Predictions UM/NU Who ya got??
It seems a lot of people are going with a close game but I'm going the other way. I'm going with 38-20 Michigan. Denard has 150 yrds rushing with 2 td's,passes for 170 and 2 td's. Persa doesn't finsh the game after a RVB sack late in the first half.
October 7th, 2011 at 12:09 PM ^
This is Michigan fergodsakes
October 7th, 2011 at 12:14 PM ^
I think it's a game that will either go down to the wire, or should be handily won by Michigan.
i realize that's not very descriptive, but it all depends on Persa. I sort of think northwestern resembles the Michigan team from last year. Bad defense, but an exciting quarterback that can change the entire game if he's playing well.
If Persa finishes the game and plays up to his potential, it could be VERY close. However, if he doesn't play up to his full potential and Michigan does moderately well on offense, it should be a relatively easy win.
October 7th, 2011 at 12:23 PM ^
I agree on Persa being the key factor for the game. However, I have an extreme amount of confidence in our defense. Even if Persa is playing well, I don't think he going to take over this game. What worries me is the whole night/road thing.
IMO, the situation where we'll see this game get concerningly close, is if we have a couple costly turnovers in the second half. I think NW is a good team, and leaving Evanston with a win always seems disproportionately tougher than it should. But we're really humming right now.
I'll go 34-17, good guys.
October 7th, 2011 at 12:14 PM ^
38-10 the good guys!!! Go Blue
October 8th, 2011 at 12:59 AM ^
78-0, on an odd day where gibbons has a career day and hit 15 field goal, and the defence gets 20 safetys, denard gets a rushing TD, and we decide to go for 2. mainly because or 240 lb kicker is slightly winded.
October 7th, 2011 at 12:36 PM ^
NW's defense is nothing special, their QB is gimpy and they just lost their leading RB for the season. And our team has gotten incrementally better on both sides of the ball each week. The game will not be as close as everyone thinks.
Michigan 38
Northwestern 16
October 7th, 2011 at 12:16 PM ^
38-13 UM.
Fitz and Denard both go over 100yds on the ground
Denard passes for 150+ and 1 TD
RR doesnt drop any passes.
Good guys win the TO margin 4-1
October 8th, 2011 at 12:50 AM ^
Rich Rod?, lol just call roy "tree" if your feeling a lil lazy
October 7th, 2011 at 12:16 PM ^
Some people really think NW will win just because they don't think Denard will be able to make any throws and that Persa and the O will be able to run clock and manufacture long drives. The great part is, I have complete faith on our coordinators to exploit NW's weaknesses and cover up ours. 42-17 Michigan
October 7th, 2011 at 12:17 PM ^
There is also a nonzero chance that Michigan fans are able to start the wave in Evanston.
October 7th, 2011 at 12:20 PM ^
But the question is, can they do the Ssowmo wave?
October 7th, 2011 at 12:18 PM ^
34-13
October 7th, 2011 at 12:19 PM ^
Michigan will take advantage of weak NW defense. 45 - 21 Michigan
October 7th, 2011 at 12:19 PM ^
31-21 Michigan Fergodsakes. Closer than most think. This is a classic trap game.
October 7th, 2011 at 12:24 PM ^
Hell, UM is on "Upset Alert" on every other website...Not buying it
October 7th, 2011 at 12:28 PM ^
October 7th, 2011 at 1:54 PM ^
Night game on the road before a big-time rivalry game makes this a trap game. I still think we win, but it will be a lot closer than most think. Coach Hoke can say what ever he wants but these are still student athletes, they always could overlook an opponent.
October 7th, 2011 at 12:20 PM ^
It's just tough to know exactly what Michigan will do!! I've become so numb, and confused over the past 3 years. Through the first 3 games, I was honestly a little disappointed with the offense. I thought "oh god," when we play a real defense, we're in deep sh@t. But man, I was excited watching them last week. So many cool, and new plays. I love Denard as a person, he's great. I am still unsure of his quarterbacking. I really hope he learns, and improves. I know he wants to. I believe Michigan will win, and I believe it could be by a lot. This is a big game really. Bigger than most will give credit for. It will go a long way in building the teams confidence, and could do just the opposite if they lose. Anyways, this has been fun; my first blog post!! Go Blue!!
October 7th, 2011 at 12:22 PM ^
Notre Dame has a real defense, FYI. This is quite evident.
October 7th, 2011 at 2:29 PM ^
Agree that this is a big game - hard to write b/c it is NW, but I have been sick and tired of chasing the 6th win the past couple years - like to get that out of the way before state.
October 7th, 2011 at 12:21 PM ^
-Persa + Ebert end up statistically analogous to Carder + White
-NW can't run the ball worth half a damn
-Denard rushes for 100, FitzSmith for 150
-Smith gets another receiving touchdown
-BWC kills Persa with a trident (I'm invoking Magnus) like he did Shortell, but Persa doesn't get up so fast and M wins big.
