Best case/worse case Michigan football (ESPN)
As far as ESPN standards go, this article is at least somewhat entertaining. I think the best case is better than 10-2 but it's still an interesting read during August. TLDR: Best case: 10-2 with losses to both rivals and a Rose Bowl. Worst case: 6-6 with a Toys-R-Us resurgence. http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/122357/best-caseworst-case-michigan-wolverines
August 21st, 2015 at 12:26 PM ^
Beat Utah!
August 21st, 2015 at 12:34 PM ^
August 21st, 2015 at 12:27 PM ^
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August 21st, 2015 at 1:16 PM ^
Michgan was 8-3 overall, 6-1 in the conference and beat OSU! Ohio St only played 9 games that year which was odd, but we did ruin their season and they missed out on a bowl (Rose). Only one team from the conference could go bowling back then.
August 21st, 2015 at 1:32 PM ^
I also like the stat that no new Michigan coach has lost to OSU their first season when the game was at home. OSU is going to be really good this year again, but if we can stay healthy it will be a hell of a game on Nov. 28
August 21st, 2015 at 1:58 PM ^
The author has basically figured out that Michigan's "best-case scenario" is to not be as good as Sparty or OSU, but better than all of the other teams they play. Then, he predicts "chalk."
The piece is OK and the "worst-case" is sorta funny, but no true "best-case scenario" includes Michigan losing to both MSU and OSU.
August 22nd, 2015 at 11:35 AM ^
Bingo.
No best case scenario especially with the record at 10-2 includes losses to thhose hated despised does in MSU and OSU, especially with the games being at the big House.
I would rtaher go 7-5 and beat one of them than 10-2 with losses to both especially since both are at home.
Losing at home to hated MSU and OSU is personal for me and much worse than losing to them on the road. But if we lose to them at hme this year, it will feel like a must win against one of them on the road in 2016.
August 21st, 2015 at 2:29 PM ^
I like that stat too!
August 21st, 2015 at 4:15 PM ^
Just had to go and say it out loud (or type out loud), didn't you? If the streak is broken, I will find you.
August 21st, 2015 at 5:10 PM ^
Wikipedia says Harry Kipke's first year was in 1929 and he lost to Ohio State at home 0-7.
August 21st, 2015 at 7:15 PM ^
August 21st, 2015 at 12:28 PM ^
August 21st, 2015 at 12:50 PM ^
Having Gardner on this team right now would be mana from heaven.
August 21st, 2015 at 1:03 PM ^
at receiver, I loved Devin's grit and hard knocks, I felt sorry that he didn't really improve and that he got banged up pretty bad, that being said, I am totally ready to not see him play QB anymore...sorry.
August 21st, 2015 at 1:20 PM ^
Go off to Arizona and finally get a chance to play for RichRod and Shane could've had a full season of game action for us. I don't see how things could've been any worse for us if that happened.
I still remember the Gardner who played at the end of 2012 when they still had elements of the spread and got us excited for 2013. I think there was still a good college QB in him.
August 21st, 2015 at 1:26 PM ^
It's amazing and says a lot about our coaching the past few years that Gardner came to college a better QB than he left it.
August 21st, 2015 at 1:42 PM ^
"Well...."
August 21st, 2015 at 2:07 PM ^
I was saying at the end of 2013 season that Gardner should transfer to Arizona, even though I'd hate to see him go. Playing under Brady the Caveman was literally hazardous to his health. Michigan was going to run a dropback passing game with slow-developing routes no matter how bad the offensive line was because comfort.
August 21st, 2015 at 1:54 PM ^
In Gardner's first 17 games starting at QB for Michigan he accounted for 50 TD and threw just 16 INT. Penn State in 2013 is the only game against a B1G opponent or ND or in a bowl game during that time period where he threw more than 1 INT (he threw 2 in that game).
He threw for 300+ yards against Iowa with 3 TD and 1 INT, and he ran for 3 TD. He threw for 294 with 4 TD and 1 INT against Notre Dame and rushed for 82 and a TD. He put up 240 in the air and 121 on the ground at Penn State. He threw for over 500 yards against Indiana while running for 81 and 3 TD. He threw for 451 against OSU with 4 TD and 0 INT, and added another TD on the ground.
The guy shouldn't be tarnished because he played on a terrible team as a senior and battled through injuries all year long.
August 21st, 2015 at 4:18 PM ^
word
August 21st, 2015 at 4:39 PM ^
It is, after all, his fault that Michigan is where it is now.
