Michigan vs USC Preview: Can UM Find Enough Offense With Orji? College Football 2024

Let's talk Michigan and USC preview! There's plenty of hype left for this game. The Trojans are trying to prove they belong in the top 10 while Michigan is looking to salvage the early part of their season. With Davis Warren taking a seat for Alex Orji, will UM find something in the offense?

[@stephenlight647]

The greatest gift USC can give us is having the opportunity to not talk about Michigan after Michigan loses.

[@MoneyIsSilver]

You guys and College Football with Sam are the two best college football channels for in depth analysis. Bar none.

[@1312020m]

Glad to see someone else watching Sam's channel too! He doesn't get enough love for all the content he puts out.

[@CollegeFootballNerds]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@stephenlight647]

College Football with Sam is a Cheater Home Boy, dripping with the smug factor common to the Meatchickens! 😂 I hope he has an opportunity to rage against the sanctions soon!

[@killtac9978]

I'm partial to here and Josh Pate

[@Quakerman14]

I'm confused about where you are ascertaining that Michigan has a "really good defense". They are 54th in yards allowed, 15th in rushing yards, and 83rd in opponent passing percentage, and 90 in passing yards allowed. They have 1 turnover and 1.3 sacks in the past 3 games. When faced against a legitimately great offense, they gave up 31, and 389 yards (which is 85 more yards than they give up on average per game). Are they "really good"? No.

[@happynotredamefan3736]

TBF when your offense is bad the defense is on field more resulting in more yards allowed I hate defending Michigan though

[@davida730]

I don't get it either. They have an elite corner and a couple high level defensive tackles and that's it. The edges, linebackers and rest of the secondary don't seem to be anything special. Turns out recruiting at barely a top 15 level for years isn't a recipe for sustained success.

[@mikeworkman1759]

I think its that their starters are all really good but they have horrible back ups so their depth is pretty bad. The bad offense they have this year makes it so the depth pieces are in the game more and more thus the horrible stats. Perfect example of this is when will johnson was on the side lines getting a rest vs Fresno and they attacked Will's back up and moved the ball down the field easily.

[@aaronparsons637]

USC's defense is going to load the box and make UM throw. UM's disfunction on offense leads to USC having better field position throughout the game, leading to higher scoring chances.I am going to go USC 24-UM 10.

[@TheAngryTrojan]

FIGHT ON! UM gets bullied at home! Orji has 11 completions and all went no more than 5 yards. He isnt even on Miller's level who in his first 3 games ( Holiday bowl included ) has 914 passing yards and 9 TD's. One is in contention to be one of the best Qb's in the conference, arguably in the nation and the other is a running back pretending to be a qb. D'Anton Lynn when at FucLa had one of the best run stopping defenses and smothered one dimensional teams and at USC he has better dawgs at his disposal. UM's run game will be meh while USC will put balls into the end zone. When Lincoln Riley was at Oklahoma and Baker planted the flag, he thumped Ohio State who then, was a much better team than this UM team. LR also has way more weapons at USC and in just the WR room and not accounting for Lake McCree or the running backs, he has more weapons than UM does on defense. You said Um's defense is excellent but they allowed points in garbage time? USC didn't allow their cupcake to score at all and held Nussi-poo and LSU to 20 points! Everyone has Um scoring 20 plus points but have no explanation as to how? That is a lot of FGs to kick if they even sniff the red zone. You're moving the goal post on how LSU played but us USC fans all off season heard how out matched USC was vs LSU and we heard over and over and over and over that USC was going to get bullied and blah blah. Well, LSU got bullied by the USC team everyone called soft just because they are from Commi-fornia.. in the same regard that everyone claimed LSU were world beaters just because they have an SEC patch on their unis and they did and said the very same bs about USC playing Michigan. Now the narrative has changed and everyone still wants to disrespect USC in year 3 of the Lincoln Riley era. If Orji puts the ball in the air he will get picked off. You forget that as awful as USC's defense was under Alex Grinch, they did do one thing very well and that was pull down INT's. Those very players are still on that USC defense and are way better coached. Um will give up 30 points if not more to USC! WRITE THAT DOWN! USC was able to prevent Nussi-bear from showing out in a big way vs the Trojans and Orji cant hold Nussi-bear's jock when it comes to talent. You have to admit that! He thinks they will score more than LSU was able too but HOW? UM doesn't have the weapons that LSU had and again, you are not giving the reasons as to how.. it is like you expect some Angels in the end zone type stuff to happen like it was a Disney movie. USC will score 30 points or more! His biases are showing hard! I also am not being a homer but a confident fan! This josh has USC 30 - 10 USC wins!

