Fanblogs.com: Is Michigan's bowl streak in jeopardy?
Bevo_Boy
· 1 year ago
O-TEE-NEE!!!!!!!
I see UM starting out 3-0 and then I don't think they can beat Illinois or MSU. I think Dantonio is will get that MSU team in good shape to win that one and I don't think UM can stop Juice Williams. How can you stop somebody who's name is Juice? Hope that doesn't mean steroids, though.
Zac
· 1 year ago
"O-TEE-NEE!!!!!!!"
Hmmm. . ., I like it.
I also like to spout a lot of history regarding Rich Rodriguez, especially his 1st year with WVU at 3-8. To be fair, however, as it has been pointed out, this is MI. Given Lloyd Carr was their last new coach, and given he didn't miss a beat (much) with MI, I have to agree; the bowl streak is not in jeopardy.
Kevin @ Fanblogs
· 1 year ago
You might be right, Bevo Boy. What is clear to me -- at this point -- is that they should win at least six games and keep the bowl streak intact.
Bevo_Boy
· 1 year ago
Yeah, even though it won't likely be a big bowl game, Michigan will have people lining up to get them to come to their bowl game as long as they get win #6.
hricane23
· 1 year ago
But the question would be, "Would UM players want to play in just any ol' bowl?"
I wouldn't be surprised if the boys voted to stay home after such a disappointing season. Obviously, the Seniors would like to play one more game in the maize and blue, but even they would hate to potentially lose in a 5th tier bowl game to a mid-major opponent. Easier to just stay home.
Kevin @ Fanblogs
· 1 year ago
I don't think that would happen... because of the streak.
Ben Prather
· 1 year ago
The only team i can recall turning down a bowl game, other than as punishment for bench clearing brawls, is UCLA.
Looking at the bottom three bowl participating Big 10 teams last year, they played C. Michigan, Oklahoma State and Boston College. Any of these game with Michigan might be interesting this year.
Zac
· 1 year ago
I seem to recall ND w/a 6-5-1 record (not certain of this) turning down a lesser bowl many years back. Also, I think undefeated (11-0), North Carolina (1980?) for some reason couldn't go to a bowl where they may have shown they were #1; instead, settled for #2.
dithridge
· 1 year ago
penn state is due for a win against the wolverines
GeauxTigers0107
· 1 year ago
I got em at 9-3 beating Wisconsin and Notre Lame. I just don't see them only winning seven games. Even with a new coach and system. There's just too many damn bowls these days for their streak to end. What are we at now, 34...35? I stop trying to keep count 3 years ago.
Geaux Tigers Geaux SEC
Zac
· 1 year ago
I agree with MI beating ND, but I think WI still takes em in the Big House. You're right about one thing. Too many friggen bowls. Even if MI broke even, they'd be in on name alone.
Tom_Blogical
· 1 year ago
I agree with Bevo Boy about the MSU game. I believe the Spartans will win in Ann Arbor this year.
gatorhippy
· 1 year ago
I wouldn't count out RR and the Wolvies just yet...
Steve Threet has a little experience with the spread and has adjusted to four different offenses in three years of college at two different schools...
So he is accustomed to change and the shuffling of coaching staffs...
While he isn't the fastest guy and certainly not a Pat White, he'll have some talent around him...
And his comprhension and understanding of the offense grew bounds over the spring which will help with directing the offense...
I don't know about a B10 championship but pretty confident Big Blue bowls this season...
jake
· 1 year ago
This is going to be a nail biter season simply due to a scenario that everyone has overlooked. What if UM actually starts off really hot?? UM goes 3-0 and the maize and blue in Ann Arbor go ecstatic - they believe they have found the chosen one. UM then takes a tough one at home to Wisconsin which only slightly humbles the UM fans. UM's morale gets a super boost by destroying Toledo and, although overconfidence plagues them through the Illinois game, they leave the Big House with a win. At the midpoint, UM is 5-1 and Ann Arbor is very confident. Then things get ugly. UM gets slaughtered in Happy Valley; return home for a close loss to Dantonio's squad; and, finally, Joe Tiller gets his swan song as UM's offense struggles severely. Wow, now RR is 5-4. Thankfully, the Big 10(11) lacks depth so they pull it together for easy wins at Minnesota and vs NW. By this point, UM fans shouldn't expect much against OSU and the scoreboard shows it. They finish off at merely 7-5 and receive a bid to a better bowl than they deserve simply because they are Michigan.
