Your Revised Season Predictions
Well, we're now halfway through the season, sitting pretty at 6-0. I think it's safe to say that the defense has outperformed even the most wildly optimistic expectations,while the offense is either mind-blowingly beautiful or mind-blowingly frustrating.
Next week is the first true test on the road (Sorry, NW. 45% Michigan fans makes it a neutral game), against an MSU team with the O-line equivalent of our secondary from last year (That's not a good thing for MSU, in case your memories of last year's secondary are being repressed). Purdue is well, Purdue and Iowa isn't looking that strong. Illinois is either great or decent, depending how you look at them and Nebraska is.....confusing, to say the least. To finish the season we get OSU at home, who's learning the painful lesson that karma is, in fact, a bitch.
So, fellow MGoBloggers, what are your revised season predictions? And what'd you predict at the beginning of the season?
I predicted 10-2 at the beginning of the season, and I'm going to change it to 11-1. Do I think the team is truly an elite team this year? Not really. Do I think the schedule will make the team look like an elite team? Yes.
October 9th, 2011 at 9:31 AM ^
Don't foget they got some of their players back for that game. Not all, but some. We wont know how good the offense is for another couple of weeks.
October 9th, 2011 at 10:41 AM ^
Wasn't their LT the only one back for that game? This was basically the same offense as before. Everyone else doesn't get back until next week, and Posey isn't back until their game against PSU.
October 9th, 2011 at 7:41 AM ^
a perfect 13-0 including the B1G Championship. We defeat LSU 20-17 in the Sugar Bowl. Now...ive finally said what we are all hoping for. If we dont accomplish this feat, feel free to blame me for the jinx.
October 9th, 2011 at 8:49 AM ^
Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane.
October 9th, 2011 at 12:59 PM ^
Here's to David Molk, Mike Martin, Troy Woolfolk, and the rest of those who've stayed these past 3 seasons. They've crawled through a river of shit and come out clean.
October 9th, 2011 at 8:53 AM ^
We all know LSU is going to play for the national championship.
October 9th, 2011 at 8:01 AM ^
This team has the capability of running the table, or finishing 8-4. Hopefully with this coaching staff, they apply lessons learned after each game to improve. Seems like they've been doing that. MSU worries me, but I think this will be M's year in the series.
October 9th, 2011 at 8:31 AM ^
First, I just want to say congratulations to the Wolverines on their 7-0 start. I started the season predictuion 10-2, now I've upgraded to 11-1.
October 9th, 2011 at 11:28 AM ^
Are you from the future?
October 9th, 2011 at 7:56 PM ^
Nope, just see a win against MSU as a foregone conclusion.
October 9th, 2011 at 8:38 AM ^
October 9th, 2011 at 11:32 AM ^
The only thing I would add is that we do this for many, many years in a row.
Predicting losses seems like opening the door to failure.
October 9th, 2011 at 8:41 AM ^
9-3 heading into the bowl....still don't think we are better than Ohio or NU. I think we win the Illinois and Purdue game, but its 50-50 for MSU and Iowa IMO
October 9th, 2011 at 8:49 AM ^
14 - 0. Although that game against LSU in the National Championship is going to be tough.
Last year I believed that a top 50 defense paired with the Spread n Shred offense would have meant a BCS bowl. Of course, there was also a glaring deficit on that top 5 offense: Red Zone efficiency.
Fast forward to this year, and Michigan has a top 10 scoring defense paired with an offense that is tops in red zone efficiency and top 20 overall. And that is with the team still learning new systems on both sides of the ball and installing as we go! With continued improvement, they will be built into something pretty special by the time they finish with Illinois, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin.
Michigan State - Win; Purdue - Win; Iowa - Win; Illinois - Tough; Nebraska - Tough; Ohio with all their players back and wanting to redeem the season in a single game - Tough; Wisconsin - bastard for a coach (and Mike Martin wants payback!)
If Michigan makes it through that crescendo, then I don't see why any other team in the nation should be considered so far superior that the Wolverines would not be competitive in a bowl game.
Go Blue!
October 9th, 2011 at 11:30 AM ^
But I wonder if you've actually watched LSU or Bama play this year... they are both scary good.
October 9th, 2011 at 11:35 AM ^
Amen!
October 9th, 2011 at 9:11 AM ^
Lets focus on one game at a time. Beat MSU and make it 7-0!
For the record.. if we beat MSU, I have us for 11-1 (either Nebraska or Illinois).
October 9th, 2011 at 9:31 AM ^
We aren't playing the games, so it's pretty irrelevant what games we're thinking about. Fans don't need the FOCUS and MENTAL TOUGHNESS to avoid thinking ahead.
October 9th, 2011 at 9:39 AM ^
Before the season I thought 8 wins - maybe only seven if they really had trouble adjusting to the new offense. Now here we are at 6-0. Purdue is a W. Iowa looks like a W. That's 8 wins already and leaves MSU, Neb, Illinois and OSU. We could win or lose any of those games. I'll go with a split on those giving us a 10-2 mark.
