So now that we are 4-0

Submitted by foreverbluemaize on

before the beginning of the season there were all sorts of "what is your prediction for the season" entries. I read many of them and they all tended to be 6-6 to 10-2. There were of course a few that were 5-7 and a few that said 13-0 but the general consensus that I got was the afore mentioned 6 to 10 wins. I was just curious to know what all of you beautiful mgobloggers think will be the record now that we know what we have. What was your prediction before and has it changed any. I predicted 8 or 9 wins with a possible 10 but no less than 8. I still hold to that and think I was probably right.

His Dudeness

September 28th, 2009 at 11:40 AM ^

7-5 has now changed to 9-3. I still say we lose two of the following; @ MSU, @ Wisc, @ Ill or @ Iowa. Iowa, MSU and Wisc are really tough places to play. We will win one of two against PSU or OSU.

msoccer10

September 28th, 2009 at 11:41 AM ^

I picked 5-7. I expected us to lose to ND and win the other three we have played so far. I was and still am concerned about our defense and the health of Tate. Tate has played better than I expected though, and we beat ND so I have upgraded my expectations to 7-5. I will still be happy as long as we make it to a bowl

bkblue

September 28th, 2009 at 11:43 AM ^

After this week's game, I am more concerned with the Big Ten schedule than I was previously. The only sure win that I can see on our schedule is Deleware St. That brings us to 5 wins. MSU has not looked bad in their losses, though it can be argued that the game against Wisconsin was not as close as the scoe indicates. Iowa has a very good defense. Purdue has looked good in their losses. Wisconsin is playing with confidence, there is no telling what Juice shows up for the Illini, and OSU has been dominating on defense as well.
So, at this point, it is hard to predict more than 7 wins, as I do believe that we get by MSU and Purdue.

strafe

September 28th, 2009 at 11:44 AM ^

I'll be happy as long as we have the best possible season we can. I still can't bring myself to pick games that I would plan on us losing. I'd ballpark somewhere around 10-2, but I can't pick what 2 we would drop (if we would).

Edit: I think my earliest preseason prediction was 8-4 at worst.

oakapple

September 28th, 2009 at 11:46 AM ^

My prediction going in was 7-5. I figured Michigan would beat the guys it should beat (WMU, EMU, IU, DelSt, PU), and pick off a couple of others. I still think Michigan will need a bit of luck to split its road games and will be the underdog vs. PSU and OSU.

Wins against Delaware State, Purdue, and a couple of road foes would get Michigan to 8 wins. To get to 9 or more would require some upsets.

Elno Lewis

September 28th, 2009 at 11:48 AM ^

thank you for pointing out that your original prediction is probably right.

I would never have known otherwise.

Go Blue!

its great to be a michigan wolverine. even after beating lowly Indiana. and not playing real good. ok?

PhillipFulmersPants

September 28th, 2009 at 11:54 AM ^

with a "if everything falls the right way" upside of 9 Ws. I'm sticking to that for now, but a few things have already fallen the right way, so that 9 doesn't look quite as long-shotish as it did before.

jtmc33

September 28th, 2009 at 11:55 AM ^

I keep reminding myself that some "experts" (read S.I.) picked UM to finish 7-5 (3-5). That would be 4-0 out-of-conference and with the IU win, completely in line with the previous predictions.

However, after seeing Illinois turn back into Illinois after its 9-4 "National Championship Rose Bowl Season" (sorry, but that's the way the Chicago media painted it two-years ago), I can see UM taking this game. But that only gives us that 3rd Big 10 win (assuming Purdue).

Iowa may be tougher than we thought. OSU will be very very good by late Nov. @Wisco will be very tough. PSU at home is a toss-up.

So, looks like @MSU is the game we need to keep the ball rolling towards that 10-2/9-3 season we dreamed of. Drop this one, and we may still be a 7-5 (3-5) team.

stankoniaks

September 28th, 2009 at 12:06 PM ^

Is it just me, or were the guys who were predicting "between 6 to 9" wins before in other threads, not really going out on a limb? You were basically covering 33% of the possible outcomes for the year (6, 7, 8, and 9 wins). It's even higher than that if you considered Delaware State and EMU wins (and even higher if u thought the same of WMU and Indiana).

If you're going to make a prediction, actually step up and make a concrete one (like most of the posters here on this thread).

Tater

September 28th, 2009 at 12:13 PM ^

I was at 9-3 after the spring game and see no reason to change it. I expected this team to win its first five before losing to Iowa. I also expect to see a victory over OSU.

