Eastern Michigan @ Michigan preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 19, 2009 ) Eastern Michigan 17, Michigan 45

THE STORY: Both teams are off to 2-0 starts, which is expected at Michigan but qualifies as a bit of a surprise for the Eagles, who won two games combined in coach Ron English’s first two seasons with the program. English was on the Michigan staff from 2003 to 2007 as a defensive backs coach and coordinator, but he’ll have his hands full against a Wolverines offense that’s had a knack for quick scores through two games. Michigan scored all five of its touchdowns in five plays or less in last week’s win against Notre Dame.

TV: Big Ten Network LINE: Michigan -28.5

ABOUT EASTERN MICHIGAN (2-0): The Eagles haven’t won more than four games in a season since 1995, but they’re halfway there already with wins over Howard and Alabama State to open the season. They’ll have their work cut out for them to reach 3-0 for the first time since 1989. Eastern Michigan set a program record by allowing minus-13 yards rushing in a 14-7 win over Alabama State. The Eagles are averaging 331 rushing yards per game, with Dominique Sherrer and Javonti Greene both topping 100 yards in each of the first two games.

ABOUT MICHIGAN (2-0): Led by Denard Robinson’s five touchdowns, including a 16-yard TD strike to Roy Roundtree with two seconds left, the Wolverines erased a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Notre Dame 35-31 on Saturday. Michigan improved to 2-0 for the third time in as many seasons and held off the Irish for the third straight year, with each of the wins coming in the final 30 seconds of regulation.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Michigan leads the all-time series 9-0 and has shut out the Eagles six times, including in the first meeting way back in 1896.

2. Michigan is 28-1 all-time against current MAC teams. The Wolverines lost to Toledo in 2008.

3. Eastern Michigan has lost 12 straight road openers by an average of 26 points per game.

PREDICTION: Michigan 38, Eastern Michigan 14 -- The Eagles’ 2-0 start is nice, but they’re in for a wake-up call with a big step up in competition on Saturday.