October 7th, 2011 at 12:22 PM ^
Michigan by alot.
October 7th, 2011 at 12:23 PM ^
michigan 35 nw 28 michigan builds a big lead but nw slowly chips away but still comes up short.
October 7th, 2011 at 12:23 PM ^
in the library with the lead pipe (31-9, us).
October 7th, 2011 at 12:26 PM ^
It was actually Professor Plum.
34-14 Mich
October 7th, 2011 at 12:47 PM ^
Not Miss Scarlett?
October 7th, 2011 at 1:22 PM ^
Well played, Sir. Well played.
October 7th, 2011 at 12:23 PM ^
Michigan 38 - Northwestern 17
Book it. BkFinest it. Whatever you need to do...
October 7th, 2011 at 12:25 PM ^
Michigan 35-7
October 7th, 2011 at 12:25 PM ^
...in the second half.
35-17 Michigan.
October 7th, 2011 at 1:41 PM ^
Michigan's D may start off sloppy, being the first road game and Persa will throw all over us for maybe a quarter. But what I have confidence in this year over past years...is Greg mattison is a genius at covering up the weaknesses and adjusting gameplans not just at halftime but mid-quarter. He will find a way to get pressure on Persa.
NW will score some points, our O may sputter at times...but I think Michigan will get their shit together by the 2nd half and pull away.
And don't forget...NW doesn't have Trumpy at RB. I think that's a big blow to them, along with a still-not-100% Persa. Their offense may be able to do some things...but I doubt they can sustain it the whole game against M (like opponents did regularly to us last year).
October 7th, 2011 at 12:26 PM ^
And Treyvon Green has 90+ yards rushing, and Michigan's holy St. Turnover will start his ghastly October haunts. But in the end Michigan gets a lead and hangs on for dear life to win it.
Michigan 34, Northworstern 31.
I can't wait to see the sparkly NW purple helmets vs. UM winged helmets in 81 degree Chicago sunshine. WTF man?
In the sun
In the sun I feel as one
In the sun
In the sun
Married, Married, Married!
Buried!
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!
All in all is all we are [x20]
October 7th, 2011 at 12:56 PM ^
Not too much sunshine in a night game, hate to break it to you.
October 7th, 2011 at 3:06 PM ^
Northworstern? Ugh.
October 7th, 2011 at 12:26 PM ^
I think we'll win in a blow out. I predict that Northwestern will be able to drive the ball fairly well but we'll be able to stop them from scoring.
October 7th, 2011 at 12:29 PM ^
Wouldn't you say we have both a better offense and a better defense? Sure Persa is a game changer, but Denard is superior. Our offense is more versatile, and our defense appears to be more stout and more opportunistic. If this game is played 100 times, we probably win 80 of them. Of course, anything can happen tomorrow.
October 7th, 2011 at 12:30 PM ^
on the road. Since we haven't played a road game yet this season, I'm not sure how this team will react. I expect Michigan to start slowly on offense. The defense will have get a feel for what Northwestern is doing and the game will be tight throughout the first half.
In the second half, Mattison's adjustments and Borges' imagination will slowly help the Wolverines pull away and win this one comfortably. There will be moments where I think we will get concerned though.
Roh gets a sack and causes a fumble, Countess plays his best game yet and Roundtree re-emerges as a go-to receiver. Toussaint and Denard end up with a big day, but start slowly.
UM 37-20.
October 7th, 2011 at 12:44 PM ^
It's not REALLY a road game. Playing at NW for us is about a 50/50 crowd.
October 7th, 2011 at 12:57 PM ^
But the team is getting on a plane, different hotel, different locker room, grass field, etc. The unfamiliar is as much a source of home field advantage as is crowd noise.
October 7th, 2011 at 1:43 PM ^
...but Denard and co. have traveled and played in rough road environments last two years. Not with much success, granted...but those are valuable experiences. The best asset to have against going on the road is experience...and Michigan, dare I say, has some of it this year.
October 7th, 2011 at 12:31 PM ^
Michigan 34-23. Write it down. It's going to win me a bobble head from the UM football facebook page :)
October 7th, 2011 at 12:35 PM ^
38-24 Michigan. Too much focus on Dan Persa, and not enough focus on the other 43 players who will be on the field on offense and defense for both teams.
October 7th, 2011 at 12:36 PM ^
With a clean shot, I don't think he needs a trident for anything other than some added theater.
October 7th, 2011 at 12:37 PM ^
I just hope Denard is focused and not worrying about psycho women hacking his twitter account.
October 7th, 2011 at 1:15 PM ^
feeling that nothing really bothers Denard.
October 7th, 2011 at 12:38 PM ^
In the end...it'll be Michigan. Michigan again
October 7th, 2011 at 12:42 PM ^
34-10 we stomp them, and show that Illinois is way overrated.