ESPN CFB Top 25: Michigan #10

Submitted by Buzz Your Girlfriend on

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/49259/the-b1g-in-college-footb…

 

Take home points:

1. Rest of B1G:
No. 12: Michigan State
No. 16: Wisconsin
No. 17: Nebraska
No. 20: Ohio State

2. Breakdown from Rittenberg & Bennett who both voted MSU #9, M #10.

3. Rittenberg put Ohio at #13 (!!!!!!)

4. Alabama #3

5. Notre Dame #24

6. Scroll down for silly Spartan fan logic.

 

Buzz Your Girlfriend

April 30th, 2012 at 4:21 PM ^

It may not be "crazy" but I think most people would agree it is a reach for a 6-7 team, new system, and only a 2nd year QB.

But hey, I have a bias against Rittenberg and Bennett, so I may be harping on that pick. Frankly, I think they are lazy and only attempt to scratch the analytical surface of the B1G.

maizedandconfused

April 30th, 2012 at 4:36 PM ^

the people voting in this thing are looking at OSU and their last few games. Sure, Bauserman sucked. But if you look at the stats, Braxton Miller  lit up some of the defenses he faced down the stretch. Give him a few more options and a spread and shread system and I could see them making noise. Secondly, their defense is decent, and their recruiting class was ridiculous.

With regard to MSU, they might have the best 1-2 combo at CB in the country. That alone would be a solid start to their D, but their LBs are fast as hell and very active.

Big question for them is, can their DL keep their LBs clean to make plays.

Think that MSU has more question marks than OSU really, considering 2 WRs that might be their top 2 are iffy to be able to play next year. Not to mention, 1 protection breakdown on a blindside blitz and they are starting an 18 year old kid in the B10.

Daniel

April 30th, 2012 at 4:10 PM ^

has been variations of "We think MSU is slightly better than Michigan, and we'll see about Wisconsin and Ohio." And then there's usually a comment about how much better the SEC is than the B1G.

It's getting a bit old, but I guess there's really only so much you can say about football during the off-season if you're not allowed to use statistics and/or write anything creative.

Erik_in_Dayton

April 30th, 2012 at 4:12 PM ^

I hope people aren't jumping off of ledges if Michigan starts out 2-2, which is a somewhat likely possibility...I also don't think OSU at 13 is crazy.  They have a ton of talent and an easy schedule. 

bubblelevel

April 30th, 2012 at 4:11 PM ^

with an upset and Michigan should hang around the top 4 the whole season with assumed wins against the big 3 in the schedule.

MSU will hang on it's new QB and receivers.  Defense will keep them close and if the O comes together they will exist within the top 10 for the season as well.

Roachgoblue

April 30th, 2012 at 4:42 PM ^

If we beat Alabama, win at Nebraska and win at ND we would not be #4, but #1 easily. I HOPE we get 2 of 3. 1 of 3 seems much more likely. Go blue! If we lose any two of those games we will be at around 10 by the end of the season.

Tuebor

April 30th, 2012 at 4:23 PM ^

Just win baby!

 

 

MSU is going to be in alot of close games.  They will probably have a top 10 defense again this year.  It is hard to win without offensive playmakers and MSU lost alot from last year.  I wouldn't be shocked if they won 10 games this year though.  That being said who cares if they are ranked ahead of us in the preseason.  Once we beat them this year they won't be.

 

 

straight-gangs…

April 30th, 2012 at 5:12 PM ^

I think the loss of Worthy is going to prove very big.  He not only caused a ton of disruption on his own, but he also forced several teams to double team him, freeing up the other clowns.  They'll be good, and may flirt with 10 wins, but with their lack of expected offense, and in my opinion, and drop off on the defense, I don't see them living up to a top 10 defense, or even top 12 ranking. 

I think the #10 ranking for us is a reach as well though.....

ChiCityWolverine

April 30th, 2012 at 4:39 PM ^

It's incredible to believe that just one year removed from that savage beating in the Gator Bowl to Mississippi State Hoke has made Michigan into a team ESPN considers the preseason B1G favorite.

StraightDave

April 30th, 2012 at 4:48 PM ^

I know MSU has a lot back on defense but replacing Cousins will be more difficult than the experts think.  MSU will learn the hard way how valuable Cousins was for their team. 

And call me crazy but I think OSU will be a pretty good team this year.

WolvinLA2

April 30th, 2012 at 5:11 PM ^

Losing Cousins is a big loss, but I think losing Worthy is the biggest loss on their team.  He had such an impact on their defense - he was the reason their LBs looked so good.  Considering they lost their other starting DT and they'll be starting a converted DE at 3-tech, his loss will seem that much greater. 

