Phil Steele's Favorite Teams, Bowl Selection Predictions
While every talking head has an opinion and 98% of them end up wrong by season's end, it's always nice to read a positive review of UM going into a season where very few have faith in the team's abilities...
Phil Steele features Michigan in his 2010 Favorite Teams with a bowl prediction
Michigan- Like I said earlier, I have no allegiances to any team other than where my magazine predicts them. While I have been born and raised in the state of Ohio my entire life and as a child rooted for Ohio St, this year the Wolverines make my most improved list and I have them playing in the Gator Bowl against LSU. While I have the Wolverines picked to finish tied for 5th, other magazines like Athlon and Sporting News have them picked 8th. I will have no trouble rooting for Michigan in most games this year.
A Gator Bowl against LSU, while it means a lot of success was had and that the tide has turned, would be... scary.
(HT: TomVH)
August 12th, 2010 at 1:54 PM ^
Like you said, I'm glad someone is giving us some props. But again it's all preseason bullshit and doesn't matter until our boys go out there on Saturday afternoons and whoop some ass.
August 12th, 2010 at 1:54 PM ^
I didn't expect this coming from a pre-season prediction thread. I'll take LSU in the Gator Bowl.
August 12th, 2010 at 1:55 PM ^
That would be outstanding, Imagine playing LSU and beating "The Hat" after him turning down the head coaching job. EPIC!!!!!!
August 12th, 2010 at 2:00 PM ^
I was just thinking that. We'd probably be at 8 wins with 5 in conference. A 9th win over the coach that most people wanted in place of the one they hate right now would definitely shut some people up.
August 12th, 2010 at 2:22 PM ^
Nothing would make me feel better than to shut up the haters. It's getting to the point where I can't read anything related to Michigan football (especially on local publications) without seeing just about every comment at the bottom being a hater, or someone trying argue with a hater. Now I'm used to outsiders hating us, hell, I relish it. But to see this infighting and the inexplicable smugness of the Spartan fans just makes me sick. I want nothing more than to shut them up.
August 12th, 2010 at 2:26 PM ^
he was never offered it.
August 12th, 2010 at 2:51 PM ^
I think Bill Martin was out sailing that day.
August 12th, 2010 at 1:57 PM ^
Jan 1 bowl game? Sign me up; I'll take it. Steele does a pretty good job of prediciting finishes for teams, and his research and analysises are pretty thorough, so I'm glad to have Steele backing us up to have a good season.
August 12th, 2010 at 2:00 PM ^
...someone likes us.
August 12th, 2010 at 2:00 PM ^
Les Miles v. Rich Rodriguez. Sounds like a rivalry waiting to happen.
August 12th, 2010 at 2:00 PM ^
1) Thinking of Phil Steele as a young buckeye makes me want to vomit. And now I have a tangible reason to hate him.
2) I don't know if it means anything, but I suppose they're as good a source as any, but gamblers love Michigan this year. I've seen Michigan all over the best bets in betting guides. Hope they are right.
August 12th, 2010 at 2:04 PM ^
Regarding your second point, I think we're seen as the Cecil Fielder of college football this year.
i.e. We're either going to win at least 9 or no more than 5.
August 12th, 2010 at 2:19 PM ^
It sure beats being the Rob Deer of college football.
August 12th, 2010 at 2:52 PM ^
Tettleton, Fielder, Deer, Incaviglia. Lots of 12-10 games those few seasons.
It was one of 3 things when they were in the batters box and two were bad (HR, pop up or strikeout)
I saw Rob Deer hit a pop-up that seems to go above the "top" of Tiger Stadium and was caught by the shortstop...I have never seen a ball before or since go as far as that ball and it didnt leave the infield.
August 12th, 2010 at 2:56 PM ^
took my dad to a Tigers game on fathers day (our first and last Tigers game together)...
Fielder comes up to bat in bottom of 1st inning with bases loaded...........single.
Tettleton comes up next with bases still loaded and..... you guessed it.... grand slam to straight away center field. One of the best memories of my life.
August 12th, 2010 at 3:32 PM ^
as a baseball team, they made a pretty good football team. kirk gibson was on those teams for a bit too. i don't remember any teams starting bench-clearing brawls against them.
August 12th, 2010 at 3:37 PM ^
You forgot walk. 1991-92 Tigers one of the ultimate Earl Weaver-esque "three run homer" offenses of all time leading the league in walks, runs, homers and strikeouts. Too bad they also had one the worst pitching staffs in baseball paired with it.
August 12th, 2010 at 2:00 PM ^
LSU seems to be on a downward trend over the past two seasons. IF, a big IF, UM does well enough to play in the Gator Bowl, I wouldn't be particularly scared of playing LSU. LSU returns only 10 starters from last year's squad, and looking at their schedule I expect them to finish no better than 8-4 in 2010.
August 12th, 2010 at 2:17 PM ^
At this point, win 6 games and I could care less about who this team plays or where they finish in the Big 10. I want to see UM in a bowl game again, and for the future of the program RR needs to stick around at least one more year and see if his system can really work both offensively and defensively. A bowl berth probably gets him that next year.
