michgoblue

August 27th, 2018 at 12:19 PM ^

I hear what you are saying, but 10-2 with this schedule would be anything but aweful. That means wins against ND, PSU and Sparty and not stubbing our toes in any other games. Is it elite?  No, but a 3rd 10 win season in 4 can't be considered aweful when we have the hardest schedule in CFB. 

ChiCityWolverine

August 27th, 2018 at 12:45 PM ^

Sign me up for 2-1 against the rivals (in a year all three are on the road) and 10 wins any day. We've had 10 regular season wins in just two of our last 11 seasons. It'd mean a NY6 bowl appearance, and still a ton would come back next year. (Yeah, yeah, maybe 3-4 NFL early entries but only lose 4ish impact senior starters)

ijohnb

August 27th, 2018 at 12:54 PM ^

Too many people listening to local talk radio that has convinced everybody that this year is Playoff or "hot seat" for Harbaugh. 

Those exact same people said he would win 6 or 7 games his first two years at Michigan and would need "at least four years" to really get the program turned around.

10-2 with wins over MSU and ND would be a good season.  It would not silence all critics, nor get us to the BIG title game but I wouldn't be all mad about it.  We have the most difficult schedule in the country.

JFW

August 27th, 2018 at 3:36 PM ^

I'm convinced nothing will ever silence the critics. If we win a national title this year, go 10-2 the year after, and go 8-4 in two years there will be talk of Harbaugh 'losing his touch' or being 'on a hot seat'. 

We have a whiny fan base, and one that, rather than looking at objective reality, tends to listen to their Spartan/Buckeye buddies too much. 

We need to chill and enjoy the ride. We have a good football team, and so far as we know at least a good coach who is clean. 

TheRonimal

August 27th, 2018 at 3:26 PM ^

Exactly. I don't know why people set themselves up for disappointment thinking the team will all of a sudden be a guaranteed playoff contender. Is it possible? Sure, but that should never be your expectation, especially with this schedule. I'm already dreading the inevitable posts about the sky falling and harbaughs hot seat. Hopefully they can beat ND and avoid that for a while at least. I'm just ready to enjoy some football. 

jwfsouthpaw

August 27th, 2018 at 12:21 PM ^

I get that another OSU loss would *very kindly* be described as disappointing, but a 10-win regular season with a schedule featuring 5 preseason top-12 teams is not "awful."  Especially considering that the scenario above would mean wins against MSU and ND (2-1 against rivals).

mp2

August 27th, 2018 at 12:50 PM ^

A concern is playing them one week after a big wisconsin team. How much will wisconsin take out of the team?

I think the more likely loss is wisconsin though. If their offensive line is as good as the media makes it sound, then I could see a game similar to last year where they get rolling in the second half. Just need UM to roll in the second half as well.

mGrowOld

August 27th, 2018 at 12:25 PM ^

Wow - "an awful season".

Well FWIW she's one game more optimistic than I am.  I have us at 9-3 with a loss to either ND or MSU, Wisconsin or PSU and Ohio State.

enlightenedbum

August 27th, 2018 at 12:26 PM ^

I've got Wisconsin in the playoff and expecting to win any game in Columbus is kind of ridiculous.  Even when we're great and they suck I would only be like 75% confident.

CJW3

August 27th, 2018 at 12:27 PM ^

Lol how is that an awful season? Ten wins and a NY6 bid? We have the hardest schedule in the country and play all our major rivals on the road. That record would include wins over ND, MSU, and Penn State and losses to the likely division winners. Are you saying anything less than a natty is a disappointment? 

outsidethebox

August 27th, 2018 at 12:30 PM ^

It is mind-numbing that Michigan gets Nick and Angelique as their beat writers. The "wall" is not blue!!! Otherwise, simply incredible!

In a "perfect" 2 loss season they loose to ND and at home against Wisconsin...which means they win the east and likely the NC. 

JP1987

August 27th, 2018 at 2:21 PM ^

Because Mettellus couldn't turn his head around for an easy interception and Peters got knocked out of game, destroying any chance we had. 

I am not sure how great the Wisconsin Defense will be this year against our improved Offense with Patterson who can force teams to play more honest and not load the box.

 

tspoon

August 27th, 2018 at 10:38 PM ^

But isn't that QB losing his go-to TE and his best WR (with second-best suspended the first two games)?

They aren't deep with talented pass catchers there. I think our secondary can run in their hip pockets, unless they pull a high end replacement for Fumagalli out of their rears. (They do that with OLs, not so much the WRs/TEs.)

 

Perkis-Size Me

August 27th, 2018 at 2:09 PM ^

Going to be very tough to do anything on their defense. That's going to be a game where Shea is going to have to make some plays of his own to win the game. But I do agree about Wisconsin's offense, especially now that their WR corps have been thinned out. 

Shut down Jonathan Taylor and you shut down basically their entire offense. That could easily be another defensive slugfest that ends with a final of something like 17-14. 

lhglrkwg

August 27th, 2018 at 12:35 PM ^

Wisconsin's one of the teams I feel better about beating (of all of our top 10 opponents). Teams that don't pass well never do well vs. Don Brown and this year it's in Ann Arbor and our offense should be better.

I worry more about PSU and MSU

DonutHoles

August 27th, 2018 at 12:35 PM ^

I don't know if my ticker can handle another loss to the bad guys down south hehe.  And for the sake of my marriage with Mrs. DonutHoles let's hope Angelique is wrong! hehe

Vasav

August 27th, 2018 at 12:36 PM ^

I'd trade down to 8 wins if it meant we got to beat OSU. But if I had some faustian option of picking either beating Ohio or winning the Big Ten, or even just the Big Ten East, it's a coin flip for me. 10-2 would be great but yea I'd rather beat Ohio than have another also ran 10 win season.

Beat Notre Dame.