How important is this game for Harbaugh/UM?
I feel this msu game is the most important game on michigans schedule this year, more important than osu actually. I feel it is an absolute must win for harbaugh. he has the more talented team and that needs to come up with a win Saturday. I think for recruiting purposes and state of the program that Michigan has to win this game, if they don't I feel that it will be a huge set back for the program and could create a down fall for the rest of year. I don't care win by 1 or 30, need to win. I think a win, Michigan goes 10-1 to osu, lose and I could see 8-4.
Whats everybody think?
October 17th, 2018 at 1:30 PM ^
This year would still top 2016 if we lose and then win out assuming MSU loses one more time.
At the end of the day the team needs to go into this as the hunter. We’re the better team this year. Yes, it’s a road game but if the team can put it together for four quarters it can be a good result. Win this MSU game and even if we mess up against PSU we’re more than likely playing for a shot at Indy during The Game which is something that has happened far too infrequently.
All the games are important to keep goals in front of us but this game is particularly important to give us a buffer for at least a shot at a Big Ten Championship which would be awesome to get in its own right.
October 17th, 2018 at 12:48 PM ^
It's confusing to see people try and justify a loss to MSU with "Well if they win the rest of their games then they can still go to the B1G Championship game" While true, don't even for a second downplay the importance of this game. A MSU win makes them 9-2 in the last 11. Harbaugh would be 1-3 against them, Michigan gets knocked down a peg in the bowl selection, they take a huge hit in national relevance and a loss doesn't exactly spark any confidence of a win in Columbus.
The Wisconsin thread was pre-mature. This game however is the most important of Harbaughs career. Michigan is the better team and needs to win. The end.
October 17th, 2018 at 12:59 PM ^
Hear hear. As I said above, sure we could still win a B10 title with a loss...but this is about changing the culture. This is about changing the narrative. This is about grabbing our rivals by the balls and twisting them again. I miss those days. It's time to get it back.
October 17th, 2018 at 1:15 PM ^
No one is saying the game isn't important. It's just not the most important, by any stretch of the imagination.
October 17th, 2018 at 2:01 PM ^
It's definitely the most important one this year up to this point.
October 17th, 2018 at 12:49 PM ^
It's important from a "Michigan/Harbaugh can't beat ranked teams on the road" perspective. However, I think beating Penn State is more important. Harbaugh is recruiting against Penn State and OSU for elite level talent. That's tough to do when the perception is that Michigan is below both Penn State AND OSU.
In any case, this is an important SEASON for Michigan. The more wins, the more momentum, the more obvious player development, the better.
October 17th, 2018 at 5:42 PM ^
I'm in the "must win this to get the monkey off our back" camp.
But this is the best take I've read yet as to why PSU and OSU are higher.
October 17th, 2018 at 12:51 PM ^
Do you listen to the Friday podcasts? The part with the clip of Bo saying "the most important game of this season is the one you're about to go down that tunnel for". And, you know what, they run that clip every week.
That should answer your question.
October 17th, 2018 at 12:53 PM ^
This game is huge this weekend. Mostly because it keeps everything in front of us and we will continue to control our own destiny in the B1G race. A win over MSU gives us the luxury of not requiring a win over PSU to go into Columbus in a winner to Indy game (assuming we don't lose a stupid one to Rutgers or Indiana).
October 17th, 2018 at 12:55 PM ^
It absolutely is a huge game. The most important of the year, so far.
If Michigan wins, it means they control their own destiny, even with a loss to everybody else besides OSU.
If Michigan loses, it's goodbye to the playoffs, controlling our own destiny and national relevance the rest of the year (even if somehow things work out for a BIG championship).
Plus there's the other factors:
1. Shutting Sparty fans up
2. Shutting Sparty fans up
I can't stand Napoleon complex fans ... and they are the epitome.
October 17th, 2018 at 12:55 PM ^
But how do you feel?
October 17th, 2018 at 1:03 PM ^
I'd say winning the BYE week is pretty important. Looking forward to your post then.
October 17th, 2018 at 9:17 PM ^
Is this the most important bye week in habaughs career at Michigan?
October 17th, 2018 at 1:08 PM ^
Very important. Still less important than 2016 OSU and MSU.
