Last Week at The Wolverine Den

Michigan 28 - Arkansas State 18 (Homecoming)

Michigan Stadium

September 14, 2024 - 12:00 p.m. ET

Tailgate Pictures

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Game Preview

The Michigan Wolverines will complete the non-conference schedule on Saturday against the Arkansas State Red Wolves. It’s Homecoming at Michigan and a 12 noon kickoff. Michigan will look to bounce back and build momentum following their loss to Texas.

Arkansas St is from the Sun Belt Conference and started the year with wins over Central Arkansas (FBS) and Tulsa. Their QB is Jaylon Raynor, a sophomore who was the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year last season. He is a dual threat quarterback having already rushed 34 times in the two games this year and this will be the only dual threat QB Michigan will face this year. Raynor has several decent running backs and a couple receivers. They can score points. But their defense is not a strength. Butch Jones is the head coach, of Central Michigan, Cincinnati, and Tennessee fame.

Unless your plan is to jump ship on the defending National Champions two games into the season, this is a game that should help Michigan improve and get ready for the Big Ten slate. Overreaction is understandable. It’s hard to remember the last time a Michigan team was dominated at home in front of fans (it was 2019, by the way), but the season is not over. I saw one "Michigan" website pose a poll question this week, asking whether the Wolverines would win another game this year. Most of us hoped that we would go 10-2 and earn a playoff berth, that goal is still achievable. The rest of the Big Ten does not look like dominating teams. Oregon has won close games against FBS Idaho and Boise St (on a last play field goal). Penn St was losing at halftime to Bowling Green from the MAC before surviving a 7-point win. Ohio State has played two of the worst teams in the MAC and hasn’t looked as good as many thought they would be. USC looked good in their opening game but still has many questions on defense. And the rest of the Big Ten looks incapable of winning a championship. The goal is still achievable, and it starts this week.

Michigan has won 11 straight Homecoming games and 23 of the last 27. Michigan kicker Dominic Zavada transferred from Arkansas State. The Wolverines are 25-11-1 all time against teams currently in the Sun Belt, although no Sun Belt team has ever beaten Michigan while a member of the conference. This will be the first-ever meeting between Michigan and Arkansas St and will be the 155th opponent to face the Wolverines.

The Wolverines are a 23½-point favorite.

Post-Game Summary

The Michigan Wolverines got back to winning with a 28-18 victory over Arkansas State. The game was not as close as the final score might indicate. Michigan was leading 28-3 but gave up two touchdowns in the final 6 minutes with the 3rd and 4th string in the game. The Wolverines focused on the running game and piled up 301 yards on the ground, led by Kalel Mullings' career high 153 yards on just 15 carries. Donovan Edwards chipped in with 82 yards. The passing game continued to struggle as Davis Warren was 11-14 for 122 yards but also threw 3 interceptions. Tight ends Colston Loveland, Marlin Klein and Hogan Hansen combined for 7 catches for 91 yards and a TD. The defense held ASU to 58 yards rushing and 280 total yards for the game, but more than half of those yards (146) came in the 4th quarter against our deep reserves. We were able to get 75 players in the game, a season high.

Brown's Prediction

33-13

Craig's Prediction

38-17

Tim's Prediction

35-13

Steve's Prediction

35-13

Brown 9, Tim 8½, Craig 8, Steve 4½

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