Will the Wisconsin game change your expectations?
Mine, not so much. I expect a win, not sure we score 45+ pts, but I do expect to be undefeated for the MSU game. I expect they (MSU) might have a change of expectations by the time we play. I think they might lose this weekend in a shoot out with Indy, and make a QB change, either during the game or soon thereafter. It might make them hungrier (if possible) for our game, because it might revert back to the past, where that game is their whole season, and that scares me a little. My expectations (1 loss) and play in the B1G championship. I can never expect to go undefeated. I hope and pray, but never expect it.
September 28th, 2016 at 9:03 AM ^
To me it looked like MSU and wisconsin were fairly evenly matched on the lines. Wisconsins pass rush with Beigel and Watt is pretty good. If we can control the line of scrimmage against Wisconsin I'll feel great about our matchup with MSU.
September 28th, 2016 at 9:06 AM ^
All available blockers on deck for this one. I have a feeling that Wisconsin will key in on Speight's QB rating under pressure and try to use that as a disruption to our offensive production. I'm sure they feel confident in their run stopping ability, and apart from PSU, our run game is still more questions that answers.
September 28th, 2016 at 9:10 AM ^
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September 28th, 2016 at 9:52 AM ^
September 28th, 2016 at 10:14 AM ^
September 28th, 2016 at 10:15 AM ^
This could be a game where Special Teams makes the difference.
Heh, heh.
September 28th, 2016 at 9:13 AM ^
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September 28th, 2016 at 11:31 AM ^
Because just watching the game from my house, it looks as if he doesn't get his feet set when being hurried. When Speight doesn't get his feet set, his accuracy is horrendous.
September 28th, 2016 at 11:57 AM ^
September 28th, 2016 at 9:37 AM ^
All defenses want to pressure the QB, so yeah, no different than any other opponent so far. Speight has a good qb rating under pressure and has shown the ability escape rushers and complete passes down field or get rid of the ball.
September 28th, 2016 at 1:55 PM ^
play a cool, smart game. Wiscy can't contain both our running game and passing game without taking a bunch of risks in coverage. I think if Speight can hit one or two long passes early - like to Chesson/Darboh - it will make a huge difference for our running game.
September 28th, 2016 at 9:08 AM ^
Both were fairly even in run defense, but everything else, Wisc looked better. The MSU rush defense while good, has only generated 5 sacks this year in 3 games. And the secondary is a mess right now. AND their QB seems way behind and easily flustered by a competent defense. Considering that ND still can't run the ball, have 1 sack on the year and just fired their DC after getting torched by Duke, I think the MSU win was a mirage. That said, UM looks to be a big step up from MSU the same way UW is a big step up from Colorado and Penn State.
September 28th, 2016 at 9:26 AM ^
Colorado was a lot better than I expected. I think they could play even and/or beat both Wiscy & MSU.
September 28th, 2016 at 9:33 AM ^
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September 28th, 2016 at 9:55 AM ^
It definitely is not the same Oregon that we have been used to seeing, but Colorado did win that game in Eugene, and did so with their backup QB. If you recall, that backup QB didn't complete a pass against Michigan. Colorado is a pretty good team overall.
September 28th, 2016 at 11:15 AM ^
To be fair coming off the bench in a week when you probably took very few first team reps is a lot different then preparing the whole week as the starting QB.
That combined with Oregon having virtually no useful game film of Colorado with Montez as QB was probably a huge benefit to the Buffs.
September 28th, 2016 at 10:02 AM ^
Eh, I could see them losing to Wisconsin, but I think they'd light up the MSU secondary. And even on defense, I think their agressive DBs would shut down the non-existent MSU passing game and allow them to stack the box against the run, anchored by their planet sized NT. The more I think about it, the more I think Colorado would do pretty well against MSU.
September 28th, 2016 at 10:14 AM ^
We know first hand how much better they are with Liufau. They were pretty much even with us until he went down.
September 28th, 2016 at 11:35 AM ^
I do not believe that narrative. That game was turning around long before Liufu went out. They were going to lose with or without him. If it was not his ankle something else on him would have broken or failed. The dude was getting hit on darn near every pass attempt.
September 28th, 2016 at 12:02 PM ^
September 28th, 2016 at 9:53 AM ^
September 28th, 2016 at 1:03 PM ^
Agreed. I think Wisconsin will definitely change my expectations (for better or for worse) for the Michigan State and Iowa games.
The Wisconsin game won't change my expectation for Ohio State. When Ohio State and Wisconsin play in two weeks, that may change my expectations, but unless our offense shreds Wisconsin's defense, my expectations for OSU won't change because the Buckeyes play just so differently than the Badgers.
September 28th, 2016 at 9:04 AM ^
Doesn't it depend on how the game actually goes? I am expecting a close win. So if we lose by 30 in a convincing loss, that would change my expectations. If we win by 40, that would change my expectations.
September 28th, 2016 at 9:35 AM ^
I expect us to go undefeated until OSU. I think we are a very good team. However, I honestly do not see us being able to compete with OSU with our question marks at safety and the run game. I think that they'll eat our lunch again this year. They are so talented and well coached.
I think we can beat anyone in the country except OSU and Bama. I think we would easily beat anyone outside of around 10 teams, barring turnover issues. But the jump from top 10 to the top of the food chain, that is a huge jump. I don't know that we're there with a decent QB and struggling run game, especially since we give up way too many home runs.
