Michigan and Washington meet within the School Soccer Playoff championship recreation on Monday evening. Per Action Network, the Huskies are a 4.5-point underdog searching for their first nationwide title because the 1991 season.
Listed here are three the reason why Washington (14-0) can beat Michigan (14-0) in a battle of unbeatens.
1. Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line nullifies Michigan’s move rush
The Wolverines set the tone early of their 27-20 time beyond regulation win over Alabama. edge rushers Braiden McGregor and Josaiah Stewart sacked Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe on ‘Bama’s opening drive, and Michigan completed the sport with six sacks, together with 5 within the first half. Nonetheless, if any crew is aware of keep away from sacks, it is Washington. Only three teams allowed fewer sacks than the Huskies this season.
The offensive line received the Joe Moore Award for Division I soccer’s most excellent offensive line unit, and so they held the Longhorns to 10 complete pressures and no sacks within the Sugar Bowl. Per Pro Football Focus, 11 Michigan defenders had not less than one stress in Michigan’s time beyond regulation Rose Bowl win. The Wolverines did a superb job of complicated Bama’s move blockers by disguising their move rush and should use their cavalry of move rushers to overwhelm the Huskies up entrance.
2. Edge rusher Bralen Trice wreaks havoc
Washington is tied for 104th in the country in sacks with solely 21 on the season. Nonetheless, that is not a mirrored image of Trice, who’s credited with 77 complete pressures, together with eight sacks, by PFF. He had seven of the Huskies’ 14 pressures towards the Longhorns. Trice should get by towards a Wolverines offensive line that did not enable a sack towards the Tide. Search for Washington to try to use Michigan’s potential weak spot at left sort out. LaDarius Henderson allowed 5 of ‘Bama’s 10 complete pressures within the Rose Bowl and in addition allowed a team-high eight pressures within the Massive Ten championship recreation towards Iowa.
3. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is the perfect participant on the sector
The Heisman runner-up made a number of excellent throws towards Texas, together with a number of whereas beneath duress. Penix has glorious footwork and does not panic whereas beneath stress. Here is considered one of his extra underrated throws towards Texas, when Longhorns junior defensive lineman Byron Murphy II received his double-team towards Huskies redshirt-freshman heart Parker Brailsford and junior proper guard Julius Buelow, however Penix Jr. evaded the move rush, set his ft and delivered a strike over the center of the sector to Odunze for a 24-yard acquire.
