Predictions: Michigan football vs. Oklahoma

Angelique S. Chengelis, Connor Earegood, John Niyo, and Bob Wojnowski of The Detroit News predict the outcome of Saturday’s Michigan-Oklahoma game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor (Noon, Fox/94.7 FM).

▶ Angelique S. Chengelis: Michigan had a lot to clean up from its season opener against Western Michigan with little time before top-10 Oklahoma arrives in Ann Arbor. The Sooners are still quarterbacked by John Mateer, who carved Michigan for 344 total yards and three touchdowns in their win last season in Norman, Oklahoma. He is an effective mobile quarterback and has a better offensive line than this time last year. Speaking of quarterbacks, Michigan’s Bryce Underwood had a wobbly performance against WMU, but he will have a chance, along with the running backs, to redeem himself on a big stage against a tough team. Michigan’s offensive line needs some work, the run game has to be more active, and the defense, while it held the Broncos to field goals, needs to generate turnovers and get off the field on third down. Seems like the improvement checklist may be too long for the Wolverines to make significant changes before Game 2. Pick: Oklahoma, 24-16

▶ Connor Earegood: If a controversial squeaker against Western Michigan was already a bad sign for Michigan, a players’ only meeting after Week 1 is another. Quarterback Bryce Underwood is on the hot seat, and he says that’s cool. His fans ought to disagree. The irony of last week’s dramatics is that this talented of a football team could still hang with Oklahoma, which picked apart UTEP. John Mateer will be a problem, but Dom Nichols and the defensive line came up with some big plays to fend off Western Michigan. The Jordan Marshall-Savion Hiter backfield misfired to start out the season, but you’d expect them to give this offense more of a rhythm so long as their offensive line gets a push. Saturday’s outcome will depend on what happens between the Wolverines’ ears, and in their guts, after last week’s close call. This group needs to get better Sooner, or else the Boo-mers in this game won’t be rushing the field afterward. By the way: Lamest field rush ever? People are talking. Pick: Oklahoma, 31-13

▶ John Niyo: Bryce Underwood’s regression was the biggest takeaway from Week 1, aside from all the drama over the final play. And the real concern here for Kyle Whittingham’s crew is that the shaky quarterback play we saw in the opener will only get worse against defenses like the one that’s coming to town this weekend. Brent Venables will throw plenty of different looks — and a lot more talent — at the Wolverines. So if Michigan’s Jason Beck doesn’t have a more coherent plan than the one we saw against the Broncos, this one could get ugly. Still, I think this Michigan defense is capable of forcing some turnovers and getting enough stops to make it a four-quarter game. Pick: Oklahoma, 28-24

▶ Bob Wojnowski: Michigan’s offense can’t be as bad as it showed against Western Michigan, can it? Well, that’s a question for Bryce Underwood and offensive coordinator Jason Beck, who certainly weren’t on the same page in that 13-12 escape. Underwood missed a lot of reads and the offensive line didn’t help. First big test for Kyle Whittingham – can he rally his team after a miserable opener? The Sooners are staunch defensively under Brent Venables, who surely has more surprises for Underwood. Quarterback John Mateer lit up UM for 270 yards passing and 74 rushing in a 24-13 victory last season in Norman. The hope for Michigan is that its defense, which held WMU without a touchdown, can get big stops and force turnovers, and not allow 13-minute drives. The Wolverines have touted weapons in backs Jordan Marshall and Savion Hiter, and everyone saw how explosive receiver J.J. Buchanan can be. Under fire all week, they’ll respond with a spirited effort, but until Underwood shows he can handle the big (non-Hail Mary) moments, they can’t score enough to keep up. Pick: Oklahoma, 26-18

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Predictions: Michigan football vs. Oklahoma