[@johnmattimoe1306]

Ppl don't think Michigan is mid b/c they lost to Texas. The sentiment is due to their play vs fresno and Arkansas St

[@adamcap7]

Lincoln Riley is 10x the coach Sherrone Moore will ever be.

[@chasejordan22]

Michigan isn't what they were last year. Not even in the same conversation. They lost the three most important pieces. The head coach, the quarterback and the sign stealer guy...

[@takforce06]

😂😂😂

[@ronfrederick9983]

So, you are saying all the Cheatigan fans won't care that their 'exceptionally tainted' 2023 natty gets taken away by the college football playoff peeps. My friend you would be very wrong !!!!!

[@stephenlight647]

Have you talked to Michigan Men? They don’t care. They blatantly cheated and smile about it. So, no, it won’t matter in Ann Arbor. But it will everywhere else.

[@j_r_junior]

Michigan fans are the most fragile people on planet earth. They will cry victim and overreach after defrauding the B1G and the sport as a whole for three straight years

[@PurpleHazeVanNederlands]

USC covers by about 7ish, Michigan's offense is so awful that no matter how good the defense is it will eventually break through either mental exhaustion, or physical. You just know that no matter how many stops you get on defense the offense won't do shit so you quit.

[@fpanadero2626]

Can you do a video about the 2023 cheating and how it affected results vs the Vegas odds (ATS)....?

[@markdunigan805]

2021-2023.

[@MH-0101]

Impossible to know. They were the best team regardless of cheating.

[@j_r_junior]

Also about how Corum was ineligible because he was in business with an assistant coach, meaning Michigan will have to vacate the wins he was involved in

[@MH-0101]

Sherrone Moore totally clamming up and giving up on the Michigan pass game during harbaugh’s suspension should tell you everything you need to know about his coaching and decision making abilities. Non-existent

[@photodidact9513]

I'm not super familiar with those 3 games - can you give me a quick breakdown? I'm seeing Moore as a little shaky as a head coach, maybe due to lack of experience.

[@MH-0101]

@@photodidact9513 I hardly remember. I really remember the Penn State game where Sherron Moore was terrified of passing the ball so they literally didn't throw a pass in the second half. The other two games were just unimaginative run heavy offense (More run heavy than Michigan already was). Oh, Maryland was the other game. They almost lost.

[@takforce06]

Michigan is a 4-loss team. Sign stealing gave them a national title. Back to losing 4 games a season. Stop acting like CS didn’t give them a massive advantage from 2021-2023.

[@mumrah07]

Wow! You think LSU could have scored more points if they played differently? Man, I'm so glad I tuned in for such hard-hitting, insightful commentary. Thanks so much!!

[@pjmlegrande]

Like saying “LSU coulda won if they just scored more points.” There’s a lot of flabby opinionating in sports commentary based on skimpy evidence, unacknowledged regional biases and tropes, and an over-reliance on small sample size derived stats. There’s hardly ever enough focus on team chemistry (including how well the player’s talents complement each other), esprit and quality of coaching. All in all it’s pretty laughable stuff, especially when rendered with such seriousness. Lastly, it’s way too early in the season to be saying silly things like “LSU is just not a very good team.” And that’s my opinion!

[@tamarabuirley1379]

UM can’t stop the passing offense. USC 28 UM 6

[@prman9984]

I had 27-6 for the same reasons. And UM can't pass. They'll be lucky to get in FG range twice.

[@cliffnasa3560]

Michigan without cheaters

[@j_r_junior]

Sherrone Moore is the head coach so they still have cheaters on staff

[@danlee6481]

True

[@AL_1547]

I think we are underselling just how bad Michigan’s offense is. You say they have two great running backs, but cover boy has simply not been great and he wasn’t great last year either. The passing game is almost non-existent and I don’t expect it to get better with a QB that can’t throw. Even with Warren who kind of could throw, the passing concepts are just not great and the weapons outside of Loveland are really underwhelming. Any team that has even decent talent in the front 7 is going to be able to just stack the box and completely shut down the offense.

