AP predicts the Wolverines CFB playoff bound
8/22/2018, Author: Ralph Russo
"HEISMAN TROPHY
The favorites are running backs Bryce Love of Stanford and Jonathan Taylor of Wisconsin, but the Heisman has become a quarterback’s award. Fifteen of the last 18 winners have been QBs. Feels like a season where a not-so-obvious player makes a run. Top five vote-getters:
1. Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
2. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin.
3. Will Grier, QB, West Virginia.
4. Shea Patterson, QB, Michigan.
5. A.J. Dillon, RB, Boston College.
COACHING CAROUSEL
There seems to be no such thing as a slow season when it comes to coaching moves. Almost inevitably a few jobs that seemed safe in September open up by December. Florida, for example, just last year. What job will unexpectedly open this season? How about Oklahoma, when Jerry Jones decides to hire another Sooners coach and brings Lincoln Riley to the Cowboys.
NEW YEAR’S SIX/COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF
Cotton Bowl: Alabama (1) vs. Washington (4).
Orange Bowl: Michigan (2) vs. Clemson (3).
Sugar Bowl: Georgia (SEC) vs. Oklahoma (Big 12)
Rose Bowl: Wisconsin (Big Ten) vs Oregon (Pac-12)
Fiesta Bowl: Boise State (Group of Five) vs. Ohio State (at-large)
Peach Bowl: West Virginia (at-large) vs. Miami (at-large)"
![Helmets[1].jpg](/sites/default/files/users/user96084/Helmets%5B1%5D.jpg)
August 22nd, 2018 at 1:18 PM ^
Hey, they got the '97 NC vote right! The AP knows what's up!
August 22nd, 2018 at 1:19 PM ^
AJ Dillion, what could’ve been. Glad he’s found success.
August 22nd, 2018 at 1:20 PM ^
This would make me happy, but I'm not about to say I expect it.
What I will contend with is a number two ranking. If Michigan makes it there it will have beaten the better part of 6 top teams and won the B1G tournament for possibly a 7th, assuming only one loss max. With our schedule I'd argue the facts supporting a playoff spot would also support a #1 ranking in theory.
August 22nd, 2018 at 1:39 PM ^
If you give a Michigan fan a hypothetical playoff berth, he's going to want it to be as the number one seed.
And if it is as the number one seed, he's going to want...
August 22nd, 2018 at 1:42 PM ^
....2 chicks at the same time!
August 22nd, 2018 at 3:01 PM ^
I get the sentiment and chuckled, but what I'm really saying is it's going to be hard for us to make the playoffs; the team will have had to move heaven and Earth to do so, and as a result there will likely be an attractive narrative for a top seed if we are in contention at all.
We aren't going to get in with OSU's 2016 or 2017 resume. That's not asking for more, it's being realistic.
August 22nd, 2018 at 3:55 PM ^
I 100% agree. I just thought of if you give a mouse a cookie. I was going for a punchline, not #analysis.
But, I will also say that if we got in as B1G champions with one loss (thinking Wisconsin, PSU, or MSU), we might not be number 1. Particularly if the team we lose to ends the season either unranked or ranked at the back end of the Top 25.
August 22nd, 2018 at 1:21 PM ^
AJ Dillon will do well except they'll win 5 games and his name will disappear from the conversation because his team sucks.
Interesting to see the AP go out on a limb a bit with Washington back in the mix and picking us over the favorites Ohio St. and somebody like say, Florida St. or Wisconsin.
August 22nd, 2018 at 1:21 PM ^
I approve of this post!
August 22nd, 2018 at 1:25 PM ^
Come on...One win at a time. You wont see me drinking the Kool-Aid this early. We need to win a B1G championship first.
August 22nd, 2018 at 1:26 PM ^
Homemade Kool-Aid, done right, is very tasty in August
August 22nd, 2018 at 1:34 PM ^
I will have what he's having
August 22nd, 2018 at 1:27 PM ^
There is no game on the regular season schedule that the Wolverines can't win.
August 22nd, 2018 at 1:51 PM ^
I say that every year
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:36 PM ^
It's usually true though. This season it's especially true. It just depends if UM underachieves or not.
August 22nd, 2018 at 3:07 PM ^
Yes and no, there are games on the schedule they don't need to underachieve to lose. It is possible that they play their asses off and just come up short.
August 22nd, 2018 at 3:06 PM ^
Most teams don't have games on their schedule they can't win. It doesn't mean they will win or should expect to win every game.
August 22nd, 2018 at 3:52 PM ^
Illini fans love you.
August 22nd, 2018 at 8:38 PM ^
Seeing how your 2 - 15 in the last 17 years against Ohio St. the odds aren't in your favor, but hey anything is possible. Boy I just love that 2 - 15 record, it sure does make those Cooper years seem like a long time.
August 22nd, 2018 at 1:28 PM ^
Ok so I've had to concentrate on work stuff at work today... what'd I miss from being ranked #14 yesterday?
