Michigan football: Game-by-game predictions for the 2017 season
By Matt Snyder
Game 3 vs. Air Force Falcons
Air Force is an unusual non-conference opponent in that they play an unusual style of football and they’re a non-conference opponent. They play a run-heavy triple-option style offense that went out of fashion several decades ago, but they run it effectively.
Air Force had the 29th best scoring average in the nation last season (35.2 points per game) and did that while averaging more rushing attempts than any other program (over 63 per game). All those runs don’t make them predictable, however, as the option offense allows them plenty of… options to keep the defense guessing.
They averaged five yards per carry on the ground and nearly 12 yards per pass attempt. They weren’t incredibly accurate through the air — they completed just 45% of their passes — but the ones they did complete usually succeeded in catching defenses off guard and often went for big gains.
It can be an incredibly frustrating experience for the defense because there’s really no way to tell where the ball is going to go on any play. It comes down to executing assignments as the offense tries to use the option to gain the numbers advantage in a given portion of the field.
Still, Michigan should have a sizable talent advantage at this one, even if we pull out all our hair while we watch the madness.
Prediction: Win (3-0)