September 28th, 2016 at 9:46 AM ^
I like OSU being one of the top teams in the country. I loved the Cooper years where OSU was often the best team in the country, but Michigan had their number. The Biakabatuka - Eddie George game was one for the ages. Of course the difference now is (knock on wood) that we won't have 3 loses going into the game and will claim our rightful spot at the top.
September 28th, 2016 at 9:52 AM ^
to beating OSU this year. When I think back on many of my favorite games, we always had one guy that played out of his mind against OSU. Peppers needs to be that guy this year.
September 28th, 2016 at 10:20 AM ^
I've been saying the same thing. If Peppers can get pressure on Barrett and take away the quick hitters on the edge, mainly to Samuel, then keep Michigan in good field position in the return game, I think that will go a long way to finally beating them. That of course comes with the assumption that everyone else can just hold their ground on defense, and that the offense can be efficient enough, but Peppers is the key.
September 28th, 2016 at 11:34 AM ^
OSU has enough talent to just run/throw away from him all day.
September 28th, 2016 at 11:53 AM ^
I agree there are a lot of questions for Michigan regarding that game and it'll be a tough one, but I think the one thing we can all be sure on is that if Michigan does win you'll disappear from this board pretty quickly.
September 28th, 2016 at 2:37 PM ^
But a lot of other things need to develop. The good thing about this coaching staff is that the guys get incrementally better. We're going to need that, but with some of the younger talent we have (esp Gary, Higdon, Evans, Asiasi, Perry) my assumption is that they will with every game. Re. Peppers - yes, he's amazing, but he needs to get better, too. I think that we can expect that.
Big injury problems can definitely take a big toll on all this - hopefully that doesn't happen.
September 28th, 2016 at 9:54 AM ^
I'm a bit more hopeful on our chances against OSU. I do not see a lunch-eating, but it will take a near perfect game for us to beat them. UM should be capable of that at home by the end of the season.
I fully expect the 2 teams to meet undefeated and I do not think the loser will get a playoff consolation prize.
So it is playoff or Rose Bowl. Not bad expectations. (Yes I am taking a win in the conference championship as a given).
September 28th, 2016 at 12:54 PM ^
"UM should be capable of that at home by the end of the season."
We play in Columbus this year...
September 28th, 2016 at 9:55 AM ^
September 28th, 2016 at 10:00 AM ^
Well, I certainly hope that I am wrong and you guys are right. Wouldn't be the first time.
September 28th, 2016 at 11:19 AM ^
If last season proved anything, it's that no team is unbeatable. OSU looked just as invincible in 2015 and MSU still went into Columbus and took them down. We will need to bring our A-game that weekend, but it's not an impossible task.
September 28th, 2016 at 9:05 AM ^
Only a loss will change my expectations. I expect this team to go into OSU undefeated. Yes, that's a tough task, but this team has the talent, experience, and coaching to do it. Take care of buisness and on to the next week. If UM gets swamped on offense and gives up a bust or two to lose, or gets ground down on the DL, then I will have a shift in my expectations.
September 28th, 2016 at 9:05 AM ^
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September 28th, 2016 at 9:11 AM ^
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September 28th, 2016 at 10:16 AM ^
Wasn't the large margin of victory in that game due mostly to Sparty errors? Dropped punt snap, fumble returned for touchdown, and at least one int. Credit of course to Wisc for having some part in that, but their offense wasn't asked to do too much. And I expect Michigan to protect the ball better given our numbers so far this season.
September 28th, 2016 at 9:05 AM ^
It will set my expectations. At this point, I could be convinced we'll go undefeated or have a couple losses. The Wisconsin game should indicate which is more likely.
September 28th, 2016 at 9:09 AM ^
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September 28th, 2016 at 9:58 AM ^
September 28th, 2016 at 9:06 AM ^
September 28th, 2016 at 9:08 AM ^
September 28th, 2016 at 9:36 AM ^
a lot of points, but I think Brown will have us much better prepared than Durkin did. Barrett won't look so great after he gets the crap sacked out of him a few times.
This is our year.
September 28th, 2016 at 9:46 AM ^
September 28th, 2016 at 9:44 AM ^
The good thing is they will have a similar offense to match up against with IU that will give them some prep work. But, the thing you have to remember with Brown, he is great at in-game adjustments.
Just as long as he isn't interviewing for head coaching positions that week, I think they will come out prepared and ready to go.
September 28th, 2016 at 9:52 AM ^
From 2013 - 2015, Clemson averaged 25 ppg and 131 rushing ypg against BC.
From 2013 - 2015, FSU averaged 27 ppg and 122 rushing ypg against BC.
In 2013, opponents averaged 159 rushing ypg vs BC; in 2014, 94.5 on 3.08 ypc; in 2015, 82.8 on 2.39 ypc.
Sure, OSU's rushing game is Gamera with adamantium tipped fangs. I guess we'll see...
September 28th, 2016 at 10:50 AM ^
September 28th, 2016 at 11:25 AM ^
I don't see us losing to MSU this season. I know the Hoke Hangover puts doubt in our minds, but their performances to date really seem to indicate a team that's taken a step backward. We're the better team this year and the bitter taste of last year's finish will have us focused.
Payback is coming.