I'm predicting UM will finish the regular season 11-1 this year and it will happen one of two ways.
Notre Dame: This is the hardest game to call simply because it is early in the season and turnovers and special teams may play a huge role. It will likely be a battle between two fine defenses that could keep the game low-scoring. This is the only game I have a question about. I will go into this game with objective demeanor, but will be pissed if we lose. Someone needs to show our boys some video of their jackass DC after we were shut out by them in our last meeting.
Western and SMU: Wins.
Nebraska: Win. In week four the UM offense should be hitting stride against a rebuilding Big Neb defense. People around the Big Ten won't be able to distinguish Scott Frost from PJ Fleck.
Northwestern: Win. There will be a majority of UM fans in the stands for this "road" contest. NW might keep close until our athleticism takes over.
Maryland: Win. And I don't know anything about Maryland.
Wisconsin: Win. With any kind of quarterbacking we would have beaten them at their place last year, and they know that. Andrew Van Ginkel will not be leaving Ann Arbor victorious.
MSU: Win. I love how some publications are rating Sparty ahead of us. Those same rags will probably make us favorites in this game. This will not be yet another fluke year, just the first victory of a long UM winning streak in the series.
PSU: Win. OMG, Sporting News made Trace McSorley 1st Team preseason All-American. Are they going to project him as a first-round pick, too? The arm punts aren't going to work against us because our DB's will actually be tracking the ball. I don't really think this game will be close.
Rutgers and Indiana: Wins. Two scrimmages before The Game. An opportunity to fine tune and get healthy.
The Game: Should we enter this game 10-1, having lost to Notre Dame in the opener, or having stumbled elsewhere along the way (unlikely, IMO), then this game will likely be for the East and a shot at the playoffs. This will then be our year. The streak will end. Notice will be served and we will again experience the shameless joy of observing insane behavior in Columbus after a loss to Michigan.
However, if we reach November 24 undefeated and untied (I know, there are no more ties, but I'm old school), then we won't be playing a smug OSU squad, but one that is looking up at us. History tells us that crazy shit can happen. Missed FGs. Bad calls. Ill-timed turnovers. I fear that Michigan, as the hunted, may not survive unscathed.
Either way, we will be 11-1 after playing one of the toughest schedules in the land. No fewer than four key wins will be taken. And the M-I-C-H-I-G-A-N train will be rolling again.
Notre Dame: This is the hardest game to call simply because it is early in the season and turnovers and special teams may play a huge role. It will likely be a battle between two fine defenses that could keep the game low-scoring. This is the only game I have a question about. I will go into this game with objective demeanor, but will be pissed if we lose. Someone needs to show our boys some video of their jackass DC after we were shut out by them in our last meeting.
Western and SMU: Wins.
Nebraska: Win. In week four the UM offense should be hitting stride against a rebuilding Big Neb defense. People around the Big Ten won't be able to distinguish Scott Frost from PJ Fleck.
Northwestern: Win. There will be a majority of UM fans in the stands for this "road" contest. NW might keep close until our athleticism takes over.
Maryland: Win. And I don't know anything about Maryland.
Wisconsin: Win. With any kind of quarterbacking we would have beaten them at their place last year, and they know that. Andrew Van Ginkel will not be leaving Ann Arbor victorious.
MSU: Win. I love how some publications are rating Sparty ahead of us. Those same rags will probably make us favorites in this game. This will not be yet another fluke year, just the first victory of a long UM winning streak in the series.
PSU: Win. OMG, Sporting News made Trace McSorley 1st Team preseason All-American. Are they going to project him as a first-round pick, too? The arm punts aren't going to work against us because our DB's will actually be tracking the ball. I don't really think this game will be close.
Rutgers and Indiana: Wins. Two scrimmages before The Game. An opportunity to fine tune and get healthy.
The Game: Should we enter this game 10-1, having lost to Notre Dame in the opener, or having stumbled elsewhere along the way (unlikely, IMO), then this game will likely be for the East and a shot at the playoffs. This will then be our year. The streak will end. Notice will be served and we will again experience the shameless joy of observing insane behavior in Columbus after a loss to Michigan.
However, if we reach November 24 undefeated and untied (I know, there are no more ties, but I'm old school), then we won't be playing a smug OSU squad, but one that is looking up at us. History tells us that crazy shit can happen. Missed FGs. Bad calls. Ill-timed turnovers. I fear that Michigan, as the hunted, may not survive unscathed.
Either way, we will be 11-1 after playing one of the toughest schedules in the land. No fewer than four key wins will be taken. And the M-I-C-H-I-G-A-N train will be rolling again.