JB
· 1 year ago
I would bet that Michigan loses two games...Wis/PSU and MSU...and yes, i just said it, the Meechigan Wolerines will beat the Buckeyes in the Shoe......................i probably will regret this statement but that is how i think it might go.
War_Eagle_Atlanta
· 1 year ago
You made me look! When I saw that the Utah game was predicted as a loss, I had to scroll down real quick and see if Ben wrote the thread... Nope, Kevin did, but I see Ben's fingers all over this... :-)
Did Michigan ink a lengthy contract with Norte Dame, or is it still a short term thing? If the latter, Michigan might want to let them win one, lest the Irish run off and start scheduling Georgia Tech again... (not that there's anything wrong with GT...)
JB
· 1 year ago
Actually, WEA both of the teams signed a contract last July 31st that keeps them playing annually until 2031
TampaGator
· 1 year ago
"...Perdich'n..."
...PAIN.... [Clubber lang, Rocky III]
UTAH - LOSS. 0-1. Agreed; second year home opening shocker, simply because no one--especially not the worverines--believes it can happen twice in a row...and b/c Utah is capable.
MIAMI OH - WIN. 1-1 (nothing to discuss here).
@ Notre Dame. LOSS. 1-2. ND won't suck nearly as bad as they did last year. They've got Jon Tanuta--new DC-- a bunch of big ol' boys on the OL, and 10 returning starters on O--all kinds of experience. Chucky got "No Excuse(s)" to suck this year.
WISCONSIN. LOSS. 1-3 (overdue).
ILLINOIS -LOSS. 1-4. Michigan is where Illinois was 2 years ago, and ILL is where Michigan wants to get to.
TOLEDO - WIN. 2-4. Michigan may be in a little disarray, but they could fart and beat Toledo.
@ Penn State -LOSS. 2-5. JoPa should have a decent team this year, and take advantage of the chaos in Ann Arbor.
MICHIGAN STATE - LOSS. 2-6. MSU is on upswing; Mich in transition. Advantage Sparty.
@ Purdue. WIN. 3-6. Purdue--they grow great chickens...not much progress on the gridiron though.
@ Minnesota. WIN. 4-6. Gophers...taste like chicken...even to a wolverine kitties who dun lost their momma....
NORTHWESTERN. WIN. 5-6. Wildcats? More like declawed, fixed, domestic house cats...wondered astray of the litter box (see gophers above).
@ Ohio State. LOSS. 5-7. ...there is nothing to see here...please continue about your business...
5-7 gets you great seats to ALL of the major bowls...in the comfort of your own living room (literally).
Streak ends.
GO GATORS!!
Ben Prather
· 1 year ago
Utah and Michigan have played only once, in 2002. Michigan won 10-7. Utah was 5-6 that year and Michigan 10-3. I think Michigan was favored by 17 in that game. I'll call for Utah by 10. (If you are from Utah you'll get it) I am as confident in Utah winning this game as I was in Utah winning against Texas Tech in 2004. Michigan is no Texas Tech this year.
I think Michigan beats Miami(OH) and Notre Dame. I am not sure Notre Dame is not going to suck like last year. Then they loss to Wisconsin and Illinois. Wins against Toledo and Penn State come next, followed by a loss to Michigan State. Purdue, Minnesota and Northwestern should give them 7 wins, and they need only 6. They better get them before playing Ohio State.
Ohio State Jerseys
· 1 year ago
I'm sure they will get a bowl, it is pretty hard not to these days. I don't think there is much chance of them taking down the Buckeyes, even with a new head coach.
