unWavering

September 18th, 2011 at 1:25 PM ^

I think 21 might be about right by the end of the year, but if we run the table on the next 3 games like we should, we will be ranked ridiculously high come the MSU game.

SC Wolverine

September 18th, 2011 at 1:52 PM ^

If we can escape next week's trap game, which I admit to being really worried about, then you are right about us being ranked ridiculously high.  If we then beat MSU, then we will really be playing with house money, ranked as a top team but with no top teams to play until NU and tsio (yes, I know Illinois is pretty good).

unWavering

September 18th, 2011 at 2:08 PM ^

We may end up with a similar case to MSU 2010 (being horribly overrated), but I don't think that's such a bad thing.  I am also worried about SDSU, but if anyone knows how to beat them it's Brady Hoke.  I think it will be a close one though.  Another game to watch out for is NW if Persa is back and 100% by then.

When all is said and done, this may be a very good year for us if only because the rest of the B1G looks way weaker than in past years.

Farnn

September 18th, 2011 at 1:40 PM ^

And MSU drops out completely, which kind of surprises me.  ND finally learned to not turn the ball over 4+ times a game and got a win for it.  I'm sure MSU will be pissed about this but I expect them to end up towards the bottom of the top 25 at the end of the year, probably about where Michigan is.

As we've seen from the past few weeks, outside of Wisconsin and maybe Nebraska the rest of the B1G is just not that good, with the bad B1G teams being really bad.  They do seem to bring it all for the Michigan game though so I don't think there are as many gimme games for the rest of the season as the preseason results would imply.

xcrunner1617

September 18th, 2011 at 1:52 PM ^

I just wish these polls would not exist until the BCS came out.  Isn't the whole point of the BCS coming out in week 6 to be more fair and accurate since teams have played a few games?  Yet, I believe the BCS uses these other polls to generate their rankings and so there is inherent preseason bias despite waiting til six week.  If all the polls waited til week six we wouldn't have to worry about preseason expectations affecting how teams are ranked.   

Ted

September 18th, 2011 at 1:53 PM ^

I think it's too early to be ranked, I suspect Michigan will hang between 20-30 this year.
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<br>As for the Aztecs, I am concerned with that game but not because the Wolverines wont be ready, but this could be the best QB we face this year.
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<br>EMU would have been the trap game.

bluebyyou

September 18th, 2011 at 2:29 PM ^

Better to be ranked because we are 3-0 than to be unranked because we lost a game.  We have a long way to go on both sides of the ball.  Hopefully, the D will improve as the season progresses and Denard stops forcing his throws, which I believe he is doing.  

KSmooth

September 18th, 2011 at 3:10 PM ^

Notre Dame and Western both won, which makes our wins over the two of them look better.  It also helped that EMU was 2-0 coming in -- yeah, those were FCS opponents but the wins made the Emus look more mediocre and less awful.

Granted, it ain't much to go on, but early polls are as much educated guesses as anything else.  After last week's results, I honestly think Michigan will have a decent chance with MSU and that other school, so while I wouldn't have put Michigan in the top 25, the ranking isn't completely crazy.

cadmus2166

September 18th, 2011 at 3:23 PM ^

I am not really ready for Michigan to be ranked and was hoping some other teams would jump us.  But it is pretty nice to be able to point out how we are ranked and tOSU isn't.

maizenblue87

September 18th, 2011 at 3:42 PM ^

I agree with many on this thread that being ranked now means nothing. We'll get our just rewards if we keep winning.
<br>
<br>That being said, it's awesome that tsio has disappeared. I'd like to see them lose every game and never see the rankings again.

snoopblue

September 18th, 2011 at 5:07 PM ^

Michigan can get to the BCS this year. From the looks of things in the Big Ten, this looks like the perfect year for a coaching transition. Nebraska's defense is suspect, have no passing game and will not have much time to scout Big Ten teams. Ohio State doesn't have a QB or coach and is playing poorly. MSU is...well being MSU and has no OL. Persa will be coming back around the same time we play them, going to take a while to get going. Minnesota and Purdue......yeah. Iowa doesn't look stout. Illinois looks very good, but that's it. If Michigan keeps improving week by week, they can definitely make a run in the Big Ten and get some revenge against MSU/OSU. Michigan does have the most explosive player in the nation and I thnk they'll explode onto the scene this year. (Like my play on words?)

Mr. Yost

September 18th, 2011 at 5:54 PM ^

...I don't think we should be there just yet.

 

Personally I don't think we've played like a top 25 team for 3 consecutive quarters all year. We're working there, no question, I'd rank us 27-29 right now...23-25 after a win over SDSU.

 

I wouldn't be shocked if we were top 15 going into the Nebraska game. But this team just doesn't seem like a Top 25 team...YET. Good thing is unlike previous years, I truly believe we're going to get BETTER as the season goes along.

markusr2007

September 18th, 2011 at 8:21 PM ^

Then I think they are deserving.

But as soon as I see South Florida and USC ranked in the AP rankings, well, then I think to myself, hell why not?

Michigan is playing mediocre football on defense at best.  It sounds strange to say it, but that's an major improvement from 2010.

On offense I honestly don't see how anything is changed. We're not a power run football team and we're not a pro-set passing team.  Michigan is the Denard Robinson show and it's almost as if Rich Rodriguez and Calvin Magee never left.

 

M-Go-Away

September 18th, 2011 at 10:14 PM ^

I don't understand why this is a negative. I spent the first 30 years of my life with the luxury of following a great team that ALWAYS had a number next to its name. This is why Brandon hired Hoke and god willing we go years before that number disappears. I disagree that Bo is rolling over in his grave and speculate he just smiled that old snarly smile for the first time in 4 years. Go Blue.