Lots of losses in top 25, how high do we go?

Submitted by jaggs on

#20 TCU loses

#16 South Florida crushed by Pitt

#15 Baylor loses

#14 Texas A&M picks up second loss

#10 South Carolina loses

1 of  #11 VT vs #13 Clemson loses

possible (likely)  #12 Florida loses to #3 Alabama

edit: also one of #7 Wisconsin vs #8 Nebraska

I think for sure we jump South Florida, Baylor, Texas A&M and end up in the #15 range. I also think we probably should be considered one of the top 15 teams. If Nebraska loses bad, we could jump them as well.

Mr. Yost

October 1st, 2011 at 7:43 PM ^

...IMO still too high, but it's hard to argue against after today's showing and the fact that people keep on losing.

Personally, I think we're playing like we should be #20 +/- 1 spot.

jaggs

October 1st, 2011 at 7:48 PM ^

we came into the game ranked 19, right?

edit: I understand you aren't saying about the rankings, moreso just your thoughts, but do you really think there are 19 teams with a better resume, or better teams (however you think they should be ranked).

AAB

October 1st, 2011 at 7:51 PM ^

there are probably at least 19 better teams.  I don't think there are even 15 teams with better resumes.  And I have just enough doubt in my own brilliance to go with resume over my assumptions about team quality.  

Mr. Yost

October 1st, 2011 at 8:04 PM ^

Until today I saw a lot of holes in both our offense and defense. Today came and I want to believe...but Minnesota was HORRIBLE. If we can play that efficiently and effectively next week I'll have us in the top 10.

But right now, I'm still skeptical. Denard's passing had been horrible. For the first 3 games we couldn't score early. We struggled to have a running game outside of Denard. Defensively we couldn't get a rush without blitzing.

I think the last 2 weeks have been VERY impressive. And today was incredible. Today was something you see in video games. That's why I started the "perfect" thread...not because I thought it was literally perfect. But for a football game, could you have asked for more? I don't think so. That was dominant.

My only hesitation was it was a BAAAAAD Minnesota team. A team that is probably a middle of the road 1-AA team. So I just want to see a little more. I want to feel like the only "toss-up" games on the schedule that we have left are MSU, Neb and OSU.

That's the Michigan of old. Michigan of old was never worried about Illinois, N'Western, etc. Only now do we look at say "well maybe if we do this" or "maybe if we do that" we can win. Before it was always MSU, OSU, and either Iowa or Wisky...whichever one of those two were good in that particular year.

Right now outside of Purdue...I can't feel really good about another W this season. Of course I think we'll win, hell, maybe win the all. But I don't see a game where it's like "meh...if we don't kill ourselves, we should win."

I know that doesn't have a ton to do with rankings. But a 7-5 team isn't top 15. I want to be confident we're playing above a 7-5 level before I assume we should be ranked that high.

Mr. Yost

October 2nd, 2011 at 8:34 PM ^

But that's what I'm saying...I don't feel comfortable just YET saying we're at least a 9-3 type team.

For every arguement that I could make to say we are...I could make one that says we aren't. Like I said, I want to feel like we have all W's except for MSU, Neb and OSU before I say we're top 15.

MSU and OSU because they're rivalry games...and Neb, because despite last night, they're pretty good.

If we can handle N'Western and control the game...and then just beat MSU, no matter how we do it. I will then call us a top 15 team. Depending on how those games go, I may say top 10.

I'm sorry, I just don't think we've truly played anyone yet this year. IMO N'Western on the road will be as big of a test as ND was. MSU will be the first BIG GAME we have. If we win those two...combined with this 58-0 throttling, a big night game emotional win over ND. I'll say we're tested.

Can you honestly say last year's team wouldn't be 5-0 at this point in this season? I don't think so. But they likely lose 4-5 games in the last 7. Like they did last year.

Red is Blue

October 2nd, 2011 at 8:02 AM ^

Regarding your assumption about Purdue and the stated 7-5 record.  That (obviously) makes us 1-5 in the remaining non-Purdue games.  That's a lot worse than lacking overwhelming confidence that we'll win or even that those games are in the tossup range.

Maize and Blue…

October 2nd, 2011 at 10:05 AM ^

we started the game with our "manball" offense which just doesn't work.  Then against Minny, Borges started giving Denard some easy throws and also threw on first down when it is easier to pass.  I like that the staff isn't being as stubborn as the first three games when it comes to offensive play calling.

This team has a ton of potential especially if the D keeps on improving week to week as it seems to be doing.  I'm going to guess we are at #14 one spot ahead of Nebraska.

VicVal

October 1st, 2011 at 11:32 PM ^

But I didn't expect it.  Welcome to the Big Ten, Nebraska. 

Wisconsin looks legitimately good, imo, even if they haven't faced any killer opponents yet.  They played smart, fast, tough ball.  And jeez o petes their QB can play.

