The top concern of any opponent preparing for the Michigan football team is finding a way to slow Denard Robinson.

In our weekly Beat Writer Breakdown, Chicago Tribune sportswriter Teddy Greenstein says Northwestern may have a leg up in that area because the Wildcats have faced back-to-back running quarterbacks in Army’s Trent Steelman and Illinois’ Nate Scheelhaase.

Plus, Northwestern’s defense works against its own running quarterback, Kain Colter, in practice every day.

Of course, the Wildcats prefer that starting QB Dan Persa is healthy enough to start — and it appears he will be.

Q. Obviously, a lot will come down to the health of quarterback Dan Persa. He returned last week from a ruptured Achilles tendon, but left the game after aggravating the injury. How is Northwestern different with and without him?

Teddy Greenstein: Backup QB Kain Colter is basically Persa Jr. They’ve got similar size and both broke in as run-first QBs. Heading into last year, there were serious questions about whether Persa would be polished as a passer. Then he completed 73.5 percent of his throws, beat out Denard Robinson & Co. to make first-team all- Big Ten (in the coaches vote) and landed on billboards as part of Northwestern’s “Persa Strong” Heisman campaign.

NU coach Pat Fitzgerald said Persa ran well during a Monday workout and will be “ready to go” Saturday. It’s worth noting that Fitz has previously put overly positive spins on Persa’s condition. But by refraining from calling him “day to day,” Fitz really seems confident that Persa is fine.

With Persa playing, NU has a dynamic passing offense. With Colter, it’s a run-heavy spread with pass attempts sprinkled in.

Q. What do you anticipate Northwestern will do to try to contain Denard Robinson?

TG: NU defenders are talking about staying in their lanes and not rushing too aggressively. They do have the advantage of having prepared for two straight rushing QBs -- Army’s Trent Steelman and Illinois’ Nate Scheelhaase. And they go up against Kolter every day in practice. But Denard is a different animal.

The Wildcats are averaging a respectable 4.1 yards per rush, so Saturday might not be a total train wreck.

Q. This is the Wolverines' first road game of the year, and it comes at a place where no current Michigan player has experience (last trip was 2007). Is that an advantage for Northwestern?

TG: Can’t hurt. Northwestern has played only one home game this year. The home comfort should help, but it’s not like visiting Ryan Field makes grown men cry. Last year the Wildcats lost at home -- at night -- to Purdue. It’ll be nice to see the place full, though. Normally all the seats aren’t taken unless Ohio State is in town.

Q. Where on the field will be Michigan's biggest matchup disadvantage?

TG: I haven’t seen a ton of Michigan football this season, other than the Notre Dame game. Based on that, I’d say a healthy Persa could connect with his bevy of talented/underrated receivers. But looking at the stats, Michigan ranks fourth in the Big Ten in passing efficiency. Impressive. Then again, some of that did come against Minnesota.

Q. Northwestern had a fourth-quarter lead the last time Michigan played in Evanston, Ill., but the Wolverines prevailed with 21 unanswered second-half points. The Wildcats finish the job this time if ...

TG: Persa can make it through four quarters, and the Wildcats don’t give up any 50-plus yard plays.

Teddy Greenstein's prediction
It’s early in the week, so I’m reserving the right to change this pick ... or claim I was misquoted. My feeling is that Michigan is a bit overrated -- and probably overconfident after feasting on Gopher meat. Northwestern has lost two straight close games, a reversal of a hallmark of the program. OK, I’ll get to it already: Michigan 27, Northwestern 24.

Find Teddy Greenstein's work at the Chicago Tribune. Follow him on Twitter @TeddyGreenstein.

Kyle Meinke covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2588, by email at kylemeinke@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @kmeinke.