"Experts" Picks: Mendel's Upset Special: SD St. 45 - UM 38

Submitted by jtmc33 on

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/stewart_mandel/09/23/week…

All the "experts" are picking a close game - Forde and Mandel are even picking SD St.;  all 6 at CBS.Sportsline picked UM

DetNews has 2 picking UM and 2 picking S.D.State when considering the -10 point spread (they don't pick winner - just against the spread)

Here's hoping for a good start and controlled 11 point lead throughout the game...

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Vamoz Azul

September 23rd, 2011 at 12:10 PM ^

At least he acknowledges our defense is now mediocre. However, if our defense is now mediocre there is no chance sdsu scores over 28 PTA, let alone 45. Michigan 31 - sdsu 21

Joined: 07/31/2011

MGoPoints: 27

MGoKereton

September 23rd, 2011 at 12:25 PM ^

Judging by how the last few games have gone down, I predict SDSU will be up 7-3 or 10-7 after the first quarter. There will be mild panic. The second quarter is a well fought draw. Halftime: Super_ultra_adjustment_team.exe 2nd half. M pulls away and SDSU doesn't score more than a field goal.

Joined: 01/21/2010

MGoPoints: 1128

switch26

September 23rd, 2011 at 12:32 PM ^

good thing he is 19-11 on his picks for the year, anyone who barely watches CFB could have a better record on predictions than him.

Joined: 02/04/2010

MGoPoints: 8309

TorontoBlue

September 23rd, 2011 at 12:34 PM ^

Looks like it won't be a factor according to WUG:

Mostly cloudy through mid morning...then becoming partly sunny. A chance of light showers. Highs 63 to 67. Light and variable winds...becoming south 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.

GO BLUE!

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 956

WolvinLA2

September 23rd, 2011 at 1:15 PM ^

You think they got here yesterday?  Not only does that mean those guys have to miss two days of class, but it also means they won't have a Thursday practice since it takes all day to travel from SD to AA with the time difference.  It would be a better idea to get a full practice in Thursday and either take a red eye last night or travel today.  Friday could be a rest/walk through day for them, better than missing a Thursday practice which is an important one.

Joined: 11/13/2009

MGoPoints: 58189

finallymadeaname

September 23rd, 2011 at 12:40 PM ^

Think this will be a big game for the defense.  I thought the second half against EMU they showed real progression and the ability to adapt.  

While they will still have some glitches (some bigger than we'd like), I predict the Mich defense steps up big against SDSU's running game.  And don't forget turnovers.  They seem to like us. 

 Lindley might put a few over the top of us, but DL will be stout/more resolved.  B Hawth will get 2 sacks.

Sorry for the long post.   Mich 34 SDSU 13

Joined: 04/19/2011

MGoPoints: 21

markusr2007

September 23rd, 2011 at 12:47 PM ^

And unlike WMU and ND, which had success running on Michigan but then decided to move away from running and try passing more, SDSU is going to give Hillman a ton of carries in this game and keep pounding.  There's little to suggest that the Aztecs won't have a lot of success.  And most importantly, it will burn clock and keep Denard on the sidelines.

This is a huge test for Michigan's defense. They're going to have to get penetration along the LOS and force turnovers.

 

Joined: 10/21/2008

MGoPoints: 19372

CompleteLunacy

September 23rd, 2011 at 12:48 PM ^

I get why Michigan is the UPSET SPECIAL OF THE WEEK for everyone in teh media. Once you start breaking down SDSU so far this year, then you realize that SDSU is more like WMU. Sure, WMu could have upset Michigan...but they didn't, and by the 2nd half the game was turining into a blowout instead.

Basically, Michigan has to stomp on the accelorator early and often. Don't give their team any confidence. Given Hoke et al. I doubt Michigan takes SDSU lightly...so I think this game will be a solid victory for Michigan, and more likely a blowout win than anything close to an upseti.

I am now knocking vigorously on wood.

Joined: 11/13/2010

MGoPoints: 12910

swamyblue

September 23rd, 2011 at 1:13 PM ^

Hoke can do no wrong. The force is with him! Maybe it's that magical ring he wears on his finger. Think about this, everywhere he has stopped he had to go into rebuild mode. This time he has a running start plus a heisman trophy candidate. In reality, the betting lines are under estimating Hoke's coaching ability. I give us the edge in a close one but I don't believe this game will be that close. I see us winning by 2 scores.

Joined: 11/01/2010

MGoPoints: 2168

Promote RichRod

September 23rd, 2011 at 1:39 PM ^

we have increasingly hyped up our opponent such that by Friday we are playing the '85 Bears defense and the 2007 Patriots offense on Saturday.

The reality is that SDSU is a cupcake and the West Coast equivalent of a MAC snack.  They stock the shelves with inferior talent and BCS leftovers.  Every once in a while, they get a decent NFL caliber player like Hillman.  We should be able to contain their limited strengths with no problem.  If we don't kick the crap out of them we are likely to be a pretty terrible team this year.

Joined: 11/11/2008

MGoPoints: 772

joeyb

September 23rd, 2011 at 1:43 PM ^

I think what we saw last week was our offense moving back to the spread. I think we will come out and move the ball like we know how to, get a comfortable lead, then practice the under center stuff. The paranoid half of my brain says it will be a close game. The other half says it will be a 14-21 point win.

Joined: 10/12/2008

MGoPoints: 16869

KAYSHIN15

September 23rd, 2011 at 2:01 PM ^

Bottom line is, if Coach Hoke and staff, cant exploit a team they know EVERYTHING about in every way, then we are in trouble for the rest of the year. UM has better players and coaches and that equals a blowout victory for UM in my opinion.  May be the best UM looks all year, but of course they won't get credit for it, because they should beat SDSU

Joined: 09/06/2010

MGoPoints: 4289

Bb011

September 23rd, 2011 at 2:52 PM ^

I think we score 35. If they score more (like the "experts" picked) then I do think we lose. But I do NOT think they will score more than 35. I think they'll score 24.

 

35-24 us.

Joined: 09/02/2010

MGoPoints: 4721

Inflames

September 23rd, 2011 at 4:10 PM ^

Michigan 32

SDSU 17

My picks are not based on the rumor that Craig James killed 5 hookers. Let me repeat that these picks are not based on the rumor that Craig James killed 5 hookers.

 

Joined: 03/06/2009

MGoPoints: 519

Jaysin1414

September 23rd, 2011 at 8:57 PM ^

As a San Diego Wolverine I have to caution everyone that SDSU is a much better team than people are giving them credit. True, they haven't beaten many better teams of late, but they pushed TCU, Utah, and BYU to the brink last year. They did struggle against Army earlier this year, but having seen them play quite a few times, they really have the look of a mid-tier PAC-12 team (which they/we would love to be if not for that pesky academics issue. SDSU stands for Still Drunk, Still Undecided btw).

I think Michigan wins this game, but like the MAC games, the separation happens in the second half of the game.

 

Michigan 38

SDSU 24

 

Score at half will be 17 - 17

 

Joined: 01/12/2011

MGoPoints: 126