Brian Predicts Trip to Insight Bowl
Went to the Michigan kick-off party in New York tonight. It was pretty well attended. Brian predicted a 7-5 record and a trip to the Insight Bowl, but did state that Michigan was more likely to upset a Penn State or Iowa rather than suffer a Toledo-style loss to an Eastern or Indiana. I have already booked my tickets to Tempe.
August 19th, 2009 at 11:24 PM ^
hey, that's better than the motor city/little caser's bowl.
August 19th, 2009 at 11:29 PM ^
As an AZ resident that would be great if they come out here. I'll save the gas money this year on going to the game, so that I'll have plenty for my Rose Bowl trip next year. If the prediction comes true, here is the info.
21st Annual Insight Bowl
Time: 6:00 p.m. EST
Date: Thursday, December 31, 2009
Location: Sun Devil Stadium
City: Tempe, AZ
Television: NFL Network
Radio: Westwood One
August 19th, 2009 at 11:38 PM ^
nfl network? ouch.
August 20th, 2009 at 1:10 AM ^
That would suck. I'm hoping we make a different bowl but at least it would be better than nothing...
August 20th, 2009 at 12:29 PM ^
when the Bears played a Thursday night game, the local affilaites picked up the game. Hopefully that will happen IF we make a bowl (please) and if its on the NFL network.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:25 AM ^
Then Brian is going to have to change his prediction. I don't have NFL Network -- which means I'll have to go to a bar, in Chicago on NYE, pay $50 for some b.s. entrance fee and try to watch my team's bowl game while a bunch of ND / Illinois / Iowa fans root for Missouri or Colorado.
August 19th, 2009 at 11:37 PM ^
So let it be written. So let it be done.
August 19th, 2009 at 11:38 PM ^
if we do make the Insight Bowl.
August 19th, 2009 at 11:46 PM ^
So, basically 3-5 in conference, and don't lose to both WMU and ND? I can see it. Assuming Indiana and Purdue are our best chances, we'd only need to win one more. At the very least, one of @MSU or @Wisconsin.
August 20th, 2009 at 12:54 AM ^
If we go 3-5 in conference and lose to either WMU or ND the best we can go is 6-6.
August 20th, 2009 at 9:42 AM ^
Yes, and 6-6 (3-5) could be enough to get us into the Insight Bowl. Admittedly, we'd have a better chance at 7-5, but the point is that Brian's prediction for us isn't really that much of an achievement.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:36 AM ^
will it be an achievement or will it not to go 7-5? Pre-season it sounds like an achievement but who knows, it could suddenly be a lower expectation if the offense can execute and the defense is serviceable. We shall see come the WVU game; essentially, do we look like we know what we are doing? If we can stamp what we see as 'Michigan football', coach Rod style, we have a shot at loftier goals.
August 19th, 2009 at 11:50 PM ^
Call me crazy but I would be more then happy with that.....
August 20th, 2009 at 12:08 AM ^
so if UM has to go to a crappy bowl, it might as well be the Insight. I will host the MGoBlog Party.
August 20th, 2009 at 12:21 AM ^
i would be completely fine with this. as long as this team shows they can play without making mistakes, our young kids(namely tate) can show some flashes of greatness, and we don't lose games we shouldn't, then this season is a success in my book
August 20th, 2009 at 12:46 AM ^
but still hope for an upset (I'm looking at you Columbus)!
August 20th, 2009 at 1:36 AM ^
I would totally call Comcast and add the sports tier to watch the Insight Bowl, if we made it.
Of course I would cancel the next day, as the NFL is a joke.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:32 AM ^
You might want to check out your cable box. After the last Comcast v. NFL network battle, I'm fairly certain Comcast has added NFL Network to most Digital Basic subscriptions, I know we got it randomly all of a sudden.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/20/sports/football/19nflnetwork.html
August 20th, 2009 at 11:21 AM ^
without a subscription -
I can now watch features on the san diego chargers cheerleaders, exciting NFL preseason action 7 days a week, and now apparently the insight bowl. Yay Comcast.
August 20th, 2009 at 2:07 PM ^
Oh boo hoo, I have a channel I don't watch waah. Plenty of other people enjoy the NFL Network.
August 20th, 2009 at 1:56 AM ^
I'm looking forward to Brian's assessment of the defense. This is a unit that was near the bottom of the Big Ten last year and lost some solid players along the DL.
August 20th, 2009 at 2:03 AM ^
say you'd be happy with 7-5 but that depends entirely on how they get to 7-5. if they started off 4-0 and finished 7-5 i think most people would be pissed.
