Likely 3 Two-Loss Teams and a Top 5 Wiscy
Yesterday was Moving Day, as several squads were severely exposed (I'm looking at you ND, MSU and UGA), and at least 3 two loss teams (OSU, Auburn, and USC) will likely grace the new Top 10. Wiscy will be anywhere from #2 to #5, depending on your poll (probably #4 or #5 in CFP rankings).
Love the setup for our last two weekends, with a winnable top 5 game at Camp Randall and The Game featuring OSU likely no lower than #8. With Auburn looking legit - and UGA likely to face its second loss in the SEC Championship game, to either Bama or Auburn, and Clemson and Miami girding for an ACC Championship CFP play-in game, definitely a Chaos Year where a two-win team gets in.
Win the damn games. Go Blue!
November 12th, 2017 at 9:11 AM ^
The real question is, will Michigan actually be ranked now?
November 12th, 2017 at 9:25 AM ^
Is the defense a very good and at times great defense? Yes.
Is the running game very good and at times great? Yes, but we need a healthy Higdon and having a healthy Ty Isaacs. The trio of Evans, Issacs and Higdon is really a great bunch of RBs.
The big weakness is at QB. Brandon Peters has done a good job but he is still the 3rd QB. The disruption at QB is going to make it very hard to run and keep the defense off the field.
Also forgotten in all of the discussion about the QB is development. Remember Jake Rudock? He got much better at the end of the season. Had we had him one more year, the team would have won even more. Speight going down lost the opportunity to learn and develop further. He has the physical size and skills to throw deep and accurately. He needed this season to work on improving his reading of defenses and in-game decision making. We lost that.
With just two games left, we will be competitive. From what we've seen from Iowa, it is possible to play one great game based on emotion. I just hope Peters continues to improve.
November 12th, 2017 at 9:34 AM ^
He is head and shoulders better than Speight and O'Korn and how the staff couldn't see it is beyond me. We would have beaten MSU with Peters at QB and be in position to take the division with wins against Wisconsin and OSU. Peters would be a stud by this point of the season instead of being inexperienced.
November 12th, 2017 at 10:40 AM ^
he really isn't
November 12th, 2017 at 10:47 AM ^
How can you be that encouraged of Peters. The only good thing he has done is not turn the ball over. But do really seeing him be the key driver to a win this season? I don't.
November 12th, 2017 at 11:15 AM ^
As OKorn (and Speight) demonstrated this year, "not turning the ball over" is still a hurdle to clear. We'll see if it continues, but UM will have a fighting chance the next two weeks if Peters does t turn it over.
November 12th, 2017 at 11:02 AM ^
Yes, but we need a healthy Higdon and having a healthy Ty Isaacs. The trio of Evans, Issacs and Higdon is really a great bunch of RBs.
This is like the new "Ruddock".
FYI, it's Ty Isaac.
November 12th, 2017 at 12:10 PM ^
because I think we only have one.
November 12th, 2017 at 5:49 PM ^
At least 3 if we want to beat Wisconsin and OSU.
November 12th, 2017 at 12:13 PM ^
He is better than Okorn. Maybe not as good as peak Speight last year and maybe his play thus far isn't enough to feel safe going into last two games, but he's played as well as anyone else this year... Florida, Cincy, Air Force, Purdue all under .500 and speight wasn't perfect in those games either
With this line, current state of WRs, not sure any of the QBs are sure things against top competition to turn in great performances, but I wouldn't say they are drastically diminished starting Peters
November 12th, 2017 at 12:15 PM ^
I'm not as quick to put everything on Peters. Sure he missed a few throws the past few weeks, but it's not like he has the best recieving core either.
November 12th, 2017 at 1:03 PM ^
Agree. Between the spotty pass protection and our young receiving CORPS (and the loss of Tarik Black), Peters deserves a little slack.
November 12th, 2017 at 12:33 PM ^
Speight was on the field warming up with the rest of the team in the pregame drills. Maybe he really is ready to come back and hit the field next week.
