A look at the 2012 schedule

14-0

The B1G looks pretty soft yet again, and we should be improved. Bama and ND will be our toughest games all year, imo, and both of those are out of conference. We will be the favorites to win our division, and possibly the B1G outright. But because our schedule is so difficult, I don't see our overall record improving. Probably 10-2, BSC bowl (probably Rose imo).

Looking further down the line, 2013 is a bit of a wildcard. Hoke's recruits will finally be making a difference, and our D should be fantastic. At the same time, however, Denard leaves and the next QB will be either DG or a freshman Shane Morris. By 2014, Hoke's first class will be upperclassmen, and the QB position will be at least solid, at which point, watch out.

I'm hoping another spring and fall in the system will get us to the point we can compete if not beat bama.  we know what they are, what we are is kinda an unknown.  Fitz DR 1-2 punch it going to be really potent next year, and if denard can take these last few games and improve on them for next year we could be dangerous.

Dfence I'm not worried about, it isn't going to be 1997 world beater level yet but it will be good to above average at worst

but my forcast going forward

2012 should be able to make it tot he big ten champ game atleast if not win it.

2013, really comes down to Devin, if he really can make a step to become a Vince Young esqe QB then we could make a run for a magical season.  

2014, if shane is legit this could be a fun year.

I think not having home advantage for some big games might hurt us a bit. I would be pleasantly surprised if we won 10 games again next year.

Beat Bama

that is a must and continue to beat tOSU. I think Hoke has been given a glorious chance to turn the tides now if this system keeps moving forward and getting stronger. With Mattison leading our D line I would not be surprised if we're the best overall defense going into 2012.

Many unknowns for us. One thing that is for sure though nobody would be able to begrudge our schedule next year. It is beast.

The huge advantage to next season is that our toughest games are out of conference.  I wouldn't be a big surprised if we started 0-2 but had a monster comeback as the year went on.  Along with this, although we have tough road trips to Nebraska and Ohio, we can't count out the fact that the only teams we lost to this year will be coming to Ann Arbor.

As of now, I think we'll likely end up around 9-3 and in the Big Ten Championship Game.  Alabama is simply going to be too tough, especially in Dallas.  We have been recruiting very well, but Alabama's been recruiting well and oversigning for a while, plus having Saban doesn't hurt either.  If we came out of Dallas with a win, I would be beyond amazed.

Once again, Notre Dame will likely be favored, especially if we go to South Bend with a 0-1 record.  Plus, I think their luck is due for something, but I thought that this year too.

Finally, I can't see 2 road trips to Columbus and Nebraska and winning both.  Granted, we beat both teams this year and I think we will be better than both these teams next year, but winning 2 road games is simply going to be tough.

I think considering the schedule and improvement by the end of the season most people will leave satisfied, even if it isn't the perfect season

For scheduling Alabama in a year when we go on the road to Columbus, Lincoln and South Bend. If we were to play Texas in a bowl, we'd play the second,third, fourth,fifth and sixth winningest programs in college football. That said, we could still have a great season - if we can get close to replacing Martin and van Bergen

I think if we get a split out of Bama, ND, Nebraska, & Ohio, then we can win 10 games next year.

Does ND have much talent, though? I'm surprised that people are calling that a likely loss. They lose Michael Floyd, Te'O maybe leaves.

I don't foresee anyone in the Legends Division beating us out for the BTCG, but as a Michigan fan, I have a complete inability to foresee the success of Michigan State. Maybe Nebraska might beat us out, but I don't really foresee them getting a lot better.

I am pretty scared of Ohio State next year. We couldn't stop them this year at all. I think they punted twice. This was with a freshman quarterback, Jim Bollman as an offensive coordinator, and a defensive line far more veteran than the one that we will have next year. Next year, we will be facing Braxton Miller in an Urban Meyer offense. Greg Mattison's going to have to do better next year if we're going to roll into Columbus and start making Urban the next Earle Bruce.

We will lose 4 UNLESS we are playing much better than this year. We didn't do well on the road at all. Northwestern was a home age basically. But f it! We will lose 1 is my bold prediction.

Our schedule next year is tough, but other than perhaps Alabama, we may well be better than every team we face.  If we can fill the voids at DT and C, we will be very, very good. 

(As for Bama, I guess I'm rooting for them to win it all this year, so as many players go pro as possible.)