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:19 PM ^
You actually do work at work? What's that like?
August 22nd, 2018 at 8:37 PM ^
Haha! Food service!
August 22nd, 2018 at 1:35 PM ^
AJ Dillon.... sigh
August 22nd, 2018 at 1:39 PM ^
Because of the schedule, Michigan can absolutely absorb a loss. Hold serve at home and beat 2 out of ND, MSU, and OSU and win the B1G Championship Game (probably against Wisky in a rematch) and that's what it'll take.
Easier said than done, but the talent is there.
August 22nd, 2018 at 1:53 PM ^
Oh man!!! It’s almost here!!!!
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:07 PM ^
Someone really wants some clicks.
Personally, I'm a little bummed. I'm good with the underdog roll. It would be nice to be underrated.
August 22nd, 2018 at 4:58 PM ^
I agree. I'd rather shock the world.
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:08 PM ^
Obviously I would be thrilled to see Michigan in the playoff. But this is stupid and unnecessary hype.
-MSU beat us last year (albeit with a backup QB), had a better record, and returns basically their entire team, with a PROVEN starting QB.
-OSU beat us last year (albeit with a backup QB), had a better record, and has their most talented team on paper under Urban Meyer (in terms of recruiting rankings-- I believe something like 12, 5-star recruits).
-Wisco beat us last year (another :( backup QB), had a better record, returns Jonathan Taylor and a ridiculous offensive line, and is still solid on defense.
The defense is going to be NASTY. There is a lot of skill at the RB and WR positions. However, the o-line is still a HUGE question mark and the QB is largely unproven (though the ceiling is miles above what we have had the past few seasons and Patterson has the potential to be great).
3-2 against ND, WIS, PSU, MSU, OSU would be disappointing, but not entirely unrealistic. I think this team has the potential to win the B1G and make the playoff, but to be considered the favorite right now is absurd.
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:24 PM ^
Hey look!
Another Cautiously Pessimistic M fan!
Way to dissect the season with the most pessimistic possible outcomes!
#2 seed in the CFP! Preposterous!
August 22nd, 2018 at 3:37 PM ^
Hey look!
Another blind homer.
Yes, being realistic and stating facts about 3 of the other B1G favorites is clearly 'the most pessimistic possible outcome.'
To win the B1G you have to win big games, especially on the road, and Michigan has not proven they can do that yet. MSU and OSU games the last few years could have gone either way but the bottom line is they haven't.
It's ok to be cautiously optimistic about your team's success if there are reasons to be cautiously optimistic.
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:51 PM ^
Well maybe not every writer wants to attack their prediction article like “hey let’s assume all results from last year happen this year too.”
Like you said, most of our results from last year could have gone the other way had we had our players available. I get that that’s part of football but if our QB is healthy all year last year, this prediction wouldn’t look crazy at all.
August 22nd, 2018 at 3:26 PM ^
MSU also went 5-1 in games decided by 7 points or less so it's unclear if they are a 7 or 8 win team that got lucky last year or an actual contender.
Michigan had the ball with a chance to win with 2:30 left last year against Ohio State despite one of the worst performances by a Michigan QB that I can remember and a OL that could be best described as shaky.
Michigan has lost 4 straight against Wisconsin in Madison. Wisconsin is 1-5 in Ann Arbor since 1998. Michigan took down a similarly potent Wisconsin team in 2016, outgaining them 3-1 in the process.
Michigan has won 8 of their last 9 against Penn St. in Ann Arbor. They lost the #2 pick in the draft and a significant portion of their defense. Michigan stomped PSU by 39 in 2016. Penn State finished the year by playing in the Rose Bowl.
If Michigan could be a play or 2 away from the CFP in 2016, there is no reason they can't be in 2018.
August 22nd, 2018 at 3:44 PM ^
I don't disagree with anything that you wrote and as I said, I think this team has the potential to win the B1G and make the playoff.
Obviously, these are sports writers making predictions. But Michigan is going to have to win games they will likely not be not favored in (MSU, OSU) in order to win the B1G, and they have not shown that ability up to this point. Hopefully, this is the year it changes.
August 22nd, 2018 at 4:33 PM ^
We were 0-4 against Wisconsin, Penn State, Michigan State, and Ohio State last year but it'd be a disappointment to go 3-2 against those teams plus Notre Dame?
Lol. Gimme 3-2 through those games every year, please.
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:54 PM ^
Holy shit I predict the exact same thing!
August 22nd, 2018 at 3:04 PM ^
Champions of Preseason Predictions! Raise the banner!
August 22nd, 2018 at 3:09 PM ^
This is Harbaugh's most talented team he's had yet. Now let's see if they can put it all together.
August 22nd, 2018 at 4:52 PM ^
Talk to me when we beat Ohio State.
I want this to be true as much as the rest of you. Here's to hoping that I win the doubter of the year award and we win it all.