Podcast: What to watch for, predictions — Michigan vs. USC

On this episode of The Wolverine Podcast, Clayton Sayfie, Anthony Broome and Chris Balas preview Michigan Wolverines football vs. USC, make predictions for the game and pick college football week seven contests against the spread.

Watch this episode in the video embed at the top of the screen or on our YouTube channel. Listen in the embed below or search ‘The Wolverine’ wherever you get your podcasts.
The Wolverine Podcast is available on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and more!

USC is searching for a marquee win, and beating Michigan would qualify. Head coach Lincoln Riley has a lot of pressure on him this season and this is one of the biggest home games — if not the biggest — for the Trojans this year.

“It’s another opportunity for Michigan to send another blue blood program into disarray or an identity crisis or whatever you want to call it,” Sayfie said.

“Fourth season for Lincoln Riley … it’s unbelievable how fast it goes now, guys. It’s hard to believe that he’s been there that long,” Balas said. “But they’re waiting for him to turn the corner here, and he’s got a team of athletes. I wouldn’t call them a good football team yet. I watched them against Illinois. But venue matters, and we’ve said that all along.

“You go to Illinois coming from the West Coast, it’s tough. We saw Washington struggle with Maryland for a half or three quarters and then turn it on and then come back, going out there the other way.

“If you’re an elite team, then you know what, you expect to win these teams. Ohio State and Oregon have done it. Oregon going to Penn State, that’s a huge win. Ohio State taking care of business at Washington, and pretty much handled them. There were some opportunities there for Washington, but that’s what you expect a contender to do.

“So, that’s why I think we’re going to find out what Michigan really is this weekend. Are they a contender? Are they a team that can go to USC against a team with good athletes, play a really good game, which is what it’s going to take and win there?

“We remember Penn State last year really got dominated for a good part of that game, before coming back and beating USC in the second half, and ended up being a playoff team. So, if Michigan wants to be a playoff team — if they are who they want to be — then they’ve got to win this game, guys. Play well from the get-go. No slow starts.”