More important that 2018 Wisconsin and 2018 Notre Dame.
Maybe more important than 2018 OSU?
Not more important than Rutger, because rivalry.
October 17th, 2018 at 1:09 PM ^
It is the importantest. Just like Wisconsin was, and (win or lose vs MSU) Penn State will be, OSU will be, every big game next year will be.
The program is going in the right direction. No one game is going to change that either way.
October 17th, 2018 at 1:12 PM ^
This is the most important thread since the previous thread. And the next thread.
October 17th, 2018 at 1:12 PM ^
They need to win this game, 100%. They need to find a way and just win the game, if that means playing ugly, then fine. Just get it done.
If they play well and somehow manage to lose then I might, might be OK with it (I'd still be pretty ticked off) But, I'll be furious if they come out flat and play awful the way they did against ND (and 1st half vs NW). I don't want to see them beat themselves again. If they actually play well, there are few teams who can beat them. GO BLUE!!
October 17th, 2018 at 1:15 PM ^
Must win game, for sure. But every game on the rest the schedule is a must win to reach the goal of playing for a B1G title.
October 17th, 2018 at 1:17 PM ^
They are all important at this point.
October 17th, 2018 at 1:19 PM ^
Yes, to win the B1G east we most likely will have to win all our remaining games.
October 17th, 2018 at 4:44 PM ^
This really is not true. Beat MSU on Saturday and the Wolverines can drop one game against PSU, IU or Rutgers as long they win in Columbus in the season finale.
October 17th, 2018 at 1:23 PM ^
I think you should put the bottle down, OP.
October 17th, 2018 at 1:37 PM ^
This is not an important game. There will be no narratives or takes based on the result of this game. If MSU wins, I'm sure their fans will be cordial, if they say anything at all. The national media won't be talking about Harbaugh vs rivals, or hot seats, or the NFL.
I probably won't even watch the game, as I am sure there will be some scintillating noon ACC action.
October 17th, 2018 at 1:42 PM ^
Before the season started I felt this game was Michigan's most important game to win. Gotta get that Dantonio monkey off their collective backs. MSU '16 team was so bad that victory over them felt cheap, almost like it didn't count.
Harbaugh and his staff get paid boatloads of money. If they continue to lose these rivalry games....
October 17th, 2018 at 1:54 PM ^
Yes. If Michigan loses Harbaugh should be let go immediately after the game and have walk back to Ann Arbor.
October 17th, 2018 at 1:56 PM ^
Didn't you create the similar thread for Wisconsin?
Mods. Please raise the point limit to 1000 for creating threads
October 17th, 2018 at 1:58 PM ^
We could lose this week, win out, win the B1G title game and win the Rose Bowl.
Or we could win this week, lose to PSU and OSU and go to the Outback Bowl.
Really depends on the whole season in my mind.
October 17th, 2018 at 1:59 PM ^
October 17th, 2018 at 1:59 PM ^
October 17th, 2018 at 2:02 PM ^
October 17th, 2018 at 2:13 PM ^
I have been there from Bo through current coaches. The Rich Rod and Hoke era brought us this inferiority complex as fans. I know the day I witnessed Michigan turn the corner. The day they went down 17-0 to NW on road and came back. I said it then, and I will say it now. That game did more for this teams confidence than a blowout of Wisconsin. It was because of NW that they had the confidence to beat up on Wisconsin. Wisconsin is a very good team.
I am not calling a blow out (could happen), but I think Michigan wins with confidence, coaching and superior talent. It will be a fist fight early with both teams pretty energized. But I see Michigan pulling away in the second half with a 2 score win. 27-17
October 17th, 2018 at 2:43 PM ^
I agree with you regarding the NW game. It's a game they were supposed to win handily and instead it went down to the wire. Usually, the script is reversed. Michigan has the game in hand only to allow an inferior opponent to come back (Indiana '17 springs to mind, but it's hardly an outlier). We had the lead late in all 3 '16 losses and couldn't find a way to win. Against NW we made a comeback victory scoring 20 unanswered points. I felt that winning that game that way was far more beneficial to this team than a blowout victory. Just knowing they have the ability to grit their way to a tough road win on a day where things weren't clicking should be fairly huge for their psyche.
