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Who is the most/least beatable rival this year: ND, [OSU] or [MSU]?
June 16th, 2011 at 10:26 AM
#1
Who is the most/least beatable rival this year: ND, [OSU] or [MSU]?
June 16th, 2011 at 10:31 AM | 
Depends on how much recent
Depends on how much recent
June 16th, 2011 at 10:30 AM |
Most: MSU. ND could be
Most: MSU. ND could be
Most: MSU. ND could be considered for this as well, especially with the night game aspect. However, we will be 2 games into a brand new staff/system and will still be working out the kinks.
Least: OSU. Even though we are leveling the playing field, they will be stacked. Their QB will be a Sophomore by the time we play.
Overall I think we have a 50% chance of beating MSU, 40% ND, and 30% chance of beating OSU.
Hail.
June 16th, 2011 at 10:32 AM |
i have it flipped. i think
i have it flipped. i think
i have it flipped. i think by the time we play osu, more players will be suspended, the season will seem lost and the team will be in dissaray.
June 16th, 2011 at 10:35 AM |
New player suspensions may
New player suspensions may
New player suspensions may affect the game, but in the current state, I just think they are too loaded for us right now. Braxton Miller, for all intents, is supposed to be exhibiting signs of being a stud. We can't count on their entire first team to be suspended... or maybe we can. But as of now, I think they're still just too tough.
Hail.
June 16th, 2011 at 10:41 AM |
Unsure
Unsure
I am unsure if Braxton Miller will be healthy by the time November comes around. He was practically a china doll in high school. He came out of games more often than Denard did. They will not have the OL to protect him all season.
Notre Dame will be tough this year and MSU worries me the least. OSU will be a toss up because they always play solid defense.
June 16th, 2011 at 10:42 AM |
If Miller is even slightly
If Miller is even slightly
If Miller is even slightly competent (as in, can throw for 100-150 yards a game and has mastered the handoff) OSU will still be very tough to beat. This is the same defense that absolutely shut us down last year.
"We bring you to Michigan to take care of Michigan; your job is to protect that block M."
-Carol Hutchins
June 16th, 2011 at 10:53 AM |
It's actually not the same
It's actually not the same
It's actually not the same defense. It's an almost entirely new defense if you go by starters.
Don't quote laws to us. We carry swords.
-Pompeius Magnus
June 16th, 2011 at 10:57 AM |
They're stocked though. I
They're stocked though. I
They're stocked though. I fully expect OSU to be right where they have been in defense the last few years.
"We bring you to Michigan to take care of Michigan; your job is to protect that block M."
-Carol Hutchins
June 16th, 2011 at 1:33 PM |
They haven't lost a defensive
They haven't lost a defensive
They haven't lost a defensive coach and if there's one team in the B1G that has currently shown it can reload it's OSU. Beating them won't be impossible, but to think their defense isn't going to be very good makes no sense to me.
"We bring you to Michigan to take care of Michigan; your job is to protect that block M."
-Carol Hutchins
June 16th, 2011 at 2:00 PM |
Gonna have to agree
Gonna have to agree
If there's a team that can replace a starter with an equally impressive beast and not skip a beat, it's Ohio, and the way Hoke is going, soon will be us.
A Journey of Father and Son
http://mysonsfirstbible.blogspot.com/2013/05/15-things-you-may-have-miss...
June 16th, 2011 at 2:47 PM |
The real question is offense,
The real question is offense,
The real question is offense, though. Lots of teams can have superb offenses but lose because they're punchless of offense. Boston College comes to mind, from last year.
Don't quote laws to us. We carry swords.
-Pompeius Magnus
June 16th, 2011 at 12:08 PM |
Their offense has always been
Their offense has always been
a rather "safe" one, and 95% of it went through Proyrs hands. He actually led the B1G in touchdown passes last year, and Tressel wasn't just their Head Coach, he also called the plays on offense. They will still have a solid defense unless the other 6 or so named guys get suspended, but they lost the bulk of their offense. It will fall on the OC for the first time, and maybe their running back, but Mattison will stop the run by seasons end. I think ND will be ready for prime time.
"that's why you don't go to Ohio State, Lawrence"
June 16th, 2011 at 11:30 AM |
Knowing
Knowing
everything we know right now, this seams the most reasonable expectation.
“Well, I was this close to bringing a sinner to Jesus, and now he is consigned to eternal damnation. I hope that you’re happy.” - Boyd Crowder, Justified
June 16th, 2011 at 1:39 PM |
If things do down in August
If things do down in August
If things do down in August like they should, he will step off the field as a sophomore. My point was not that he was a sophomore, but that he will have a year's worth of experience on the football field.
Hail.