November 12th, 2017 at 9:12 AM ^
We aren’t going to be that two loss team without a big ten championship. Even with one we probably wouldn’t be in. Winning out would be wonderful and than we can just hope for ny6 bowl and laughing at pissed off msu and psu fans that we got picked over them.
November 12th, 2017 at 10:43 AM ^
Wisconsin and Ohio, they would play in the B1G Championship. We would go to the NY6 over the loser.
November 12th, 2017 at 9:13 AM ^
These next 3 games will really set the stage for recruiting and the 2018 narrative. Win out and we’d probably be preseason top 5 at least
November 12th, 2017 at 9:16 AM ^
Win out, and Michigan is a well ranked NY6 success story the national media will fawn over. Harbaugh might even get some credit for the improvements since the MSU game...
November 12th, 2017 at 9:22 AM ^
If Michigan wins out then I expect Harbaugh to garner some mention for national coach of the year. No team returned less starters and that would mean wins over two top 10 teams. That would be quite impressive. Let’s hope the injuries from yesterday’s game turn out to be minor and have everyone available for the stretch run.
November 12th, 2017 at 9:27 AM ^
Not to be a downer but that would be undeserving. Msu returned less, beat us on the road on would potentially have two wins ranked in the to 15 and that’s just big ten coach of the year harbaugh wouldn’t win, Gary patterson or Mark Richt is probably national coach of the year.
Two top 10 wins is nice but it would also be the only two wins we have over teams with winning records. Our schedule is ass.
November 12th, 2017 at 9:36 AM ^
but MSU beat M when M couldn't run or pass the ball. MSU has lost to NW and got CRUSED by OSU since. M is ascending and MSU is, well, decending. Now if M wins out (which is NOT likely, as much as I wish it was), then the BEST coaching job in B1G this year is Harbaugh. Up until Northwestern, I thought Dantonio was coach of year. If Wisconsin gets to B1G championship without a loss, I would give it to Cryst.
November 12th, 2017 at 9:54 AM ^
Until yesterday, Dantonio was a lock for BIG coach of the year and possibly national coach of the year, but the way they lost that game changes things. Honestly, that was one of the least competitive Power 5 games recent memory. That game took away a lot of what State has achieved this season. A complete dismantling with all eyes on them. That game was stunning to watch.
November 12th, 2017 at 10:49 AM ^
If Dantonyoh wins coach if the year he has to buy bad weather a new car or or something. At least a nod in the acceptance speech.
November 12th, 2017 at 5:52 PM ^
Because he obviously built his team to play well only in bad weather. That's why he has QB from Phoenix.
November 12th, 2017 at 8:11 PM ^
Yep... Sparty is a mudder.
November 12th, 2017 at 9:44 AM ^
I totally agree. I didn’t say he should win, just that he should be in the conversation.
November 12th, 2017 at 9:47 AM ^
There is one major difference between MSU and UM. MSU has a solid QB and UM has a RS freshman with starting QB and WR out. Winning out will be a heck of a job.
November 12th, 2017 at 11:38 AM ^
Lewerke is overrated as hell. Solid QBs aren’t all over the board like he is. He threw for 400 yards against PSU. Then yesterday, midway through the 4th, he was 11/31 for 80 yards and two interceptions. He was straight trash. Overthrows, not getting the ball out on time or to the correct receiver. Lewerke is ok and I’m definitely not convinced he’s better than Peters right now
November 12th, 2017 at 12:27 PM ^
I think OSU's defensive front had something to do with lewerke looking like ass
November 12th, 2017 at 1:11 PM ^
Michigan literally returned the least amount of starters in the country. Msu was not far behind but msu did not return less.
November 12th, 2017 at 9:17 AM ^
We can’t get in now. Alabama, the winner of the Clemson-Miami game, and Oklahoma are basically locks at this point. Even if we win out, the 4th team will either be Georgia, B1G champ, or Auburn if they beat Alabama.i would be surprised if we were ranked in the top 10 at the end of the season.
