Moving on-the bowl

I'll always watch Michigan football, but my expectations for this year's bowl game will be based on who stays and plays and who leaves early. If we get a mass exodus (Gary, Bush, Shea, etc) , I won't have high hopes on the outcome. Although, motivated returning players might focus the team.

Anyway, would Dylan be back and healthy for a bowl game?

Agree. They were inexcusably flat for SC last year, and it was the first time I really questioned Harbaugh. I'm sure I'm in the minority, but I would be more unhappy to drop the bowl game than I was with Saturday. Or--to put this more accurately--I can accept Saturday, but another unprepared and outclassed loss really does make me question what Harbaugh is up to. And if anyone thinks the Finebaums of this world are baying now, look forward to endless offseason speculation about Harbaugh and his success if we drop the bowl, too.

Drop the bowl and this season won't feel that much different from last year anyway. Because it's pretty clear now that the B1G has been down this year.  

I'm not one of the people who thinks Harbaugh has to win every game; I believe OSU has substantial advantages that we may not often match. But uninspired games coupled with a boring offense could begin to lose the school its audience. Given how much hope he started with that would be a tragedy. Wouldn't give him much trajectory for a return to the NFL anyway. 

Considering Michigan's bowl record since Jan.1, 1970 is a sparkling 17-25, it's more likely than not that "moving on the bowl" will be an accurate description of how we'll play—another disjointed, disinterested effort like last season's embarrassing crapfest loss to the Gamecocks.

Off-topic: have ads becomes completely out of control for anyone else on mobile? It's basically an ad every 2-3 posts for me. This shit is ridiculous.

I agree with the OP. A bowl win over a quality opponent would erase some of Saturday's taste in everyone's mouths. It would be a win in a "big game." And it would set Michigan up well to open next season probably in or near the top ten.

"Win the game"

Big Mitch

I just hope we don't play Florida or UCF. If it's Florida, it just feels really stale because we would've been matched up with them for the third time in four years. With UCF, that is a game where we have nothing to gain and everything to lose. Winning streak or not, that is still a G5 team with lesser talent and now a backup QB. Lose to them and you'd never hear the end of it. Beat them and it's "congratulations, you beat a G5 team, who cares?"

LSU would be interesting, and the defense I'm sure would welcome a chance to go against a very vanilla offense. That being said, I'd love to see this team in the Rose Bowl against, I presume, Washington. Chris Petersen is a great coach to go against, and come on, it's the frickin' Rose Bowl. If you're not going to the CFP, the Rose Bowl is the next best thing. 

Although I don't think it will happen, playing Georgia would be very interesting. Most have them slotted in the Sugar Bowl against Oklahoma. 

When was the last time post bowl UM finished in the top 7ish? Over 20 years?

It’s important. They will get a good bowl against a good team with a chance to polish last Saturday’s turd, finish in maybe the top 5 to end the year and on a high note in a premier game. 

Only 1 team wins the NC and only 4 get to the playoff so the bowls are still important. Less than we’d like but I think it does matter this year, specifically even more. 

We can beat Florida or LSU, but we would likely get creamed by Washington or especially Washington St.

This is because neither Florida nor LSU are going to spread us out and throw a lot. Both of the Pac 12 teams will follow OSU's exact game plan, and likely have similar results.

I would prefer not to play Washington or Utah. We've already seen Utah twice in the last 5 years and we have the home and home with Washington in 20/21. Part of the fun of bowl season is seeing unique matchups that don't happen often.

I hope we get LSU. We've never played them before which is pretty surprising given the number of SEC and Big Ten bowl tie ins.

I honestly don't care how this team plays in the bowl game. I think from where this team came from last year is reason to be happy with the season already. I know they obviously want to win but unless it's the Rose Bowl or another big one, is it worth gettin upset about if you lose.?This team is turning a corner and just needs to keep getting better and better every day to have a hell of a run next year. The schedule is in their favor next year and there are a ton of returning starters on offense and Don Brown will have defense playing well too. This years bowl preparation is just a part of getting a damn good team ready for 2019. These young men need to attack this offseason now with a focus and determination that's on another level from last year. They need to find it mentally and embrace it. It can be achieved because you know it's done all the time when these guys get to the NFL. Their training and physical abilities are taken to another level.

We'll all find out Sunday, right?

Will watch regardless of the bowl...

While the Rose Bowl doesn't mean what it used to, it's still a great, great venue - and Washington is no gimme, especially since we don't know which NFL departees will choose not to play. I will watch the parade and all the New Year's Day bowl games. If we play well in one of them I will be happier but not content with our coaching decisions in big games.

Any bowl game is worth watching.  Any Michigan football (and college football) is better than none.  The off season is long.

I would hope/expect that the players would want one more chance for meaningful snaps as week as a chance to remove the foul taste of last week from their palletes.

Im vacationing in New Orleans over New year's. Give me some sugar please 

I think the bowl game could be very awkward and not our best team.  How many key players will opt out because they can't risk injury prior to the NFL combine?

"When we dismantled Florida in the first year I was probably at my peak excitement level. I thought we were positioned to be launching towards elite and would not look back."

And how'd that work out?

Georgia will be in the Sugar Bowl at worst. 

Michigan versus Cajun Hoke (LSU) or bust!

We've never played those kittens so, yeah. It's time.

But six bucks and Steve Spurrier's right nut says we're playing Floriduh instead. 

I don't know that I'll care too much about the bowl game, but I sure hope they decide to this year.

A bowl win would be another tangible sign of a step forward. This program does not have many 11 win seasons. And Rose Bowl wins have been, to put it mildly, dear. 

I agree with you: I love bowl games. 

Anybody but Oklahoma. That team would do terrible things to us. Don't need to be fucked while we're still down.

Whether it’s Utah or Washington in the Rose Bowl, or UCF, Florida or LSU in the Peach Bowl, or Washington State, Washington or LSU in the Fiesta Bowl, or Utah in the Holiday Bowl, I’ll probably watch.

Keep in mind that if UCF beats Memphis in the American Conference championship game AND the CFP Committe doesn't rank LSU, Wahington State and Florida ahead of Michigan tomorrow, then UCF would be the only HIGHER-RANKED team that Michigan will play.

If I had to rank them: 

Georgia would be first choice. A chance to redeem ourselves and play against the SECs second best team which would tell us where we are and help recruiting. A win here would make a statement.

Then probably Texas. Another interesting matchup against a team that's possibly on the rise and we go up against in recruiting. 

Then LSU. SECs third best team.

Rematch OSU. Means they aren't in the playoff and we get another shot to exorcise demons.

Washington. Matchup against the pac12 champ, but this means OSU is in the playoff.

Oklahoma. This again means OSU is in the playoff. 

Wash St. Okay sure I guess.

UCF. Would be very lame but hopefully we could beat them and prevent the UCF undefeated for the 3rd straight year next year.

Florida. Just boring and Harbaugh has already beat them twice in 4 years.