Let’s not mince words or try and spin Michigan’s 24-21 double-overtime win over Army as some grand display of ‘scratching and clawing’ your way to victory like Jim Harbaugh wanted to describe it.
The Wolverines headed into today’s game a 22-point favorite and top-10 team in the country but were essentially a play away from losing to a service school on home turf.
Fumbles were the story once again for Michigan as they 4-3 on fumbles after going 4-2 last week against Middle Tennessee State. Quarterback Shea Patterson continued to look all out of sorts in Michigan’s new offense going 19 of 29 with some drops and errant passes.
After getting booed off the field as Army took a 14-7 lead into the half, Michigan opened up the second seemingly looking like a different team. They managed to get a huge pick at the goal line which turned into seven points going the other way to tie up the game.
However Michigan’s stagnant offense returned shortly thereafter as both teams wouldn’t score again until overtime when they traded touchdowns while the Wolverines added a field goal and fumble recovery to seal the game.
In all fairness, Michigan was stripped of a touchdown in the first half after a horrible call on the part of the refs reversed a fumble recovery and run back by Josh Metellus which was even more costly as Shea Patterson was stripped on the very next play. The Black Knights also have a knack for playing top 10 teams well in September after giving Oklahoma cold sweats last season as the Sooners eeked out a 28-21 overtime win at home.
However, lets not cloud reality here. Yes Oklahoma went on to win the Big 12 and make an appearance in the College Football Playoff but can anyone with a straight face see Michigan winning the Big Ten East in year five of Jim Harbaugh? Especially with this inconsistent play against much inferior talent?
