Preseason Michigan Ranking from Athlon, Lindy's, and Steet&Smith's

Submitted by SkyPanther on

Preseaon ranking from 3 well known sources:

 

Athlon: Michigan at #5

 

 

Lindy's: Michigan at #18

 

 

Street&Smith: Michigan at #9

 

It looks like all of them think Michigan is going to lose to Ohio St. But a lot of this rests on whether Shea Patterson has an average or great year. If early on, it looks like Shea Patterson is better than sliced bread for Michigan, all these predictions get thrown out the window, and it's on for a real shot at the Final 4.

 

But let's wait and see. It starts with beating Notre Dame!

 

HatTip to Sean Keeler of Land of 10--Michigan for the article: https://www.landof10.com/michigan/michigan-football-2018-preseason-magazines-predictions

Casanova

May 30th, 2018 at 9:04 PM ^

I think shea will be good, border line great.

We just have to keep him healthy for 13 weeks until OSU.

Either way I’m bullish on Peters, I think he is going to surprise people if he gets another shot of action.

maize-blue

May 30th, 2018 at 9:15 PM ^

I saw a Lindys (I think) report of the top 20 incoming football freshman. UM had one player on that list, #20. OSU had 13 players on that list and the rest were Penn State. Woof.

2018 needs to be a good year.

Chaco

May 30th, 2018 at 11:05 PM ^

too hard to find more than that:

1. Alabama (finished #1)

2. OSU (finished #5)

3. FSU (finished out of top 25)

4. Washington (finished #16)

5. USC (finished #12)

6. PSU (finished #8)

7. Clemson (finished #4)

8. Oklahoma (finished #3)

9. Auburn (finished #10)

10. Michigan (sigh)

other AP top 10's that weren't in preseason top 10: UGA (#2), UCF (#6), Wisconsin (#7), TCU (#9)

so 6 of the 10 they predicted in top 10 finished in top 10

mgoblue98

May 30th, 2018 at 10:12 PM ^

wife grabbed Athlon at the airport earlier this week. I laughed at Michigan at #5 given that they acknowledge that the OL is questionable.

Qmatic

May 30th, 2018 at 11:56 PM ^

Left Tackle. Mark my words that is all we need to be the best team in the B1G. It’s a huge what-if I know. Runyan will be fine at RT, and the interior guys will be maulers in the run game like last year and improved in pass blocking. We have the best QB we’ve had in some time. Higdon and Evans are the best duo at RB since, I don’t know Hart and Minor in 06? All accounts point to DPJ Black and Perry being super solid in the receiving category. McKeon, Gentry, and Eubanks give us 3 more huge receiving threats.

Now the defense, dear god. Gary and Winovich will be unblockable. Solomon and Dwumfour will clog the middle. Bush has potential to be an All American and I trust Don Brown whoever he puts alongside him. Hudson will be better at Viper in 18 than Peppers was in 16. Long and Hill are future 1st rounders at corner; don’t forget Ambry and Watson too. Our safeties might be boring but they are effective. We have a weapon at Kicker. Punter is still an issue, but our return game is set. We will be great this year. We will go to South Bend and give Grimace a Hamburger. After that, watch.

Let them know Michigan will step to anyone; Franklin, Dantonio, Meyer whoever. Our name is our name!

MGlobules

May 30th, 2018 at 11:36 PM ^

the truth is that we're in the toughest division in college football and can be very, very good and still not beat OSU, PSU, or even Wisconsin. Can have the best coaches or perfectly great coaches and not beat them. And slide further in the player sweepstakes. 

Michigan has a very, very tough road--not to being a good team--but to succeeding on the terms fans have set up for it.

M97

May 31st, 2018 at 5:25 AM ^

People focus on left tackle and that is an issue. They also underestimate the effect that Ruiz and Warinner will have. Blitz pickups and organization were the lines biggest weakness last season. This will be much improved and so will the line. Michigan will have a great year.

BTB grad

May 31st, 2018 at 7:25 AM ^

Since I've been a Michigan fan (2005 season), we've never beat OSU and MSU in the same year. What I'd give for that to happen this season...

Craptain Crunch

May 31st, 2018 at 7:54 AM ^

Michigan knew how to take care of business then. I'm hopeful that things will turn around this year for the good ol' Wolverines. 

A big if, but IF Michigan can take care of business with the schedule they have, an undefeated season would really be one for the history books. 

fh maven

May 31st, 2018 at 12:33 PM ^

In 1964 I saw UM beat both as away games - they also won the B10 and Rose Bowl.  Only loss was to Purdue at home 21-20, but players said that after the loss it just strengthened their resolve not to lose again.  In 1964 the final ranking polls were done before the Bowl Games.  As things turned out all the teams ahead of UM lost their Bowl Games so a post-Bowl Game poll would have resulted in UM winning the MNC. 

Oh well, after 64, UM was really bad in what was known as their "Dark Ages" concluding in 68 with a 50-14 loss to OSU.  That OSU game was known for Woody Hayes going for a 2pt conversion after the last TD to make the score 50. After the game when asked why he went for a 2pt conversion, he said "because I couldn't go for 3".  That loss and the preceeding years of ineptitude lead to the firing of Bump Elliot and hiring of Bo.  Regardless of age, most of us know what happened in 69.

fh maven

May 31st, 2018 at 12:16 PM ^

and they won the MNC. They opened at home vs. Colorado in what was thought to be a tough game - UM dominated.  Later in the year they were away to Penn State in what was thought to be a tough game - UM dominated.  This year the opening game at ND will tell alot. 

 

Blue in PA

May 31st, 2018 at 1:37 PM ^

Can Doc Brown invent a inverse human cloning machine .... so we can create a bizzaro Don Brown that coaches offense like our Don Brown coaches defense?

That would be crazy good.   All we need is a flux-capacitor!

 

If that happens, I'm saying 14-0

abt424

May 31st, 2018 at 1:42 PM ^

But I have no issue with any of those predictions. 

So many people get annoyed or try to debunk one prediction or another. I think this year can go in a lot of possible ways. Each of those predictions tackles one of those.

One thing that I think doesn't get mentioned enough right now is that things aren't naturally lining up for Harbaugh. In 2016 he had an experienced team that had to play its toughest games on the road. 2017 saw an easier schedule overall with MSU and OSU at home (Penn State obviously was a difficult road game) but the team was inexperienced at numerous positions. I think 2018 looks a lot like 2016 where the team is better but, again, the schedule doesn't align.

It will never happen because of the division, but I really feel like Michigan/Harbaugh could use a year like Wisconsin had last year. All everybody sees when they look back to last year is how Wisconsin was 7 points/one game away from playing in the playoffs. We're five months removed from last season and nobody mentions that the Badgers' best regular-season win was against an above-average Michigan team with no offense.