June 16th, 2011 at 10:35 AM |
I would like to reserve
I would like to reserve
I would like to reserve judgement on this issue until after about two to three weeks of news out of fall practice. I think we have enough talent to win all three games but a lot is going to depend on how well the O and D pick up the new systems and whether or not some guys step up to fill in some of our question marks. The game that scares me the most is ND simply because of how early in the year it is.
June 16th, 2011 at 10:35 AM |
Call me a homer but
Call me a homer but
I think we go 2-1 against our rivals this year, I think we lose to Notre Dame, but beat both Lil' Bro and Ohio
Posted from my Dell Venue Pro
"There will be blood on the field and it won't be mine" - K
June 16th, 2011 at 11:26 AM |
Agreed...
Agreed...
I think ND will be the strongest of the bunch this season, plus we have less prep time for our new systems before we play them.
MSU's o-line is going to kill them, IMO. I'm glad they play OSU and ND before playing us so that one of their d-lines can beat up on Cousins.
OSU is a wildcard. I don't really know what to think at this point yet. They aren't changing much on defense (formationally) and still have most of the talent they've been recruiting the past four years. Then again, new coach, qb, and whatever else comes down the pipe in the next five months can hurt a team just as badly.
Plus, I'd like to think Michigan, you know, plays well this season. That too.
Intensity is a lot of guys that run fast.
June 16th, 2011 at 6:01 PM |
Only 1? Ok I will let you
Only 1? Ok I will let you
Only 1? Ok I will let you pick then:
KLM 295, Nix 340 or Ethan Johnson at 300 lbs
Current Smug rating: "lethal"
June 16th, 2011 at 12:39 PM |
That's what I've been
That's what I've been
That's what I've been thinking, too. Wouldn't it be so ironic if the season shakes out that way, though? Beating the two rivals we never beat , and then losing to the only rival that we did beat during during the worst 3 year span in our history.
June 16th, 2011 at 12:43 PM |
I never thought I'd hear MSU
I never thought I'd hear MSU
I never thought I'd hear MSU referred to as a "rival we never beat."
June 16th, 2011 at 10:36 AM |
Good question because it's a
Good question because it's a
Good question because it's a tough answer.
No idea about OSU until more than halfway through the season. They could come out with their stocked talent and an upperclassman qb who plays well enough not to lose ( a la Krenzel) and they could be 9-2 when they come to AA -- they also should be banned from a bowl so the UM/OSU game will be their bowl game giving them even more desire to win than what The Rivalry normally offers; or it could be a disaster from the start and we could be playing a demoralized wounded team with their only interest in getting the season over.
We know what were getting with ND, but, in week 2 of a new offense, defense, and coaching staff we have no idea if this UM team in week 2 is going to be good (even if the season ends up a success it probably will start a little shaky).
And MSU on the road - coming off a victory or defeat against OSU? Cousins living up to "first round pick" or throwing a bunch of picks like his true self. And will they have a b.s. little giants play to push them through a paper-tiger "successful" season
Prediction based on too many unknown factors:
Lease likely to win: @MSU 45% chance of winning
Most likely to win: OSU at 55% chance of winning
And I'd put ND at 50%
Class of '97: 4 Years -- 4 Four-loss seasons
June 16th, 2011 at 10:37 AM |
OT
OT
But I'm sick of MSU getting UM's leftovers after they play ND the week after Michigan. Total trap game for ND.
Fuck it, Dude, let's go bowling.
June 16th, 2011 at 10:38 AM |
My opinion
My opinion
In order of most difficult to least:
ND
OSU
MSU
June 16th, 2011 at 10:38 AM |
MSU lost a lot of talent and
MSU lost a lot of talent and
MSU lost a lot of talent and think they are invincible. They are ripe for the picking. Plus, I refuse to believe I live in a world where any god would allow those fans to be happy for more than three years in a row.
OSU is still stocked with talent, but will have an unproven QB (whoever that may be), a new coach, and a lot of disarray. Also the game is in AA so I think they are pretty beatable.
Call me crazy but I put both of those games at 50/50.
I fully expect ND to be extremely good this year. 2nd year in Kelly's system and a ton of talent on hand. I think they could make a legitimate run at a BCS game. If the ball bounces their way a bit this year they could possibly be in title contention. I put our chances of winning that game at 25%.
June 16th, 2011 at 2:24 PM |
God
God
has already allowed OSU fans to be happy for 7 years in a row.
Of course as far as they go, recently we see divine judgment brought down upon the wicked, and the ultimate vindication of the righteous. So maybe...
Harmon40 "When the 'ol season is over, you and I know: it'll be Michigan again...MICHIGAN!"
