Michigan Football 2012: 1 Reason Why the Wolverines Can Beat Every Opponent

Michigan's 2012 schedule is difficult, no doubt, but they are certainly capable of beating every team on it.

The Alabama game will be the toughest, but there are still plenty of reasons Michigan may win that game.

Here's a look at all 12 games, and a possible weakness or two they may be able to exploit against the opponent in each game.

Alabama (September 1)

This is, without a doubt, the toughest game on the schedule. However, it doesn't mean that Michigan can't win it.

Is it likely that Michigan wins this game? No. That doesn't mean that they don't have a shot, though.

Michigan's defense should be stout once again, and there's a good chance that Alabama's offense is one-dimensional in this game.

Both Marquis Maze and Darius Hanks are gone, leaving Alabama with young and mainly inexperienced receivers such as Kenny Bell and Kevin Norwood.

Alabama won't take much of a step back in the running game, though. Eddie Lacy won't be as good as Trent Richardson was, but he won't be far off.

On defense, cornerback has to be a bit of a concern. Dee Milliner will start at one spot, but who starts at the other is still up in the air.

Plus, longtime star and veteran Mark Barron is gone at safety.

Yes, these replacements on defense will eventually be great, but a lot of these guys are still inexperienced and will need time to become great.

I wouldn't be surprised if Alabama's defense resembled their 2010 defense, one that was great at times, but struggled at others, due to youth and inexperience.

Air Force (September 8)

Yes, Air Force runs the triple option, which is extremely hard to prepare for, but I'm not too worried about Michigan losing this game.

Shut down their running game even slightly, and you'll shut down Air Force's offense.

Plus, this is the home opener for Michigan, a game that they will certainly be excited for.

Air Force has the potential to keep this game close for a while, but don't expect a nail biter or anything like that.

Massachusetts (September 15)

Everybody remembers the scare that UMass gave Michigan in 2010, only losing by five points in the Big House.

However, this is a much different Michigan team, and that is unlikely to happen again.

This game definitely should be a rout. A lot of those players will still be around that were on the 2010 team, and they won't let UMass keep it close once again.

The defense especially will be extra prepared to show that they're not the same defense that gave up 37 points to this UMass team a few years ago.

@ Notre Dame (September 22)

Regardless of what kind of team Notre Dame puts on the field, this will be one of the toughest games on the schedule for Michigan.

This Irish team certainly has questions, including who the quarterback will be. Either Tommy Rees or Andrew Hendrix could start.

With Theo Riddick moving back to running back, the Irish look to be loaded at that position with he and Cierre Wood. However, will Brian Kelly take advantage, seeing as how he likes to throw the ball more?

The move seems a bit puzzling, though, as it takes away depth at receiver. TJ Jones is the only proven receiver, which is obviously a problem. They are basically counting on Robby Toma to step up big time.

Tight end remains a strength with Tyler Eifert, one of the best in the country.

Notre Dame's front seven looks to be absolutely great, as the great young stars of the 2011 recruiting class will begin to play big roles.

However, the secondary could be a problem, as all four starters are gone. Zeke Motta did play a big role last year, though, and he will return.

This game will likely be a tossup heading in. Michigan will likely either be 3-1 or 2-2 after this game; there is no comparison between the two.

@ Purdue (October 6)

This game would scare me a lot more, but the fact that Michigan has a bye before it takes away some of that fear.

Purdue should field a solid team in 2012. Almost every single contributor returns on offense, and the majority of them do on defense.

Michigan destroyed Purdue in 2011, and the Boilers will be looking for revenge. Combine that with Danny Hope's seeming hatred for Michigan, and Purdue could give Michigan a scare.

However, as long as Michigan is prepared and focused for this game, they should definitely win.

Illinois (October 13)

This is one of Michigan's easiest games on the schedule.

Who knows what kind of team Illinois will field in 2012? Is Tim Beckman really the answer for this football program? Will the losses of Vic Koening and Paul Petrino hurt as much as expected? Nothing but questions surround this team.

Michigan went into Illinois last year and handled a puzzling Illini team, so there's no reason they shouldn't do it again, especially since it's at home.

Losing A.J. Jenkins will devastate this passing game, but can it really be worse than it was in the second half of last year?

Running the ball has been their strength, but is Donnovan Young ready to be the lead carrier as a true sophomore?

Losing Whitney Mercilus a year early to the NFL obviously hurts, but the front seven still looks to be nasty. If there is a positive on this Illinois team, it looks to be the defense.