UMxWolverines

April 30th, 2012 at 11:30 PM ^

Ohio is tough to tell. They could be really good. The fact that they have a bowl ban this year which is of course the year we play them at the shoe means they'll go all out balls to the wall for The Game. You think the alabama game is going to be tough? The ohio game is our toughest game of the season bar none.

readyourguard

April 30th, 2012 at 4:53 PM ^

I hate being ranked that high in the pre-season. Imo, the higher our pre-seaon rank, the bigger the target on our back Put us at 12-15. I think that's more realistic. I know it doesn't really matter, and if we want to play for a title, we have to win em all, regardless where we're ranked in the pre-season.



bronxblue

April 30th, 2012 at 5:18 PM ^

That feels high to me.  I love this team, but they are basically replacing their entire front line on defense, don't have a legit #1 WR, and still have questions in terms of depth at key positions.  #10 is a fringe MNC team to me, and that doesn't describe UM.  MSU at 12, though, seems even crazier given how uncertain they are about the offense going forward and the fact that the defense, while solid statistically, doesn't strike me as the world-beater necessary to buoy that rebounding offense.

WolvinLA2

April 30th, 2012 at 5:28 PM ^

But that's college football, everyone has questions.  USC just lost first rounders at LT and DE, and they don't have the numbers to replace them and keep good depth, yet they're #1. 

We don't have a true #1 receiver, but we have essentially two #2 receivers in Roundtree and Gallon, and a handful of young guys, a couple of whom will step up.  We won't be bombing it down the field, but as a run-first team, we have enough firepower to dink and dunk to keep defenses honest.  We lost a few guys on the DL, but everyone else returned and with the moves we made on the DL, we have starters with a good amount of experience. 

Remember that we had a top-5ish recruiting class, and 3 or 4 of those guys will impress. 

Jimmyisgod

April 30th, 2012 at 5:20 PM ^

Depth is the primary concern with Mcihgan.  Someone mentioned spring game, what?  There wasn't a srping game this year, there was a scrimmage, you need two full teams to have a game.

Dailysportseditor

April 30th, 2012 at 6:04 PM ^

Huskers lost 3 star defensive players to the pros and their offense still needs a consistent passing game. I think the Bucks' defense will be better than Nebraska's and their running game should be about even.

Perkis-Size Me

April 30th, 2012 at 6:10 PM ^

Sparty is definitely justified in being ranked ahead of us. They've got a lot of offensive questions, but their defense will carry them in a lot of games. That having been said, I think its realistic for MSU to take a step back and have an 8-9 win year.

Don't get me wrong. That defense will keep them in every game, but I don't think they're going to have enough playmakers on the other side of the ball. Their entire WR corp is gutted, and Le'Veon Bell, while good, isn't Trent Richardson, and can't carry the load by himself.

WolvinLA2

April 30th, 2012 at 6:15 PM ^

Not only is Bell not Trent Richardson, he doesn't have anything close to Richardson's OL.  Here's our gameplan against MSU:

Stack the box and let our veteran backfield hang back until MSU's new QB and new receiving corps prove they can do anything against us.  On offensive, we pound the inside because I'm not sure MSU has DTs this year.  See how long their speedy LBs can handle getting pancaked by our guards all day.  Unlike MSU, we'll actually be able to throw to keep them honest. 

Franz Schubert

April 30th, 2012 at 6:26 PM ^

The MSU defense didnt keep them in every game last year (ND and Nebraska) and lost possibly its best two players. They have a solid defense but we are giving them way too much credit, probably because we have struggled against them.

Alumnus93

April 30th, 2012 at 8:47 PM ^

How about merit?  The spartans have earned a high ranking...in fact they have seemed to appear more Michigan-like, than we have since Carr's final two years.  As much as I dislike the disrespect spewed by Dantonio toward Michigan, I almost equally detest not giving credit where credit is due. And this is coming from a Michigan grad.  Though I am not gonna give FULL credit to them... because Dantonio had a huge advantage tag-teaming with Tressel when it came to recruiting (remember the Dantonio recent meltdown when Meyer wouldn't play the same way).

Karma will get Dantonio for the disrespect he repeatedly shows us, along with the hard work by Hoke.....  however at the present time, the Spartans are tough and should be ranked that high.

WolvinLA2

April 30th, 2012 at 8:56 PM ^

It's a new season. They aren't being ranked on how well they did last year or the last few years or how they didn't against Michigan, it's about how well they'll do this fall. Even great teams that lose all the talent MSU did have down years, and this will be a down year for them.

hoota122

April 30th, 2012 at 10:13 PM ^

They will be good next year, but the comments that dantonio made is definitely going to fire up Michigan players. I'm sure hoke reminds them constantly.



Sparty will have solid defense, but will have holes up front. Also, their wide recievers are going to be worse than they have in a while. Also, who is to say that this new qb will be any good?

Tyang

May 1st, 2012 at 1:17 AM ^

Watching some of there spring game rite now on btn. They don't look to bad. Conner cook looks better at throwing than Gardner. Gohlston will be beastin this year. They look solid. Will be a tough game this year at the big house. The more physical team will win. Omg I won't be able to handle another loss to sparty this year. We better win! Go blue!

jtown8378

May 1st, 2012 at 2:51 AM ^

This is pre-pre-season rankings. Come summer they will change to pre-season and all that matters after that is BCS (for bowls) but ultimately the final rankings. I feel we have a good team but are they good enough...time will tell. Hoke will have the team prepared and not paying attention to the rankings. Hoke will have his staff and players making sure they are worrying about playing football 1 game at a time. No doubt Michigan is on everybody's radar..."This is Michigan...fer god sakes"