ESPN Gator Bowl Picks
Sorry if this has already been posted, neg if necessary.
ESPN's College Bowl Special team unanimously picked MSU as the favorite over Michigan, and were pretty confident with their decisions. Not really surprising.
Thoughts on this?
For what it's worth, I have Michigan winning, as my #1 pick.
December 12th, 2010 at 9:34 PM ^
Rob Smith of course thinks it's RR's last game no matter what.. The other guy talked about he isn't so sure about that, and how Harbaugh's ultimate goal is the NFL, and doesn't think he would stay more than a couple years at michigan if he went there.
Apparently Rob Smith thinks Miss States offense can't be stopped especially against mich and will win big without much of an issue
December 12th, 2010 at 10:01 PM ^
Robert Smith is just bitter because OSU never beat Michigan while he was there.
edit: God, it felt good to post this.
December 12th, 2010 at 10:37 PM ^
I don't mind being the dog for this game. I've said on here before, there is a reckoning coming, and it is less then a year away. I've lived though the finger in the face, laughing, taking all kinds of pleasure in the downfall of mighty michigan . Well the war machine has just opened one eye, and next year when it springs to life, it will be " cry havic, the dogs of war have been unleashed".
December 13th, 2010 at 12:54 AM ^
I kind of lost it when they got to the part about suggesting that Michigan's "Board of Trustees" (?!) had somehow voiced a lack of confidence in Rich Rodriguez. We don't havde a baord of trustees. We do have a Board of Regents, and I am not aware of a single one of them ever having voiced one negative word on the subject of Rich Rodriguez.
Do these guys just make it up? Never mind; I know that answer already.
One other thing; did they not have any Miss St. highlights? They "previewed" the game without a single Bulldog highlight and scarcely a word about them.
These are guys who clearly just read a few headlines and then go to taping.
Edit. - Here's the Robert Smith quote:
"I think it very well could be, and more than likely will be," [Rich Rodriguez's last game as Michigan's coach] Smith said on Sunday night's show. "And part of the reason is I think there are just a lot of people inside the program, or around the program, the de-facto owners, the board of trustees and the boosters, those type of people, just don't like Rich Rodriguez, which is a shame to me. I mean, he's a very likeable guy.
December 12th, 2010 at 9:35 PM ^
Who gives a toss? Their opinion has no bearing on the outcome of the game, so, it's irrelevant.
Moving on.
December 12th, 2010 at 9:46 PM ^
So why are you here posting?
December 12th, 2010 at 10:32 PM ^
December 12th, 2010 at 9:36 PM ^
With 6 weeks of lifting and a month of practice, can we expect defensive improvement? Maybe a little bit?
December 12th, 2010 at 9:38 PM ^
I think it will help the young guys learn their assignments a little better, but won't make them significantly bigger and stronger.
December 13th, 2010 at 9:22 AM ^
I would expect these freshmen to put on 10-15 pounds in between their first and second year.
December 13th, 2010 at 11:21 AM ^
But not in the month of december :). He's wondering if they'll be stronger by the bowl game.
December 12th, 2010 at 9:39 PM ^
Health. The idea of Mike Martin playing on functional ankles makes me happy.
December 12th, 2010 at 10:04 PM ^
I'm expecting a much better defense on the field. I think the team realizes that RR is on the hot seat, first bowl game for them since 07', and the national pundits picking MSU over M are enough motivational factors to see a new level of play by the entire team. Is it enough to win.... yup.
December 12th, 2010 at 9:38 PM ^
Robert Smith is a smug little prick. Between him and Jim Rome I don't know who thinks their farts smell better.
As far as the game goes, I think a healthy Mike Martin will help our run defense enough to win this game. Michigan-42 MSU-24 We are due.
December 12th, 2010 at 9:58 PM ^
Every time I hear Robert Smith I think of this guy...not that other guy.
December 12th, 2010 at 10:09 PM ^
Same difference.
December 12th, 2010 at 10:20 PM ^
It's insulting to The Cure to suggest that.
December 12th, 2010 at 9:39 PM ^
when michigan played florida, so it's no big deal
December 12th, 2010 at 9:44 PM ^
They picked MSU over Michigan when we played Florida? Maybe I've been underestimating ESPN this whole time
December 12th, 2010 at 9:55 PM ^
if that was funny
December 13th, 2010 at 9:23 AM ^
They said they believe it'll be Lloyd Carr's last game?
December 12th, 2010 at 9:40 PM ^
I think their "experts" are flaming douchebags who couldnt accurately predict if it will be dark tonight or not.
December 12th, 2010 at 9:42 PM ^
I think that people that aren't Michigan fans just look at our defense as a big picture. Despite the overall performance of the defense, they've shown glimpses of improvement. I think the D will pull through and hold MSU under 30 points, which is good enough in my book, as long as the offense works as it should.
December 12th, 2010 at 9:42 PM ^
We have not beat a ranked team since 1905, but if I had to bet my life on it, I would bet on Michigan. With Denard having a few weeks to get healthy, he will be at UConn/ND form. The D will make marginal improvement and MM will be healthy.
December 12th, 2010 at 9:43 PM ^
Robert Smith is another piece of shit O$U douchebag who talks out his ass
December 12th, 2010 at 9:44 PM ^
I have Michigan over MSU as my #12 pick. It's better that everyone think of us as the underdog--it tends to help us out (especially against SEC teams).
