Michigan football: Predicting Every Game of Jim Harbaugh’s First Season
By Joel Greer
at Utah Utes, Sep. 3
Utah leads series, 2-1
Last meeting (2014) Utah 26, Michigan 10
Jul 31, 2015; Burbank, CA, USA; Utah Utes running back Devontae Booker at Pac-12 Media Day at Warner Bros. Studios. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Unlikely Popular Mechanics Magazine joined the pre-game hoopla by calling Michigan’s opponent Utah a cupcake. “Our team is always juiced, no matter what,” Utah senior wide receiver Kenneth Scott said in a video on the website. “So with that little thing that they put in our locker room about us being a cupcake game, it definitely puts more intensity into the game, just because of that little statement that was made. And plus, we’re always trying to prove everybody wrong, because everyone sees us as the underdog. We always have the chip on our shoulder.”
Everyone sees us as the underdog? Vegasinsider has Utah as a consensus 5.5 point favorite.
Most likely because Utah smacked Michigan 26-10 last season in Ann Arbor. The difference was three Devin Gardner interceptions, one by Shane Morris, in addition to a lost fumble.
Utah has 15 starters back including quarterback Travis Wilson and running back Devontae Booker.
Utah finished with a 5-4 record in the Pac-12 last season, good enough for mediocre in the standings.
Well, Jabrill Peppers is far from mediocre, and somehow he’ll be involved in a key play to turn the tide.
Prediction: Michigan 27, Utah 23
Next: Oregon State