Michigan football schedule 2019: Game-by-game predictions

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 29: Michigan Wolverines quarterback Shea Patterson (2) drops back to pass during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl football game of the Florida Gators v Michigan Wolverine's at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA.(Photo by Todd Kirkland/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Michigan football enters its fifth season under the watch of Jim Harbaugh. Will 2019 finally be the year they get over the hump in the Big Ten?

Despite a 10-game winning streak last season, the Michigan Wolverines finished the 2018 campaign on an unbelievably sour note, getting run off the field by Ohio State then suffering the same in the Peach Bowl against Florida. Now it’s into year five under Jim Harbaugh for Michigan football and the questions are swirling about whether he can actually get them to the top of the Big Ten, specifically over rival Ohio State.

Ole Miss transfer Shea Patterson arrived in Ann Arbor last season with plenty of fanfare as he provided stability and upside at quarterback. However, the signal-caller seemed uncomfortable for much of the year. That could change in the 2019 season, though, as spread-happy Josh Gattis takes over at offensive coordinator. Transitioning to the spread, which Patterson ran productively at Ole Miss, could serve the quarterback well.

Even better for Patterson and Gattis is the weapons to work with. Though Karan Higdon’s and Chris Evans’ departures leave a hole at running back, high-profile pass-catchers Donovan Peoples-Jones, Nico Collins and Tarik Black make up one of the most fearsome wide receiver corps in all of college football. If the spread offense clicks, this could be a new brand of Michigan football that we’ll be witnessing.

They may need to put up big numbers on the scoreboard, especially early on, as the Wolverines defense will have some departures of their own to deal with. Rashan Gary, Chase Winovich and Devin Bush were the heart of the defense in 2018 but are now all in the NFL ranks. Replacing those guys and staying stingy on that side of the ball will be critical.

All of this begs the question, though, if this is the year that the Wolverines finally realize their potential under Harbaugh. Let’s go week-by-week through the 2019 Michigan football schedule and predict each outcome to see if that is indeed the case.

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