Michigan Wolverines' Scare vs. Air Force Shows They Are Far from BCS-Worthy Team

Michigan has done nothing in their first two games to prove to anyone that they can make a second straight appearance in a BCS game as an at-large bid, or as the Big Ten champion.

Michigan’s first game could be excused, as they were playing the defending BCS champion, the Alabama Crimson Tide. Alabama was coming into the game as the preseason No. 2 team in the country in both polls and had an entire offseason to prepare for Wolverines quarterback Denard Robinson. 

Aside from Alabama’s crushing defense, they had a freshman running back in T.J. Yeldon who surprised the Michigan defense. The Crimson Tide rushing game was supposed to be led by junior Ed Lacy; so, it’s excusable that Michigan was caught off guard by the speedy freshman.

Against Air Force, the offense showed flashes of last year and indicated that maybe the game against Alabama was a fluke. 

Today, Robinson was able to have one of his normal offensive games of: 426 combined yards on 208 passing and 218 rushing yards. To go with Robinson’s dominant day through the air and on the ground, he was responsible for four of Michigan’s scores. 

However, their defense did nothing against the Falcons. For the second straight week, Michigan’s D was ripped apart by another rushing game.

One time is an accident, a second game where Michigan’s defense has given up over 400 total yards on offense with over 200 coming from the rushing game is a trend. 

If Michigan wants to get back to a BCS game or even win the Legends division, then they have to find a way to get past two teams that are built behind dominating rushing games: Michigan State and Nebraska.

Plus, Michigan’s rushing defense will be no match for Ohio State’s new-found rushing game, led by quarterback Braxton Miller.

Robinson is a very talented player and will be able to have games like he did against Air Force. However, he can only do so much in keeping this Wolverines team ahead on the scoreboard. 

So while it seems as if the offense ran into a great defense when they played Alabama, this Michigan defense will be their Achilles' heel that prevents them from reaching their first Big Ten championship game and another BCS game. 

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