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After a heartbreaking loss to UCLA, the No. 22 Cougars have to pick up the pieces and travel to Michigan for a Saturday morning matchup with the Wolverines and Jim Harbaugh. BYU took the Bruins to the wire in a 24-23 loss after a strong performance from Adam Hine and another solid outing from Tanner Mangum. Following a season-opening loss to Utah, the Wolverines have held opponents to one touchdown two weeks in a row in wins over Oregon State and UNLV. Will the Cougars score a rebound victory on the road? Or will Harbaugh get back to .500 against teams from Utah? Here's a position-by-position look at this week's matchup and which team will have the edge heading into Saturday's game:
Quarterback
Mangum outshined UCLA golden boy Josh Rosen, throwing for 244 yards to Rosen's 106 and limiting himself to one interception while Rosen threw three. He also distributed the ball well, hitting seven different receivers with at least one pass. He'll have to move the ball this week against a Wolverines secondary allowing only 111 yards per game over the last two games.
Jake Rudock is entrenched as Michigan's starter after intrigue dominated the offseason, posting solid if unspectacular stats the last two weeks. Against Oregon State and UNLV, Rudock was 32 of 48 with one touchdown and two interceptions. He's shown the arm to get the ball down the field, but still lacks accuracy while the offense as a whole runs through Michigan's rushers. Mangum has a clear edge here.
Edge: BYU
Running back
Adam Hine has been a revelation after struggling in the first half against Boise State, carrying BYU on his back against the Bruins for 149 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. The Wolverines are strong against the run, allowing only two touchdowns on the ground this season and the third fewest yards per game with 93. Hine will have to grind out some tough yards and gain at least 85 yards on the ground to get BYU a victory.
Where Rudock struggles, De'Veon Smith and Ty Isaac pick up the slack. Smith leads the team in rushing with 206 yards and three touchdowns, while Isaac offers a change of pace role with 161 yards and a touchdown this season. Michigan isn't dominating in the run game, averaging the eighth best total in the Big Ten with 185 yards per game, but can grind down clock and defenses with the duo of Smith and Isaac. The Wolverines have a slight edge here.
Edge: Michigan
Wide receivers
Three weeks, three different leading receivers for the Cougars. BYU's pass catching depth is unrivaled across most of college football, with Mitch Mathews taking the lead against UCLA. Mathews had a staggering nine catches for 84 yards and a score against a tough UCLA secondary. BYU will need to mix things up and get the ball to a few different receivers against a Michigan secondary that's allowed the third fewest passing yards per game in the Big Ten.
Amara Darboh has emerged as the best receiving threat Michigan has, catching 16 passes for 185 yards and a score in the first few weeks. Jake Butt continues to be arguably the best tight end in the nation, catching 14 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown so far this year. Butt will be an interesting matchup for BYU's linebackers and safeties in this game. BYU has the advantage here.
Edge: BYU
Offensive line
BYU's offensive line continues its season of struggles. UCLA was the third straight week of at least three surrendered sacks, four total coming from the Bruins defensive front seven. The run blocking has steadily improved, but the Cougars need to keep Mangum upright to keep him under center for the rest of the season.
Michigan hasn't exactly played strong defensive front seven talent after facing Utah in the season opener, but the Wolverines still deserve credit for keeping Rudock clean. Michigan's veteran offensive line has given up only one sack this year, tied for second in the Big Ten. The Wolverines are also plowing the way for the second highest rush touchdown total in the conference with seven.
Edge: Michigan
Defensive line and linebackers
UCLA's offensive line held BYU's pass rush at bay for zero sacks last week while opening gigantic holes for Paul Perkins to rush for 219 yards and a touchdown. The Cougars need big games this week out of Bronson Kaufusi, Fred Warner and Harvey Langi to not only pressure Rudock, but contain Smith and Isaac. If they can't get consistent pressure on Michigan's talented offensive front, the Cougars will be in a tough spot.
The Wolverines' defensive front smothered UNLV for only 2.6 yards per carry and 92 total yards in the run game and grabbed two sacks. Chris Wormley and Mario Ojemudia are a force at defensive end, combining for 10.5 tackles for loss this season and 1.5 sacks. Michigan also has plenty of linebacker talent to go around, starting with leading tackler Joe Bolden. The Cougars could be in for a long day in trying to block this defensive front.
Edge: Michigan
Secondary
BYU's secondary feasted on interceptions again this week, Langi grabbing two and Kai Nacua securing his fourth of the year, making it the third straight game BYU has grabbed at least one pick. They also limited Rosen to only 106 yards passing, setting the tone for a potentially strong performance against Rudock. The Cougars can generate passing yards and prevent passing yards on the defensive side, a good sign as the season progresses.
Safey Jabril Peppers has been as good as advertised through the first few weeks of the season, making athletic plays all over the field for 12 tackles, two tackles for loss and a pass break up. Michigan owns the third best pass defense in the Big Ten after facing two anemic offenses in Oregon State and UNLV, surrendering only 143 yards per game and two total passing touchdowns. But with Mangum and BYU's wide receivers coming to town, it's hard to imagine the Wolverines having a shut down afternoon.
Edge: BYU
Prediction: The Wolverines are strong defensively, but haven't run into an offense like BYU's yet this season. This will be a low scoring affair, but BYU ekes out enough passing offense to take a 20-13 win.