Zac
· 1 year ago
Zac's Take:
Utah: Let's get one thing straight; the Utes are for REAL. This is why they won't sneak up on MI. MI knows what they're up against. Trust me; Rich Rodriguez won't let them NOT know. He will have them ready athletically. The question remains: Will the players themselves be ready, with a complete grasp of his system? I think this is what tips the scales, and allows Utah to come away with a close one.
The "other" Miami: They won't sneak up on MI, either.
ND: Last year a young ND visited The Big House and were summarily embarrassed by a MI squad which was embarrassed twice. ND was a very young team and have all of that coming back. Experience or no, that's still the ND team which only won 3 games all season. It is for this reason I think MI escapes S Bend with a close one.
WI: The Badgers took care of business in impressive style in Camp Randal. It'll be tougher in Ann Arbor, but like Utah, they'll expose the weakness of a team not having fully grasped a new system.
IL: Last season IL pulled off a big win against OSU in "The Shoe" behind the savy of "The Juice" and the legs of Mendenhall. This year, despite the loss of Mendenhall, they may do the same against MI in The Big House for the same reason as WI. The question is, with IL uni-dimensional, could MI's defense do enough to help prevent the upset?
Toledo: I got 1 word for the upstarts from OH: fagetaboutit!
Penn St: The Lions have to beat em sometime. They couldn't have picked a better year. I see Penn St as being the only other possible team which could stand in OSU's way. While that is unlikely, MI won't stand in Joe Pa's way; not in "Happy Valley".
MI St: This is just like Pitt/WVU. These rivals are geographically so close to each other, there really isn't an away game for either. It's because the Wolverines won't quite have all the bugs worked out of the Rodriguez system, and that MI St practically returns its offense in-tact, that the Spartans escape with the "W".
Purdue: That this will be played in W Lafayette will help, but I just don't think Purdue will have enough in the tank for the entire game.
MN & NW: I don't care where these are played. See Toledo.
OSU: Without question, MI has the heart for the full 60 minutes of this epic battle. Before it's all said and done, they will have shown the Buckeyes just where their hearts are. Despite the valiant effort, OSU still wins.
I see MI going 6-6, and their name puts them in a bowl. There will be too many close ones that could go either way. MI's outcome against UT, ND, IL, MI St, and Purdue could all be different. To find out for sure, tune in; 36 days from now it all begins a'new.
JB
· 1 year ago
I dont know... i just cant fathom Mi losing to Utah...how can they be for real... nobody has seen them play????
Ben Prather
· 1 year ago
SHHHHH! don't let Michigan know people are picking Utah!
It can be a Fanblog secret. I planned to lay low with this game, but someone else brought it up, so...
Michigan saw them play in 2002. Michigan went 10-3 that year, Utah 5-6. Michigan defeated Utah 10-7, back in the days when Utah had no offense, but a killer defense. If they could have scored 14+ points a game they would have won at least 3 more games that year.
Utah returns 14 starters, including Brian Johnson at Quarterback, Darrel Mack at running back and 9 of their top 10 offensive linemen, averaging 6'3" 311 lbs. Last year they went 9-4 with 17 injuries, eliminating 51 starts.
The real question is Utah's pass defense, replacing 2 prominent line backer's and a free safety. Kyle Whittingham was the defensive coordinator who held Michigan to 10 points. Now as the head coach he will have his defense ready. He always has.
( In 2004 the defense gave up a lot of yards and points, but was on the field for 2/3 of the game and played for the turnover rather than the stop until they got within the 20. They had one of the best turnover margins in the country that year and had an offense they could count on to score. )
The real disappointment is that Utah will not get full credit for this likely win because people will reason that Michigan was still learning the new systems. If Michigan IS having trouble learning the systems this game will not even be close.
JB
· 1 year ago
I think the reason MI will beat UT is because they are more real than App St...no underestimation this time'
Ben Prather
· 1 year ago
I think Utah will beat Michigan because Utah is better than Michigan this year. It does not matter if Michigan underestimates Utah.