[@j_r_junior]

Edwards is the most overhyped player in my lifetime

[@brettk9316]

I thought michigan was going to suck since spring 🤷‍♂️

[@marchedge4940]

Great analysis. Of course, it helps when Michigan is on the losing end of predictions 😂 27-13 feels right.

[@stephenlight647]

Nussmeyer is a good QB. Most programs would be happy to have him.

[@AG-rc2np]

He’d start at Michigan lmao

[@prman9984]

Michigan sure as hell would.

[@carlsoriano187]

​@@prman9984lmao😂😅

[@trumanwitt5526]

I remember you guys doing big explanations on why the safety position is so difficult to play in the RPO era. Seems like knowing throw vs pass greatly simplifies that position. It almost equates to an extra defender on your team.

[@mikeworkman1759]

I can tell you're eluding to connor stallions...can you explain how Michigan's best defensive performance was vs a team that didnt use any signs? Or how they 4 top 10 teams (3 of which were top 4 teams) within 5 straight games without stallions and well after each team changed signs?

[@trumanwitt5526]

@@mikeworkman1759 sure! Built a hell of a team with awesome senior leadership. And an entire staff that would’ve been fired if caught immediately or fired if they had lost in 2020 or 2021. It’s terrible what harbaugh and company did to the University of Michigan. Finally putting together a great team for a once proud program with a fan base relegated to irrelevance for 20 years only to have their pride become a national disgrace. UM fans deserve better!

[@mikeworkman1759]

@@trumanwitt5526 I don't think anyone thinks last year was a "disgrace". Even the NCAA president said Michigan won it "fair and square" to quote him lol. I mean hell, Michigan just signed sherrone Moore to a contract last week after receiving the official notice of allegations, obviously not as bad as the media would have liked you to believe last season going for their clicks and ad revenue.

[@cjpreach]

I expect USC 34 - UM 13

[@greenearth975]

The reason Utah is ranked ahead of USC is because Cam Rising was out for that week. The voters probably didn't feel the need to ding them for playing a close game when it's an in state rival on the road, and you are missing your starting QB.

[@CollegeFootballNerds]

I was more concerned with the defense.

[@jonwalter6317]

I think the place where Josh's logic on his score projection falls down for me is he seems to be discounting the average/weak performances by M vs Fresno and Ark St. I realize Fresno may be a pretty good team, but neither of those games were easy wins. I think there is the possibility that the Texas game was actually the aberrant performance by M, they may have actually played that game a little better than they truly are. But offsetting that is LSU is not a strong data point by which to judge USC. I just can't see a team that scored 30 and 28 against those two opponents putting up 21 on USCs defense, especially when M is starting a new one-dimensional QB. I'm wondering how far we get into the game before Warren returns. Looking forward to the game.

[@mikeworkman1759]

Itll be a fun one to watch for sure! So many half truths about to be exposed, possibly for both teams!

[@campbellsportsinc]

As a Notre Dame fan I know my rival and told any and every Big 10 fan and Michigan fans that USC would be ready to beat them in the spring because of defense this program is bigger than Lincoln Riley and there is culture of defensive pride and the alumni took over and it doesn't have anything to do with Lincoln Riley but I also know that USC will find 2 turnovers that are planned and score touchdowns off short fields and make Michigan play catch up they lived off these turnovers to help their defense that was totally out of place but they coached for big plays to get the ball 🏈 knocked out it's what they do ☘️🚨 USC scores 30 and Michigan grinds out 17 to 21 points

[@MoneyIsSilver]

I've never seen in 40 years of watching college football, a team go from the worst defense in college to elite in one year. But maybe USC will be different.

[@RickSanchez167]

They aren't. LSU is just bad 😂

[@stephenlight647]

They don’t have to be elite. They have to be average.

[@danzo626]

Usc's defense is not elite

[@prman9984]

Translation: I didn't watch UCLA last season. They went from #124 to #10. And who was their DC...?

[@talon310calif]

USC defense needs to be top 40 this season to be successful. They will get the players to go top 25 and then top 10 in next two years if they can hold onto Lynn.

