2010 football season predictions
Right before last year's season started there was an MGoBoard contest with many folks predicting the team's final record, with some kind of point award promised to those who hit the number.
I was one of those who predicted the 7-6 record and am wondering how many folks tied me (there probably were a bunch) and when the results will be tallied and points awarded. I know things have been just a tad busy after the season ended.
My early prediction for 2011: 10-3 (upsets against ND and OSU, losses against Nebraska and MSU and one upset loss, plus a bowl win in the Citrus vs. Florida)
January 23rd, 2011 at 10:58 AM ^
January 23rd, 2011 at 10:59 AM ^
I would guess that 7 or 8 wins is most likely (not including a bowl game). With that said, I wouldn't be surprised to see 9 wins if we can pull an upset somewhere on the schedule.
The defense will improve dramatically and with Denard staying I just don't see us taking a huge step back like we did when RR took over in 2008.
Western can't come soon enough... GO BLUE
January 23rd, 2011 at 11:03 AM ^
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:32 PM ^
This is true every single year. No matter how good State is, people on this board think they are just terrible.
January 23rd, 2011 at 4:23 PM ^
And what is wrong with that ? Go Blue !!
January 23rd, 2011 at 11:05 AM ^
I thought we'd be playing in a Pizza-bowl-level game and blow out some school on the order of East Carolina. Didn't think we'd end up in the Gator Bowl playing a pretty damn good SEC team. I figured our defense was going to be bad, but it was much worse than that.
7-5 in the 2011 season with a loss in the Gator Bowl against an SEC opponent with much more speed and quickness, especially in the front seven. Michael Rosenberg will tongue-bathe Hoke all season, even after the bowl loss.
January 23rd, 2011 at 11:13 AM ^
8-5 and frustration, only to see huge improvement the following year. If the D can actually start approaching average, at least one more win. I have big concerns that with a new offensive system, we may not see significant gains on O.
January 23rd, 2011 at 11:19 AM ^
If Hoke was indeed the right hire, this team should win 9 games next season. 8 is scraping the bottom of expectactions. This isn't RR coming in and taking over a team with 7 starters. The cupboard is full next year. We have a star quarterback, a veteran offensive line and and an above average set of skill players on offense. If the coaches do not implement a gameplan to these -talented, experienced, players unlike 2008 - players skill set, they have grossly underperformed their duties as a staff.
On the defensive side of the ball, we return 9 guys and introduce a veteran DC who has proven to be a top DC at both the NCAA and NFL level. Our young players have a year of experience behind them as well as an offseason to improve. They should also have a chip on their shoulder that carries an extra bit of (hard) edge with them all season. Our defense will be better no matter what.
If this team goes 6-6 or 7-5 next year while returning everything that they do, that is just as disappointing to me as 3-9 in 2008. Perhaps moreso given everything we as fans have went through to get to this point.
P.S.
Western Michigan - W
Notre Dame - L
Eastern Michigan - W
San Diego State - W
Minnesota - W
Northwestern - W
Michigan State - W
Purdue - W
Iowa - W
Illinois - W
Nebraska - L
Ohio State - W (I think we are going to win this game regardless of how the season goes. I imagine the Big House being beyond electric that day.)
January 23rd, 2011 at 1:29 PM ^
Having a young defense doesn't make the cupboard full. We've got few potentially good young players, sure. But the rest are either question-marks or...not. The D, aside from MM, has nobody that makes the world say, "Holy shit, in a year or two that kid's gonna be a monster." The D will improve -- from terrible to just fairly bad. There's no way this D will become good next year.
Sorry. Just facts.
January 23rd, 2011 at 2:54 PM ^
All you stated were your opinions.
Here's your idea of a fact:
We won 2 more games every year of RR's career than the previous, therefore we would have won at least 9 games next year, thus firing him was stupid. These are just the facts.
Nice try.
Perhaps I should have stated we have more than enough talent returning, along with quality coaches coming in, coupled with the expectations I had for RR's Year 4, that 8 wins should be the bare minimum for next year's team, IF the coaches play to their already assembled team's strengths.
Here are some facts though:
In 2008, we returned a single starter on offense. In 2011, we will return 9-10.
In 2008, we returned 6-7 starters on defense. In 2011, we will return 9-10, depending on how you want to count Woolfork.
In 2008, we were coming off a disappointing season in which we were laden with veteran NFL caliber talent. Thus, a worse season than the year before was to be expected. In 2011, we are coming off a disappointing season in which we were a very young team that has plenty of room to improve, but still managed to win 7 games. Thus a better season is to be expected this coming year.
