Michigan could go 12-0 this year.
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.
I lol'd.
Oh really and why is that?
Because you are naive.
I would neg this guy, but its off season and 12-0 would be pretty neat.
oh shit
Let us never refer to any football game as a "Gimmie" for the rest of all of our lives.
so you don't think USC vs Alabama St. is a gimme?
I meant games involving Michigan. Because of the Horror, which most referred to as a gimme or some other phrase that meant gimme.
you are delusional.
Every game is "winnable"... even the games that aren't "won." Toledo last year was a "gimme" right?
This is inane.
I'm not even going to get into this... wow.
August 30th, 2011 at 3:02 PM ^
It's a new season but why not!!!
I think you should lower your expectations.
... but the same could be said for half the teams in D1. If anything less than 9-3 is a failure, does that mean RR should be fired if we go 7-5?
Sad panda foreshadowing, Don. :(
"There are plenty of qbs that play their freshmen year and do just fine."
Not many at all, actually.
i think 7-5 or even 8-4 is much more realistic. let us not forget one of those "gimme" teams of App. st. when we had a veteran Qb at the position. i do think first and foremost we need to do a much better job of holding on to the ball. just see Mich's turnover vs ND that put us in a huge hole early.
don't get me wrong, i LOVE the optimism. for instance, when filling out my bracket I had us getting to the final 4 cause i just didn't want to see a loss for us (and i also convinced myself that we legitimately could beat clem, okie, cuse, and maybe unc).
but anyways, I also remember seeing the same exact predictions before last season at this time with people saying that 11-2 or even 12-1 weren't that far off. now granted, there were like 7 games we had last season that we lost where we were winning at some point but then self-destructed.
but all i'm saying is don't get ahead of yourself. this year should definitely be better than last but we're not a BCS team yet.
March 29th, 2009 at 10:19 AM ^
I love the fact that Wisconsin on the road is a win, but @ Iowa is only winnable. There are ZERO gimmes.
March 29th, 2009 at 12:36 PM ^
Iowa was 9-4 last year and won their bowl game and beat Penn State end of year. Wisky got destroyed (exposed) against FSU (and us) and lost more talent than Iowa if memory serves correctly.
Ferentz is also looking like a much better coach than Bielema in my opinion as well.
March 29th, 2009 at 12:47 PM ^
Iowa had 3 all big-ten players: Shonn Greene, Mitch King, and Kroul. They all are gone.
They also had the 12th best defense nationally and lose 3 from that. Besides Stanzi is a 3rd year starter. Wisconsin will be nowhere near them.
March 29th, 2009 at 10:28 AM ^
Unfortunately, we are one of the reasons why.
The gap between should win and did win has been kicking our ass lately.
March 29th, 2009 at 10:49 AM ^
it often devolves into "fire RR" or "we are Michigan and can't lose that game." after we in fact lose one of your "gimmes". And dude, to say that the OSU game is a "toss-up" is just crazy.
Is a rivalry game and is always a toss-up at the very least. We need to get back to that mentality.
March 29th, 2009 at 10:49 AM ^
But then in year two of my dynasty I changed the difficulty from All-American to Heisman. Justin Feagin threw so many interceptions, it was ridiculous.
March 29th, 2009 at 11:03 AM ^
4 should win
1-2 probable loss
5-6 could go either way.
I'll start with Bowl eligibility and go from there.
March 29th, 2009 at 11:23 AM ^
Wow, I've finally met someone with maize/blue colored glasses thicker than mine...
March 29th, 2009 at 11:32 AM ^
12-0? Are you serious?! I know our schedule is pretty pathetic, but 12-0?! None of those games are automatically "WINS". All of them are winnable, every college football game is winnable for either team. But 12-0?! Almost impossible. If we go 7-5 to 8-4 I'll be satisfied. If we go 9-3 I'll be impressed. If we go 10-2 or better, Rich Rod is God.
March 29th, 2009 at 11:34 AM ^
This opinion is based more on what the OTHER TEAMS have than what WE have.
You're right. Not many of these teams are scary good.
At the same time, we have a bunch of freshmen and sophomores at key positions and our defense was pretty damn bad last year.
So no. There's no chance in hell that we'll go 12-0.
March 29th, 2009 at 11:36 AM ^
Just be happy if we become bowl eligible this upcoming season. That, in and of itself, would be an accomplishment.
March 29th, 2009 at 11:46 AM ^
I guess I'm not the world's most optimistic UM fan anymore.
I still think they will go 9-3 with losses to Iowa, PSU, and Wisky, and a victory over vile, evil OSU.
March 29th, 2009 at 11:48 AM ^
Other things that could happen this year:
- The Lions could actually make good use of both of their first round draft picks.
- Detroit's economy could be rejuvenated to the point where they're razing entire neighborhoods in Brightmoor and Delray and building mansions in their place.
- The entirety of US agricultural could decide to collectively stop using pesticides and so forth and strictly adhere to a policy of organic gardening.
- The United States could decide to go to war with Zimbabwe.
- Electrical engineers the world over could collectively decide to revert to exclusively using power tubes instead of solid state technology in everything they design because they think cost efficiency and reliability are overrated concepts.
but audio sounds so much warmer from tubes
Oh boy.
Okay, I'm a guitarist. What's your excuse?
I can tell your list is bullshit because the first point will never happen. The rest are all at least somewhat possible.
March 29th, 2009 at 11:56 AM ^
seeing as how we havent gone undeafeated since 97 that might be a bit of stretch...however, something more along the lines of 9-3 might be more realistic than a 6-6. the perfect storm of rr's second year record, 8 home games (which goes a loong way to helping a young team), a down year in the big10, an improved line, and maybe a team out for blood. i think they might have a vendetta out against some kids (ala the 06-07 season)
March 29th, 2009 at 11:57 AM ^
"If we would not of had 5 turnovers last year we would of beaten them"
You must be RReraBegins2009. He was the only poster who shared your logic-be-damned optimism and your inability to use "have" instead of "of."
+1 to you sir. I was just thinking have that.
You could of given me +2, but I'll take it.
March 29th, 2009 at 12:04 PM ^
Yeesh. All the guy said was "COULD."
March 29th, 2009 at 12:25 PM ^
there's about 119 other teams that COULD go undefeated too. last year only 1 actually did. we will not be that 1 this year. i think we'll be a surprise team but we won't become the greatest turnaround team ever
And the Cubs could have won the WS at least once in the last 100 years. Definition of delusional optimism: Cubs fan who believes this is the year.
March 29th, 2009 at 12:44 PM ^
I think it's more realistic we go 0-12 than 12-0. I'm praying we are at least 6-6, but I'm not entirely convinced we'll make that mark yet.
March 29th, 2009 at 12:55 PM ^
Also, here is some FUN WITH MATH!
Going with the OP's extremely generous predictions, lets say:
GIMME = 95% Chance to win
WIN = 80% Chance to win
WINNABLE = 60% Chance to win
TOSS-UP = 50% Chance to win
Then, the odds we go 12-0 are (0.6)^4 * (0.95)^3 * (0.8)^4 * (0.5) = 2.3%
So given very optimistic, generous predictions for each game, we have a 2.3% chance of going 12-0.
and another +1.
You forgot to figure in M against Florida (gimme) for the National Championship.
True dat...we own Florida LOL