Bowl Game predictions - How does yesterday's loss/Rudock's injury affect us

Submitted by James Burrill Angell on
Before yesterday's game the major websites were calling for us to go to a NY6 game with a win and the Citrus with a loss. After yesterday's performance (or lack thereof) and Rudock's injury (no word yet on how serious, correct?) will we drop further? Would we be better off dropping further if Rudock is out? The Big Ten Championship winner is likely in the playoff while the loser and Ohio State will end up in NY6 bowls. After that the Big Ten tie-ins in order are the Citrus, Outback, Holiday then Music City. Northwestern has a better record at 10-2 and might very well get the Citrus nod. Wisconsin is tied with us at 9-3 but they went to the Outback last year and bowls usually don't want the same team two years Ina row. For that reason alone I say Outback. However, if Rudock is hurt, I wonder if we drop further (Music City or even Pinstripe).
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Geaux_Blue

November 29th, 2015 at 9:52 AM ^

These types of posts should just be called Rabble. There's absolutely zero factual discussion that can come out of it bc the posts main focuses are all hypotheticals no one here has an answer to



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Mr. Yost

November 29th, 2015 at 9:57 AM ^

Depends on if a B1G gets an at-large to the Fiesta Bowl.

If that happens and you get a CFBP, Rose Bowl, Fiesta Bowl between MSU/Iowa/OSU...then we could go Citrus, IMO.

If we don't get that Fiesta and one of them is bumped out, then we're bumped to Tampa.

Whatever, we get the bowl practices.

I'm much more concerned about Rudock being healthy for the game. I want to win the game...I really don't care if he practices until Christmas.

Let the other guys practice, he's not coming back anyway. Give him a week of prep and let's try and get to 10 wins on the season.

Could Glasgow return?

This team is REALLY banged up. I'm interested to see what we look like on Jan 1. I honestly think we could come out and beat anyone. We need rest so badly. It'll be nice to see a fresher version on the field.

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funkywolve

November 29th, 2015 at 10:41 AM ^

A week or so ago when they interviewed his brother, his brother said something like 'he had a really great year'.  I got the impression he was done for the year.  Maybe he's back for the bowl game - it'd be nice, but I'm leaning towards doubtful.

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ijohnb

November 29th, 2015 at 10:22 AM ^

Rest. After contemplating yesterday over night, the team was just worn out. Harbaugh had them playing at Bowl game level intensity all year. They tried to dial it up yesterday and it just wasn't there. In retrospect, we all should have seen it coming. Citrus or Outback against LSU would be both a good test and a compelling matchup, My guess is that the powers that be will go out of there way to make that happen.

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abertain

November 29th, 2015 at 9:54 AM ^

I think Michigan goes to the Citrus and plays Georgia.

I kept reading comments yesterday, which either said, coaches were terrible, or coaches are great.

Realistically, the offensive game plan was mostly fine, yes? Before the injury MIchigan just failed to finish a couple of drives with TD's, which hadn't been a problem up to this point. The O-line had a rough day. It was dispiriting to watch them get whipped in space as well as releasing Washington to hit Rudock and singling up Bosa and just barely getting a hand on him. That said, Chesson and Butt looked very good, and I'm excited to watch Jehu as a senior.

 

Defense was a mess. Michigan used 3 down linemen and 6 or 7 in the box to stop a team that was running on every down. That's a rather large tactical error to make in a game of this import. I'd rather give up the throw to Marshall where he had to make a nice play after a good throw then concede 6 yards to Elliot or Barrett on every play. That was a second terrible performance, Indiana being th other one, where Michigan simply assumed that they could dominate one on one matchups. When that wasn't happening it had to change, and quickly. It didn't. Not great from Durkin and GMatt. I hope next year's game plan is to shut down the run at all costs even if some long throws get completed becuase watching Hyde and now Elliot shred us is pretty terrible.

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ijohnb

November 29th, 2015 at 10:25 AM ^

we're not great but it only affected the margin not the outcome. OSU has more talent and we were overextended and thin at key spots. First half was indicative of where these teams stand against each other. Our players very simply ran out of gas, mentally and physically, in the second. Valiant team. Great effort all year. Yesterday was a very tall order and they just did not have any bullets left in the gun.

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Jevablue

November 29th, 2015 at 10:52 AM ^

But it is hard to watch a team with as much talent as we had be about the 7th toughest game for them this year.  We needed to at least be able to hang around to maybe catch a break, but instead we got drop kicked out of our own house.

