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ESPN’s FPI predicts outcome in Washington-Michigan Week 2 showdown
By Nick Schultz
Published:
It’s been almost 20 years since Michigan and Washington have played each other.
That’ll change Saturday night when the Huskies travel to Ann Arbor for a matchup with the Wolverines. Washington was a top-25 team in the AP preseason poll, but didn’t receive any votes after its stunning, 13-7 Week 1 loss to Montana.
Michigan, meanwhile, handled Western Michigan 47-14 and received 52 votes in the Week 2 AP Top 25 of the season. With that in mind, ESPN’s FPI gives Michigan an 82.6% chance of beating Washington this week.
Washington made the PAC-12 championship last season, but was replaced with USC due to COVID-19 issues in the Huskies’ locker room. Still, they finished the season 3-1 and were ranked No. 20 in the preseason AP Top 25 this year.
Jim Harbaugh’s Wolverines were a different story in 2020, going 2-4 and couldn’t find a true answer at quarterback. It started with Joe Milton before Cade McNamara took over. Now, McNamara is the starter and looked good in Week 1, completing 9 of 11 passes for 136 yards and 2 touchdowns in the victory over Western Michigan.
The game between Washington and Michigan is set to kick off on Sept. 11 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
Nick Schultz is a columnist and breaking news writer for Saturday Tradition. A 2020 graduate of Loyola Chicago, he covered the Ramblers' 2018 Final Four run from beginning to end and has worked at NBC Sports Chicago. Follow Nick on Twitter @NickSchultz_7.