August 21st, 2015 at 5:39 PM ^
...Gardner was better under Borges. 27 for 27 was bad, but we still put up enough points to win the PSU game. If Gibbons nails a makeable FG or if we just hold on D in the 4th Quarter, we're 7-0 and Borges may have stayed in our good graces for the remainder of the season. A lot of what ifs and maybes as a result of that 2013 PSU game.
August 21st, 2015 at 11:26 PM ^
August 21st, 2015 at 2:13 PM ^
It's not like Harbaugh has any experience coaching up tall, mobile quarterbacks with questionable accuracy.
August 21st, 2015 at 1:11 PM ^
They also had a much easier schedule last year. There could be great improvement this season without much to show in the record.
August 21st, 2015 at 1:29 PM ^
Disagree about the schedule. We essentially replace Notre Dame with BYU, and get our two toughest opponents at home. Oregon State is probably better than App St and Miami but still shouldn't provide much of a challenge.
August 21st, 2015 at 5:00 PM ^
5 road games and 7 home games is not what I would call a tougher schedule with MSU/OSU at home. Only the Gophers, PSU, Utah and BYU are any challenge beyond those 2 games.
August 21st, 2015 at 5:09 PM ^
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August 21st, 2015 at 2:08 PM ^
Im sorry, but people who think Gardner was a detriment to our team and was horrible know absolutely fukn NOTHING about football. Zero.
Without Gardner - Hoke has a couple 3/4 win seasons
August 21st, 2015 at 2:28 PM ^
August 21st, 2015 at 12:33 PM ^
If the players buy in, there's really no limit to what this group can accomplish. The talent and coaching is there. Team chemistry may be lacking since that takes time with a new QB and new system, but we do have a favorable conference schedule this year, so who knows? We aren't going to dominate our rivals and beat them by 3 scores or anything, but those are winable games with the homefield advantage.
August 21st, 2015 at 12:47 PM ^
August 21st, 2015 at 4:24 PM ^
August 21st, 2015 at 12:29 PM ^
I find it vile that our "best-case" scenario in their eyes involves both Michigan State and Ohio State in the College Football Playoff.
But, alas, I can't read too much into an article put out by a professional journalist with spelling errors.
August 21st, 2015 at 12:55 PM ^
What if Va Tech beats the Buckeyes again? This time in Blacksburg without OSU's suspended players and then WMU pulls off the Friday night upset. Oh, how the tables would turn.....
August 21st, 2015 at 1:16 PM ^
August 21st, 2015 at 1:18 PM ^
Don't see it. However, their schedule is fairly weak. I'll go with 10-2.
August 21st, 2015 at 3:01 PM ^
when they come to the Big House November 28. Buckeye tears taste so sweet!
August 21st, 2015 at 1:21 PM ^
has a shot. They have a RS Senior QB and some good playmakers on defense. The game is also at home, as you said. I still think OSU wins it though since JT Barett has basically a full season under his belt.
OSU is going to steamroll Western, though.
August 21st, 2015 at 12:30 PM ^
we are not going to lose 6 games.
on the flip side, it is not nearly so difficult nor speculative to think that we could meet or exceed that 10 win total. i wouldn't bet the farm on it, but i'm thinking we'll get pretty close to 10 wins no matter what.
August 21st, 2015 at 2:47 PM ^
August 21st, 2015 at 12:30 PM ^
Best case scenario 12 regular season wins.
Worst case scenario 0 regular season wins.
That being said the 90th percentile range for our record is probably 6 wins to 10 wins.
August 21st, 2015 at 12:31 PM ^
You beat me to the punch nyquist
August 21st, 2015 at 7:45 PM ^
August 21st, 2015 at 12:30 PM ^
Best case = Undefeated
Stranger things have happened before.
August 21st, 2015 at 12:50 PM ^
It's my drug of choice right now too. That being said it's not in anyway reasonable to expect that. Even from a team with proven leaders and capable players at every position an undefeated season is extremely unlikely. Ask Saban about that.
In 3 years when this team has proven leaders and capable players at every position we'll be talking about how an 8 win season is the absolute floor and hey maybe if things break just right and Michigan gets a lucky bounce or two they could be holding a National Championshp Trophy come January.
RIght now 8 wins seems like a darn good season.
August 21st, 2015 at 2:02 PM ^
August 21st, 2015 at 12:31 PM ^
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August 21st, 2015 at 12:32 PM ^
I usually like these best/worse case articles, like the one Pat Forde does for March Madness every year. The worst case in this one was a bit extreme. Not the 6-6 possibility, but the submarine stuff.