Michigan will definitely win this game, and it would be a little surprising if it wasn't a blowout.

Michigan State (October 20)

People will think I am crazy for saying this, but this game DOES NOT scare me.

Michigan will have a better team than State, and the fact that it is at home makes all the difference.

The seniors will look at this game similar to the way they looked at the Ohio game in 2011: a must-win.

Michigan isn't going to lose this game.

@ Nebraska (October 27)

I think this is the third-toughest game on the schedule for Michigan in 2012.

Coming into this game, Michigan definitely should be undefeated in conference play. In fact, this game could have huge Legends Division implications.

Nebraska returns almost every offensive skill position contributor except Brandon Kinnie, and that probably isn't too big of a loss.

Even though he doesn't need much help, Rex Burkhead should face stiff competition from a loaded backfield, including Aaron Green, Ameer Abdullah and Braylon Heard.

The receivers aren't great, but guys like Kenny Bell, Khiry Cooper, Quincy Enunwa, Jamal Turner and Tim Marlowe are good enough to get the job done.

Everybody is talking about the losses of Jared Crick, Lavonte David and Alfonzo Dennard on defense, and yes, that will hurt, but they still should be loaded.

The front seven should be great, and Andrew Green and Ciante Evans will form a great corner duo.

This will one of the biggest games in the Big Ten the entire year.

@ Minnesota (November 3)

Jerry Kill's Gophers will be improved, no doubt, next year, but the question is how much?

This game has upset potential, simply because it is on the road.

The improvement that Minnesota showed at the end of last year leads me to believe that they should contend for a bowl game in 2012.

With that being said, it is a game Michigan should certainly win, but a game they will have to be focused and ready for.

It will be Michigan's first ever trip to TCF Bank Stadium, and how appropriate it is that they are making the trip to Minneapolis in November, when the weather should be brutally cold.

Northwestern (November 10)

The last time Northwestern came to the Big House, they won. That is unlikely to happen again.

The good news is that Dan Persa is gone, but the bad news is that the dynamic Kain Colter may be the second coming of Persa. In fact, Colter may be better.

This kid can do it all, literally. In 2011, he played quarterback, which includes running and throwing in Northwestern's offense.

When Dan Persa was on the field, Colter moved out to wide receiver, where he was arguably their second-best receiver, only behind Jeremy Ebert. Colter can literally do it all.

Getting Mike Trumpy back from injury will add to a backfield which already includes Adonis Smith and Treyvon Green.

Losing Ebert and Drake Dunsmore will hurt in the passing game, but Rashad Lawrence and Christian Jones are rising stars.

The defense was the problem last year for the Wildcats, and it looks to be no different in 2012, especially seeing as how the secondary is absolutely depleted.

Northwestern will likely be similar to how they were in 2011, which isn't enough to go into Michigan and win.

Iowa (November 17)

What a sad day this will be for Michigan football. It signifies Senior Day, and the last home game for so many important seniors.

Guys like Denard Robinson, Roy Roundtree, Vincent Smith, Patrick Omameh, Craig Roh, Kenny Demens, Jordan Kovacs and J.T. Floyd will be suiting up for the last time in front of their home fans.

With that being said, I think Michigan definitely wins this game. I don't think that they'll get caught looking ahead to The Game because it's hard not to be focused on Senior Day.

This Iowa team looked to be in good shape for 2012 a few weeks ago, but they were then dealt a huge blow: the dismissal of Marcus Coker.

Coker was expected to be the heart and soul of the offense now that Marvin McNutt is gone. The loss of Coker doesn't leave James Vandenberg a whole lot to work with.

Plus, both Norm Parker and Ken O'Keefe have left the program, signifying the first time either coordinator position has been open in a long time.

It will likely be a cold, dreary day, and Michigan should win in a slugfest.

@ Ohio (November 24)

What can possibly be said about this game that hasn't been said already?

Countless storylines surround this game, mainly the fact that it's Brady Hoke vs. Urban Meyer for the first time, and that it's Ohio's "Super Bowl" since they won't be going to a bowl game.

Ohio's defense should be good again, but the offense does have some question marks.

Who is the running back? Can somebody like Rod Smith, Carlos Hyde or Jordan Hall carry the load, or will carries have to be split?

Plus, what about the receivers? Braxton Miller needs all the help he can get in the passing game, but are young guys like Devin Smith, Evan Spencer, Philly Brown and Chris Fields ready to step up?

Michigan will likely enter this game with either one or zero Big Ten losses, and as usual, this game could decide whether or not they advance to the Big Ten championship.