No. 7 Michigan hopes to fine tune new offense against Army
Jim Harbaugh
Army (1-0) at No. 7 Michigan (1-0), Saturday at noon EDT (FOX).
Line: Michigan by 23.
Series record: Army leads 5-4.
WHAT'S AT STAKE?
The Wolverines want to show their offense has more strengths than weaknesses with two weeks before its next game on Sept. 21 at No. 17 Wisconsin. The Black Knights have a chance to pull off an upset after coming close last year, losing to then-No. 5 Oklahoma in overtime.
KEY MATCHUP
Army's triple option against Michigan's defense: Senior QB Kelvin Hopkins, who ran 1,017 yards and 17 touchdowns last year, leads an offense that rarely puts the ball in the air. The Black Knights' best chance to stay in the game is for Hopkins to pick up first downs on the ground to keep the Wolverines' offense off the field.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Army: DB Elijah Riley. He's on the watch list for the Bednarik and Nagurski Award. Against Michigan's talented receivers, Riley will have a chance to show how he measures up against top-flight competition.
Michigan: QB Shea Patterson. He fumbled twice last week, struggling with handing off to running backs in a new offense. It slightly overshadowed the three touchdown passes he threw in the opener.
FACTS & FIGURES
The Black Knights have won 10 straight, trailing only Clemson's run among active streaks. ... Michigan beat Middle Tennessee 40-21 last week. ... The Black Knights opened with a 14-7 win over Rice. ... Michigan had 17 players, including five starters, make their debut last week. ... Army received 31 votes in The Associated Press college poll, ranking fifth among unraked teams receiving votes. ... Michigan CB Ambry Thomas, whose preseason was stunted by a colitis diagnosis, intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble in his first career start last week. ... The Black Nights have won a bowl game the previous three years. ... Army won the first five games in the series and Michigan won the next four, most recently in 1962.