August 12th, 2010 at 2:22 PM ^
I will wholeheartedly agree with you; however, I do wish they win more than just 6. I think 8 is possible and realistic, but 7 may be the outcome.
August 12th, 2010 at 2:59 PM ^
It'd be a more appericiated 2005
August 12th, 2010 at 2:59 PM ^
Personally I see 7-8 wins this season, including at least one "revenge" game against MSU, PSU, or OSU (Purdue is a given). But we were at 4 wins forever last year, and I think part of it was the players kept hearing how they were "back" before they actually, you know, were back.
August 12th, 2010 at 11:21 PM ^
Seven is my bare bones minimum to be satisfied this year. Anything less better include a win over Ohio State and a bowl game.
August 12th, 2010 at 2:44 PM ^
I'd be content with six and a bowl win if two of them are against MSU and OSU.
August 12th, 2010 at 2:21 PM ^
a damn fine football team!
August 12th, 2010 at 2:30 PM ^
Damn STRONG, buddy. Good effort though.
August 12th, 2010 at 2:22 PM ^
I mean id take a win vs MSU and OSU, 7-5-6-6, and a terrible bowl.
August 12th, 2010 at 2:24 PM ^
All I am looking for this season is to pound little brother.
August 12th, 2010 at 2:26 PM ^
not shiting on us.
Steele is usually right on the money.
I really hope is dead on with this prediction.
August 12th, 2010 at 2:39 PM ^
He also has WMU challenging for the MAC title. Oh how sweet it would be if Sparty lost to them.
August 12th, 2010 at 2:58 PM ^
Yeah, WMU is supposed to be decent this year. I don't know how MSU is favored by 21.
August 12th, 2010 at 3:08 PM ^
Double post: Neg bang me and talk dirty to me like I'm a whore.
August 12th, 2010 at 11:22 PM ^
Neg bang days for double posts are over I'm afraid. Costs too much.
August 12th, 2010 at 2:39 PM ^
Come on Phil Steele, bring us to the promised land.
August 12th, 2010 at 2:40 PM ^
predictiing us to go down in flames im not ready to embrace steele as an all knowing although i like hearing that way better. Just keep the faith only 23 more days until we all find out which is the best thing
August 12th, 2010 at 2:41 PM ^
is drinking the cool-aid.
August 12th, 2010 at 2:50 PM ^
"drinking the cool-aid [sic]"
Do you even know what that means? If so... how is Steele "drinking the cool-aid?"
August 12th, 2010 at 2:56 PM ^
Instant neg.
An ominous start to an MGoCareer.
August 12th, 2010 at 2:55 PM ^
Not only positive, but a reasonable, well-balanced opinion. Hooray!
August 12th, 2010 at 2:58 PM ^
A Gator Bowl against LSU, while it means a lot of success was had and that the tide has turned, would be... scary.
Hey, call me a homer, but I am still thinking we can win the conference or at least go to the Capital One Bowl. But, considering the past two years, the Gator bowl against LSU would be a major improvement and signal we are back on track.
I don't understand why it would be "scary" though. LSU has not been the same since 2007, especially on offense. We have had no defense the past two years. I think it would be great to watch (our offense v. their defense) and it would put to bed the Les Miles chatter if we beat them head to head.
August 12th, 2010 at 3:01 PM ^
and I like it.
August 12th, 2010 at 2:57 PM ^
As long as Les Miles is running the show there and Gary Crowton is the OC, I like our chances.
August 12th, 2010 at 3:05 PM ^
I just dont see how PSU can have a better year than BOTH Wisky and Iowa...they have some serious ?'s like OL and QB and they lost some great Defenders too. I normally love to read his predictions, but the PSU one makes me not as excited about the Michigan prediction.
And WMU is not going to win the MAC with Hiller and that RB being gone.
August 12th, 2010 at 3:30 PM ^
I don't think PSU is going to be very good, the QB situation is going to kill them. They lost a lot of talent. I'll count on their D being top notch, but I think they are gonna need to win 10-7 games. That offense lacks firepower, Royster can't do it alone.
August 12th, 2010 at 3:28 PM ^
The whole article. I like a lot of the picks. But I think the PSU pick is very telling.
August 12th, 2010 at 3:37 PM ^
only four of my nine sets of power rankings say Phil Steele is correct
seven of my nine sets of power rankings say Phile Steele wears Stetson cologne
August 12th, 2010 at 3:44 PM ^
I had last night where we got trounced by UConn on 9/4. I woke up in a cold sweat... I always liked Phil Steele more than Athlon/Lindy's, etc, and I trust his preseason hype more than the prophecy of my subconcious.
August 12th, 2010 at 5:04 PM ^
Phil Steele will root for Michigan. Wow.
Love his take on the team. Go Blue.
August 12th, 2010 at 6:21 PM ^
More like Capital One Bowl against Georgia. That's what it'll be.
But Phil, I appreciate your love for the Wolverines.
August 12th, 2010 at 8:48 PM ^
Not sure what is scarier... Some of those projections or the fact that the BCS Championship is on January 10th... No time for a playoff because student athletes are, after all, students first!