December 12th, 2010 at 9:49 PM ^
Anyone remember a time when Michigan Football talk wasn't all about our coach's job security? How many years ago was that...?
December 12th, 2010 at 9:51 PM ^
like it was a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.
December 12th, 2010 at 9:57 PM ^
It would have been more entertaining.
December 12th, 2010 at 9:52 PM ^
It was November 17th, 2006. The day before the OSU game and the day Bo passed away.
December 12th, 2010 at 9:58 PM ^
We were still good when they were talking about a rematch with OSU. And probably through the disappointment. Maybe after the Rose Bowl.
December 12th, 2010 at 10:02 PM ^
Ok...I'll revise it to January 2nd, 2007. Or for SURE the day after the Horror. But they say you never see the beginning of the end when you're going through it and that OSU game was definitely the apex of our recent football history. The wheels came off the defensive wagon that day and we've never been able to get them back on since.
December 13th, 2010 at 10:49 AM ^
And since that day Michigan football has not had very many good days starting with the next day loss to OSU........
December 12th, 2010 at 9:53 PM ^
I don't know what you expect, on the surface you have a ranked SEC team and then a Big Ten team that has relatively faded after a hot start. They're not going to talk about how 3 of Michigan's 5 losses were to top 10 teams, key hampering injuries that may not be so problematic anymore, etc. Any "hardcore" fan is going to naturally know more about their team than those guys do, they need to know a little about a lot of teams. When that happens, you just go with what seems like the obvious choice, so MSU for them.
Then in reality Sports Center shows this highlight, "And now we head down to Jacksonville where Michigan is rolling it up over Mississippi State, maybe Rich Rod will keep his job after all, yada yada yada Denard Robinson is going to be one to watch for next year, Dave Brandon's decision just got tougher. Back to Rece, Lou, and Mark in the studio. Mark: "I'll tell you who's really great, Cam Newton....."
December 13th, 2010 at 3:31 AM ^
Yeah, Michigan's losses were so much better than Mississippi State's losses to sucky teams like Auburn, LSU, Alabama, and Arkansas. If you don't look closely, MSU is the favorite, but if you do look closely, MSU is still the favorite. Don't get me wrong; Michigan has a shot, but it would be a shot as the underdog. Michigan's chances will come down to:
-Fully healed Mike Martin, running backs, others
-RR's gameplanning for bowl games/season openers
-General Denard awesomeness
December 12th, 2010 at 9:50 PM ^
Michigan has a bad D, MSU (NTMSU) has signature wins and a gritty SEC West image. Hands down they're the favorite.
I can't wait to see RR coach M in a bowl game. He's delivered on his bowl appearances at WVU so we should be well-prepared. I hope. Plus MSU (NTMSU) on offense is basically Illinois with a worse passing game. Therefore, we will not give up 65 points to them. Right? Right.
December 12th, 2010 at 10:02 PM ^
3-3 if you want to give him credit for the one he didn't coach. And before anyone says "but when he had his team formed..."...we're a lot more like his early teams right now than his latter ones.
December 12th, 2010 at 10:06 PM ^
I guess I should have said he delivered on his BCS bowl appearances, 1-0 or 2-0 depending on how you want to slice it. 1-2 in the Gator Bowl though.
December 12th, 2010 at 10:08 PM ^
Think we can get the Gator bumped up to a BCS bowl before the 1st? Worth a try.
December 12th, 2010 at 9:55 PM ^
RR gets 5+ weeks to prepare his much healthier offense to perform in a game to possibly save his job/reputation.
Gerg gets same to do the same with his defense.
If either/both of these guys is who we hope/think they are...I'm expecting a festival of fun!
December 12th, 2010 at 9:55 PM ^
I haven't felt this oddly confidant over a football game since UConn.
December 12th, 2010 at 9:56 PM ^
They have a lot more confidence in MSU getting killed.
December 12th, 2010 at 9:58 PM ^
Yeah, I don't listen to any douchebags that put an emphisis on the OSU.
December 12th, 2010 at 9:58 PM ^
well, to be fair, MSU is a team that just about ended Auburn's Nat'l Champ run... unfortunately, our historical status as Michigan doesn't really mean shit this year.
Do we have a great chance of winning with the extra practice and rest for the banged-up guys? Yeah. I think we will play our best game of the year, but the MSM probably thinks that Michigan has packed it in. So be it. I think we could stand to stop with the equally ignorant: "Everyone on TV who picks against us is a d-bag!!!!" comments and let's allow our beloved Wolverines to make a statement on the playing field in Jacksonville. K?
If we continue to play the exact same way we've played over the last half of the regular season, we'll get rolled, making those homers among us look like the idiots...
December 12th, 2010 at 10:05 PM ^
To be fair Kentucky and Clemson are also teams that just about ended Auburn's NC run. I other words, the fact that MSU played Auburn close early in the season doesn't mean shit this year.
December 13th, 2010 at 12:32 AM ^
But maybe that was because Cam was waiting for the check from Auburn to clear before he played too hard.
December 13th, 2010 at 2:45 AM ^
but we were basically non-competitive against teams that don't suck, so I'm still not so sure MSU is a team that people would think we'd roll over.
I'm just saying that everyone needs to realize that the general opinion of Michigan right now is negative until proven positive. Only our guys have a chance to change that perception on the field. If they continue to play like they have through the 2nd half of the season, we will get rolled by MSU (NTMSU). If we get healthier and play smart football, we could really make a statement going into 2011 with a Heisman front runner.