June 16th, 2011 at 10:40 AM |
I'd have a hard time
I'd have a hard time
I'd have a hard time accepting 4 losses in a row to Sparty or 8 in a row to Brutus. They are both must-wins.
June 16th, 2011 at 12:14 PM |
Coach Hoke agrees
Coach Hoke agrees
Hence, the countdown clocks. In terms of intangibles like "prestige" a loss to ND would hurt the least after 2 straight years of wins, so if I had to pick one game to lose of the 3 it would be that one.
Since this is a prediction thread, I think msu is vulnerable and osu and ND are both tossups.
Abort, Retry, Fail?
June 16th, 2011 at 2:25 PM |
If we can get 2 of the 3 (doesn't matter which 2)...
If we can get 2 of the 3 (doesn't matter which 2)...
it will be all good.
Harmon40 "When the 'ol season is over, you and I know: it'll be Michigan again...MICHIGAN!"
June 17th, 2011 at 2:54 AM |
I would like to beat OSU. I
I would like to beat OSU. I
I would like to beat OSU. I will be in AA that game.
-I Cannot Be Killed By Conventional Weapons
June 16th, 2011 at 10:45 AM |
All three are very
All three are very
All three are very interesting games.
ND - could be the best team out of the three, but we are helped by the crowd being amped up for the night game, and ND will be lost staring at our uniforms.
OSU - They've obviously been through so much, but by the last game of the year, they'll probably be comfortable enough with the new coach and QB that they won't be hurt too much by it.
MSU - They've got to prove that they can repeat the success of last year, and it's going to be tough to win in East Lansing, but I think they're the least talented of the three.
Most difficult to least difficult: ND, OSU, MSU
That being said, I could easily see us winning all three, but I could also see us losing all three. Hopefully it helps that Hoke is emphasizing them so much, and our boys are ready to beat the shit out of the Irish, Little Bro, and Brutus. We have to beat them this year
ITS GREAT TO BE A MICHIGAN WOLVERINE
June 16th, 2011 at 10:45 AM |
Most: ND. The defense
Most: ND. The defense
Most: ND. The defense improved tremendously last year, but the offense didn't. Floyd is their best offensive player, but I have yet to see Kelly use him properly. I expect that our improved defense will catch them off guard, and our offense will still have some success.
Least: OSU. Let's not kid ourselves. The talent stockpile there is just ridiculous. Miller will have a full year under his belt by the time they visit Ann Arbor, and the rest of the Tat 5 will be playing in that game. Plus, there are no obvious signs that Miller is a head case or a dumbass like Pryor, which will make him a better college QB.
June 16th, 2011 at 10:47 AM |
There's also no signs that
There's also no signs that
There's also no signs that Miller will be the starter. it's been said that the old guy (Bauserman..?) will likely start over him. Fickell wants to keep his job, and throwing a freshman QB in with a first year coach is not smart. He'd be much better off throwing the 30 year old guy out there
ITS GREAT TO BE A MICHIGAN WOLVERINE
June 16th, 2011 at 11:05 AM |
The old guy that you speak of
The old guy that you speak of
The old guy that you speak of is OSU's version of Nick Sheridan.
Miller will be starting on day 1 unless he is injured or ineligible. Book it.
June 16th, 2011 at 11:21 AM |
Ok, I don't know much about
Ok, I don't know much about
Ok, I don't know much about him, all I know is what Rittenberg and some other writers have said. I would love to have us play against their version of Sheridan, though
ITS GREAT TO BE A MICHIGAN WOLVERINE
June 16th, 2011 at 11:39 AM |
Last year we said McGloin was
Last year we said McGloin was
Last year we said McGloin was Penn State's version of Sheridan. I went to that game and sat in front of McGloin's racist, foul-mouthed, drunken cousin. That night got a distinctive entry in my bad-day book.
Don't quote laws to us. We carry swords.
-Pompeius Magnus
June 16th, 2011 at 10:46 AM |
Most difficult to least...
Most difficult to least...
OSU
ND
MSU.
Frankly, all teams are in better positions than UM at the moment (that is, UM has the worst of the 8 possible units (UM's defense), and UM's O is in transition).
OSU MAY have some suspended players, but still, the talent gap between OSU and UM is too great at the moment, such that unless they implode under Fickell (which I don't think they will), I think OSU ought to win.
ND has a lot of talent, and assuming they continue the improvement curve under BK, it would take a VERY quick transition by UM's O under the Borges system for me to feel like we can realistically beat them. The night game aspect helps, obviously.
MSU? Should beat us, but I mean, come on. MSU could beat UM 100 times in a row, and I'd still feel confident that a few "Sparty, No!"s could tip the scales in our favor.
