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Michigan football: Game-by-game predictions for the 2017 season

By Matt Snyder

ANN ARBOR, MI - OCTOBER 22: Head coach Jim Harbaugh leads the team onto the field while playing the Illinois Fighting Illini on October 22, 2016 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 41-8. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI - OCTOBER 22: Head coach Jim Harbaugh leads the team onto the field while playing the Illinois Fighting Illini on October 22, 2016 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 41-8. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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CINCINNATI, OH – SEPTEMBER 1: Linden Stephens
CINCINNATI, OH – SEPTEMBER 1: Linden Stephens /

Game 2 vs. Cincinnati Bearcats

Michigan will return home to Ann Arbor to take on Cincinnati at The Big House in week two. The Bearcats were one of the worst teams in the American Athletic Conference last season, finishing with a 1-7 conference mark. They went 4-8 on the year with one of the wins coming against FCS Tennessee-Martin (and another coming against Purdue).

Much has been made about Michigan needing to replace (nearly) their entire starting defensive lineup, but Cincinnati shouldn’t present many problems here. They ranked 123rd out of 128 in points scored per game  (at 19.3) and 99th in total yards (a tick under 375 per game) among FBS programs a season ago.

The Bearcats were notably better defensively but still far from elite. They allowed only 4.1 yards per carry against opposing rushing attacks (48th best in the country, tied with Michigan State and Notre Dame), but they struggled to defend the pass, allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete over 61% of their passes.

Look for the Wolverines to roll in their home opener as they look to either (1) build on a big win over Florida or (2) bounce back from a disappointing loss in week one. Either way, they’ll use the Cincinnati game to address any issues that will inevitably pop up in the Florida game.

Prediction: Win (2-0)

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