The only thing I might change is that I expected Iowa, PSU, and Wisky to be the losses. I am thinking that maybe they will lose to someone they "shouldn't" lose to, and beat either PSU or Wisky.

PSU's nice new spread from last year seems to have turned back into a pro set, and I don't totally trust Wisky anymore. I think they are on the decline and Bielema wasn't the right choice to succeed Alvarez.

I think things are right on schedule.

StephenRKass

September 28th, 2009 at 12:13 PM ^

7-5 has been upgraded to 8 - 4. I think we will win vs. Delaware State. I think we will at best steal one win vs. Iowa/OSU/PSU. I think we can win two or three vs. MSU, Wisc, IL, & Purdue.

What will finalize this for me is how we do against a good defense. If, between our running backs, receivers, Tate & Denard, and a healthy O-Line, we can still score significantly against a stiff defense, we could go as high as 9 - 3. OTOH, if a solid defense shuts us down, we could stay at 7 - 5.

This year, I would still trade one more loss and a final record of 7 - 5 or 8 - 4 WITH A WIN VS. OSU against a slightly better record (9 - 3) but another loss to the Buckeyes.

jgunnip

September 28th, 2009 at 12:18 PM ^

I haven't seen anything from this team that warrants a big change is predictions. Ok, 4-0 is nice but that's just a fluky win away from being 3-1, which was where everyone probably thought we'd be at this point. This team is young and inexperienced and yet to be tested on the road. Every remaining game (except Del St) could be a loss or a win.

Eyebrowse

September 28th, 2009 at 12:19 PM ^

...and I can see us going 8-4. That away date at Iowa is looking like a much tougher game than I originally thought though (and PSU at home looking like an easier game). 7-5 is a possibility from my standpoint as well. Either way, we're heading in the right direction.

imablue

September 28th, 2009 at 12:22 PM ^

I picked 8-4, I'll stick with it. We have 4 tough road games.
The way Iowa manhandled PSU, at PSU, I don't see us coming out on top. Wisc. will be looking to avenge last years loss.
We win a close one @MSU, and vs Del St., Purdue, and Ill. Anything more would be great.

foreverbluemaize

September 28th, 2009 at 12:31 PM ^

It is kind of funny but I thought right at the end of the game that I wish we could play Iowa this Saturday instead of next and perhaps capitilize on a let down game for them. They certainly played good football on Saturday. That is one thing about Ferentz, he may not have the big name stars and he is not going to have a lot of first round draft picks come out of there but he is going to have a team that plays hard and plays good fundamental football.

Blue In NC

September 28th, 2009 at 12:37 PM ^

I predicted 7-5 or 6-6. I will upgrade that but only to 8-4 or 7-5. I still think this team is weak on D and that injuries could play a bigger role later in the season. Even now, I will be happy if we go 4-4 in Big10 and win the 4 OOC then get a bowl win (ending 9-4).

samsoccer7

September 28th, 2009 at 12:55 PM ^

I think we got away with a game this past weekend against IU, meaning this was supposed to be one of those losses to a team we shouldn't lose against. But we didn't. We pulled it out despite all the negative plays, losing the turnover battle, etc.

I think we're gonna beat MSU handily, and I think Iowa is gonna be a tough game. I think both Iowa and PSU are overrated. I don't know why, I just do. We may lose one of those games, but not both. OSU, I think we can win that game, but I think they'll be rolling by that point. We can take it if our defense improves by then, we're healthy, and a couple guys play out of their minds. Our running game is really unstoppable. I don't know why we got away from it in the second half against Indiana, but if we pound away we can do really well. I'm gonna say 10-2 with the caveat that I'm on the optimistic side.

EverybodyMurders

September 28th, 2009 at 1:26 PM ^

Before the season I said 7-5. I predicted a loss to ND so we're one game ahead of my prediction. Originally I had us losing to ND, State, Wisconsin, PSU and OSU.

Being 4-0 and watching the various Big Ten teams play, I think I'll go with 8-4 now with losses to Iowa, Wisconsin, PSU and OSU. .500 from here on out seems doable.

Lutha

September 28th, 2009 at 8:03 PM ^

Although it's great that we're actually 4-0, we haven't really beaten anyone I thought I wouldn't beat. So staying with my original prediction of 8-4 (though now it seems more realistic than optimistic at the beginning of the season).

The rest of our Big 10 schedule is not going to be a cakewalk with our defense.

Five In A Row

September 28th, 2009 at 1:50 PM ^

After plowing thru a "Murderer's Row" schedule - which really was like trying to get thru the '27 Yankees, this juggernaut is unstoppable!