3 reasons Michigan will top Oklahoma and shock college football

Here’s a breakdown of three reasons Michigan football can take down Oklahoma on Saturday night.

The general belief is that Oklahoma will handle Michigan this weekend in Norman.

That’s a fair assumption. The Sooners are the betting favorite. John Mateer, their transfer quarterback, represents a major step up from last year, much like Bryce Underwood boosts Michigan.

It feels like a 50–50 matchup. In games like this, the home team usually has the edge. That’s why most observers side with Oklahoma, even though two of the six Michigan On3 analysts also predicted a Sooners win.

Oklahoma sits as a 4.5-point favorite. The spread has shifted slightly toward Michigan, but the common thought is that Brent Venables’ track record of stopping talented quarterbacks will contain Bryce Underwood enough for the Sooners to prevail.

That’s possible. But here are three reasons the Wolverines will surprise everyone by knocking off Oklahoma on Saturday night.

Bryce Underwood is not your average freshman

Critics may point out it was only New Mexico, but Underwood looked like a seasoned starter with years of experience. He’ll make mistakes. He could be fooled, maybe even in this matchup.

That’s part of the game. No quarterback is flawless. Underwood may rely too much on his arm strength, attempting throws he shouldn’t, but he avoided that issue in the opener.

He might not be as explosive through the air this week. Still, after avoiding the run last game, it’s worth asking if Michigan will unleash his legs against Oklahoma, especially in pivotal moments the way they once did with J.J. McCarthy.