Way to early Bowl Predications on ESPN
Mark Schlabach at ESPN has Michigan in the Fiesta Bowl...
http://espn.go.com/college-football/bowls/projections
Too early to write it in stone?
Thoughts?
October 10th, 2011 at 4:15 PM ^
These projections are essentially based off where teams stand now in the conference ratings and not so much on how the rest of the season will play out. But saying that, we will have a much better idea of where we stand after this weeks game.
October 10th, 2011 at 4:19 PM ^
That is exactly it. We faced our first road test and passed, but that was against an average to below-average team. Now, Sparty hasn't exactly played anyone other than Notre Dame, so we don't know how good they really are either. They have played lesser competition than we have and they got their asses kicked against the one common opponent.
I peruse the ESPN message boards when I have free time at work and on their board, they are extremely confident that they will beat us Saturday. I saw one person say that a shutout by Sparty is extremely possible. I, of course, laughed.
http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/forum/_/id/127/michigan-state-spartans
October 10th, 2011 at 4:22 PM ^
I hope the Spartan football team is similarly over-confident.
October 10th, 2011 at 4:21 PM ^
Your thread title is infuriatingly ungrammatical.
October 10th, 2011 at 4:23 PM ^
but I didn't want to get dinged for trolling.
October 10th, 2011 at 9:26 PM ^
Seems too late for that
October 10th, 2011 at 4:25 PM ^
I'm pretty sure it's just showing us the way to Early, Iowa. http://www.earlyia.com/
October 10th, 2011 at 6:59 PM ^
I always read these like "Attaboy! Way to early bowl predications, big fella!"
October 10th, 2011 at 4:26 PM ^
content friend. . . content
October 10th, 2011 at 5:11 PM ^
Maybe you should start a new thread titled: "Way to Grammar: A Predication."
October 10th, 2011 at 6:56 PM ^
"Way too grammar: A prediction?"
October 10th, 2011 at 6:45 PM ^
The grammatical issues of MGoBloggers, then they'd be here for a very long time.
October 10th, 2011 at 4:27 PM ^
I'm rooting for Pasadena simply so I can actually go to a game this year...and well, because it would be nice.
October 10th, 2011 at 4:49 PM ^
October 10th, 2011 at 6:59 PM ^
But it would still be a pretty quick trip from LA. And an even quicker trip from here in AZ.
October 10th, 2011 at 5:13 PM ^
if we beat MSU this weekend I think we hold our fate in our hands....and if we take care of business like we can, we should be slotted in Fiesta or Rose.
If we can beat Sparty, who else is left to really hurt us? I say maybe the following:
1. Neb
2. ????
3. Wisky in the BIG championship game
the rest are winnable...if we take care of business this weekend.
October 10th, 2011 at 5:35 PM ^
All the games are winnable, it's a matter of how well UM plays. After MSU, the only game that I feel real comfortable with is Purdue. Part of that is I think the last 3 years have scarred me. The other part is the second half of the schedule is tougher.
Illinois might not be the greatest team but they're one of only 13 undefeated teams after 6 weeks so they're doing something right. They have a real nice win against ASU and they get UM at home.
Iowa might be second after Purdue in confidence level. They didn't show me much against PSU but again the game is on the road.
OSU - while they're definitely having a down year, there's still a lot of talent on the roster. This isn't a mismatch in talent like 2008/2009 were in the series. If OSU loses a few more and UM wins most of their remaining games, I'd liken the game to the '95 and '96 seasons when OSU came in highly ranked and UM was stumbling in with 3 or 4 losses - OSU had definitely been better over the course of the first 10 games but the talent level on the two rosters was pretty even.
October 10th, 2011 at 6:25 PM ^
I can't imagine the '11 Wolverines will be feeling anywhere near as entitled as those Buckeye teams though. This is a squad looking avenge nearly a decade straight of losing to that team from Ohio, and will not take a single part of The Game lightly no matter what OSU's record coming in.
October 10th, 2011 at 6:57 PM ^
Why would those OSU teams have felt entitled?
Now OSU had won in 1994 but that had just stopped a 9 game streak where UM had gone 7-1-1 (with OSU's victory in 1987). It wasn't like OSU had been having a lot of success against UM heading into the 1995 game.
October 10th, 2011 at 6:43 PM ^
We can beat anyone. I think the rest of the season comes down to how well Denard plays. The defense will keep improving, so we don't have to worry about that.
October 10th, 2011 at 5:30 PM ^
We'd get steamrolled on the ground against South Carolina, no? Otherwise I'd be down with Ok St. Still way too early to tell.
October 10th, 2011 at 8:03 PM ^
In 2010, we only won when Denard was perfect. Virtually any mistakes would mean that we had no chance of winning. In 2011, Denard can make a couple mistakes and we can still win. The supporting cast has gotten so much stronger, and our defense gives us a chance to make up for those mistakes.
That being said, like 2010, 2011 is all about Denard not making too many mistakes. 3 INTs against a better team will just not fly.
October 10th, 2011 at 9:04 PM ^
because ohio will not be bowl eligible due to NCAA penalties.
PS - ATTN: Jim Delaney ... you are a pussy!
Go Blue!
October 10th, 2011 at 9:09 PM ^
These predictions mean nothing to me. However, it's their job to analyze and speculate at this point in the season since it's just about half way through. This week will really show which direction Michigan is going to go for the rest of the season.
My opinion means nothing but if they can beat state, I see them going 11-1 or 10-2, losing @ Illinois and splitting with Nebraska/ohio.
October 10th, 2011 at 11:25 PM ^
Of course it is too early, but I still like seeing the national MSM respect Michigan again. It is great for the program, and every little bit of respect helps the coaching staff put the finishing touches on a great recruiting class.