2012 Schedule

-Alabama- 4 offense (OL. 2 WR, TE), 5 defensive (DL, 2 LB, CB, S)…possible they1 additional O players (RB) and 2 D  players (LB and S) to the NFL Draft;

It is really possible they lose three quarters of their D and all of their 2011 starters at the O skill positions.

-Air Force- 6 offense (WR, TE, 4 OL), 4 defensive (2 DL, LB, S);

-UMass- NA;

-Notre Dame- 4 offense (WR, 3 OL), 7 defensive (2 DL, LB, 2 CB, 2 S)…**possible they lose Te’o as well to lose 8 defensive players total;

They will lose more than three quarters of their starters on D and potentially their best defensive player. On O, they are losing most of their OL, their best O player, and will probably have another QB controversy.

-Purdue- 3 offense (WR, 2 OL), 4 defensive (DL, LB, 2 S)…**possible they could lose DT Kewann Shot to the draft to lose 5 D players overall;

-Illinois- 4 offense (RB, WR, 2 OL), 3 defensive (2 LB, CB)…*very possible they lose Mercilus to the NFL draft for a total for 4 defensive players leaving;

-Michigan State- 5 offense (QB, FB, 2 WR, 1 OL), 1 defensive (S)…very possible they lose Worthy to the NFL Draft for 2 defensive players leaving;

Not losing a lot overall, but what they are losing on O is huge…two best O players and a really experienced QB.

-Nebraska- 2 offense (2 OL), 4 defensive (DT, LB, CB, S);

Not losing a lot, but what they are losing on D are fairly important players.  

-Minnesota- 7 offense (TB, WR, FB, TE, 3 OL), 6 defensive (2 DL, LB, CB, 2 S);

-Northwestern- 5 offense (QB, TB, HB, WR, OL), 7 defensive (3 DL, LB, 2 CB, S);

-Iowa- 3 offense (WR, 2 OL), 7 defensive (4 DL, LB, CB, S)…**could lose Reiff to the NFL draft for 4 total O players gone (3 on the OL);

-Ohio State- 5 offense (RB, WR, 3 OL), 0 defensive;

A lot like MSU…losing nothing on defense, but they are losing a lot in terms of value on O...their best RB, their best WR, and most of their OL. If Meyer comes on board, I don’t expect an immediate transition and domination because outside of Miller, they lack the players for his system.

Michigan- 5 offense (FB, WR, TE, 2 OL), 4 defensive (3 DL, CB)

once said that happiness is the difference between your expectations and your realities.  If your expectations are too high, you'll never be happy.  I think this 10-2 (maybe 11-2) season will jack up expectations and we'll be over-ranked in the preseason.  But we need to realize that 5 losses are a strong possibility.  I'll think we'll land somewhere around 8-4 or 9-3. Yes there should be improvement from everyone being in the system a year longer, but the losses on both lines and the tougher schedule are big challenges. 

So I'm going to hope for 14-0, but I'm going to prepare for 7-5. Just in case. 

Hopefully we pull a LSU... There schedule was BRUTAL this year. 

will play Tressel ball next year.  They will have a terrific defense.  Their problem will be QB where they have no experience at all since Counsins has pretty much taken every snap for the past 2 seasons.

I have a few worries, chiefly at C and on the DL. The big problem is that I consider those huge holes to fill, as I share Hoke's mentality that games are won and lost in the trenches. I also think Molk is our best non-Denard offensive player and Martin and Van Bergen our best defenders, period.

I don't think we are likely to win 10 games next season. Bama is a loss (sad to say, but I have no confidence in getting a win). That means we can only afford one more to match this seasons total, and between ND away, MSU, Nebraska on the road, and Ohio in Ohio, I think we could drop 2 more.

Still, we might win the division (only MSU and Nebraska will really compete) and have a chance at a 10th win in the Championship or at the Rose Bowl.

All that being said, I think next season will be a success if we get to the B1G championship, even with fewer wins. Winning it would be the cherry on top, but whenever a championship is decided by a one-off, I refuse to put too much stock into it. Imagine if LSU loses to Bama in this year's championship in a tight game. Can we really say Bama is the better team? Even after their loss at home? This is why I hate the BCS and any playoff idea. But I'm rambling. As always, beat Ohio.

of the loss of Martin and RVB. The offense is going to be a lot better because DR has had one year under the current system. I just cannot see a defense, include Alabama, that could stop us.

8 wins seem very likely.

3 losses seem likely.

1 is a toss up.

9-3 would be good. 10-2 would be great. 8-4 sucks.