October 9th, 2011 at 9:41 AM ^
I predicted 9-3 at the start of the season, with us dropping three out of ND, MSU, Nebraska, and OSU. I still think that regular season record is a likely outcome, but 10-2 and even 11-1 look significantly less crazy than they would have at the start of the year.
Illinois looks better than I thought they would, Nebraska seems to get it now, and Braxton Miller will probably be a mostly-fledged quarterback by November 26 in time for the Game. I could see us taking all three, or I could see us dropping all three. Then, as others have pointed out, we're probably going to drop one game that we should win, meaning Purdue at home or Iowa on the road. I'll go with the latter and add it to losses against Illinois and Nebraska to get 9-3.
October 9th, 2011 at 10:00 AM ^
I thought there would be autolosses to ND and Nebraska, and one more loss somewhere, but I thought their upside was the possibility of being a surprise 11-1 team. When a team gets on a roll, good things can happen. The main thing that bodes well is that Ohio, MSU, Iowa, and apparently Nebraska are not as good as last year.
When you factor in a now-mature team of upperclassmen who were pushed around by B1G teams the last three years because of their relative youth, it looks like it could be a magical year.
A few things are bothersome, though. Denard has lost a bit of velocity on his passes. It's not enough to affect him against weaker teams, but it could hurt against a team with a few more athletes than NW. They are calling his arm a "boo-boo," and it's cute, funny, etc, but it looks like he is trying to play over an injury. Also, Denard is throwing off of his back foot a lot.
On offense, the best positive so far is that Borges is the "mad scientist" that he was purported to be, and that most of us probably hoped he was. The days of neanderthal football at Michigan are, thankfully, quaint artifacts of a bygone era. May they rest in peace on a museum shelf.
As for the defense, we just don't know. Shutting NW down in the second half was great. NW has given traditional Michigan defenses fits for about ten years now. I know that "conventional wisdom" dictates that the turnovers won't last forever, but you never know. They just might. They are coming from good technique and mature players; there are no more freshmen trying to cover elite players while still having to think about the playbook.
This team could be undefeated going into the Nebraska game. If they are, they will get a lot of respect from the polls. It could be a very interesting November.
We'll know a lot more after they play Sparty.
October 9th, 2011 at 10:22 AM ^
I thought 8-4 was the most likely outcome and I have no plans on changing that prediction right now. If we beat MSU I would be inclined to bump it to 10-2.
The BIG is a mess this year but we haven't been thoroughly tested yet.
October 9th, 2011 at 10:26 AM ^
is wisco... but i think we'll pull it off. undefeated going into the bowl game, you can put money on that.
October 9th, 2011 at 10:37 AM ^
running the table was a possibility. Now, I'm not that confident. Purdue and Iowa are wins in my book. Iowa can'r score and Purdue can't play defense.
Illinois is beatable because they make so many mistakes. Nebraska has a questionable defense, but they have a tough offense. OSu is all dependant on the QB.
Before last night I thought we were at least even with MSU, but the poor defense and turnovers in the first half are very scary,
This coming Saturday is MSU's championship game and they have an extra week to prepare. For Michigan to win they have to play much better in the first half and limit the ints to one. Denard has to get better through the air if Michigan is going to compete for the B1G championship.
I loved the comeback, it was great, but I don't think MSU will be that generous next week and if MIller is healthy, OSU won't be either. I've gone from 8-4 to 9-3 to 12-0 and I'm back to 9-3, but with Denard anything is possible. I'm sticking with 9-3 unless we beat Sparty next week then the outlook improves.
October 9th, 2011 at 10:41 AM ^
10-2, with losses coming from nebraska, and either state or illinois, and can predict a bowl victory without see our opponent.
October 9th, 2011 at 10:42 AM ^
Why not ....Im sorry but I think we can beat any team we play against....these guys have been playing TOGETHER for 3 straight years with barley anyone leaving...Were tough
October 9th, 2011 at 11:18 AM ^
Really? I predicted 10-2 prior to the season. So nah!
Now it's for real, MSU is the big one. Go Blue!
October 9th, 2011 at 11:23 AM ^
I think if we win our division we could very well end up at the Rose Bowl. Winning the conference championship game would obviously put us there.But losing to an undefeated WI team might put them in the BCs champ game. Big "if's" though, since winning the division won't be easy.
October 9th, 2011 at 11:25 AM ^
is always half-empty. I'll go 9-4 with a close bowl loss. Of course compared to the last few years, my cup overfloweth.
October 9th, 2011 at 11:57 AM ^
Clearly the Team has potential. But winning the remaining games will require better consistency, and some games will have to be played nearly perfectly.
Purdue is not a "gimme" win. It won't require perfection to win, but a sloppy game would be dangerous. But, W.