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ijohnb

November 29th, 2015 at 10:59 AM ^

caught the break, and then we sent an all out block on a punt that was doomed anyway and that was the end of the game. It is interesting that a team that was so good on special teams for most of the year essentially blew a shot at both rivalry games due to special teams. Durkin will rightfully take a lot of heat for yesterday, but his defense got the most important stop of the game before yet another special teams dong punch.

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jabberwock

November 29th, 2015 at 11:22 AM ^

in the first half of the year.  I mentioned it multiple times in contrast to the last few years, they were finally an asset, not a liability.

The second 1/2 of the year they really faltered.  poor coverage, allowing more yardage, touchdowns, bad punts, penalties on returns, etc.

Last year to the first half to the 2nd half has been a fucking roller coaster.

Overall they have improved from last year, and the field goals have been wonderfully steady but yeesh.

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superstringer

November 29th, 2015 at 10:02 AM ^

More specifically on the $$$--NU fans do not travel well. UM fans have a good rep of travelling and with JMFH in his first year, the bowl will anticipate a swarm of M fans. Plus for TV, JMFH + UM is a way bigger draw than NU. All a bowl cares about is eyeballs on the tube and butts in seats. So even if we had lost to NU, the Citrus would choose us 11 out of 10 times over NU.

And us vs Florida is a good draw for us. Kind of strength on strength and lame on lame. Ol Miss or LSU, not so much.



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michiganman001

November 29th, 2015 at 9:59 AM ^

I think Citrus vs either Florida or Ole Miss. Michigan has the same same conference record has northwestern and Wisconsin, and Michigan is clearly the bigger draw in terms of $$$. I guess Rudock's injury does change it up, but I still think they would be in the outback bowl.

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SpikeFan2016

November 29th, 2015 at 10:02 AM ^

Citrus Bowl vs. Ole Miss/Georgia/Florida. 

 

I'm sorry, but I just don't see how either Wisconsin or Northwestern can be slotted ahead of us. In addition to absolutely slaughtering Northwestern head to head, we had a much tougher conference schedule than Wisconsin and came out with the same record, and also our "brand"/TV ratings draw is much bigger than both of those schools. 

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michiganman001

November 29th, 2015 at 10:15 AM ^

I agree, Ole Miss would be a fun opponent to play and it would also be a SEC team, which of course always helps. However, I think Ole Miss is gonna be in the Sugar Bowl so it probably gonna be florida, a team that we should beat and even if there is no rudock, I think that after 15 practices, Speight wouldbe able to at least put up 14 points and that would be enough to win

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SpikeFan2016

November 29th, 2015 at 10:42 AM ^

I'd rather play Florida too. Or Georgia, but I actually don't think Georgia stands a chance at being selected that high in the SEC bowl order. 

The Big Question for the Sugar Bowl people (assuming Bama kills Florida like everyone is expecting): Do you pick a 9-3 Ole Miss team for the Sugar Bowl over a 10-3 Florida team that killed Ole Miss during the regular season? On paper, I'd say of course not, but Ole Miss passes the eye test over the last month while Florida has looked wretched. I think UF would be steamrolled by any Big 12 team they played in New Orleans. 

 

Other thing going in favor of Florida to the Citrus bowl. UF would likely sell way more tickets to a game in Orlando than Ole Miss would and Mississippi is very close to New Orleans so they would probably bring more people to New Orleans, especially considering the terrible streak Florida would be on at the time. 

Also, you can have the two new major coaches vs. each other with UM vs. UF. 

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James Burrill Angell

November 29th, 2015 at 10:08 AM ^

I don't disagree on any of the factual points (we pummeled NW, played a tougher schedule than Wisconsin, are a bigger draw than either) but Rudock's injury has to play in. If he's out we're obviously a much worse team who likely can't contend with most of the SEC teams who would be our opponents in the Outback or Citrus. That's a fact most of our fans know too so it would likely affect attendance and probably viewership. That's why I think any acknowledgment that Rudock is out might very well push us back to Holiday.

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Wolverine Devotee

November 29th, 2015 at 10:04 AM ^

It's Rudock's non-throwing shoulder that got hurt. He's playing. It will be the last football game OF HIS LIFE. He's going to med school after this.

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Brian Griese

November 29th, 2015 at 10:43 AM ^

but I have bruised my AC joint before in similar style. For your throwing arm, as it was in my case, it was about a 2 week injury. Non-throwing, it is probably as soon as Rudock can take a snap and a hit to that shoulder without pain; I'm guessing a week. The injury significantly hampers your range motion and is painful to move your arm in any direction.

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