So yeah, Wisky should move up.  Don't know if it will, but it should.  Michigan will go up a bit, I'm guessing, but we're still not going to get major respect.

AAB

October 1st, 2011 at 7:47 PM ^

Higher than we should be in a vacuum, but given the other resumes out there I'm not sure how much lower we could be.  

expatriate

October 1st, 2011 at 7:47 PM ^

The rankings don't change how good this team is.  Whether Michigan is #2 or #25 only changes whether the team will be considered an underdog the rest of the way- though it is hard for me to imagine the MSM ever considering Michigan the underdog.  Let's not get hung up on misguiding rankings.

marco dane

October 1st, 2011 at 7:57 PM ^

Moreso concern about how this year edition will play in the month of October. This month,in recent years,has not been kind to us.

 I hope are recent play carries on deep into B1G play and beyond.

bluewave720

October 1st, 2011 at 7:55 PM ^

ornery MIchigan fans are going to have to admit that we are a pretty good team.  We may not emanate depth from beginning of the season until the end.  But we have a bunch of talented kids playing their asses off for an incredible staff of coaches.

I wouldn't be surprised if we start off 10-0.  If we do, we finish 11-1 or better and that means we all get to buy a bunch of gaudy bowl paraphernalia.  I call "shotgun" on the hoodie! 

unWavering

October 1st, 2011 at 10:31 PM ^

Meh, the rest of the B1G is just not that good.  Nebraska is getting thrashed right now, and every other team on the schedule looks beatable.  I'm not really "scared" of any of the remaining games, but I do think we will lose a few just because things won't go our way all year.  But getting to Indianapolis looks a million times more doable now than it did before the season.

champswest

October 1st, 2011 at 9:33 PM ^

is playing and improving each week, they could do it, but I would be very surprised.  We are 5-0 after playing 5 home games.  Next week we go to NW and if we lose there (it has happened before) we would likely drop out of the Top 25.

So stop worrying about rankings and enjoy the moment.

somewittyname

October 1st, 2011 at 8:01 PM ^

and obviously it's a big if, but if we take care of business next week and manage to beat MSU, we'll be top 10 for the first time in what seems like forever.

In reply to by somewittyname

TheLastHarbaugh

October 1st, 2011 at 8:18 PM ^

Dude, you're already getting ahead of yourself. We play a scrappy Northwestern team that has its star QB back next week, not MSU.

THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS....

EDIT: Unless you're saying manage to take care of [Northwestern] next week and then beat MSU.

somewittyname

October 1st, 2011 at 8:22 PM ^

got hurt at the end of the game. Definitely not a certainty he plays. And their defense is bad. We will be favored and should win. Not saying an auto-win, but if we take care of business, we will win. And yeah taht's what I meant. Ambiguously worded.

randyfloyd

October 1st, 2011 at 8:10 PM ^

I'm thinking around the 15 range and I really don't want to be higher than that.  I am looking forward to next week @ NW because this team has not been on the road yet.  If we can win and look good doing it, I may start believing that this team is pretty good.  However, I'm not ready to break out the popcorn just yet!!!

 

Grumpy52

October 1st, 2011 at 8:15 PM ^

speaking for myself... I am not being ornery. This team is better then last year. No doubt about it. However, there are still unknowns with Michigan. Win the next 2, especially beating Sparty in E. Lansing, and I'll be right there with you.

moredamnsound

October 1st, 2011 at 8:31 PM ^

Probably higher than we should be, or at least where most people think we should be. They have reason to believe we shouldn't be there, and we need to prove them wrong.

greymarch

October 1st, 2011 at 8:36 PM ^

As of 8:30PM eastern time, I put Michigan at #15.  Plenty of games left tonight, with teams ranked ahead of Michigan.  

My best guess, in the morning Michigan will be ranked #13.  Good times, good times.

 

- I write about Michigan football, along with other topics at my website:

http://www.greymarch.com

sheepdog

October 1st, 2011 at 9:13 PM ^

Most excited is that we beat a team that we should beat the way we should have. We didn't dick around at all and made very little mistakes. We pitched a shut out, held them to little yards and all around dominated. Very different than even the eastern game... Proud of our boys, they look better and better every game.

macdaddy

October 1st, 2011 at 9:17 PM ^

I think our current ranking of 19 is about right but we'll definitely move up with the losses above us. Doesn't matter much - just gotta keep on winning.

One Inch Woody…

October 1st, 2011 at 9:34 PM ^

The difference between this team and the teams past is that a bottom-dwelling big 10 team was crushed, even with our 2nd string players on offense for the majority of the 2nd half and 2nd string players on defense for the majority of the 4th quarter. This is all with a flat crowd who didn't give a shit and with players who knew that they had an easy game and still tried to pitch a shutout.

I think Hoke motivates the team for the 2nd true test of the season and we take care of business handily.