Beating MSU will require a much better played game. However unimpressive their offense is, we will have to score an impressive number of points to win. And since they have a strong defense, that won't be easy. I think we squeak one out in a close game under crazy pressure. W
I don't know if Illinois is our equal at this point, or not. They are certainly capable of pulling out a win at home, but something about them smells of "haven't really played anyone." I say W.
Iowa? They looked most un-good at PSU. We win even though Kinnick is a tough place to play. W
Nebraska is a team like Michigan; it's developing an identity. The blowout at Wiscy notwithstanding, I think they could easily beat us if they play well and we play poorly, or vice-versa. If we have a twin in the conference, it's NU. But I'm calling it a win on the strength of Denard and Mattison making adjustments. W
OSU - who can say? On paper, we should beat them. But throw in a little chaos and pressure, and who knows? W.
12-0 regular season. Tossup in the Championship game, because such games tend to make teams play over their heads or implode.
October 9th, 2011 at 12:28 PM ^
You realize Illinois beat ASU don't you?
October 9th, 2011 at 12:04 PM ^
I was expecting an 8-4 season and think it's fair to update that to 9-3. That being said, I think we've got the potential for 10-2 or 11-1 but the difference between 8-4 and 11-1 is entirely Denard. If he plays calm, controlled games...we have big potential. If he remains a turnover machine (I believe he is, by far, the B1G leader in turnovers), we'll lose winnable games.
Props to all of the coaches for adapting to the available talent and putting a better team on the field than anyone expected.
October 9th, 2011 at 12:25 PM ^
I think they will win the rest of their games then play Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship game. Seriously, Illinois almost lost last week to Northwestern at home without Persa in the second half for Northwestern. Nebraska almost lost at home to Ohio State yesterday who could BARELY get by Toledo at home, and lost to Miami pretty convincingly, and Miami has had trouble winning all year. Michigan State's offense looked pretty bad against Ohio State giving me reason to believe we will beat them by more than a few touchdowns. Purdue is a lock, and Iowa hasn't shown me anything all year.
Before the season I was thinking/hoping for a 10-2 season, but now seeing how the rest of the league has played along with how our defense has stepped up I think we will go undefeated until The Big Ten Championship game, lose to Wisconsin, then go to a BCS game. Do we win the BCS game? I think it depends on how well we play Wisconsin, and who we face in the BCS game.
October 9th, 2011 at 12:30 PM ^
This is Bullshit!! You guys haven't given me a point the last five times I've said something and it was all pretty good shit. Why? Because in some dumb post about stadium model figures (which is immature in the first place) I suggested a retractable dome be put in at the Big house? That doesn't seem very unrealistic to me with all these improvements Brandon is making. Start scoring my points, or I'm not comming back!!
October 9th, 2011 at 12:50 PM ^
points don't even count. I'm sure no one is still holding a grudge about something you said. Inhale. Exhale.
October 9th, 2011 at 2:40 PM ^
Just a heads up, complaining about points is probably the easiest way to get negged.
October 9th, 2011 at 12:42 PM ^
this team serious trouble with Sheelhause running the option.
We are into the meatier part of our schedule. MSU, Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, OSU are all capable of beating Michigan.
October 9th, 2011 at 1:36 PM ^
8-4 with a bowl win before the season. I'm now revising my prediction to 9-3 with a bowl loss. I think we drop two of our remaining three on the road and one of either Nebraska or Ohio. Either way, I think we end up 9-4.
Of course, I hope we beat everybody to a Minnesota-like pulp and end up 14-0.
October 9th, 2011 at 2:35 PM ^
Check back after next week. Magic 8-Ball cloudy.
October 9th, 2011 at 3:25 PM ^
I was very skeptical about bringing a new coaching staff. Now, I am completely sold that Brady Hoke is the right man for the job.
The ability of Hoke and his staff to teach the players is a thing of beauty.
The overall lack of depth, and the youth of the defense still scares me.
Whether they can win them all, or will suffer a string of defeats, doesn't change the fact Brady Hoke and his staff are great for Michigan football.
Go Blue.
October 9th, 2011 at 4:57 PM ^
it's safe to say that we will probably win more games than everyone thought August 1st. The BiG is just so weak, to say the least. We'll learn a lot about Illinois the next couple weeks, and if we don't turn the ball over, we should be really competitive in East Lansing. Hold on to the ball!
October 9th, 2011 at 7:54 PM ^
I don't know how we will wind up. We could easily win or lose to MSU, ILL, NE, OSU.
But I have already seen what I wanted to see this year . . . improvement from game to game. That was the thing that turned the tide for me on RR, I did not see improvement. We had the same problems in November as we did in September.
This year we are a better team in October than we were in September. We will be an even better team in November.
We will need it, November is the nasty part of our schedule like it was last year. But this year, I feel like we are combat-ready.
October 11th, 2011 at 5:30 PM ^
but given the play of the teams remaining on our schedule, Michigan could go undeated at 12-0...........I think I would be simply stunned if that becomes reality, but all of these other teams have issues of one kind or another and Michigan always seems to have big-time playmakers in Denard and Co...........