November 12th, 2017 at 11:12 AM ^
With most teams having 3 games left there aren't any locks.
November 12th, 2017 at 9:21 AM ^
I'm sorry, ultimate downer here, but we are not good enough on offense to win out, and we won't. A split would be good.
November 12th, 2017 at 9:23 AM ^
A split isnt even possible. Were not good enought offensively or defensively
November 12th, 2017 at 9:27 AM ^
In fact, they’ll probably lose three in the next two games ):
November 12th, 2017 at 9:29 AM ^
Fuck off mgoblog
November 12th, 2017 at 9:28 AM ^
Lol. #2 defense is not good enough?
November 12th, 2017 at 10:26 AM ^
Lol u really believe this is the second best defense? A fourth string walk on was having his way for 2 n a half quarters
November 12th, 2017 at 10:30 AM ^
How can you call urself a fan? We won 35-10 and you think Maryland was having their way with us?
November 12th, 2017 at 9:44 AM ^
to beat Wisconsin. I think the D can keep W to 17 or less points. The question is can M offense move ball against a very good Wiscy D? This will likely be a 24 17 type game. OSU on the other hand is looking very bleak as much as I HATE to say it. Peters looks promising, but he looks like a talented red shirt freshman. I am secretely hoping the Speight (yes I said it) is healthy for OSU. If Speight had the O line playing like Peters has had, I suspect he would have looked much better early in year. Unfortunately, (I hope I am wrong) but the OSU defense may overwhelm Peters.
November 12th, 2017 at 10:16 AM ^
Given the way Speight played before he got hurt not sure why you'd think he gives us a better chance than Peters against OSU.
OL still isn't good at pass pro, so I don't think Speight would have looked much better at this point.
November 12th, 2017 at 10:32 AM ^
Speight is more expirienced in high pressure situations. Peters has got to play vs cupcakes so far.
November 12th, 2017 at 10:53 AM ^
What Speight brings to the table is that he likely has a greater command of the playbook than Peters and the coaches probably would trust him to run more of the passing offense. Also, he's played in pressure situations before.
If he is recovered, I'd have to consider playing him. Of course, it'd depend on whether he can shake off the rust.
November 12th, 2017 at 10:37 AM ^
We aren't good enough defensively - lol - want to expand your thoughts here, just for laughs?
November 12th, 2017 at 10:54 AM ^
good Ds don't give up any points or yards...ever.
November 12th, 2017 at 10:30 AM ^
but thinking ahead about playoff scenarios when you're going into those two games as a clear underdog seems pretty much like fantasist thinking.
November 12th, 2017 at 9:48 AM ^
if we lose the next two, but--OTOH--our D should keep us in it against a Wisconsin team that can't throw and OSU is at home; we will have our chances. (Watch Parking God's highlights to feel better about everything.) I intend to be entertained and feel pretty good about the team's prospects even if we lose both.
And with a few weeks to prepare, people healthied up, we should be formidable in our bowl game.
November 12th, 2017 at 11:37 AM ^
Has “we’re home” last mattered in the least against Ohio State?! Not since the ‘90s when the Cooper led Buckeyes shit their pants at the sight of Michigan Stadium. Goodness we barely beat the worst Ohio State team in years in 2011. At home.
November 12th, 2017 at 2:44 PM ^
that it always matters. Among BCS teams the home team won 67% of games between 2000-2011. How we play next week will certainly help determine whether OSU comes in with some trepidation, but don't think for a minute that Michigan's players be more charged up playing at home.
November 12th, 2017 at 5:42 PM ^
About Ohio State playing at Michigan. They’ve owned us at home. Home field has made zero difference for years. Hell, I’ve been there when it seemed like it was all Ohio State fans, doing their O-H-I-O around the stadium.
November 12th, 2017 at 8:18 PM ^
Context matters. Who was coaching Michigan in the last 10 years? How good were those teams? What were the expectations for those teams in late November?
Context matters...