For you SEC fans, let me explain about how good Utah is. They would be the #6 team in the SEC, behind LSU, Auburn, Georgia, Florida and Tennessee but ahead of South Carolina, Mississippi State, Alabama and the rest. This is good enough to beat Michigan this year, and should get them to 10-2 in the MWC.
Marko
· 1 year ago
Michigan will end up with another 9-4 or 10-2 record if things go like they usually do. 3-0 in the first 3 games, most likely splitting Wisconsin and Illinois... after that its only Penn State and OSU that presents a problem for Michigan. Sure, the argument is that Michigan lost a TON of talent, but they still have a lot of talent in key positions with tremendous speed that Lloyd Carr never used. Speed and skill like that will have Calvin Magee putting up 30 pts a game with ease. Also, the defense is returning 6-7 starters from last year, and everyone knows that defense wins games.
JB
· 1 year ago
Utah------Win by at least 14 b/c they are tired of hearing about how they are gonna lose 1-0
Miami----uhhhh...2-0
ND------in South Bend..uhhh 3-0
WI----finally beat MI in the Big House...3-1
IL----one-dimensional o but IL finds a way to win...3-2
Toledo----see Miami....4-2
PSU---win in Happy Valley.....5-2
MSU---when is this ever a game???...6-2
Purdue...no.......7-2
MN/NW---beat the crap out of one but miserably lose to the other.....8-3
OSU--Ahhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the usual Nov loss to the Buckeyes...8-4
UofMSnowboarder
· 1 year ago
Illinois's spread offense will be old hat to the UofM defense by mid season, and, though Juice is a great runner, the lack of balance in the running game (losing Mendenhall) and Juice's mediocre arm will be brought to light by what will be a top 20 defense in Michigan.
MSU has a mediocre QB at best (see BC-MSU last year, Hoyer gave BC the game) and the loss of Caulcrick will mean Ringer will be in for many more plays, and I'm wondering if he has the endurance to take the Spartans through the 4th Quarter.
ND's success depends on if their spectacularly horrible O-line becomes competent in the offseason (and I'd add, if The Whale has no say in any play-calling, but that's already been fixed).
Utah is experienced, and the Michigan offense isn't, but again, the UofM D will be great this year, and will more than likely hold off the Ute's.
The Lloyd-Carr-Can't-Lose-To-Penn-State Magic will not be in effect, but JoPa's failures drove that almost as much as Lloyd did. I'm going to guess this game will be the best to watch.
OSU, well... part of it is my own hopes, and part of it is the '69 Michigan-OSU game that makes me think we might be able to notch a W on the belt, but smart money is still probably on the Bucks.
Oh, and JB, MSU-UofM has been fantastic three times in the last 4 years, 2 come from behind victories, and 2 overtime games. Michigan will find a way to beat Little Brother.
JB
· 1 year ago
Well i stand corrected then dont i......dont pay much attention to Big 11 football
Ben Prather
· 1 year ago
Sounds like the best football will be when Utah has the ball, and which ever team gets it going when Michgan has the ball will win.
Utah is looking strong on offense, but ha questions on defense.
The more I read this thread, the more the idea of Michigan going Bowl less looks ridiculous. Michigan will get at least 9 wins.
Ohio State, Wisconsin and Utah are the only teams they should not beat. Illinois, Michigan State an Notre Dame might give them a fourth loss, but the rest should be good wins.
Zac
· 1 year ago
Ben, I can buy MI winning 8 games; I'm not willing to believe 9. I think MI has a better chance of beating WI in the Big House, than Penn St in Happy Valley. Besides, if Penn St has nothing else, the odds are in their favor. Like yourself, the idea of MI NOT going to a bowl is a little farfetched. But winning 9 games after having been exposed to learning the "Rodriguez System" for the 1st time, I can't see that either.
Marko
· 1 year ago
Utah is another "Hawaii" type team. Great in their conference, but not ready to play the big boys. Michigan should beat them by 2 touchdowns considering Utah's defense is suspect.
