Michigan had a bye week before Saturday’s Big Ten matchup with Wisconsin in Ann Arbor. Head coach Sherrone Moore is returning from a longer break.Moore served a two-game suspension for his involvement in the program’s sign-stealing scandal. The No. 20 Wolverines (3-1 overall, 1-0 Big Ten) did just fine under associate head coach Biff Poggi, clobbering Central Michigan by 60 points and collecting a three-point road victory over Nebraska in their conference opener.”Just appreciate him greatly for handling it the way he did,” Moore said.The bye allowed Michigan to rest up for the Badgers (2-2, 0-1), who lost their last two games and also had last weekend off.”I feel really good about where we are,” Moore said. “That was the number one goal this week — to get guys healthy, get guys back.”Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood hasn’t put up big passing numbers thus far, mostly because the running game has worked well. The Wolverines rushed for 286 yards and three touchdowns against the Cornhuskers, including 61 yards and a score from Underwood.Alabama transfer Justice Haynes has been the team’s breakout star, averaging 8.1 yards per carry while reaching the end zone six times.The Wolverines will be challenged by a Badgers rushing defense that has allowed just 50 yards per game and 2.1 yards per carry.”They’re number one in the country. So they’re stout,” Moore said. “They’re big and stout up front. They’ve got guys that have played a lot of football, and they’ve got hard edges.”Michigan may need to rely more on Underwood’s arm. So far, the highly touted prospect has completed just 56.9 percent of his attempts, but he’s also avoided trouble (one interception).
