Michigan knows full well the importance of its first game against Connecticut on Saturday. An 8-16 record in the past two years is not acceptable to fans and alumni, and Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez's seat gets hotter every week. He's as eager as any coach to end this offseason after the drama surrounding the program has drowned out most on-the-field talk.

Luckily for Rodriguez, he's got a pretty good track record against the Huskies. When he coached at West Virginia, Rodriguez was a flawless 4-0 against Connecticut, each time by a comfortable margin.

But it's a new team for Rodriguez and a new team on the other side of the field as the Huskies streaked to four straight wins at the end of last season, including a dominant 20-7 victory over South Carolina in the PapaJohns.com bowl. On the heels of the tragic murder of Husky cornerback Jasper Howard last fall, coach Randy Edsall rallied his team to a strong finish.

The Wolverines need a strong start. A loss to kick off the season could very well send them into a tailspin.

Michigan run offense vs. Connecticut run defense

Connecticut has a strong linebacking group headed by seniors Lawrence Wilson and Greg Lloyd. Wilson led the Huskies with 140 tackles in 2009, and he was second on the team with 11 tackles-for-loss. Lloyd was close behind with 91 tackles of his own. No other Connecticut defender recorded more than 70.

Michigan features its own stable of weapons in the running game. The Wolverines have five backs to choose from in sophomore Vincent Smith, redshirt sophomore Mike Cox, junior Mike Shaw, redshirt freshmen Fitzgerald Toussaint and true freshman Stephen Hopkins. Rodriguez said during the week that multiple backs will get carries come Saturday.

Don't count out the Wolverines' quarterbacks either. All three of the candidates to play are dangerous in the running game as well as through the air. Denard Robinson, a former track star, could be the most effective weapon from the quarterback position to use his feet in the the offense's option runs, though.

The combination of talent with Rodriguez's spread offense makes the ground game a potential strength for the Wolverines. The Huskies, despite their talented backers, could be chasing Michigan all around the field.

Edge: Michigan

Michigan's pass offense vs. Connecticut's pass defense

Many of the offseason on-the-field questions surrounded the three-headed monster at quarterback, and though we probably won't know who will play and how much until gametime, Rodriguez seems confident in all three of the candidates.

Like the Wolverines, Connecticut will be working with an almost entirely new secondary. Unlike their counterparts, they won't have a semi-experienced pass rushing attack, with two new redshirt sophomore defensive ends anchoring the pass rush.

Of course, a lot depends on who's playing under center, but Michigan's passing attack has a real chance to shine against the Huskies. In the non-conference slate last season, sophomore Tate Forcier looked like an early outside Heisman candidate. And sophomore Denard Robinson, who shocked many with his newfound passing ability at the spring game, has apparently found his stride as far as throwing the ball goes.

If Michigan gets off to a quick start through the air, Connecticut's inexperienced secondary could be reeling all day long, which could open up the running lanes for one of Michigan's speedy QB's. Whoever starts under center should have a productive day, assuming they don't get happy feet in the pocket.

Edge: Michigan

Connecticut's rush offense vs. Michigan's rush defense

The Huskies' offense features a returning 1,ooo-yard rusher in junior running back Jordan Todman. Last year, the Connecticut offensive line paved the way for Todman and Andre Dixon, who has since graduated.

In a run-oriented offense, the Huskies ran for more than 2,200 yards and 30 touchdowns. Todman and Dixon each scored 14 touchdowns on the ground. Their rushing attack gains yards and punches the ball into the end zone.

Michigan's defensive lineman and linebackers have experienced players on the field, but the Wolverines' run defense has had more holes than swiss cheese the past two years.