[@1312020m]

USC 31-13

[@andrewh7599]

This game will be a newsflash for you. UM's defense isn't that good. Not sure why you're still thinking they are. Texas was a good signal to the rest of the world that UM can't play D if they're not cheating. TX could have put up 60 on them. USC walks away with a huge win.

[@cfiasco]

10-1 without Stallions. Won a natty and b1g championship without Stallions. This supposed giant advantage was plucked from them mid season and they went on to dominate in the same way they had before. Please reconcile your point with this information

[@scottaronson9239]

Hey look, a non ball knower

[@DonovanEdwardsEnjoyer]

@@cfiasco He won’t because he can’t 😂😂😆 #GoBlue #NattyChamps2023 💪🏻〽️

[@danlee6481]

Without the advantage of a dependable passing QB, O-line, and of course sign stealing I don’t see UM scoring more than 14 and giving up 28+ points to USC.

[@user-yp5bv7ec8b]

I expect Loveland to play. But if he doesn't, USC can afford to be even more aggressive in the box, because Michigan really doesn't have anyone else on the perimeter or downfield who can make plays. D'Anton Lynn is an excellent DC, they're going to force Orji to beat them through the air, and take him out of his comfort zone.

[@prman9984]

"they're going to force Orji to beat them through the air" aka "they're going to force him to grow purple wings and fart rainbows"

[@RB-.-]

I think theres a possibility that USC is more on par with South Carolina & Michigan is able to bully ball and rattle Moss into a low scoring W

[@justinknoll7959]

If Loveland actually doesn't play, they won't score over 10.

[@davidcole2337]

Jury is still out on how good USC. And Michigan has showed they are not Elite. But with that expect this to be a close game. 24 - 21 USC.

[@gsands2948]

The co host next to the computer monitor is gonna have hurt feelings after USC puts it on Michigan. He say Warren was a good QB and played a solid game? How can someone that respect that opinion? Dude has two TDS and 6 ints. Solid Qb?? It’s comical.

[@pestyoverlord]

Orji is from the state of Texas. I'm going to assume he gets the land buff and pick Michigan to win 24 - 21. Also I need big M to win to make our trip to Ann Arbor look better 😂

[@stephenlight647]

USC 30 Michigan 13. Michigan D still respectable, but gets worn down with no offensive series from their Offense.

[@danzo626]

I don't think usc has the oline to put up 30 on michigan. The only way I see usc hitting 30 is if michigan turns the ball over

[@prman9984]

@@danzo626 Miller Moss gets rid of the ball really quick.

[@happynotredamefan3736]

Can both lose?

[@geryongeryon]

Michigan defense can't get off the field. They've performed very poorly.

[@MrCow-ir4gw]

The biggest stat I’m looking for is Michigan’s third down conversion rate. Their game plan requires them to hold the ball as long as possible so the defense is fresh to make the big plays. I think they’ll find a way. Michigan 24-17 (picking with my heart)

[@danzo626]

This will only happen if they have a successful 1st or 2nd down play that puts them in 3rd and short situations consitently.

[@MrCow-ir4gw]

@@danzo626 completely agree, they’re not going to be making 3rd and 7 consistently.

[@prman9984]

24-17 Michigan only happens if Miller Moss has 3 turnovers.

[@danzo626]

@@prman9984 yeah, I think usc wins a close game. I don't think much of michigan and usc is a good not great team. If michigan has the run game going they will make this a low posession game.

[@carlsoriano187]

​@@danzo626 USC beats Michigan 41-10 Usc scores 21 point in 1st quarter! Michigan can't score on offense and there Defense can't stop Miller Moss thrashing Michigan with Lincoln Riley Run and pass game!

[@gelato3299]

I don’t think it’s about if Texas could have scored more if usc would have scored more to me it’s about style I believe Michigan defense will give usc fits give me Michigan 27 usc 24

[@buckeye-w7q]

If Michigan gets stripped of Natty, what will you say then as far as their fan base being satisfied with “progress” this year after tough start?