In 2008, we tried to implement a new offense with bad personnel. In 2011, we already have the personnel to run one of the better offenses in the country. It would be foolish not to play to our offenses strengths given the level of production they have shown.
In 2011, we have Don Mattison as our defensive coordinator. He has a proven track record, one that shows he is very good at his job. I don't think it's out of line to think - considering how much everyone on this board seems to think a change in coaching is absolutely to improve a team - he has the ability to shape what was a woeful, injured and inexperienced defense in 2010 into an average (overly optimistic) or slightly below-average (realistic) defense. This is not a fact however, it is my opinion.
As is this: Teams like Oregon have shown you don't need a dominating defense if you have a great offense. You just need a defense that is capable: one that can get key stops here and there, force turnovers and not be so porous that it puts immense pressure on the offense to score every single drive. While I dont think we will be quite there next season, I think we can be in that range. If we are, 9-10+ wins should not be out of the question.
January 23rd, 2011 at 11:23 AM ^
2010 my prediction was 8-4 or 9-3. My current 2011 prediction is 7-5 or 8-4.
January 23rd, 2011 at 11:24 AM ^
Losses to ND, at MSU, at Northwestern and OSU. Upset wins at Iowa and Nebraska.
I think the transition costs us 1 game, against ND.
A little hard to predict the bowl but guessing at 8-4, we end up in the Outback bowl against a pretty good SEC team, I will predict a loss.
January 23rd, 2011 at 11:27 AM ^
Toss-ups are ND, MSU, Iowa, Nebraska and OSU.
Last year ND was able to take advantage of freshman DBs, but the Wolverines were able to hang on. I think, given the sophomores step-up in the off-season and it will be the first night-game in the Big House and electric, U of M turns this toss-up into a solid defensive performance. M - 27 (note: 2 field goals!) ND - 16
Sparty will be a head case coming into the year, after a highly embarrassing bowl loss for a Big Ten co-champion that thought it belonged in the Rose Bowl. They return a solid Sr QB and a stud RB, along with some excellent WRs; but lose 3 OL including a dependable C who was backed by a Fr this last year, their top TE and FB (which equates to losing a lot of blocking for said RB and QB.) This could mean a more one dimensional Spartan attack if the line is not able to adjust both its run- and pass-blocking. I'm guessing Dantonio focuses on run first. The Spartans also lose 3 of their front 7, a CB and a S. That's a total of 11 starters gone, which is a lot of moving pieces. M - 30 (3 field goals!) MSU - 20
Iowa has had a tough time beating Michigan the last two years; upcoming they lose 5 of their front 7 on D, as well as their QB, 2 out of 4 top WRs, 2 OG, TE and FB. Total of 12 starters lost (without counting loss of Punter, Holder, and kick/punt returner.) Iowa gets crushed. M - 35 I - 17
Nebraska will be a bit easier than people expect. Yes, they return a phenomenal QB. But, he loses the support of their RB, 2 of 3 top WR, and 3 OL; on D they return all but 1 of a solid front 7, although they lose 3 of their Nickle DBs. That's 10 starters lost (plus their top 2 kickers, punter, and kick/punt returner) in addition to a gruesome schedule before coming to the Big House. M - 45 N - 17 Welcome to the Big Ten. (Oh, and give us our other trophy b@#$!%$)
Ohio State will be crushed. I am not even looking to their depth chart. Why? Because Hoke says so. We will not have our steamrolling season ruined by the Buckeyes.
That's 12 games, with a win coming in the Big 10 championship against either OSU or PSU... leaving the predicted loss.
We lose in the NC due to a last minute drive put together by none other than Ryan Mallett. That son of a b@#$!
*Yes, I am predicting an Arkansas - Michigan National Championship. SEC East will be weak again, and in the West it will be down to Alabama - Arkansas for all the marbles (LSU and Auburn both lose too much on O and D.)
January 23rd, 2011 at 11:49 AM ^
to ruin your thunder but Ryan Mallett is going to the NFL so he wont be at Arkansas next year
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:48 PM ^
You are absolutely correct. For some reason I remembered him declaring he would return. Perhaps Luck doing the same convinced him to shoot for that top QB draft spot...
Well, now I have no idea who will be able to defeat Michigan in the Nat Champ game... I'm guessing we'll be playing Oklahoma. And we will crush them.
January 23rd, 2011 at 11:39 AM ^
Worse case is 5-7. All the road games are losable. Plus ND, Nebraska and OSU.
