Three Predictions for the Michigan Wolverines 2022 Football Season
I’m going to get negged to Bolivia for this unnecessary thread but what the heck, I’m stoked for Michigan football, the return of college football, and predictions are fun.
I’ll start with my own:
1. I predict Michigan’s secondary will finish as the best in the Big Ten. We have a lot of talent in the secondary in Turner, Green, Johnson, Sainristil, Moten, Moore along with some athletes coming in. Combined with one of the better DB coaches in the country in Clinkscale, I think we finish the regular season with the top rated secondary in the Big Ten. Lofty prediction, probably but we have the talent. If nothing else, I feel better than I did in 2020.
2. I think while we lose production at edge, the interior defensive line will be improved. Expecting a breakout year from Mazi and one of the younger guys like Grant or Graham to step up. Elston will have these talented guys ready come fall.
3. Michigan will beat MSU this season. Hard to replace the production of Walker at RB and get that many favorable calls. Not sure adding Amir Speed immediately fixes what was perhaps the worst secondary in the Big Ten. Michigan also seems to have a chip on their shoulder regarding last season’s game against MSU and wants payback. It’s rare opposing teams get three in a row on Jim. Michigan to put Sparty back in their place.
Bonus–Three non-Michigan predictions:
1. Auburn cans their coach at the end of the season and hires Freeze. Something something, Freeze beat Alabama and Auburn wants a guy that can handle Saban.
2. Minnesota finishes in the top 25 and makes a push for winning the Big Ten west. Tanner Morgan was at one time an NFL Draft watch list QB. With super seniors Morgan and Ibrahim, the Gophers are an interesting team to watch in the West.
3. Clemson rebounds and wins the ACC and secures a playoff spot. Even after losing both coordinators, Clemson still has a solid defensive line that will give them a formidable defense. There’s a question mark at QB but Uiagalelei isn’t far removed from tearing it up in Lawrence’s absence and the number one QB ranking out of high school. Either way, he has another number one QB behind him in Klubnik pushing him for the job.
August 18th, 2022 at 11:04 AM ^
1. Michigan has the best offense in the B1G.
2. Michigan enters The Game with 0-1 loss; OSU enters with 2-3 losses.
3. Michigan beats OSU in The Game. This is an inflection point, last year was not a blip.
August 18th, 2022 at 11:29 AM ^
1) Michael Barrett is the player on D that has the biggest ratio of impact to preseason hype.
2) Iowa game decided on the final play
3) Scott Frost fired in November
August 18th, 2022 at 12:39 PM ^
Last year I got reamed for calling double digit wins by all the experts here calling 7 wins.
I'll say it again, double digit wins, and national title contenders.
Odds to win are 50-1.... a bet I will take is, this, $1000, and then come the OSU game I will hedge OSU to win outright for $2000. So I walk away with $1000 or so, and if we win, still in play for the big one.
August 18th, 2022 at 1:29 PM ^
1. Cade is the starter in the opener, but Harbaugh alternates Cade/JJ quarters. JJ's Mahomes act mandates starter status by the Sparty game and Cade transfers after the season.
2. Corum rushes for 1000 yards; Edwards leads the team in total yards and touchdowns.
3. Michigan beats tOSU with JJ at the helm but loses to Bama in the national semi-final.
Non-conference: Undefeated Clemson gets pounded at Notre Dame. Spencer Rattler then leads South Carolina to an epic upset of Clemson. No ACC team goes to the playoffs.
August 18th, 2022 at 2:24 PM ^
Freeze isn’t going to Auburn. He’s too thin skinned for Liberty, let alone Auburn. And I doubt Harsin makes it to the end of the year, if he loses to PSU (especially big), he might not make October.
August 18th, 2022 at 4:51 PM ^
1. McCarthy becomes the starting QB by the Penn State game.
2. Donovan Edwards is the MVP of the team.
3. UM is 11-0 when it visits Columbus. Loses a fairly close game to that team down south, and goes to the Rose Bowl.
#GoBlue
August 18th, 2022 at 5:06 PM ^
When the Michigan board is near 100% on something that is usually the thing you can count on NOT happening.
Knowing that, I will go with the offense will be somewhat of a 2006 let down. Dropped passes, inopportune penalties and not being able to get 3rd and 1s when the entire stadium knows we are running will be issues.
I hate posting this but also the universe loves to prove me wrong so you are welcome!
August 18th, 2022 at 5:21 PM ^
Three predictions.
1. The offense will be balanced - perhaps 55/45 run pass, but - it’s going to be a bit before fans really see the passing game “open up”. Harbaugh is OL focused, and the first priority will be to establish the run. Fans will be in an uproar - saying Michigan needs to pass more and use all its offensive weapons.
2. The offensive backfield will be “multiple faces”. Corum / Edwards at the RB, with Cade and JJ at QB. Again, the play counts could be 60/40 at QB, and close to 50/50 at RB.
3. The D will get off to a much faster start than last year.
I don’t like to predict records, but - I’m far more than “guardedly optimistic” about the team’s potential for this season.
Go Blue!
P.S. - I think Ryan Day will say he wasn’t able to secure the $13M he needed to keep the team together - and, will ask the booster community for $ 20M to support next year’s roster. Several auto dealers in Ohio will declare bankruptcy.