August 20th, 2009 at 2:59 AM ^
Although I'm not a big fan of the "you guys" statements, I have to agree with your sentiment and confess that I'd be one of these people. It would be a huge letdown to start the season so well and then drop off.
Even though losing to lesser opponents would hurt like hell, I'd much rather take care of the ones that matter year in and year out - ND, MSU, PSU, OSU.
I guess, in the end, I'm glad I don't have to choose. I'm just hoping for the best... or, at least, better than last year.
Oh, and I didn't neg you.
BTW, who's your avatar? I've seen that for the better part of a year (long before I signed up), but never thought to ask.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:46 AM ^
+1
Definitely if we start out the gate strong and fold late, that would be disappointing.
BUT THAT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN!!! (-1)
for stirring my emotions, +1.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:53 AM ^
That would make us the Minnesota of 2009... no one wants that (who, by the way, was in the Insight Bowl at 7-5 last year).
August 20th, 2009 at 11:16 AM ^
They made a bowl. I would want that.
August 20th, 2009 at 2:17 PM ^
If it means winning six more games than last year, I would love to be this year's Minnesota.
August 20th, 2009 at 12:46 PM ^
By the same token under those circumstances there would be quite a cadre of people reminding everyone "well this sucks given the way the season began but we'd have taken 7-5 if you offered it at the beginning."
August 20th, 2009 at 2:09 AM ^
I'll be happy if we bowl but the insight would suck. Don't get me wrong I'll take it but my shit cable provider doesn't offer NFL network.
August 20th, 2009 at 5:22 AM ^
Will find a way to win more than 7 games this year. Mark it down.
August 20th, 2009 at 6:06 AM ^
Good to see another optimist. I think a lot of fans will be pleasantly surprised this year. I also think that UM will be able to beat all of the little eight teams on their schedule except Iowa.
UM's historical pattern is to average about eight or nine wins a year. RR's pattern is to turn things around his second year. The intersection of those patterns should result in a good year for UM.
UM should regain their place in the Big Three this year. I refuse to believe that because of one bad year, ND, MSU, Illinois, and Wisky are suddely better than UM. I still see 3-9 as an aberration, not the norm. Hopefully, it plays out that way.
August 20th, 2009 at 8:09 AM ^
8-4.
Because Barwis hates odd numbers.
August 20th, 2009 at 9:51 AM ^
I agree. I actually think that 8-4 is more likely than 7-5. To go 7-5, assuming that we can hold off upsets in the easy games (WMU, EMU, Del.St., Ind., & Purdue), we'd need to win two games out of the next tier: ND, @MSU, and @Wisc. We may not be talented enough to beat 2 of these 3, but if we are talented enough to be 2 of 3, I have trouble (1) seeing us lose to a third (i.e., there's just not that much difference between these games), or (2) if we did lose one, not pulling an upset @Illionois, @Iowa, or against PSU.
Basically, if we have the talent to get to seven wins, it's hard to think we wouldn't get to 8+. It's entirely possible we only have the talent for 5-6, but since I'm an optimist I have to think that the Insight bowl is a little conservative.
August 20th, 2009 at 6:23 AM ^
This would be a great building block for the future expectations but I am hoping for a WVU type turn around.
August 20th, 2009 at 8:50 AM ^
For Michigan Football to take me into the new year!!!!
I still think we get OSU, this year. Their Nov. Schedule sets up nicely for us....
@ Penn State
Iowa @ Home
@ The Big House
PSU and Iowa will wear them down, and I think we will take the last one away from them.
9-3 or 8-4, I giveit a 1 game swing. Losses to, Iowa, Illini, and Penn State. The swing game could be anyof the rest.
August 20th, 2009 at 9:51 AM ^
9-3 and 8-4 would be fantastic. The thing that really worries me is our lack of depth on defense. Lets pray for no/minor injuries.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:26 AM ^
How about "Lets pray for no Minor injuries."
August 20th, 2009 at 1:31 PM ^
Amazing picture MaizeNBlue lol I love it.
August 20th, 2009 at 9:13 AM ^
I will be happy with a bowl game in general after last year. I'll just have to get Comcast for a day so I can get NFL Network.
August 20th, 2009 at 11:20 AM ^
would mean a nice trip to AZ in December. I could handle leaving the mid-west for some warm weather over Xmas break.
August 20th, 2009 at 2:14 PM ^
Would love to see a win over Iowa as I'll be in Iowa City for the game.
I'm trying not to get my hopes up, but 7-5 would be a nice number.