FINAL prediction thread 2015

Submitted by Bo's Hat 41 on
Make your absolute final, unabashedly honest prediciton a for the 2015 season. This has been done a lot, but this one will be the official that we can judge our predicting abilities off of at the end of the season. In depth predictions appreciated, game by game with scores and justification. I can't make a prediction because it's inevitable that I will pick us to win every game. For the next 15 years.

ak47

September 2nd, 2015 at 10:56 AM ^

Why do people think Utah is good or that Rice-Eccles is a difficult place to play?  Utah was literally middle of the road average at everything last year and went 5-2 in one possession games and I think they look worse this year than last year.  Sure they will be bringing back a good pass rushing defensive line but they are bringing back 19 sacks, Nate Orchard had 18 on his own, that will be a huge buzzkill to their line and they were mediocre against the run last year because they focused so much on the pass rush.  Their cornerbacks weren't good last year and couldn't take advantage of an amazing pass rush and they lost all of those guys and are replacing them with complete question mark.  On the offensive side you are taking a team that scored all of 1 touchdown against us last year and removing all of their WR's.  Not to mention this is a team that played better on the road than it did at home last year.

Maybe I'll be eating my words on friday but Utah looks to me of having a ceileing of exceedingly average this year.  If we can't beat an average team on the road than this team is probably going something like 7-5 with losses to Minnesota and Penn State included.

I'm guessing 8-4 but lean more towards 9-3 than 7-5, mostly because I don't actually think Minnesota or Penn State will be good so we will win at least one of those if not both and clearly from the above post think we are overrating Utah.

SMart WolveFan

September 2nd, 2015 at 11:29 AM ^

...but right now their "floor" looks to be gigantic compared to Michigans, there are still some big ?s.

I love to see them steal a win in Utah but I'm sure the best measuring stick for this season will be how much better the team will look in Nov for TheGame than they do Thurs night.

HarryScarface

September 2nd, 2015 at 8:15 AM ^

Pure, unabashed homerism.

Utah - L (I hope I'm wrong)

Oregon St - W (this isn't the only OSU we beat)

UNLV - W

BYU - W

Marlyand - W

NW - W

MSU - W (close game, but a W)

Minny - L (let down after MSU, halloween road game)

Rutgers - W

Indiana - W

PSU - L

OSU - W

Tater

September 2nd, 2015 at 12:44 PM ^

The last time I did this, I felt like it would be 10-2 in the regular season with the losses coming to BYU and PSU.  That would be enough to get Michigan to the B1G Championship game, which I think they will win, and the Rose Bowl, which I also think they will win.  Unfortunately, two losses will make Michigan the only conference champion that doesn't make the playoffs this year.

When THE_KNOWLEDGE came up with 10-2, I decided I would stop moving my prediction around and stay at 10-2.  Because THE_KNOWLEDGE...

BlueCube

September 2nd, 2015 at 8:28 AM ^

 

And maybe something like this.

I'm predicting 12-0 for the year because it's what Harbaugh is going for. If it wasn't for that, I'd say 10-2. I think we beat MSU.

SpikeFan2016

September 2nd, 2015 at 8:34 AM ^

9-3. 

Utah: Heartbreakingly close loss

Oregon State: Big win

UNLV: Big Win

BYU: Disappointing loss

Maryland: Big Road win

Northwestern: Close win

MSU: Close Loss

Minnesota: Bigger than expected win (come in as big underdogs at 4-3)

Rutgers: Big Win

Indiana: Big Win

Penn State: Close Win

Ohio State: Close Win

 

SMart WolveFan

September 2nd, 2015 at 11:48 AM ^

I also see MSU ranked #2 losing to OSU and PSU in Nov giving UM a slot in the B1G Championship. 

Mich wins B1G champ and Rose Bowl

OSU goes to Playoff as 1 loss defending champs makes to the championship game.

MSU goes to Minekie bowl.

 

Even better, all week leading up to the Championship OSU has to answer Harbaugh question after Harbaugh question:

"So Coach Meyer, do you think the accomplishment of back to back championships would be some how diminished because of that one loss to Harbaugh?"

jbibiza

September 2nd, 2015 at 8:53 AM ^

11 - 2  

This team could win eight with mediocre coaching. Add in our staff plus EUTM  plus the Observer Effect of our stoked fan base >> eleven wins or better.

Jablueski

September 2nd, 2015 at 8:59 AM ^

Big Ten, including bowls (estimated number of returning starters in left column)
West
12 Neb     9-5  6-2
12 Wiscy  9-4  6-2 
13 Minn   8-5  5-3 
13 Iowa   7-6  4-4
12 NW    6-7  4-4 
14 Illinois  4-8  1-7
15 Purdue   3-9  1-7
 
East
15 OSU   12-2  7-1 
13 MSU  11-2  7-1
16 M        9-4  5-3 
14 PSU    8-5  4-4 
10 Maryland   6-7  3-5
10 Rutgers     6-7  2-6
12 Indy         4-8  1-7
 
17-27    at Utah Utes
31-24    Oregon State Beavers
45-10    UNLV Rebels 
28-27    BYU Cougars
24-20    at Maryland Terrapins 
31-21    Northwestern Wildcats
17-20    Michigan State Spartans
24-28    at Minnesota Golden Gophers 
31-14    Rutgers Scarlet Knights 
38-24    at Indiana Hoosiers
21-20    at Penn State Nittany Lions 
24-31    Ohio State Buckeyes 
27-24    Tennessee Vols

Moonlight Graham

September 2nd, 2015 at 9:34 AM ^

Include the bowl game in your prediction, right down to predicting what SEC team will be on the same teir. 

