Michigan could go 12-0 this year.

Submitted by McFarlin on
Sept. 5 Western Michigan WIN Sept. 12 Notre Dame WINABLE Sept. 19 Eastern Michigan GIMMIE Sept. 26 Indiana (Homecoming) GIMMIE Oct. 3 at Michigan State WIN Oct. 10 at Iowa WINABLE Oct. 17 Delaware State GIMMIE Oct. 24 Penn State WINABLE Oct. 31 at Illinois WINABLE Nov. 7 Purdue WIN Nov. 14 at Wisconsin WIN Nov. 21 Ohio State TOSS UP As far as I am concerned, this is got to be the easiest schedule we have had in a LONG time. I mean there is nobody on this list that sticks out. Notre Dame might be a challenge but that is a winable game. If we would not of had 5 turnovers last year we would of beaten them. Who is scared of MSU without Ringer? Iowa will be a challenge. Penn State will be a challenge but we have them at home. We could possibly go 10-2 with this easy schedule. Hell 12-0 doesnt seem all that impossible. I think 9-3 is realistic goal. Honestly anything less then that is a failure. The Big Ten is horrible right now and our non conference is a joke. 8 home games and 4 away games. Doesn't get any easier then that. What do you guys think? Our defense will be much improved. PLEASE stop saying that Tate being a freshmen means we are doomed at a big season. There are plenty of qbs that play their freshmen year and do just fine.
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Football Michigan Wolverines 2009 Schedule

mgobleu

March 29th, 2009 at 2:00 PM ^

Trust me. Due to past experience, I can tell you that it will hurt WAAAY less if you just accept the fact that we're not gonna be all that awesome for a few years. After last year when my pie in the sky ideas of 7-5, & possibly, maybe, if RR actually WAS a deity, 8-4 were dashed, I can give this team no more than 6-6. And that's only because I can't imagine missing bowl eligibility 2 years in a row. Slightly irrational bowl dreams aside, I'd probably put my money on the marks of 5-7 or 4-8, anything better than that just being gravy.

Joined: 07/02/2008

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NickUmich

March 29th, 2009 at 3:03 PM ^

I don't think we have any shot to go 12-0...nor do I think that we will have another sub-.500 season...I think with the talent we have, the schedule, RR's ability to turn around a team in year two, 8-4 is a reasonable goal to strive for this year. But, at least you have optimism and aren't on here picking OSU to win...I mean wtf is that about people?!

Joined: 03/23/2009

MGoPoints: 327

jwfsouthpaw

March 29th, 2009 at 4:07 PM ^

Predicting OSU to beat Michigan = realistic expectations. Everyone on here loves Michigan and wants Michigan to win every game. But being a fan (even a rabid fan) does not require blatant "homerism." Unfortunately, an objective assessment of the teams suggests that OSU will beat Michigan this year. Of course Michigan COULD win. And I, along with every single Michigan fan, will anxiously anticipate that game and cheer loudly for the Maize and Blue (read: yell loudly at my TV). Do I expect Michigan to win that game? No, because Michigan is rebuilding and coming off a 3-9 season. Does that change my status as a fan? Absolutely not. Michigan is transforming and reforming itself into a different team, which takes some time. I have complete faith that Michigan will be competing for Big Ten titles sooner rather than later. But I personally find nothing wrong with saying, "the odds are not in Michigan's favor for this game, but I don't care -- Go Blue!"

Joined: 01/14/2009

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tpilews

March 29th, 2009 at 5:57 PM ^

That's still nothing substantial to base any predictions on. Oh, they reload, okay. (sarcasm) What kind of offensive and defensive production do they have coming back that would lead anyone to say they are going to be really good and that UM has little to no chance?

Joined: 10/17/2008

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wolverine1987

March 29th, 2009 at 6:49 PM ^

The weaknesses on our roster are well documented. That doesn't mean that OSU will win, nor does it mean that we can't have a sudden coalescing of talent and scheme that allows us to take a big step forward and approach that game on equal footing. But it does mean that coming off of 3-9, and with holes that (as of yet) have not been filled, it is entirely realistic to say we will go into that game as the underdog. If OSU has an average talent level for them, and an average record during the Tressel years, they are likely to enter that game at 9-2 or so. Do you think we will?

Joined: 07/07/2008

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jwfsouthpaw

March 29th, 2009 at 5:53 PM ^

Nobody is "in love with" OSU. People just realize that OSU consistently fields an excellent football team. And people also realize that Michigan will be playing a true freshman QB (or Nick Sheridan), is still implementing a new offense, is facing depth issues on the DL, has no proven safeties . . . among other issues. These issues take time to remedy and correct; it will not happen overnight. We all expected the offense to dramatically improve from game one to game twelve last year. The offense did improve, but not as drastically as we had all hoped. OSU is projected to contend for a Big Ten Title for a reason. Michigan is not projected to contend for a reason. Now, that will change eventually, but probably (emphasis on probably) not this year.

Joined: 01/14/2009

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scottbaez

March 30th, 2009 at 8:05 PM ^

OSU loses (Guys that actually played): QB Boeckman RBs Beanie & Mo Wells FB Brandon Smith WRs Robiskie & Hartline TE Nichol OLs Boone, Person & Rehring DT Abdullah LBs Laurinaitis & Freeman CB Jenkins & Washington Jenkins, Beanie and Laurinaitis are the only irreplaceable guys on that list. Lots of the others (Boone, Rehring, Hartline, Mo Wells) were underachievers who probably won't be missed much. OSU should have a better line, better receivers, and certainly an improved QB next year. Biggest questions are the secondary and LBs, but there is a LOT of talent waiting @ LB. tOSU has had top recruiting classes for a couple of years, and that will pay a lot of dividends in the coming year. That's why everyone is so high on them.

Joined: 03/30/2009

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Hannibal.

April 1st, 2009 at 3:41 PM ^

Expectations need to be lowered. The defense will probably not be better, since the strength of the entire team ("D" line) is decimated. 6 wins is probably the ceiling this year. Offense won't be very good this year either. 2010 is when RichRod earns his pay, hopefully.

Joined: 09/09/2008

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WolvinLA

April 1st, 2009 at 6:22 PM ^

I'm not as worried about the D-line as most. BG was the highlight of the DL and he's back. Mike Martin played quite a bit as a true freshman and should be much improved as well, meaning he could be a near wash with Johnson. Big Will is looking like a monster, and although he won't be as good as TT, that might not be a huge drop-off either. That leaves us with RVB replacing Tim Jamison, which is likely a step down, but RVB got a lot of reps last year too. Add in that we will be playing some 3 man fronts, and the drop-off in the DL is small. LB's will be better. JB replacing Thompson, with the other two returning and one year better. DB's are a question mark, but Magnus covered that. Throw Brandon Smith into what he said, and the DB corps could be a little worse, but probably not much. Could actually be better.

Joined: 06/30/2008

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