Michigan vs Utah: 3:30pm/ABC

Submitted by Wolverine Devotee on

As expected, Michigan's first 3:30pm/ABC game of the year.

utah is off this week after blowing out two awful teams. 

alum96

September 8th, 2014 at 11:59 AM ^

Without being cliche could really make or break the season.  Not that I have high hopes for the season but losing to both OOC opponents with any heartbeat would tell us all we need to know. If we dont already know it.

LSAClassOf2000

September 8th, 2014 at 12:20 PM ^

Going 2-2 out of the gate with the two tougher OOC matchups being the losses would likely not bode well for the conference part of the season - with that, I think I would agree. Actually, right now, Massey has our game with Utah as essentially a good each-way bet, if you will - 50% projection for Michigan with a projected 31-30 score. Again, it's a model that is still relying some on past data, so hopefully, the game is a little more decisive (in our favor, of course), in reality. I think most of us would feel much better comparatively about 3-1 heading into conference play. 

MayOhioEatTurds

September 8th, 2014 at 2:24 PM ^

I was worried about the Utah game before the season started.  Looked like a trap game to me.

After the ND fiasco, I'm even more worried.  Not because it might be a "trap" game, but because it could very well be another straight-up bludgeoning. 

Starting this summer, I took a teaching position at the University of Utah.  The U of Utah studentbody is jubilant at the prospect of playing Michigan again.  According to inside sources I trust, so is the football team.  They remember the last game they had at the Big House, and they can't wait to get back. 

I attended the U of Utah's opening game with Idaho State.  All Idaho State caveats apply, but I must say I was impressed with the quality of athletes Utah presented.  Utah's quarterback (Travis Wilson) was out with cranial artery damage after a concussion last year.  But he's back, and wow does he run hard.  He's quite tall, so the leg turnover appears slower, but he covers so much ground so quickly.  He's very decisive when he decides to run.  And whatever happened with that cranial artery damage, he's over any fear he may have had running the ball:  He was diving for chancy touchdowns like he'd never been hurt. 

Travis Wilson also throws the ball with good accuracy, and has some servicable receivers.  They have a pair of runningbacks that run rather differently (one fast, one hard), both of whom looked good.

To my eye, Utah's defense wasn't as impressive.  But after watching our offense at ND, I'm not sure Utah needs an elite defense to win handily.  I hope I'm wrong, but after watching Utah play in person I'm concerned.  

 

 

Darker Blue

September 8th, 2014 at 12:03 PM ^

I'm very nervous about this game. 

I was one of the guys, who on Saturday night was convinced that it was time to fire Hoke. I'd like to apologize to the board. The second week of the season is a bit too early to write anybody off. If Hoke wins the next 11, everyone here will jump for joy. Maybe just maybe he can turn it around. I'm going to resume believing. 

ijohnb

September 8th, 2014 at 12:14 PM ^

purely "emotional" reasons why Saturday night felt as bad as it did that are not all related to football or to coaching.  It being the last ND game made it particulary difficult to swallow, because we have owned them for the last decade but that game will stand out in everybody's mind when the think of the rivalry, and we won't have a change to correct it.  In actuality, we have taken worse ass kickings then that and righted the ship.  It was just a tough pill to swallow after dominating ND for the most part since 2006.

User -not THAT user

September 8th, 2014 at 12:11 PM ^

Hell, I'm nervous about the NEXT game.  I'm reasonably sure we will beat Miami (not THAT Miami), but I'm thinking the Red Hawks or whatever they are will cover.  In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if it ends as a one-score game.

And for what it's worth, calling for your head coach to be fired after an early season blowout loss to a rival is reactionary.  Calling for him to be fired after an early season blowout loss to a rival following three years of diminishing returns is quite understandable.

DonAZ

September 8th, 2014 at 11:32 PM ^

They probably will blow them out.  40+ point differential.

What I'm going to be interested in is how they do it.  If I'm to believe Michigan learned something from the ND game, then Michigan should slice Miami apart in a methodical, machine-like way -- no turnovers, no dumb mistakes, close down Miami's offense pretty much in total, show good push and good technique on both the O-line and D-line, etc.  The score differential is not the story ... how the score differential was achieved is the story.

However, if what we see if a 35-21 slop-fest ... then I'm sorry ... like last year when I argued the Akron close-victory was a bad sign of things to come, this year I argue that Michigan's victories need to be clean, precise and with a margin of victory in proportion to the opponent's skill.  Bad teams should be taken apart like a cheap suit; good teams beaten in good, well-fought contests; and the better teams fought hard even in loss.

aiglick

September 9th, 2014 at 12:15 AM ^

I'd like to see some good coaching a good game plan. May as well practice for when Utah plays us in two weeks after a bye week.

I'm nervous about pretty much every game from now on until we show something different against an opponent with a pulse. We play these next two games well then I'll get out of the caution lane.

Bossman23

September 8th, 2014 at 4:12 PM ^

Cmon Hoke we really need to go on a nice winning streak and calm shit down. I hated your hiring since day 1 but please just suprise me, and not in a bad way ending a 30 year old streak was bad enough.

Tater

September 8th, 2014 at 5:58 PM ^

This could be a "trap game" for Utah.  Look at it from their point of view.  They are playing a 1-1 team from what is now perceived as an "inferior conference."  They scored 56 and 59 points against two tomato cans.  They play UCLA the next week.  Also, the bye week can be a double-edged sword.  

I think the "intangibles" are going to be even here.  It is going to come down to whether Michigan can out-personnel Utah.  This game looks really close to me.