Potential Trap Game
Looking over the schedule, I think there is one game that sticks out as a potential trap game for Michigan. When predicting the season results, most of the talk has been whether Michigan will or will not lose at Happy Valley, or vs. OSU. There has been mixed in there occasional mention of Florida or Wisconsin as a potential loss. But if a loss (or at least a surprisingly competitive game) against an inferior opponent is going to happen, which one will it be?
In my mind, the prototypical trap game is a road game between circle games. I presume that Michigan's circle games (prior to Nov. 25) include Florida, MSU, PSU & Wisconsin. (I include MSU as a circle game not because I think they pose a serious threat to Michigan, but because it's Michigan's opportunity to curb stomp little brother back into irrelevancy and claim this rivalry back as their own.)
There is only one game on Michigan's schedule that is sandwiched between circle games, and it is a conference road game against a mid-level opponent. Not serious enough an opponent to be a circle game, but good enough to provide a surprisingly tough matchup.
After Michigan beats down on Sparty, the talk will be Michigan's upcoming quasi-division title game at PSU, the East Division's first of 3 quasi-title games.
I AM NOT PREDICTING A MICHIGAN LOSS, they are clearly superior talent-wise, but Michigan's game at Indiana fits the criteria of a potential trap game. We used to fear Indiana because CHAOS. Now that they're post-CHAOS, there is no longer quite the fear. Perhaps that actually makes them more dangerous in a sneaky kind of way. IU's secondary (#2 among Michigan's opponents, per Ace) could be trouble for Michigan's young receivers, the best LB in the conference tracking down Michigan's RBs, Lagow will be the best QB Michigan's young secondary will have faced at that point in the season. I believe if Michigan happens to stumble against an unexpected team, it will be @ Indiana.
FWIW, OSU's potential trap game comes after they beat down PSU in a revenge game, the East Division's 2nd quasi-title game. Then comes a trip to Iowa City. Michigan fans know all about Iowa being a Little Shop of Horrors, but OSU has not yet experienced the same thing recently with Iowa. Heck, they haven't even been on the schedule much in recent years. That's what might make it all the more sneaky to travel out there after thumping their chests with a PSU win. People are talking about OSU potential losses being Oklahoma, PSU, or Michigan, but it's possible their first stumble of the season comes at Iowa.
tl;dr version: the biggest potential trap game on Michigan's schedule is...@ INDIANA.
August 30th, 2017 at 6:33 PM ^
August 31st, 2017 at 10:11 AM ^
August 30th, 2017 at 6:48 PM ^
August 30th, 2017 at 6:32 PM ^
Are you nervous about Indiana and you want to post this to make yourself feel better that IU's a legit team?
Big game in Bloomington tomorrow, Go Hoosiers!
August 30th, 2017 at 6:35 PM ^
August 30th, 2017 at 7:37 PM ^
August 30th, 2017 at 9:35 PM ^
August 30th, 2017 at 9:40 PM ^
No, not ALWAYS terrible. But you admit you wouldn't want him as your coach. Oh, and Greg Robinson was a pretty good D coach at one point too, remember...
August 31st, 2017 at 6:09 AM ^
August 30th, 2017 at 10:42 PM ^
August 30th, 2017 at 7:30 PM ^
OSU is going to beat Indiana by 3 scores and so is Michigan.
August 30th, 2017 at 8:11 PM ^
But if they don't...he's now set up to say "see! I told you so...they're a tough team, that was a quality road win!"
August 30th, 2017 at 10:02 PM ^
No, sir Mr. Yost, sir. I'm not nervous about Indiana. I'm expecting something like 38-13.
The fact that Michigan's schedule has only one game between a pair of circle games (assuming we agree on the same circle games) has nothing to do with who OSU plays the first game of the season. Unrelated.
I already mentioned in the original post which unsuspecting game I'm most nervous about.
August 30th, 2017 at 6:33 PM ^
It's called the letdown - look ahead sandwich.
August 30th, 2017 at 6:34 PM ^
I'd even maybe call this Saturday a trap game due to the 10 suspensions, even though it doesn't fit the criteria.
August 30th, 2017 at 8:18 PM ^
August 30th, 2017 at 6:39 PM ^
August 30th, 2017 at 8:51 PM ^
Kevin Wilson fired by Indiana for abusing players swooped up by Meyer and osu immediately like it it means nothing. Other coordinator knew and did nothing along with fat d-line coach. Knew what?. PSU they all knew. Way Meyer left Florida and what was going on there, this coaching staff just reeks of class ( not ). Let's see what the classless of the big ten does against Indiana before we start talking about trap games. After that foul shit last year I am just blown away that some osu fan would think anyone wants there b.s. on this site. That's a cheating ass school with a overzealous childish vial fan base and it is my belief they should all hang out at eleven warriors were they belong. Classics....Fuck Michigan, Michigan Sucks, Hairball is a weirdo, ttun, Michigan fans are delusional, except they needed a crew of officials to call one penalty on them while they held all game. I respect them the same as the ass raper university as they employ two enablers anyway. Worry about your own team and that coaching staff you admire so much and stay the fuck out of Northern Michigan and off this site. You have your corn fields, cedar point and Mr. Fall guy class act carter, along with big mouth elliot (suspended) LOL.
