Michigan football vs. UNLV game preview

Game two is on the clock for Michigan football. As the second out of three non-conference games approaches, the Wolverines are preparing for their upcoming matchup against the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

What should Michigan football fans expect from both teams this weekend?

Get to know UNLV

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas is a part of the Mountain West conference. Last season the Rebels went 5-7 overall with a 3-5 conference record. It should be noted that UNLV only won one away game all season in 2022. 

While the Rebels had a losing record in 2022, they also won their first game this season and are 1-0 heading into this weekend’s matchup.

In last weekend’s matchup against Bryant University, UNLV won convincingly, with a final score of 44-14. What the final score doesn’t tell you is Bryant had 409 total yards on offense. The 400+ yards included 179 rushing and 230 passing yards. UNLV could not stop them from gaining yards but was able to stop them from putting points on the board.

UNLV players to watch

Doug Brumfield: While the starting quarterback had mediocre numbers last week, he is experienced and could put up numbers against the Wolverines. Last Saturday, Brumfield completed 61 percent of his passes, completing 11 of 18 for only 86 yards. He had no passing touchdowns, one interception, and was sacked once. However, Brumfield is a dual-threat quarterback and ran for an additional 56 yards and scored one rushing touchdown.

Running Backs: UNLV’s run game put on a show last weekend. Seven different players ran the ball with six of them getting into double digits in yardage. Three players rushed for more than 50 yards, including quarterback Doug Brumfield who rushed for 56 yards. Collectively, all seven players amassed 277 rushing yards, averaging 6.7 yards per play.

Jackson Woodard: The linebacker transfer from Arkansas had a great debut game for the Rebels. He had 12 total tackles, 11 being solo tackles. While he is a newcomer to UNLV, he will be sure to make an impact each and every game.

What to expect from Michigan football

While UNLV is 1-0, there is not much competition for this game. The Rebels allowed 400+ yards of offense from a non-FBS school just last weekend. 

With another week without Coach Jim Harbaugh, the Wolverines are likely to play a safe, consistent game. The playcalling may be a little more sophisticated with Sherrone Moore back on the sidelines; however, don’t expect Michigan to unleash their full playbook during week two.

Michigan football will likely have a dominant game on both sides of the ball. On offense, we should see J.J. McCarthy dominate the passing attack and hopefully see an improvement in the run game compared to last week.

You can catch the Michigan Wolverines play the UNLV Rebels this Saturday, September 9th. Kickoff is set for 3:30 ET and the game will air on CBS.

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