Can Michigan football survive one more week against an inferior opponent before the ultimate test against Ohio State?
That's the question on everyone's minds as the Wolverines travel to College Park to play the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 22.
Michigan football has won four games in a row since dropping their second game of the season on Oct. 11 against USC, but it hasn't always been pretty. Aside from a convincing 24-7 victory over Washington, Michigan has been threatened in all of their victories.
The Terrapins have been on the opposite track from the Wolverines, dropping six straight games after starting the year a perfect 4-0.
Will this be the week the tide finally turns?
Four Free Press sports writers have their thoughts:
Tony Garcia
These teams are led by two young quarterbacks with big arms and big frames. That's about where the similarities end. U-M's defense has been suffocating, while Maryland has relied on turnovers to stay in games. Michigan cannot look toward OSU too early – even in 2022 and 2023, Maryland played U-M tight in the leadup to "The Game," staying inside a touchdown each time. It won't be quite that close this time, but will be closer than many expect. The pick: U-M 30, Maryland 19.
Carlos Monarrez
Michigan is 11-1 in this series and is about to cruise to 12-1 against the Terrapins, who are riding a six-game losing streak and haven’t won since they beat Wisconsin on Sept. 20. Maryland’s only hope is that the Wolverines get caught looking ahead to their showdown with Ohio State. But that’s not likely to happen after Michigan got a wake-up call in its narrow win over Northwestern. The pick: U-M 31, Maryland 10.
Jeff Seidel
I suppose the only danger, this week, is Michigan looking past Maryland. But I doubt that will happen. The Wolverines should have two goals this week: Get out of Maryland healthy and start preparing for Ohio State on the flight home. Then we can all turn our attention to the game that will define Michigan’s season. The pick: U-M 31, Maryland 10.
Shawn Windsor
Bryce Underwood had the best game of his young career against Northwestern, until he didn't. Turnovers got him, and the offense in general. But he and the Wolverines moved the ball in Chicago and should again in College Park. They'll have their best day in a while and set up the Ohio State showdown with a tiny bit of momentum. The pick: U-M 31, Maryland 19.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football picks, predictions vs Maryland, Big Ten Week 13