October 17th, 2018 at 2:58 PM ^
Couldn't agree more with every thing stated. Michigan has dominated most second half's in games. Even the ND game the team was rallying only to fumble late. There is something about this team. This TEAM has the "it" factor. The expecting to win against good teams is starting to develop. That has been missing for many years.
October 17th, 2018 at 2:17 PM ^
Yeh, felt really uneasy about the Wisconsin game. But everyone got blocked, tackled, whatever, then Shea tore off 80 yards and uneasiness went away. The MSU game will go the same way.
October 17th, 2018 at 4:35 PM ^
... Hopefully.
October 17th, 2018 at 2:41 PM ^
I agree the MSU game is very important. Hard to say which game is more important, OSU or MSU. But I can say for sure that those two games are more important than the others remaining in the regular season.
Here's a quiz:
UM finishes 10-2 : Which game would you prefer to lose?
Hands down it's Indiana.
UM finishes 9-3: Which two games would you prefer to lose?
Easy for me. Indiana and PSU (or Rutgers).
Imagine finishing 9-3 with wins over MSU and OSU.
Now imagine finishing 9-3 with loses to MSU and OSU.
Feel the difference? If you don't you aren't a Michigan fan.
Now you might say: You can't think like that. Oh BS. Maybe the TEAM can't think like that. But you and I, well yes, we can think like that.
October 17th, 2018 at 2:50 PM ^
As a variation on this: If Michigan loses to MSU, then beating OSU becomes an imperative.
October 17th, 2018 at 2:56 PM ^
If we finish 10-2, I would hope that loss is PSU. I don't think I could stomach an offseason where we beat MSU and OSU, but lost to a DeBord coached offense.
October 17th, 2018 at 2:42 PM ^
If this game seems very "important" Monday , something went horribly wrong.
Great opportunity for this team to prove there's no "bush league psych out stuff" that's gonna stop 'em. If you want to beat this team your gonna have do it inside the lines not inside their heads.
your poker chips are laughable, man!
October 17th, 2018 at 3:05 PM ^
Every game counts as one (1). The Wolverines have not won enough games to win the East since it was created. This practice is the most important practice, this play is the most important play, and this game is the most important game.
Control the controllables.
October 17th, 2018 at 3:19 PM ^
If they lose to MSU you see 8-4?
I think penn state at home will be easier then MSU on the road. Indiana at home, Rutgers and OSU.
If they lose to MSU I see 9-3.
But you never know.
October 17th, 2018 at 3:25 PM ^
Beat State or nobody cares about OSU other than fans. Do not pass go, do not go to Indianapolis.
October 17th, 2018 at 3:31 PM ^
The important thing is to bring up the strength of the program back to elite level.... and its apparent he has done that. The wins will follow... if there is a blip here, so be it... but I wouldn't bet on it...
Be confident, good always defeats bad... and its time. Wolverines are about to go on a long term program spree.. and OSU will fade once Meyer leaves, and msu too.
October 17th, 2018 at 3:42 PM ^
If we lose to MSU but then beat PSU and OSU then we win the division, so the MSU game in theory could be largely meaningless outside of (admittedly important) bragging rights.
That being said, a loss to MSU makes a win against OSU feel exponentially less likely, and will just add more evidence to the idea that this team is physically incapable of winning a big road game.
October 17th, 2018 at 3:58 PM ^
I think I will wait for the "How Important Is This Game?" compilation album to come out.
October 17th, 2018 at 4:01 PM ^
There is no more overlooking these chumps...come out swinging, keep them coming.
October 17th, 2018 at 4:02 PM ^
I thinks it’s important for a lot of reasons. Michigan can’t lose this game, they are the better team for obvious reasons and must play that way.
October 17th, 2018 at 4:24 PM ^
Because of last year every game of any significance will feel like the huge game beyond the norms. We had quite a few people last week saying UW was the biggest game of the JH tenure. If UM wins this week PSU will be one of the biggest as well because that will be another highly ranked opponent and secure a 10 win season at the very minimum.
It was inevitable any big game this year (if michigan was any good) was going to have a bigger feel to it than it normally would, imo.