Early predictions from a Rivals poster...
Slow day on the boards. Anyway, I hate this time of year and waiting for college football, but here is a post from a Rivals board that is getting a lot of debate. Early sesaon predictions. Everyone is responding about the ND, Rutgers, PSU & NW results. It seems like those are the swing games. I think we go at least 3-1 against that group! Mich 35 App St 10; Mich 24 ND 27; Mich 42 Miami OH 10; Mich 31 Utah 17; Mich 34 Minny 21; Mich 27 Rutgers 20; Mich 24 PSU 28; Mich 21 MSU 24; Mich 38 Ind 21; Mich 24 NW 17; Mich 35 MD 24; Mich 20 OSU 31. How many days away before I get to tailgate at AAGO???!!!
...here's a Wall Street Journal article on that. Between 2002 and 2010(ish), BCS teams won 48% of their conference games when coming off of a bye.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748703673604575550133637891028
A prediction thread that's atleast...optimistic.
If App state gets the ball first and takes a lead I am going to throwup in my mouth.
To the Original Poster: if Michigan goes 8-4 as you seem to think, then Hoke will be gone and Michigan will be starting over again.
I dont see that happening. I see one loss, maybe two...
Anyone really think UM loses at home in a night game to PSU? They should have won that game last year on multiple occasions and Happy Valley is not an easy place to play. Hackenberg will be improved, but he played a good game already last year. I don't see them running the ball as well again next season. I also don't see them getting as many big pass plays without Robinson. I expect UM's offense to be a bit more balanced, but generally the defense will be much stingier at home in a night game...and bringing everyone back basically. I see that as a victory.
Seriously, did you not see the beating we took last year? What evidence do you have to suggest we'll beat them this year?
If we know anything, it's that the way a team plays the previous year will determine the games the following year. That's why Michigan State had a .500 record last year and didn't win a home Big 10 game, just like they did the year before. No change at all. That's why I like to use last year's results to predict upcoming games.
I want to beat the rivals as much as the next guy, but the reality of the o-line is going to make it very difficult to beat those teams on the road. I can't imagine if Hoke loses to the rivals in close games, but still manages 8 or 9 wins that he gets canned. The o-line situation wasn't really helped last year, but it is also partly the fault of the previous regime. Hoke deserves the chance to coach this team in 2015 and 2016 unless major disapointments happen...like winning less than 7 games and/or getting blown out by the rivals. Close losses won't get him fired IMO.
If App State leads at any point in the game, even after an initial 3-0 field goal, we've got a serious problem. If App State manages to do the impossible (again), Hoke had better not be allowed to leave the stadium without getting his pink slip.
and I disagree, it is in fact a super strong hate rivalry for many in the UM administration, athletic department, and fanbase. By the way, I hate Notre Dame, for the record.