Preseason Hot Takes/Predictions/Questions

Submitted by Mr. Yost on

Football is here! Kickoff is one week away.

That being said, let's talk football! What are some of your hot takes, predictions, and/or questions going into the year?

Image result for 2017 michigan football schedule

Rabbit21

August 26th, 2017 at 2:31 PM ^

They puked all over their shoes against Iowa last year when they had a ton to play for. Why are we talking recently, let's talk over time, this is a problem with the program when is the last big road win this team had that meant anything? It's a bad road team and always has been and it's something this team has to learn to get over.

Mr. Yost

August 26th, 2017 at 10:54 PM ^

They didn't have a ton to play for @MSU?

You're all over the map.

MSU was a RIVALRY game against a team we'd had recent struggles with. We were undefeated and had to win to stay in the playoff mix.

So that doesn't count...but Iowa does?

The only game you can say is last year against OSU and we lost by 3 in 2 OTs against a playoff team. You can't be serious. And if you are...fine, we're 0-1. That's not horrific - you need more data.

Rabbit21

August 27th, 2017 at 12:18 AM ^

You may or may not have noticed MSU was REALLY bad last year and the game was in the state with a bunch of Michigan fans hanging out in East Landfills stadium, so no I am not willing to give that point. Iowa was their first real road challenge and they got their butts kicked and then couldn't manage to close it out against OSU, so that's 0-2, Previous year Utah game wasn't great and winning the Minnesota game was pure luck, I'm not even going to go into the road bullshit of the Hole era that a bunch of the team was there for. This has been a bad team on the road for a long time, I don't see what's so outrageous about having some reasonable pessimism that that teen is going to continue. Hopefully it gets better in 2018, but this is a young team with weaknesses that can get exploited and that's not a great recipe for getting this large of a monkey off their backs.

TC Wolverine

August 26th, 2017 at 2:12 PM ^

Lack of playing experience trumps Brown and stars and the defense (particularly front seven) is hugely disappointing.   Brian and Ace arguing about top 5 vs. top 10 D appears incredibly optimistic as defense rates 30th or so.   Offense,  in contrast,  is relatively underrated and leads team to 9-3 with losses to PSU and OSU.

Mr. Yost

August 26th, 2017 at 2:25 PM ^

Yuck, that is not a team I want to play late in the year. If we're not in the playoff, give me a team like Auburn or Georgia with guys looking ahead to the NFL.

They're a lot like Michigan 2 years ago. They return a bunch and are going to play guys who had plenty of experience even if they weren't a starter. FSU is going to be ROLLING late in the season, IMO.

If it's a rematch, I could honestly see it in the National Championship game NEXT season. I think they'll go undefeated to the playoff next year. They're going to be humming by bowl season and 2018 FSU is going to be scary good if they stay healthy. That Clemson/FSU game in Doak is one I've already got circled on my list because Clemson will be returning a bunch from this season as well.

austinnitsua

August 26th, 2017 at 2:16 PM ^

Mike Dantania and Brian Kelly will both be on Urban's staff next year after both have losing seasons yet again.

 

Brian Kelly goes 5 and 7 and blames the season on having too much money from fund raising and the team and coaches being spoiled

 

Mark Dantania when asked about if his job is in jeapardy after going 4 and 8 says, "Where's the threat?"

 

Michigan goes 12 - 0 and into the playoffs

Elno Lewis

August 26th, 2017 at 2:17 PM ^

....that i will be surfing the day before the Mich/Flo game and I will catch a magnificent tube and all the bikini clad babes on the beach will give me a standing ovation.

 

And then Mich will spank dem gators!

Charlie Bauman

August 26th, 2017 at 2:19 PM ^

Wins Big Ten, but misses Playoff, thereby getting Bama (but in the NY6 Cotton Bowl) in their bowl game that the Tide fails to get up for. Final outcome of the season: 12-2 record, beating all final four opponents who were ranked by double digits

SagNasty

August 26th, 2017 at 2:28 PM ^

Michigan goes 12-0. Beats Nebraska in the B1G championship game. Beats Alabama in the playoff and beats USC in the championship game.
Higdon is the feature back and gets the majority of the carries.

Wolverine91

August 26th, 2017 at 3:10 PM ^

I want maize pants!!! Also, i find it funny that all the talking heads last year said that 2017 would be the year for Michigan and that in 2016 it's just too early for Harbaugh to work his magic. And so this year rolls around and now we're too young and inexperienced. Some great analysis by these idiots. I mean what, did they not realize how many seniors we had last year?? Anyways, F them all. We are going to be very very good this year. I think CB situation is fine and more smokescreen than anything else. Oline is what concerns me the most, but will be better than last year. 11-1 lose to Wisconsin and then beat Northwestern in the BIG title game. CFP vs Alabama. Sadly we lose to them but upwards baby!!!

WolverineinDallas

August 26th, 2017 at 3:18 PM ^

The Florida game is the biggest game of the year. If we win that game, we'll go 10-2, and I will be very happy with that. It would represent three straight 10 win seasons heading into a legit national championship run in 2018. If we lose to Florida, we will go 9-3 or even 8-4. I think we will beat Florida, but it will probably be a close game. The key to this season is staying healthy at a few key positions: OT, CB, S. David Long and L. Hill need to stay on the field throughout the year; I don't trust Watson all that much, and the others are way too green at this point. Losing Washington was a big shot to depth. The same thing can be said for our starting safety's, as well as Mason Cole and whoever is starting at right tackle. These guys need to stay healthy. I am looking for Ty Isaac to have a breakout year; he has that size-speed combo that we are lacking right now. I am not as high on Higdon as some others on this board due to his size deficiency; he's just a really tiny dude and doesn't break enough tackles. He can hit the home run if you give him a crease, but I don't see him as an every down back. I am looking forward to see if Evans can take the next step. I think he's a special talent. I think the run game will take a step forward this year and be more effective than in years past. Hopefully we will finally be able to run decently against good teams. On the other hand, our pass protection could take a step back this year. I would take that trade off though, and hopefully Pep's quick passing game can mitigate some of the pass protection issues.

