What's your confidence level for the CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
January 6th, 2024 at 11:28 PM ^
Optimistic and hopeful... yet still very anxious.
January 7th, 2024 at 7:58 AM ^
7 (Baseline 5, +1 for we have a better running attack, +1 for our defense and defensive scheme, -1 for Penix and their receivers, -1 for this is a bowl game, sort of, +1 for defensive line are beasts, +1 for this team just finds a way).
January 7th, 2024 at 8:29 AM ^
Yep, I'm right in the sweet spot between optimism and sheer terror. We SHOULD win-but there are definitely a lot of scenarios where we could lose. LET'S GO BLUE!
January 7th, 2024 at 9:06 AM ^
We're going to win and I’m anxious AF.
January 6th, 2024 at 11:35 PM ^
Nervous, always.
Feel we could blow them out if we execute, but their offense scares me.
Would much rather a coronation type blowout than a heart attack game.
Hoping for a 2021 Iowa B1G Championship type game where I can just relax and soak in the glory all 4th quarter.
Been watching UM since the mid 90's. Never would have guessed it would be this hard or take this long to be back in this position (1997) again. Praying the boys can close it out.
If they win, it will be enough that I could go to my grave happy to have seen UM win an outright National Title as an adult. Would give me enough joy to last for decades and don't really think I'll ever feel quite as nervous or attached going forward.
January 7th, 2024 at 12:06 AM ^
100%. My particular case of BPONE has me fearing that this could be it. We may never get this opportunity again as unlikely as it seems.
This only ends one way. This story seemed written from the beginning. I had a different feeling about this team since before the season ever started. And even though I was nervous for Bama and OSU, something in the back of my head just knew this group would find a way to win. They're different. This team refuses to lose. Go Blue.
January 7th, 2024 at 11:26 AM ^
I don’t think it’s PBONE to have some healthy nerves. Washington has the best offense in the country and Penix should have won the heisman. A loss to them wouldn’t be a shocking upset. But I think we win this game seven times out of 10. They are an excellent team.
January 7th, 2024 at 2:17 AM ^
Yeah, I would be content if we can win just one title in my lifetime that is won on the field and cannot be contested even if critics want to put an asterisk next to it. Would mean that I wouldn’t take future seasons so seriously in anticipation of something that we have rarely achieved. This would also make it more fun going forward. I’m hoping we dominate them and can have a comfortable 4th quarter.
January 7th, 2024 at 7:44 AM ^
Agree with this sentiment completely. Only difference is I’ve been watching since 1970.
January 6th, 2024 at 11:36 PM ^
I also feel way too confident.
Interestingly, so do Washington fans. They think their passing offense is much better than anything we have faced this year (which is true). We'll see if that outweighs a Michigan advantage in pretty much everything else.
January 7th, 2024 at 12:18 AM ^
The inverse is also true, Michigan's defense is better than anything Washington has seen this year. Moreover, Washington's defense is at best, average. I look for Michigan to have it's way on offense. Either on the ground or the air, or both. Whichever Washington gives.
Confidence is high in this north Texas household.
January 7th, 2024 at 9:14 AM ^
Washington's defense is in the range of MSU, Indiana, and Nebraska. If those numbers hold true, then I feel Michigan will but up numbers like they did against those teams and we'll play the McCarthy incompletion game during the podcast, like they did earlier in the season. I'm looking forward to that.
One thing I know for certain, though, is that if UW thinks they'll get Michigan into a fast paced score-a-thon, they're dead wrong. Harbaugh and Moore don't call plays like Sarkesian, Riley, and Kiffen - they don't need to dazzle with how slick it looks going downfield.
Short of the stubborn resistance to change we experienced in the 1st quarter against TCU last year, there will be no large, early deficit tomorrow night. And by god, if you can't see how the Michigan offense changed this year because of that start, then you cannot be helped.
January 7th, 2024 at 10:15 AM ^
There will be no need to "keep up with Penix" if Michigan grinds and scores on every possession.