[@Tnelsonsea]

Are u fuckin kidding?? LSU has two first rounders on the offensive line. I almost hit subscribe until I heard that

[@CollegeFootballNerds]

Their offensive line has been a massive disappointment relative to expectations this year. Us saying that is actually evidence of us being up to speed compared to preseason hype: www.theadvertiser.com/story/sports/college/lsu/2024/09/08/lsu-football-will-campbell-brian-kelly-south-carolina-sec-football/75013844007/

[@bd2394-l5w]

Please stop treating UM as even a remotely respectable team. Texas could have scored 50+ on that sieve of a defense. All of the "1st round talent" on the defense suddenly looks slow and has trouble reading plays. It's almost like knowing exactly where to be makes a massive difference.

[@quakerdevil08]

And it actually hinders development for when that advantage is taken away

[@tummytom10]

I don't think they should even talk about michigan and how good they were the last few years. They don't take into consideration the cheating and now they look horrible

[@andrewmueller9986]

The cheating helps part is true. That said I have seen people say that LSU has a better d than M. I'm not sure. You mentioned Texas held back and could have scored 50. Probably so, but I also think Texas could drop 60 on LSU. Texas has a top 4 offense in the country. South Carolina was shredding LSU until the starting QB went out. I'm not trying to hate on USC. Moss looks great, the o line looks decent at worse and maybe good, and the D looks way better. USC deserves a top 20 rank. My point is I think that people who are predicting USC wins by 20+ are getting a little "over their skis." USC is probably about the 15th - 19th best team. Michigan is probably in the 31 - 39 range. I like USC to win, but by 6 or maybe 10.

[@W00D3Ys]

Michigan D didnt force a punt until the game was already out of reach and was a holding call from giving up 31 points in the first half

[@rjayy5780]

Problem is their defense is definitely top 20 but their offense is so terrible. Only respectable on one side of the ball

[@gsands2948]

How is Michigan excellent on defense if they got destroyed /bodied by Texas and got pushed around by Fresno state and AR St? How is that great? USC will have mismatches all over the average Mich secondary. One guy Johnson cannot cover 4 solid receivers. Keep it real. USC will load the box with 7-8 and will force that QB who has completed 4 passes in three years and got beat out by a walk on. Good luck trying to run vs that defense. USC wins 38-10. Fight On✌🏽

[@Dog-k4p]

This is big ten football season and USC is going to lose.

[@Johnny_3_Putt]

27-13 sounds right. 7 of Michigan’s points coming mid 4th. Michigan is more than simply hapless. Their recruiting has caught up to them. I wonder if they’ll all catch COVID before the OSU game again?

[@OhtanisBookie]

"we get accused of being SEC homers" says the channel that used to be named SEC fans

[@brettneely748]

the wolverines aren't a top 50 team. please stop.

[@avi7278]

This could have been a two minute video😂.... No.

[@chrisrisner2682]

Michigans defense is not nearly as good as last years. You can throw on Michigan. They are not good at rushing the QB, and their secondary with the exception of Will Johnson, can be thrown on. Johnson was thrown on several times versus Arkansas St. and they had success even on him! USC will be throwing the ball all over the yard! Michigan doesn't have a competent QB. You know the old saying....if you don't have a QB, you don't have a team. I look forward to watching another Michigan beat down this Saturday.

[@prman9984]

The old saying: If you have 2 QBs, you have 0 QBs. Michigan has 0 QBs.

[@khairiturner1934]

Bruh I've never heard them say anything good about LSU and I'm starting to think it's personal lmao

[@mattschwartz7583]

Be good more often and they'll talk about you too😉

[@pestyoverlord]

Isn't there an LSU jersey in the background? I doubt it's bias, they probably just don't look exceptional rn. Plus BK is a meme. 🤷

[@brerrabbit3289]

Nine times out of ten when they pick LSU we lose. Pray they stay out of our camp

[@CollegeFootballNerds]

We were literally the front runners of the Daniels Heisman campaign. But the defense was genuinely horrible last year and the team just hasn’t been elite in years - averaging 4.75 losses/year since 2019. We were very high on them in 2019 by mid season but that was an eternity ago.

[@brerrabbit3289]

@@CollegeFootballNerds yall are fair when it comes to LSU. Anyone who has been around for a while knows. I think we have had the most rants about how we preform outside the statistical norms.

[@supernova4575]

Ok Forget the line Michigan has pride and USC welcome to the big ten ,USC will get bruised