Ball State (3-6) at Michigan (9-0)
Game Time: Saturday, Nov. 4 at noon ET
This is the first meeting between Ball State and Michigan, although the Wolverines do have a 21-0 record all-time against Mid-American Conference schools. The No. 2-ranked Maize-and-Blue have this week’s game and next week’s trip to Indiana before the season finale at Ohio State (Nov. 18), in a game that could potentially be a No. 1 vs. No. 2 heavyweight fight with Big Ten title and national championship implications.
The top story in Ann Arbor, however, is that Michigan receiver Mario Manningham could return to the gridiron this week. After undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery, Super Mario could exit the phone booth and fly back into The Big House against Ball State. The addition of a healthy Manningham would be a significant step forward for the Wolverines passing game that has struggled in his absence. Quarterback Chad Henne has thrown only two touchdown passes in the three games without the sophomore receiver, after throwing 13 scoring strikes – nine to Manningham – over the first six games of the season.
“I don’t know when it will be, but I have every confidence that unless there’s a setback that he’s going to play pretty shortly,” said Michigan coach Lloyd Carr. “He can run, I can tell you that. He can run. He’s ready to do that. Now the next thing is how he comes out of a break and how it holds up. But we’re very much encouraged and excited, because he brings a great spirit and attitude.”
Along with Manningham’s possible return, this week is also a homecoming for Ball State head coach Brady Hoke and Cardinals offensive coordinator Stan Parrish, who are both former Michigan assistant coaches. Hoke was the Wolverines defensive line coach from 1995-2002, while Parrish was on the coaching staff from 1996-2002, serving as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator.
“(Hoke) did a great job coaching, great job recruiting and he has done a very great job at Ball State. It takes a while to build a program, but he’s built a great foundation,” said Carr. “As far as this game goes, I really was not excited about it. …I just think it’s one of those deals where I’d rather have played somebody else. But with the 12th game and with your bye week, it was very difficult. There were very few teams out there that could have come here at this particular point in the season.”
Coach Carr likely will be happy to see his old colleagues before the game, but probably won’t take much pleasure in the lopsided final score. In Michigan’s only other game against a MAC opponent this year, the Wolverines devoured Central Michigan 41-17. Then, won at Notre Dame 47-21 the following week. Ball State, on the other hand, lost at Central Michigan 18-7 on Oct. 14 and will almost certainly lose much worse against Michigan.
Michigan by 28
This week’s StatShark Game Forecast brought to you by ZEP Manufacturing. The StatShark Game Forecast gives you the results of 10,000 game simulations and key player statistics before this week's game.