I think 2021 OSU is the comparable. Stroud & 3 nfl receivers. A number of insane completions. 394 yds of osu passing offense. Still won 42-27.
With Will Johnson, i think Michigan's secondary is better. And the linebackers. But i'd take the Hutchinson/O-JA-BO performance.
January 7th, 2024 at 11:00 AM ^
The Klatt boa constrictor analogy works on defense for 2023-4. The defensive line is so good across the board that they crush the pocket and leave the qb nowhere to go if he doesn't get a pass off quickly. So, yeah, definitely would take first round edges, but Penix won't ever be comfortable back there.
January 7th, 2024 at 2:20 PM ^
I HATE that Klatt keeps claiming that as his own idea. Brian used it for the 2018 DL, pretty sure in relation to the PSU night game against Clifford.
January 7th, 2024 at 7:01 AM ^
Im a little surprised how confident they are considering all of their games are nailbiters and we’re the best defense / pass defense theyve played all season
January 7th, 2024 at 8:13 AM ^
I expect it’s because, like Michigan, this Washington team has found ways to win all season.
Michigan could have a 17 point lead in the fourth quarter and this is the kind of offense where that’s not safe. I fear having flashbacks of Aaron Rodgers marching down the field on any number of late comeback victories.
January 7th, 2024 at 9:55 AM ^
Not only have they been nail biters, but Penix played essentially a perfect game against Texas and they still barely won. If your QB plays out of his mind perfect and that still is barely enough, then how is that going to work out when you play a better defense where he likely won’t replicate that level of performance?
January 7th, 2024 at 2:56 PM ^
Thats my hope. I'm still afraid Penix is going to go peak Pat Mahomes on us or something though
January 7th, 2024 at 4:17 PM ^
Awesome take right here.
January 7th, 2024 at 2:35 PM ^
Didn’t all last week we hear that we haven’t seen a QB like Milroe all season and how did that play out. I would actually say we have seen a lot more QBs (especially in the last two years) like Penix. This game terrifies me, but I do get confidence knowing the players we have on our team will be ready. I think it helps that the core of our leaders have been here the last 3 years and experienced challenges and defeats. I think that is solely why we will win this game. LEADERS!
January 6th, 2024 at 11:37 PM ^
IF Michigan plays its game and plays well, they win. IF Michigan makes mistakes, like the TCU game last year, then game on. I'd like to think they learned from that TCU game.
This team is special. I haven't felt this way in 26 years. I have faith.
January 6th, 2024 at 11:39 PM ^
Once again, betting public is on the underdog facing Michigan. Vegas needed UM over OSU, we covered. They needed UM over Bama, we covered. Now they need us over UW.
January 6th, 2024 at 11:48 PM ^
The overwhelming money was bet on Alabama, yet the spread barely moved leading up to gameday. Then on gameday, it moved a full point in Michigan's direction.
I've read public money is on Washington so far, with over 62% of money on Washington to cover. Moneyline bets are 73% for Washington, but money is pretty even. Despite this, the point spread has not moved, and the moneyline odds have actually moved in Michigan's direction.
January 7th, 2024 at 12:43 AM ^
Somebody who knows something knows something.
January 7th, 2024 at 10:13 AM ^
Moneyline bets are 73% for Washington, but money is pretty even
Bookies don't care about how many bettors choose a team, they care that the money is even.
January 7th, 2024 at 10:28 AM ^
They didn't for the Bama-Mich game. Vegas let the aggregate public bet on Bama and took the other (Mich) side.
January 7th, 2024 at 7:43 AM ^
Fox Sports said a lot of money came in late for Michigan in the to win bets against Alabama.
In the to win bets, Fox Sports shows 92% of the bets are picking Michigan, but just 10% of the money, which seems to indicate a lot of large bets taking Washington.
January 7th, 2024 at 10:27 AM ^
What can I say. This says basically the opposite.
If there are more bets on Michigan but more money on Washington, that suggests the sharp money is on Huskies, right? That would be unfortunate but as long Michigan wins outright I don't really care about covering...although I'd rather not be so stressed out the whole game.