Best case is probably 10-2, with losses against OSU and UNL (or MSU or ND).
Split the difference and go with 7.5-4.5
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:08 PM ^
it will be a huge setback and major disappointment.
9-3 is what I think we would do with RRod so I am holding Hoke to the same standard.
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:19 PM ^
A monkey could win 9 games with this team and schedule next year. Especially when all of the fake buckeyes leave for the draft so they don't miss half a year, and msu's luck runs out. for some reason Nebraska is the only game that scares me.
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:36 PM ^
Newsflash - the NFL draft early entry deadline has past and none of them are entering. They will all be back and have played at least 6 games before they face us.
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:27 PM ^
I said 7-6 this year as well. I think we'll be 8-5 next year.
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:29 PM ^
Should drug tests be given before posts are made?
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:30 PM ^
Losses to: Notre Dame, Iowa, Ohio State, Nebraska and either (Northwestern, Michigan State or San Diego State).
Can't believe our defense can improve that much in one year. If we find a adequate field goal kicker we may be okay despite moving to a Pro Style offense (which doesn't fit with our current player roster).
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:33 PM ^
9-4 would be ok if we beat the teams we should , maybe lose to better teams, but show that we are improving. last years 7-5 team may have been the worst wolverine 7-5 in history, and thier bowl performance proved it. 9-4 with a great recruiting class shows the arrow is pointing up. on a side note wouldnt it be cool if chris rock came in right away and played awesome, him and roh could be dubbed "rock and roh" all night,party every day! go blue!
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:33 PM ^
I can't wait till the first season when we beat OSU twice!!
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:50 PM ^
Last year I said 8-5. This year, 9-4 hokefully, with losses against Nebraska (blowout), OSU (respectable), Iowa (close), and Notre Dame (close). Bowl Win.
January 23rd, 2011 at 2:19 PM ^
Western Michigan - W 1-0
Notre Dame - L 1-1
Eastern Michigan - W 2-1
San Diego State - W 3-1
Minnesota - W 4-1 (1-0)
Northwestern - L 4-2 (1-1)
Michigan State - L 4-3 (1-2)
Purdue - W 5-3 (2-2)
Iowa - L 5-4 (2-3)
Illinois - W 6-4 (3-3)
Nebraska - L 6-5 (3-4)
Ohio State - L 6-6 (3-5)
Record: 6-6 (3-5)
Insight Bowl Win
Season: 7-6 (3-5)
Improved Defense, we'll have a 10 win season in 2012.
January 23rd, 2011 at 2:43 PM ^
MSU game cancelled due to pregame riots.
January 23rd, 2011 at 2:46 PM ^
January 23rd, 2011 at 4:11 PM ^
So many folks predicting a loss to Notre Dame.
That's going to be the first ever night game at the big house and I plan on going to it. I can't handle the thought of losing to...those guys...on such a historic night.
January 23rd, 2011 at 4:13 PM ^
Western Michigan (This game is easy win) - W 1-0
Notre Dame (This game plays out much like last year, same result) - W 2-0
Eastern Michigan (The back-ups get some playing time) - W 3-0
San Diego State (This game requires a Denard last minute comeback)- W 4-0
Minnesota (Michigan dominates)- W 5-0 (1-0)
Northwestern (Michigan wins in shootout)- W 6-0 (2 - 0)
Michigan State (The streak against Sparty ends)- W 7-0 (3-0)
Purdue (Go Blue!)- W 8-0 (4-0)
Iowa (Hawkeyes lose too much talent) - W 9-0 (5-0)
Illinois (M scores nearly as must as last season. Gives up 17) - W 10-0 (6-0)
Nebraska (Looks good, but really paper Huskers) - W 11-0 (7-0)
Ohio State (At long last the streak ends - in overtime) - W 12-0 (8-0)
B1G10 Championship vs. Wisconsin - L (12-1) (8-1)
Record: 12-1 (8-1)
Fiesta Bowl vs. Florida State W 35 - 27
Season: W 13-1 (8-1) Final Ranking #4
January 23rd, 2011 at 4:49 PM ^
At this point in time I would have to say the same 7-6 for 2011. Until I see the results of spring practice, I assume that any potential improvement in the defense and special teams will be offset by a dip in offensive production. I hope that the spring game will cause me to change my thinking.
January 24th, 2011 at 2:06 AM ^
9-4/8-5.
I also forecast intense bitching about it, paired with a heavy dose of revisionism.