Ben Prather
· 1 year ago
2002: Utah 7 at Michigan 10 Utah was 5-6 that year, Michigan 10-3
2004: Fiesta Bowl: Utah 35 Pittsburgh 7
Since 2002 Utah is 11-6 vs BCS teams, including: Oregon St: 0-1 UCLA: 1-1 Louisville: 1-0 Arizona: 2-1 North Carolina: 1-1 Georgia Tech: 1-0 Texas A&M: 1-1 Pittsburgh: 1-0 California: 1-0 Oregon: 1-0 Indiana: 1-0 Michigan: 0-1
Hawaii has nothing like these numbers.
Utah will RUN over the Michigan defense and get a few long shots through the air. Michigan will get some yards on the ground, but nothing though the air.
Tigers318
· 1 year ago
But Michigan is in a rebuilding phase right now
Ben Prather
· 1 year ago
If this where not so, I would be more reserved.
Marko
· 1 year ago
Urban Meyer record wins against programs will not help you and your weak defense.
Ben Prather
· 1 year ago
2002, the year they beat Michigan, was the year they got rid of McBride because they did not make a bowl game and hired Meyer for 2003.
Meyer was taking Bowling Green into the top 25 that year.
Marko
· 1 year ago
Tigers318,
Do you realize that Michigan's "rebuilding phase" has load of 4 star rated recruits on the offensive side and returning 7 starters and a 5 star recruit on the nations 9th best defense last year?
Michigan's defense is going to give every team on its schedule serious fits with its new defensive coordinator that is extremely aggressive in his play calling.
All Comments
I see UM starting out 3-0 and then I don't think they can beat Illinois or MSU. I think Dantonio is will get that MSU team in good shape to win that one and I don't think UM can stop Juice Williams. How can you stop somebody who's name is Juice? Hope that doesn't mean steroids, though.
Hmmm. . ., I like it.
I also like to spout a lot of history regarding Rich Rodriguez, especially his 1st year with WVU at 3-8. To be fair, however, as it has been pointed out, this is MI. Given Lloyd Carr was their last new coach, and given he didn't miss a beat (much) with MI, I have to agree; the bowl streak is not in jeopardy.
I wouldn't be surprised if the boys voted to stay home after such a disappointing season. Obviously, the Seniors would like to play one more game in the maize and blue, but even they would hate to potentially lose in a 5th tier bowl game to a mid-major opponent. Easier to just stay home.
Looking at the bottom three bowl participating Big 10 teams last year, they played C. Michigan, Oklahoma State and Boston College. Any of these game with Michigan might be interesting this year.
Geaux Tigers
Geaux SEC
Steve Threet has a little experience with the spread and has adjusted to four different offenses in three years of college at two different schools...
So he is accustomed to change and the shuffling of coaching staffs...
While he isn't the fastest guy and certainly not a Pat White, he'll have some talent around him...
And his comprhension and understanding of the offense grew bounds over the spring which will help with directing the offense...
I don't know about a B10 championship but pretty confident Big Blue bowls this season...
Did Michigan ink a lengthy contract with Norte Dame, or is it still a short term thing? If the latter, Michigan might want to let them win one, lest the Irish run off and start scheduling Georgia Tech again... (not that there's anything wrong with GT...)
...PAIN.... [Clubber lang, Rocky III]
UTAH - LOSS. 0-1. Agreed; second year home opening shocker, simply because no one--especially not the worverines--believes it can happen twice in a row...and b/c Utah is capable.
MIAMI OH - WIN. 1-1 (nothing to discuss here).
@ Notre Dame. LOSS. 1-2. ND won't suck nearly as bad as they did last year. They've got Jon Tanuta--new DC-- a bunch of big ol' boys on the OL, and 10 returning starters on O--all kinds of experience. Chucky got "No Excuse(s)" to suck this year.
WISCONSIN. LOSS. 1-3 (overdue).
ILLINOIS -LOSS. 1-4. Michigan is where Illinois was 2 years ago, and ILL is where Michigan wants to get to.