Alumnus93

August 26th, 2017 at 3:51 PM ^

Am scrambling to find where I can bet onichigan undefeated. I saw bleachereport said 2000 to 1. I know that's high but nonetheless if I can get better than 300 to 1 then I'd drop 20Kand not blink, and hedge a few games along the way. Problem is I cannot find this property anywhere. Somebody please help. Thx

Hotel Putingrad

August 26th, 2017 at 4:13 PM ^

He does not relinquish the job, beats OSU on a clutch end-of-game 2-minute drive, throws 4 td passes in a demolition of Nebraska in the B1G championship game and leads M to the playoff, where sadly they lose to USC in the semis by a field goal I also predict South Florida makes the playoff, and Darnold wins the Heisman. Lee Corso retires in October.

Wolfman

August 26th, 2017 at 5:59 PM ^

This group of players has been around Harbaugh - the majority of them- for three years and this familiarity, from expectations to implementation transformation from questioning as a freshman to confident in winning three years later pays tremendous dividends and in Harbaugh's approach to football, the greater the familiarity between coach and player the greater the performance on the field. The OL could actually not be a better example of Harbaugh being Harbaugh. You have two members penciled in, one a senior, the other a sophomore with their common bond, both starting since the day they stepped on campus. The players are aware the only thing holding them back is perfomance, not the grade beside their name. This is a great motivational tool, as is all that give much more than lip service. 

Zarniwoop

August 26th, 2017 at 7:36 PM ^

1. We will go 10-3 again this year, but the young kids will show rapid improvement.

2. 2018 is the year we begin making the playoffs a common event.

SMart WolveFan

August 26th, 2017 at 7:46 PM ^

FSU beats Bama -> everyone in SEC ends up with at least two losses

USC hype a year early + sleeping on Washington = Wash is my playoff sleeper

Somebody finally makes it through the B12 undefeated.

And of course, this is Mich's year to beat OSU.

BrownJuggernaut

August 26th, 2017 at 8:21 PM ^

The realist in me: Michigan goes 10-2, with a New Year's bowl game. We will not lose to PSU, but we will lose to Ohio State. I need to see us play this year to have me change that view. I'm not sure where the second loss comes, but we will beat Sparty. I don't see us losing to Florida either.

Michigan State meanwhile loses to Rutgers.

Ohio State does not go undefeated in the regular season. Who knows if that's good enough to get into the championship game or the playoff?

Penn State goes 8-4 with losses to Iowa, Michigan, Ohio State, and Maryland.

Wisconsin goes 11-1 or 12-0 into the Big Ten Championship game.

Notre Dame goes 6-6, lncluding a loss against BC or WF.

Miami goes 11-1, but lose to FSU both during the regular season and in the ACC championship game.

Alabama goes undefeated during the regular season and wins the SEC. No surprises here. They lose in the first round of the playoff though. Florida's only two losses will be out of conference and take the L against Bama in the SEC championship game. Tennessee loses to Georgia Tech, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and one of Kentucky or Mizzou. Butch Jones is fired. 

Washington wins the Pac 12 North with one loss. USC likewise enters the Pac 12 championship game with one loss, at Pullman. Epic championship game ensues. 

Texas starts the season  2-2 before finishing the seeason 8-4, including a win over Oklahoma. TCU wins the Big XII. Oklahoma goes 8-4 as well without Stoops. 

Playoff: Alabama vs TCU, USC vs OSU, Final USC vs Alabama

I hope Michigan wins it all and Speight wins the Heisman.

Lou MacAdoo

August 26th, 2017 at 8:55 PM ^

OSU beats Michigan again for what seems like the hundredth time in a row. I throw the controller through my tv and scream a stream of expletives that the devil would be proud of. My wife comes out and tells me it's just a game for what seems like the hundredth time. This only pisses me off more, so I grab the axe and start chopping down the tree in my back yard. It falls on the neighbors house, the cops are called, I'm arrested, see the light and turn to God, quit caring about Michigan football, and then they win ten years in a row.

Apureidiot

August 27th, 2017 at 4:37 AM ^

Two cases:

If Michigan beats the sh*t out of Florida: 12-1, B1G winner and a playoff berth. We get an ass-kicking in the playoffs, but we score points (unlike OSU this year).

If Michigan wins close or loses to Florida (hopefully not the reverse of the aforementioned case): anywhere from 8-5 or 10-3.

BTW, I hope this doesn't get a lot of flak.

Judging from Mr. Yost's insider info, I think the first case is more than likely. The secondary is supremely talented, but they seriously need to be better. Also, slight qualm that will probably result in nothing: although the WRs are generational talents, they don't seem to have the weight yet to get physical enough to play in Harbaugh's offense.

If you guys could please give me some upvotes...

 

 

UPWanderer

August 27th, 2017 at 11:44 AM ^

Hot take: Zach Gentry emerges as key player for UM. The flimsy evidence for this is the recruitment of Schoonmaker and a profile on Gentry at mgoblue.com. The only negative takeaway from the little bit we've seen of him on the field at UM is that he doesn't quite pass the eye test in terms of thickness. But that's something that's easily enough addressed. I think that he has stayed so in the thick of things at TE while a bit underdeveloped for the position physically is a good sign for his future.