Bowling Green (1-2) at No. 21 Michigan (3-0), noon (ESPN2)
Line: Michigan by 25 1/2.
Series record: Michigan leads 1-0.
Last Meeting: 2000, Michigan won 42-7.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Michigan’s defense has a lot to prove after letting Massachusetts move the ball easily on the ground and through the air, adding up to 37 points last week in a close call. The Wolverines would like to get backup quarterbacks Devin Gardner and Tate Forcier along with backup running backs some experience, but they’ll play Denard Robinson and Michael Shaw play as much as necessary to win. For the Falcons, it would the upset in program history.
KEY MATCHUP
Bowling Green WR Kamar Jorden vs. Michigan DBs. Jordan leads the nation with 34 receptions, three more than Oklahoma’s Ryan Broyles, and he has to like what he’s seen on film from the Wolverines. Michigan’s inexperienced secondary has been the weak link of its team, allowing 61 catches for 808 yards and four touchdowns.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Michigan: Denard Robinson had the 10th-best day offensively in school history against UMass after setting a team record in the opener and breaking it against Notre Dame with 502 yards of offense. Coach Rich Rodriguez’s first priority is to win Saturday and his second is to get Robinson some rest. Seth Broekhuizen and Brendan Gibbons have combined to make only 1 of 5 field goals, leading to a student approaching Rodriguez in a parking lot this week and asking for tryout.
Bowling Green: Aaron Pankratz or Kellen Pagel are expected to take the first snap for the first time, replacing Matt Schilz, who left last week’s game against Marshall with a shoulder injury. Pankratz was 5 of 8 for 111 yards, helping turn a tied game into the fourth quarter into a 44-28 victory. RB Willie Geter had 100 yards rushing and 86 yards receiving against Marshall.
Facts & Figures
Robinson is averaging a nation-best 186.3 yards rushing and 410 yards total offense. … Bowling Green is 3-13 against ranked teams since 1996, beating No. 25 Pittsburgh two years ago. … Michigan ranks 11th in the Big Ten in total defense (439 yards a game) in first downs allowed (65) and is among the conference’s worst with just two sacks in three games. … The Falcons fell at Troy 30-27 in their opener and then 33-20 at Tulsa.
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