Oklahoma vs. Michigan prediction: Expertise will win out at QB for Sooners over Wolverines

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Oklahoma and Michigan will meet in Week 2 with each groups nonetheless trying to show themselves within the 2025 season. Specifically, each groups start the 12 months with new quarterbacks after questionable performances from their offenses a season in the past.

The Sooners introduced in Washington State switch John Mateer whereas the Wolverines added five-star freshman Bryce Underwood. Each convey excessive expectations instantly as they hope to assist their respective colleges compete to make the School Soccer Playoff.

School soccer analyst Josh Pate addressed the matchup between Oklahoma and Michigan in the newest episode of Josh Pate’s School Soccer Present. He famous the challenges each Mateer and Underwood will face in what is perhaps the most important recreation of every of their careers thus far.

“I’m as excessive on John Mateer as anybody within the nation,” Pate stated. “I could also be larger on him than his dad and mom are. I picked him to win the Heisman. It's silly to assume he’s simply gonna sling it throughout Michigan. If he does it, great. However I don’t anticipate that.

“…It is a baptism within the deep finish for Bryce Underwood, although. Bryce Underwood has — I don’t wanna use the phrase transcendent. I don’t wanna use the phrase generational. He has a ton of expertise. However he's a real freshman quarterback beginning on the highway in Norman, Oklahoma, towards Brent Venables. That recipe doesn’t sound good, and for 99% of quarterbacks it wouldn’t be good. Is he a one-percenter? Truly, he could also be. So he’s obtained a shot to simply do some stuff that's not imagined to be performed.”

Mateer put up a profession excessive 392 yards passing together with 4 complete touchdowns with one interception in his Sooners debut towards Illinois State in Week 1. Underwood additionally appeared strong in main Michigan to a win towards New Mexico, throwing for 251 yards and one landing to no interceptions.

However as Pate talked about, it will likely be an entire completely different world this week as each Mateer and Underwood will see a step up in competitors. Specifically, he sees the highway surroundings and Brent Venables-led protection being robust for Underwood to beat.

“I believe quarterback errors are going to go a great distance in deciding this one,” he stated. “It might truthfully be the padlock stat. There's a likelihood that neither run recreation finds a ton of consistency. Michigan was underneath three yards per carry final week absent two explosive runs. Now, these explosive runs depend. When you obtained them towards New Mexico, possibly you will get them towards Oklahoma. But when they restrict the explosive run, Michigan didn’t mild the world on first in yards per keep on the bottom final week, nor did Oklahoma.

“Each of them are going through manner higher run defenses this week than they did final week, which suggests what if each floor video games get stifled? We obtained one man in John Mateer going through a manner larger caliber of competitors than he’s ever confronted. Largest recreation of his life. Then we’ve obtained Bryce, clearly a real freshman on the highway towards Brent Venables. Largest recreation of his profession by 10 miles. That could be a state of affairs ripe for quarterback errors to determine a recreation.”

In the long run, Pate sees that being the distinction within the consequence of this one. He nonetheless expects it to be a hard-fought recreation that might be determined on the very finish, however provides the sting to the Sooners.

“I believe it’s going to be a really, very tight recreation. In that form of recreation, I lean Oklahoma,” he stated. “The extra I have a look at it although and the way a lot newness and form of uncertainty there may be, I believe it’s gonna be robust to peg this one. So I’m going Oklahoma to win, however something over three, I'm taking Michigan within the factors.”