January 6th, 2024 at 11:41 PM ^
Nervous af.
Is anyone else ready for football season to be over? I feel like I've been in a constant state of anxiety for three months.
Win or lose Monday these boys took us for an incredible ride.
January 7th, 2024 at 6:47 AM ^
Yeah it's a bit disorienting to still have football anxiety on multiple January workdays. Feels like it's not really the new year until Michigan football is over. So here we are in this nameless spaceless void. 2024 starts on Tuesday.
January 7th, 2024 at 7:33 AM ^
The lions will be playing next week for the first time in forever. Think of it like a step-down to wean you off of football
January 7th, 2024 at 9:22 AM ^
I'm gonna need to be weened off! I've watched more college football this year than I have in any year previously. I mean, Saturday's were mine to the point where the wife and kid would just leave the room and understand that I was occupied all day - from 9AM through the end of the After Dark games. I couldn't get enough. Hell, yesterday I watched the Skycast version of the Rose Bowl, and then turned on the High School All-American game!
I blame cheeseburgers and SignGate for the rapt attention this year. I've never needed this team to win so much in my life! The OSU game was off the charts! I don't want it to be over, but it MUST end in success!
January 7th, 2024 at 10:39 AM ^
Lions in the Super Bowl would not give me near the stress level but dang that would be epic.
January 6th, 2024 at 11:44 PM ^
When we take the field, we’re gonna win
January 6th, 2024 at 11:55 PM ^
Well there is certainly no game on the remainder of the schedule more important than the one they're going down to the tunnel to play (monday night)
January 7th, 2024 at 1:52 AM ^
No coach is more important than the team
January 7th, 2024 at 9:11 AM ^
No burger is more important than the cheese.
January 7th, 2024 at 9:47 AM ^
No topping!
no bun!
nothing more important than the cheese!
January 7th, 2024 at 10:40 AM ^
What about some JU?
January 7th, 2024 at 12:01 AM ^
BELIEVE
January 6th, 2024 at 11:44 PM ^
I like our chances.
January 6th, 2024 at 11:47 PM ^
I'm very confident, which is not like me at all. I'll be sure to get extremely anxious at 7:45 on Monday, though
January 6th, 2024 at 11:48 PM ^
I thought Washington had a good case to be the No. 1 seed coming out of the CCG weekend after their second win vs. Oregon. What scares me the most about Penix is that he's making throws that can't be defended even if you're in step-for-step coverage.
They're certainly better than Alabama as far as I'm concerned. Personally I think Vegas is continually underestimating UW and the odds should be more or less a tossup, but regardless, no idea what's going to happen and it's going to be terrifying.
But I'll be there. Section 311. Confidence: 5.5. But a loud 5.5.
January 7th, 2024 at 12:02 AM ^
Offense is better than Bama. Defense is not. I'm not sure what Bamas defense is rated, but it is filled with 5 star talent. UWs is not.
January 7th, 2024 at 2:47 AM ^
Bama's D was top 10-15 depending on which rating system you were looking at. Plus, like you mention, they were kind of less than the sum of their parts: they had two first round CBs (part of likely the best secondary in the country, that also boasted a safety that was an AA as a true freshman), a first round edge, and a second/third round edge. That's a crazy amount of high-end talent on one team.
I've seen Washington's metrics range from the 40s to the 80s or 90s. About the best you can say is that they're average, potentially worse than that...
January 7th, 2024 at 7:36 AM ^
As long as we don’t pull a ‘TCU’ (stupid, uncharacteristic mistakes that each got punished onto infinity) we’ll be fine.
January 7th, 2024 at 9:27 AM ^
Those mistakes seem to come forth in bowl games and playoff games, which makes them more characteristic than anything else. I'm hoping that whatever yips infected special teams last week have worked their way out by now. I think UW is better suited to penalize mistakes than Bama was.
But I also think Penix had a all-world game against Texas, and those aren't like to repeat themselves...
January 7th, 2024 at 12:33 PM ^
Remarkably we did that against Bama and survived. It’s out of our system now.
We are playing a clean game. I feel it.