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Michigan Football Picks vs. No. 1 Oregon Ducks

Vaseline November 2, 2024

Win or lose, Michigan football will host a piece of history Saturday when No. 1 Oregon comes to Michigan Stadium: It’s the first visit by a national No. 1 seed to the Big House since Sept. 14, 1991, when Florida was ranked No. 1. State rolled over a third-ranked Michigan squad, 51-31. (UM’s last game against No. 1 on the road didn’t go the Wolverines’ way either, as they fell as a No. 2 team to Ohio State in Columbus on Nov. 18, 2006.

For the last time the Wolverines upset a No. 1 team in the Big House, we have to go all the way back to Sept. 8, 1984, when 14th-ranked UM slipped to No. 1 Miami (Florida), 22-14. . Will history repeat itself (and change) forty years later? Five Free Press sportswriters have some thoughts on that:

Tony Garcia

Michigan avoided a zero-for-October by beating MSU, but its issues are far from resolved. UM fell to Illinois and went on to face MSU, two teams that were handled by Oregon by at least three scores. For the first time since the Week 2 game against Texas, UM will be at a disadvantage in the trenches. That didn’t go well at the time, and it’s hard to see how this could all work out differently. The choice: Oregon 31, UM 16.

Carlos Monarrez

The top-ranked Ducks will flex their muscles (or wings?) with a potent offense and an overwhelming defense. This one will have Wolverines fans longing for that Texas game. If you can stay in the Big House long enough to see ‘Mr. Brightside,” consider it a moral victory. The choice: Oregon 33, UM 10.

Rainer Sabin

In many ways, Oregon resembles the undefeated juggernaut that Ann Arbor called home last fall. The Ducks have a productive offense, a staunch defense and a head coach, Dan Lanning, who likes to play a physical brand of football. Oregon is ranked No. 1 in both polls and is a complete team. These Wolverines aren’t, which explains why they aren’t even ranked.

Michigan has deficiencies in all three key sectors, and Oregon is the kind of opponent that can expose them all. Just like Texas did in September, expect the Ducks to squeeze the life force out of the Wolverines and silence the home crowd. The choice: Oregon 31, UM 13.

Jeff Seidel

Once upon a time it seemed like it was going to be a great game. Now? Ugh, it just sounds like an outburst waiting to happen. Oregon is everything Michigan was last season: one of the best teams in the country, loaded with talent and racing toward the playoffs. Meanwhile, Michigan looks like… a six-win team. The choice: Oregon 31, UM 14.

Shawn Windsor

The Ducks are the best team the Wolverines have faced since Texas, and their defensive line will make it difficult to run consistently. But UM has found something between Davis Warren and Alex Orji at QB, and that will keep the game competitive for a while. The choice: Oregon 29, UM 16.