TOLEDO - WIN. 2-4. Michigan may be in a little disarray, but they could fart and beat Toledo.
@ Penn State -LOSS. 2-5. JoPa should have a decent team this year, and take advantage of the chaos in Ann Arbor.
MICHIGAN STATE - LOSS. 2-6. MSU is on upswing; Mich in transition. Advantage Sparty.
@ Purdue. WIN. 3-6. Purdue--they grow great chickens...not much progress on the gridiron though.
@ Minnesota. WIN. 4-6. Gophers...taste like chicken...even to a wolverine kitties who dun lost their momma....
NORTHWESTERN. WIN. 5-6. Wildcats? More like declawed, fixed, domestic house cats...wondered astray of the litter box (see gophers above).
@ Ohio State. LOSS. 5-7. ...there is nothing to see here...please continue about your business...
5-7 gets you great seats to ALL of the major bowls...in the comfort of your own living room (literally).
Streak ends.
GO GATORS!!
I think Michigan beats Miami(OH) and Notre Dame. I am not sure Notre Dame is not going to suck like last year. Then they loss to Wisconsin and Illinois. Wins against Toledo and Penn State come next, followed by a loss to Michigan State. Purdue, Minnesota and Northwestern should give them 7 wins, and they need only 6. They better get them before playing Ohio State.
Utah: Let's get one thing straight; the Utes are for REAL. This is why they won't sneak up on MI. MI knows what they're up against. Trust me; Rich Rodriguez won't let them NOT know. He will have them ready athletically. The question remains: Will the players themselves be ready, with a complete grasp of his system? I think this is what tips the scales, and allows Utah to come away with a close one.
The "other" Miami: They won't sneak up on MI, either.
ND: Last year a young ND visited The Big House and were summarily embarrassed by a MI squad which was embarrassed twice. ND was a very young team and have all of that coming back. Experience or no, that's still the ND team which only won 3 games all season. It is for this reason I think MI escapes S Bend with a close one.
WI: The Badgers took care of business in impressive style in Camp Randal. It'll be tougher in Ann Arbor, but like Utah, they'll expose the weakness of a team not having fully grasped a new system.
IL: Last season IL pulled off a big win against OSU in "The Shoe" behind the savy of "The Juice" and the legs of Mendenhall. This year, despite the loss of Mendenhall, they may do the same against MI in The Big House for the same reason as WI. The question is, with IL uni-dimensional, could MI's defense do enough to help prevent the upset?
Toledo: I got 1 word for the upstarts from OH: fagetaboutit!
Penn St: The Lions have to beat em sometime. They couldn't have picked a better year. I see Penn St as being the only other possible team which could stand in OSU's way. While that is unlikely, MI won't stand in Joe Pa's way; not in "Happy Valley".
MI St: This is just like Pitt/WVU. These rivals are geographically so close to each other, there really isn't an away game for either. It's because the Wolverines won't quite have all the bugs worked out of the Rodriguez system, and that MI St practically returns its offense in-tact, that the Spartans escape with the "W".
Purdue: That this will be played in W Lafayette will help, but I just don't think Purdue will have enough in the tank for the entire game.
MN & NW: I don't care where these are played. See Toledo.
OSU: Without question, MI has the heart for the full 60 minutes of this epic battle. Before it's all said and done, they will have shown the Buckeyes just where their hearts are. Despite the valiant effort, OSU still wins.
I see MI going 6-6, and their name puts them in a bowl. There will be too many close ones that could go either way. MI's outcome against UT, ND, IL, MI St, and Purdue could all be different. To find out for sure, tune in; 36 days from now it all begins a'new.
It can be a Fanblog secret. I planned to lay low with this game, but someone else brought it up, so...
Michigan saw them play in 2002. Michigan went 10-3 that year, Utah 5-6. Michigan defeated Utah 10-7, back in the days when Utah had no offense, but a killer defense. If they could have scored 14+ points a game they would have won at least 3 more games that year.