I also like most of your predictions. What stands out is how closely matched we are with so many of the teams. 

In your scenario, we could be looking at a B1GCG appearance as well, if not for the Minny loss I suppose. 

I'm also generally surprised by how many are predicting we lose to Sparty but beat OSU. Guess you're counting on an ongoing upward surge, which is understandable.

leftrare

September 2nd, 2015 at 11:04 AM ^

Great effort.  That said, I have to think Michigan's defense will be better than you're predicting.  You've got them giving up 23 points a game, which would be a tad more than last year and rank about 28th in FBS last year.  I think they'll be better than that.  

Trebor

September 2nd, 2015 at 8:59 AM ^

I have pessimistic tendencies, so I don't have a real good feeling about the season. I just think there's a few too many holes on the roster still.

@Utah - Loss. Road opener against a tough opponent. Their pass rush will just be too much for our improving-but-not-quite-there OL to handle.

OrSU - Win. Depleted roster, new coach, home opener, reinvigorated fan base.

UNLV - Win. Easily the worst team we play this year.

BYU - Win. Hill is very good, but he's the only established rushing threat, and I trust Lewis to be able to lock down half the field. Our LBs keep their ground game in check enough for us to close out the game.

@Maryland - Win. They simply lost too much on offense, and I'm not sold on their defense outside of Likely.

NW - Win. If Hoke can beat them routinely (in the most unorthodox of fashions, no less), I don't see them being a huge challenge.

MSU - Loss. They're still just a bit too good for us to beat this year. I don't think their in-state dominance will last much longer as long as Harbaugh is around, but he just doesn't have the horses yet.

@Minnesota - Loss. Road game on Halloween will be tough enough, but they also have a pair of great corners to shut down our passing game. It'll be a cold, low-scoring game, and that plays into the home team's favor.

Rutgers - Win. They're just not good this year, and thankfully we don't have to deal with Gary Nova again.

@Indiana - Win. See NW - any team that Hoke could handle, I trust Harbaugh to do the same. He won't let us get tempo'd to death.

@PSU - Loss. Tough road game, their defense will be stout, and any improvement in their OL will make that offense actually dangerous.

OSU - Loss. This team is just stacked, and Meyer will have them ready. We'll have to bring our A++ game, because anything less and the game could get real ugly, real fast.

 

7-5 overall, 4-4 in conference. The team will show signs of improvement as the season goes on, for the first time in years. However, there's a long way to go to become competitive with the likes of MSU and OSU, and that won't happen in one season.

GoBlueMAGNUS

September 2nd, 2015 at 9:21 AM ^

11-2
Kool aid, quarterbacks throw 8 interceptions for the season. Offensive line is experienced and much improved. Defense gets 20 turnovers. We have a 1000 yard rusher. First bowl win in ages.



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Danwillhor

September 2nd, 2015 at 9:22 AM ^

we lose to both rivals and a small "I dunno about this Harbaugh guy" folks that likely thought we'd go undefeated crop up. Potential 8th win with a bowl game. Floor=6, Ceiling=9. JMHO. Go Blue!

Avant's Hands

September 2nd, 2015 at 9:39 AM ^

@Utah - L

Oregon St - W

UNLV - W

BYU - L

@Maryland - W

N'W - W

MSU - L

@Minnesota - W

Rutgers - W

@Indiana - W

@PSU - W

OSU - L

8-4. I don't really like it, but 8-4 seems most likely. My only decision was picking BYU or PSU for the last loss.

We'll be Champions

September 2nd, 2015 at 9:51 AM ^

At Utah: 23-13 win Oregon St: 31-13 win UNLV: 49-6 win BYU: 26-16 win At Maryland: 28-14 win Northwestern: 24-10 win MSU: 20-14 win At Minnesota: 20-16 loss Rutgers: 40-7 win At Indiana: 35-16 win At Penn State: 23-19 win Ohio State: 28-24 loss Since Ohio State makes the playoffs, we go to the rose bowl. USC: 30-21 loss

lilpenny1316

September 2nd, 2015 at 9:54 AM ^

@ Utah - Loss
Oregon St - Win
UNLV - Win
BYU - Win
@ Maryland - Win
Northwestern - Win
Michigan State - Win
@ Minnesota - Win
Rutgers - Win
@ Indiana - Win
@ Penn State - Loss
Ohio State - Win