MICHIGAN
Last year: 9-4
Big Ten: 6-2
Bowl: Capital One Bowl; beat Florida, 41-35.
Coach: Rich Rodriguez (first year at Michigan; 105-62-2 overall, 15 years)
The good stuff: The Wolverines feature a veteran defense, particularly on the line where returning starters Terrance Taylor, Will Johnson, Brandon Graham and Tim Jamison will be hard to handle. Punter Zoltan Mesko and kicker K.C. Lopata are top-notch specialists.
To be determined: Whether an offensive line and backfield decimated by graduation can be successfully filled by inexperienced players.
Camp update: A bunch of freshmen will play based on what they've shown in training camp. Rodriguez said he expects as many as 10 first-year players to see game action early in the season. Some may even start.
Newcomers to watch: A pair of running backs, Sam McGuffie and Michael Shaw. They're fast, shifty and versatile enough to be plugged into a variety of spots in coach Rich Rodriguez's spread offense.
Pivotal players: Quarterbacks Steven Threet and Nick Sheridan, and redshirt junior left tackle Mark Ortmann. Ortmann - who has started twice in his career - will be protecting the blind side of Michigan quarterback tandem.
Make or break game: The season opener against Utah - which went 9-4 last year and returns 16 starters - should be telling. A victory will be meaningful, while a loss could forecast a rocky first year for Rodriguez and the Wolverines.
In the end: No matter how outstanding the team's defense might be, an offensive line consisting of four new starters and a shaky situation at quarterback can't inspire confidence. Michigan will win enough to extend its consecutive bowl streak to 34, but won't be playing on New Year's Day.
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