Utah returns 14 starters, including Brian Johnson at Quarterback, Darrel Mack at running back and 9 of their top 10 offensive linemen, averaging 6'3" 311 lbs. Last year they went 9-4 with 17 injuries, eliminating 51 starts.
The real question is Utah's pass defense, replacing 2 prominent line backer's and a free safety. Kyle Whittingham was the defensive coordinator who held Michigan to 10 points. Now as the head coach he will have his defense ready. He always has.
( In 2004 the defense gave up a lot of yards and points, but was on the field for 2/3 of the game and played for the turnover rather than the stop until they got within the 20. They had one of the best turnover margins in the country that year and had an offense they could count on to score. )
Utah is far more real than Appalachian State
The real disappointment is that Utah will not get full credit for this likely win because people will reason that Michigan was still learning the new systems. If Michigan IS having trouble learning the systems this game will not even be close.
For you SEC fans, let me explain about how good Utah is. They would be the #6 team in the SEC, behind LSU, Auburn, Georgia, Florida and Tennessee but ahead of South Carolina, Mississippi State, Alabama and the rest. This is good enough to beat Michigan this year, and should get them to 10-2 in the MWC.
Miami----uhhhh...2-0
ND------in South Bend..uhhh 3-0
WI----finally beat MI in the Big House...3-1
IL----one-dimensional o but IL finds a way to win...3-2
Toledo----see Miami....4-2
PSU---win in Happy Valley.....5-2
MSU---when is this ever a game???...6-2
Purdue...no.......7-2
MN/NW---beat the crap out of one but miserably lose to the other.....8-3
OSU--Ahhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the usual Nov loss to the Buckeyes...8-4
MSU has a mediocre QB at best (see BC-MSU last year, Hoyer gave BC the game) and the loss of Caulcrick will mean Ringer will be in for many more plays, and I'm wondering if he has the endurance to take the Spartans through the 4th Quarter.
ND's success depends on if their spectacularly horrible O-line becomes competent in the offseason (and I'd add, if The Whale has no say in any play-calling, but that's already been fixed).
Utah is experienced, and the Michigan offense isn't, but again, the UofM D will be great this year, and will more than likely hold off the Ute's.
The Lloyd-Carr-Can't-Lose-To-Penn-State Magic will not be in effect, but JoPa's failures drove that almost as much as Lloyd did. I'm going to guess this game will be the best to watch.
OSU, well... part of it is my own hopes, and part of it is the '69 Michigan-OSU game that makes me think we might be able to notch a W on the belt, but smart money is still probably on the Bucks.
Oh, and JB, MSU-UofM has been fantastic three times in the last 4 years, 2 come from behind victories, and 2 overtime games. Michigan will find a way to beat Little Brother.
Utah is looking strong on offense, but ha questions on defense.
The more I read this thread, the more the idea of Michigan going Bowl less looks ridiculous. Michigan will get at least 9 wins.
Ohio State, Wisconsin and Utah are the only teams they should not beat. Illinois, Michigan State an Notre Dame might give them a fourth loss, but the rest should be good wins.
Utah 7 at Michigan 10
Utah was 5-6 that year, Michigan 10-3
2004: Fiesta Bowl:
Utah 35 Pittsburgh 7
Since 2002 Utah is 11-6 vs BCS teams, including:
Oregon St: 0-1
UCLA: 1-1
Louisville: 1-0
Arizona: 2-1
North Carolina: 1-1
Georgia Tech: 1-0
Texas A&M: 1-1
Pittsburgh: 1-0
California: 1-0
Oregon: 1-0
Indiana: 1-0
Michigan: 0-1
Hawaii has nothing like these numbers.
Utah will RUN over the Michigan defense and get a few long shots through the air. Michigan will get some yards on the ground, but nothing though the air.
Meyer was taking Bowling Green into the top 25 that year.
Do you realize that Michigan's "rebuilding phase" has load of 4 star rated recruits on the offensive side and returning 7 starters and a 5 star recruit on the nations 9th best defense last year?
Michigan's defense is going to give every team on its schedule serious fits with its new defensive coordinator that is extremely aggressive in his play calling.