Michigan is Joel Klatt’s favorite to win Big Ten championship

“Michigan’s for real,” Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt said on The Herd with Colin Cowherd on Wednesday.

Klatt has been vocal in his praise for Michigan throughout the season, and now he’s declaring the Wolverines as his favorite in the Big Ten.

“I just saw Ohio State last week against Minnesota and I’ve seen Michigan in a game they didn’t play well against Northwestern,” Klatt said. “For what I’ve seen on tape evaluating both teams and what I saw live, my new favorite to win the conference is Michigan.”

Part of Klatt’s reasoning has to do with how Ohio State’s defense has fared this season, as well as the struggles along the Buckeye offensive line.

“Ohio State’s given up 20 plays of 30 or more yards, that’s 6th worst in college football. Their (OSU) offensive line was atrocious last week and Michigan just had I would say a top two, three team performance out of any team in college football last week. Against Wisconsin they were unbelievable.”

What also has impressed Klatt about Michigan on the field is quarterback Shea Patterson’s ability to run, as well as the improvements the o-line has made since last season.

“Last year the offensive line was giving up right around 3 sacks per game, do you know that’s down to one and a half? Then Shea Patterson’s ability to convert with his feet on both quarterback designed runs as well as when the pocket breaks down and he can get loose.”

Klatt’s comments come days away from a big challenge awaiting Michigan. The Wolverines will head into East Lansing to take on the Michigan State Spartans on Saturday afternoon.