August 30th, 2017 at 11:17 PM ^
August 30th, 2017 at 6:40 PM ^
August 30th, 2017 at 6:41 PM ^
I would imagine every day feels like a "Trap Game" Not buying it Chucky
August 30th, 2017 at 6:46 PM ^
One game at a time, one game at a time. Savor every game, and this week is Florida.
August 30th, 2017 at 7:29 PM ^
August 30th, 2017 at 6:47 PM ^
they don't have the O line or running game they had 2 years ago,
August 30th, 2017 at 6:56 PM ^
are "loseable games" for ALL college football teams. It's tough to win on the road, and they're still relatively young men (19-22 years old) playing the games. No team plays at the same level for each and every one of their 12 games.
Could Michigan lose at Indiana? Not unimaginable. Indiana has evolved beyond being the western version of Rutgers. IU should be decent enough, even with Wilson gone. OSU could lose in Bloomington too. Every B1G East contender has multiple road conference games against average-or-better teams on the schedule. I would be surprised - but not shocked - if this year's East champion only went 7-2 in conference.
August 30th, 2017 at 6:51 PM ^
August 30th, 2017 at 7:15 PM ^
August 31st, 2017 at 10:50 AM ^
Michigan got beat in Iowa by a decent team. Yes, it was an upset but Michigan was not expected to win that game "easily".
August 30th, 2017 at 6:51 PM ^
We live in a time where I had an actual argument with someone who believed Florida was our biggest trap game of the year...
He said his definition of a trap game was different than the one everyone else uses, only so he could justify making Florida out to be a trap game. No matter how many times I told him you can't just change the definition of a word, he didn't understand.
I think Purdue could possibly be a trap game. It's the week before a bye, on the road, and if we can beat Florida, we'll be 3-0 and Purdue will likely be 1-2 or 0-3. We'll have zero motivation for this game. Which is dangerous, because Purdue will test our young secondary like crazy (if their OL can give Blough enough time to throw the ball).
Michigan will have a good idea what kind of team Indiana is when we play them, since IU will have already played against OSU, PSU, and @Virginia.
IU is easily a tougher game than Purdue, but I think when it comes to a trap game, Purdue would get my vote.
Trap game rankings:
1. @ Purdue
2. @ IU
3. @ Maryland
August 30th, 2017 at 6:55 PM ^
I'd agree with you if Purdue had a better roster, but the awkwardness/personnel mismatch of their current roster to Jeff Brohm's offense is... Not ideal.
August 30th, 2017 at 7:00 PM ^
Yeah of course, but any QB that throws for 3,352 yards and 25 TD's is a "threat" in my eyes, especially considering our secondary is really the only weakness of our defense.
August 30th, 2017 at 6:53 PM ^
are Air Force because of their flexbone triple option offense which means Don Brown cannot be his usual aggressive self.
Minnesota because they have an overall solid team but not great. PJ Fleck will bring spread power offense to the team and they have a pair of good RBs in Shannon Scott and Rodney Smith.
I wouldn't classify Wisconsin a trap game but it's a week before OSU game. Wisconsin will still be a strong team and it's at Camp Randall. Michigan for whatever reason shit their bed on the road against team with a pulse. I can imagine that it will be a night game and Camp Randall will be rocking.
August 31st, 2017 at 10:47 AM ^
I don't actually think Air Force will be a problem due to our athletes and perceived discipline despite young. I think it'll be closer than it should be though. I.E. won't be Rutgers.
Wisconsin is expected to be hard and I think we'll throw in bigger LB's etc and scheme well against them.
Minnesota, I don't know what they have but I do believe in PJ Fleck and Minnesota has rarely been bad. I'd say more but I know nothing of their roster. They'd be my biggest trap worry since Kevin Wilson left Indiana and we took Frey.
August 30th, 2017 at 6:54 PM ^
August 30th, 2017 at 7:00 PM ^
August 31st, 2017 at 7:05 AM ^
September 12th, 2017 at 5:18 PM ^
Well, the University in Champain/Urbana is technically U of I, not IU. Yes, I know I don't live in Bloomington, Indiana. It's still an easy drive from Champaign/Urbana, IL to Bloomington, IN. Trust me. I did this same thing two years ago. :)
August 30th, 2017 at 7:07 PM ^
August 30th, 2017 at 7:25 PM ^
August 30th, 2017 at 7:35 PM ^
August 30th, 2017 at 7:39 PM ^
I'm a sucker for the trap game....
August 30th, 2017 at 7:54 PM ^
August 30th, 2017 at 8:00 PM ^
August 30th, 2017 at 8:17 PM ^
Nervous about tommorrow I see.
In the past maybe, but how last year ended I don't see it.
CHAOS is dead. R.I.P CHAOS
August 30th, 2017 at 9:34 PM ^
How did you get that picture of me? It has to be from at least 2 weeks ago...I wear pull-ups now.