Athlon Michigan prediction: 7-5, Pinstripe Bowl
Well the first preview magazine of the year has come out. It's Athlon Sports' Big Ten preview. Peppers is on the cover-
They have Michigan going 7-5 and 4-4 in the East, finishing in 4th behind OSU, MSU and PSU (lol).
However, they have MSU at 6-2 and both Michigan and PSU at 4-4 in the B1G East leading me to believe that they have Michigan beating MSU at home but not beating PSU on the road.
They have Michigan playing 8-4 Virginia Tech in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium.
Athlon projected B1G bowl games-
| Bowl | Game |
| Goodyear Cotton Bowl (CFP Semifinals) | OSU vs Auburn |
| Rose Bowl pres. by Northwestern Mutual | MSU vs USC |
| Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl | Wisconsin vs Tennessee |
| Outback Bowl | Nebraska vs Arkansas |
| National University Holiday Bowl | PSU vs Stanford |
| New Era Pinstripe Bowl | Michigan vs VT |
| Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl | Iowa vs Missouri |
| Foster Farms Bowl | Minnesota vs UCLA |
| Tucson Bowl | Illinois vs Boston Coll. |
| Austin Bowl | Indiana vs Miami |
| Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl | Maryland vs Air Force |
| Quick Lane Bowl | Northwestern vs Pitt |
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Worth the trip IMO Yankee Stadium is really cool, I went last year to see Penn State v. Boston College. Very Happy Big Ten gets a team in there every year. 
Haven't been to the new Yankee Stadium as I'm not a millionare, but if Michigan is playing in the game I would take the train the one stop to go to the ballpark. :)
It's not too bad, food and beer are expensive. you can get some cheap tickets for baseball. I only go to see the Tigers when they are in town.
The area really isn't that bad! The scary people are the Yankee fans, and unfortunately they seem to be everywhere.
Yankee Stadium is actually a remarkably GOOD venue to watch a football game from --- I was pretty surprised by it all.
Wound up seeing 2 games there last year, since I also did Lafayette/Lehigh.
I think the Pinstriple Bowl is a good long-term thing for the B1G to be involved in. 2014 was admittedly a bit of a "perfect storm" for the Bowl. It was sunny and 55 that day (!!!), perfect time slot (4:30 PM Saturday), 2 relatively local teams, 1 fanbase that hadn't gone to a Bowl in a couple years.
I honestly believe with all of the incoming transfers that the floor for this team, with this coaching staff is 7-5. I don't think this is the kind of coaching staff that just reaches their bottom potential, so I imagine the Wolverines will go at least 8-4 or 9-3. That's just one guys opinion though. I wouldn't mind an NYC bowl game
I wish I could say that I would be fine with a 7-5 season, but I'm not. I think Michigan will go 9-3, however I want them to have a miraculous season in whcih they just shock the world because I haven't had that feeling about Michigan football in awhile.
Why? You don't think the people of Lesotho would be shocked by Michigan going 10-2?
I call him Peeve, and I often introduce him as "My Pet, Peeve."
COOL! Now we get to talk about APOSTROPHES!
No. Do not wish to ever, EVER, be happy wishing for UM at 7-5. Wish to only be happy with UM at 11-1 or 12-0, and, please, be happy alot!
I really think that if the OL is able to finally gel, this is a 9-3 football team. We have all heard about how good Drevno is at coaching up the linemen. The pieces are in place.
If nothing else, having a quarterback that can limit turnovers will be a huge difference from the last few years.
I thought this same thing...
While I agree with you about not having any game changers at WR and RB, we also do not know who might emerge as a possible game changer. I think we can all agree that we are going to see a vast difference between the old and the new coaching staffs. You never know if Green of Smith can benefit from the teaching of the new coaches. Maybe Darboh has a great year.
Again, if nothing else, imagine having Rudock (5 INT) compared to Gardner (15 INT, or somewhere around there?). That alone is a huge difference.
I know I'm optimistic. I always have been. But I really believe this team can be 9-3.
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If Drake can stay healthy, he will be the game changer. Had he stayed in the game, we would have beaten Ohio State. They had no answer for him.
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I wouldn't be surprised by that record even if we lose against Utah. At Utah for Harbaugh's first game is not going to be easy.
I also think that the defense is going to wreck people.
I don't necessarily think Michigan will be hard to beat with a solid passing game, but I agree with your opinion that many people underestimate how effective a combination of strong defense and mediocre (but competent and not self-destructive) offense can be.
People will say Michigan lacks any playmakers on offense, but teams regularly have successful seasons if they can control a game with defense and not shoot themselves in the foot on offense (ie, hand their opponents golden opportunities through poor offensive decision-making.)
For instance, 2013 Michigan State won the Big Ten/Rose Bowl with the 81st ranked offense (yards/game) but a dominant defense #2. And, they had no established playmakers coming into that year. Connor Cook had only attempted 17 passes in his career. Jeremy Langford had only 9 rushing attempts. And neither were all-Big Ten caliber in 2013. But, they were a competent #81 ranked offense.
Another example could be Clemson last year; the top defense nationally, but only 61st offensively. But, they finished 10-3 and ranked #15.
I mean, yeah, if the defense is #1 or #2 in the country, we'll be really good. Does anyone really think that's going to be the case?
The offenses in the Big Ten (especially those on Michigan's schedule) are so mediocre, they don't need to be that elite. Top ten D could suffice (provided the offense isn't set to self-destruct.)
2014 offense ranks for Michigan's 2015 opponents. (non-con) 79th, 75th, 81st, 28th (Big Ten) 112th, 107th, 11th, 106th, 76th, 64th, 114th, 9th.
Michigan is going to play 8 teams this year who finished in the bottom half of offensive rankings last year. Indiana was ranked 64th, and will obviously jump next year when their QB returns from injury...but they are Indiana.
loses the underrated Tevin Coleman. That has to hurt their offense.
No, it screams, "Our offense will be shitty, and our defense won't be much better."
win a national championship. Dammit!
Wow, that is very astute of you. Now, tell me, what are Utah's chances of being undefeated after their first game?
Um..or yours.
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