio broadcast head over here.
