What they're saying before Michigan football takes on USC

LOS ANGELES — No. 15 Michigan Wolverines football is set to clash with USC Saturday evening at the Memorial Coliseum. Here’s a look around the internet at what they’re saying before kickoff.

Andy Staples, On3: College Football Week 7 picks: Picking the biggest games against the spread

This game turned last year on a 10-play, 89-yard two-minute drive during which Michigan threw exactly once and still managed to march for a game-winning touchdown. This is a different year, but USC allowed something similar to happen two weeks ago when Illinois drove for a game-winning field goal. So the question is this: Is that just what USC is? The Trojans are good enough on offense to generate explosive plays against Michigan’s defense, and Michigan’s offense isn’t built for a massive comeback. So USC probably has to jump on the Wolverines early and force Michigan to abandon its preferred style.
The pick: Michigan to cover.

Scott Dochterman, The Athletic: Sorting through the Big Ten’s second tier: Who still has a shot at contention?

Path to contention: Michigan’s schedule is a real asset. Until the season finale at home against Ohio State, the Wolverines don’t face a ranked opponent. Among Big Ten teams, Michigan is third in both rushing yards and rushing yards allowed, and in its 30-27 win at Nebraska, it won the ground battle 290-45. In the Big Ten, that’s always a path to victory.

Key game: Saturday at USC. A win should nudge Michigan toward the top 10, but it’s never easy for the Wolverines on the West Coast. Since winning the 1997 national title at the Rose Bowl, Michigan is 1-10 west of the Rocky Mountains. The Wolverines’ only win came in overtime against Alabama in the 2023 CFP semifinals at the Rose Bowl.

Fatal flaw: Uber-talented quarterback Bryce Underwood is going to win plenty of games, but Michigan’s completion percentage ranks last in the Big Ten. If the Wolverines get into a shootout with the Trojans, it’s not ideal.

Ari Wasserman, On3: College Football Week 7 picks: Picking the biggest games against the spread

Every time USC plays a team that is traditionally physical, the Trojans don’t seem equipped to handle it. Now perhaps the most physical team in the country in Michigan is flying out to Los Angeles and is being given 2.5 points. Layup, right? Still, USC’s offense is very explosive and if its defense can hang in there against Michigan’s smash-mouth style and avoid giving up big chunk plays on the ground, the Trojans should be able to win. Here’s me putting my foot in the bear trap again.
The pick: USC to cover

Erik McKinney, WeAreSC: D’Anton Lynn on USC’s defense heading into Michigan: ‘It all starts with the front’

Setting the tone early
Illinois seemed able to do whatever it wanted against USC early in the game. The Illini went on a 10-play touchdown drive with on its first possession and then an 11-play touchdown drive on its second. The third drive, stopped by a fortunate fumble, was inches away from becoming another 10 or 11-play touchdown drive.

The entire defense was to blame, but the early play of the defensive line, specifically, has been a talking point.

“They got off to a slow start,” Lynn said. “Unacceptable. We’ve already talked about it over the bye. They had a good week of practice. They’re locked in this week. Starting fast and just controlling the front has been a huge emphasis.”

Both sides of the ball spoke about going back to the beginning and focusing on fundamentals during the bye week. Defensively, there was a push with tackling, pursuit angles and getting off blocks. Issues in the secondary in those areas led to two huge Illinois plays — one that resulted in a touchdown.

Despite some of the issues, the defense has had its moments this season. There’s a belief and a confidence the Trojans can show up on that side against the Wolverines.

“Just playing our brand of ball,” Lynn said of the focus this week. “Staying locked in and just talking about mental toughness and regardless of what happens the play before, regardless of the circumstance, staying locked in and just playing our brand of ball and being more consistent.”

Aaron McMann, MLive: Michigan vs. USC score predictions from MLive’s beat writers

Michigan looks and feels like a different team from last year, but are they? I think so. Enough so that Sherrone Moore’s team should put up a fight inside the L.A. Memorial Coliseum. The offense is much more balanced, Bryce Underwood is coming into his own, and Justice Haynes continues his tear on the ground. I’m expecting the Wolverines to pile up the yards on the ground and try to limit USC’s offensive possessions.

The big question mark I have, though, is how Michigan’s leaky secondary holds up against the explosive USC offense. The Trojans are going to move the football through the air, but can Michigan generate enough turnovers and third-down stops to limit the damage? Wink Martindale’s proven to be a master in-game adjuster, and I think he’s up for the chess match with Lincoln Riley. U-M wins in a fun, higher-scoring affair.
Prediction: Michigan 34, USC 31

Dan Santaromita, The Athletic: College football picks against the spread: Indiana-Oregon, Alabama-Missouri and more in Week 7

The Big Ten race appears to be narrowing in on OSU and Oregon (and potentially IU if the Hoosiers can win on Saturday), but Michigan is lurking quietly. The Wolverines lost at Oklahoma, but are 2-0 in Big Ten play and don’t play another team in the current AP Top 25 until Ohio State at the end of the regular season. Michigan hasn’t exactly passed the eye test yet, and traveling this far doesn’t always go well, which helps explain why USC is favored. But if the Wolverines pass this test, it’s reasonable to expect Michigan to stay in the race until the Buckeyes come calling. Wouldn’t that be fun (and potentially triggering for OSU fans)?

Manny Navarro, The Athletic: College Football Week 7 oddly specific predictions: Oregon survives a scare from Indiana

Most receiving yards
USC’s Makai Lemon has arguably been the Big Ten’s best receiver this season. He leads the league in receiving yards (589) and is tied with Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith for the lead in catches (35). Michigan’s secondary isn’t bad, but the Wolverines rank 11th in the Big Ten in passing yards allowed. Since joining the league, USC has gone 4-1 at home against the league’s non-West Coast schools. Lemon has a big day (seven-plus catches, 150-plus receiving yards, one TD) as USC tops the 15th-ranked Wolverines and covers the 2.5-point spread.

Cameron Salerno, CBS Sports: Michigan vs. USC prediction, pick, odds, spread: No. 15 Wolverines, Trojans meet in crucial Big Ten clash

This game is a toss-up. I really like what Michigan has done with its running game and Bryce Underwood is one of the best young quarterbacks in college football. USC has one of the best wide receiver duos in the sport, and that may ultimately make the difference in this one. This is a pivotal moment for Riley’s tenure at USC because last year, against Michigan, his team fell short. A win over the Wolverines would change the narrative and would be one of his most impressive wins since leaving Oklahoma. This game will come down to the wire, but USC will walk away with a huge win. Pick: USC -2.5