June 16th, 2011 at 10:56 AM |
Here's my take:
Here's my take:
Most beatable: ND, because system is still new(ish), talent more on par with ours, and night game at home.
2nd: OSU - Mattison will find ways to attack a freshman QB every time, plus in AArbor, hungry as hell.
Least: MSU - road game against what should still be a pretty solid team.
"I promise you we would have walked to the University of Michigan." - Brady Hoke
June 16th, 2011 at 6:19 PM |
Well I am shocked to read
Well I am shocked to read
Well I am shocked to read this
Current Smug rating: "lethal"
June 16th, 2011 at 8:25 PM |
Read What? All I see is the
Read What? All I see is the
Read What? All I see is the hottie with a gun.
June 16th, 2011 at 11:12 AM |
Interesting that 2 of the 3 biggest rivals on this thread
Interesting that 2 of the 3 biggest rivals on this thread
are not in the Leaders division. I appreciate the tradition behind these schools being the teams UM fans love to beat, but won't the new divisional structure of the B1G change this somewhat?
Its all going to be about winning your division to have a shot at the conference championship, BCS, and MNC. No more Co-Champs.
June 16th, 2011 at 11:20 AM |
Well, we do have to beat the
Well, we do have to beat the
Well, we do have to beat the Leaders division foes, but that doesn't change our rivalry. We don't have to beat ND or OSU to make it to the title game, but they're two of our biggest rivals, so we do have to beat them. That's why Hoke is emphasizing the games.
Yes, we want to win our division. But it's arguable which would be better: winning our division but losing to these three schools, or not winning the division but beating these three. Honestly, I'd probably take the latter, assuming MSU doesn't win the division.
ITS GREAT TO BE A MICHIGAN WOLVERINE
June 16th, 2011 at 11:41 AM |
Not really
Not really
Since we'll still be playing tOSU and ND every year.
Go Blue!
June 16th, 2011 at 6:52 PM |
I appreciate the tradition
I appreciate the tradition
I appreciate the tradition behind these schools being the teams UM fans love to beat, but won't the new divisional structure of the B1G change this somewhat?
Well, ND has never been a conference rival, so that's not going to change. OSU being in the other division could affect the rivalry somewhat, but playing them every year (and at the end of the season) should keep its importance.
I do think Nebraska will become considered a rivalry game down the road, though it needs more history behind it first. OTOH, a game that I think will lose some luster is PSU, which was turning into a pretty intense series when we were playing every year (we played all but two seasons from 1993-2010), but probably won't be the same when it's just two years out of five.
June 16th, 2011 at 11:14 AM |
This is gonna be a crazy year!
This is gonna be a crazy year!
With everything so positive going on with Hoke. I'm gonna ride on the assumption that our good luck keeps moving forward. This is gonna be a very unique year. I think once it's all said and done history will be made. Hoke will bring back tradition in a huge way!!!!So start writing the stories now! We will win all three games. Close but we do win!! And Hoke will be cemented in the Michigan history books as one of the best coaches to ever restart a program....
Go Blue forever!!!! Check out the latest Michigan News at my blog
June 16th, 2011 at 11:15 AM |
I think this one is actually
I think this one is actually
I think this one is actually fairly easy...
Most Likely: Notre Dame
Least Likely: Ohio State
June 16th, 2011 at 11:16 AM |
I expect OSU to be very
I expect OSU to be very
I expect OSU to be very tough, like others before me have said they are still stacked and most of the suspended players will return. But I think they are beatable, they are just a downed giant, and if we beat them that will be like knocking them down another peg. Mayhem would break out in Columbus. I expect OSU to be our most interesting game.
June 16th, 2011 at 11:28 AM |
Rivals we will beat: MSU,
Rivals we will beat: MSU,
Rivals we will beat: MSU, ND, and OSU
Rivals we will lose to:
June 16th, 2011 at 6:59 PM |
I love the optimism.
I love the optimism.
I love the optimism. However, I would be very very surprised if we beat all 3. I could see us winning 1 or 2. But not 3.
It's the same old story. Boy finds girl, boy loses girl, girl finds boy, boy forgets girl, boy remembers girl, girls dies in a tragic blimp accident over the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day.
June 16th, 2011 at 11:30 AM |
Most beatable is ND.
Least
Most beatable is ND.
Least
Most beatable is ND.
Least MSU.
That said it doesn't matter they all must be beaten. No excuses.
"You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life." - Winston Churchill
June 16th, 2011 at 11:31 AM |
Double post
Double post
...
"You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life." - Winston Churchill
Depends on how much recent budget cuts impact the efficiency of Michigan law enforcement.
Likely tOSU unless their true freshman QB really turns it on. I'm also assuming other members of the Tat5 are not on the team come Nov.