SI puts Florida game outcomes in context
Sports Illustrated puts the possible outcomes of the game on Saturday in context.
Possible outcomes listed in the article:
August 31st, 2017 at 8:42 AM ^
August 31st, 2017 at 8:42 AM ^
I think this raises some good questions and you sound a little bit like a homer (nothing against homers by the way).
August 31st, 2017 at 8:46 AM ^
August 31st, 2017 at 9:11 AM ^
I don't like getting stuck at 3rd base. I like going all the way. Homers are the only way to go.
August 31st, 2017 at 11:00 AM ^
August 31st, 2017 at 9:06 AM ^
really think he is. In three or the four possible outcomes, the Florida suspension feature prominently in the analysis. Frankly, if there are more suspended players today, the only "real" win for Michigan in this game will be if they obliterate Florida. Any other outcome will be viewed as "meh." (unless we lose the game, and that would not be good). I really wish Florida player could, ya know, STOP BREAKING THE LAW for a few minutes so that this game would have remained what it appeared to be a month ago.
August 31st, 2017 at 10:55 AM ^
Yep. At this point, though, I'm honestly rooting for even more suspensions because we've already gone past the point where people are severely discounting the game if we win. Since it's going to be so discounted, might as well suspend their whole side and pick up as easy a W as possible vs. a team that consists of nothing but Zaire, Left Shark, and probably a bewildered David Reese, who always seemed like a good guy.
August 31st, 2017 at 12:19 PM ^
It is what it is at this point. A comfortable win would be well regarded nationally regardless of what's happening to Florida and enjoyable for us fans. A close win will bring reasonable trepidation, but then we know this team is going to have some growing pains with all of the youth. Either way, it rates a mention in the national conversation and then we feast on some scrubs until the heavy stuff starts in October.
It does make a loss more disastrous in appearance. Even then, a solid conclusion to the season (if we lose to Florida but beat OSU, nobody in the world will complain) wipes out any trouble. It's just that a loss implies problems that will make it difficult to finish the season strong.
August 31st, 2017 at 8:43 AM ^
We have to dismantle Florida to get national respect in the polls. Florida sounds like they are in complete chaos with players turning each other into the police.
The good news is that we will beat Florida and by the end of the season it won't matter.
August 31st, 2017 at 10:23 AM ^
after week one. As you said, by the end of the season it won't matter. I'll go further and say it won't matter after a few more games. A 10 point win over a depleted Florida is going to look better than a 3 point win against their full roster. It's not like the betting line has moved all that much.
What would really diminish our win would be Florida having a crappy season because they can't recover from their self inflicted wounds.
August 31st, 2017 at 8:46 AM ^
where are you?
August 31st, 2017 at 8:47 AM ^
Win the game.
August 31st, 2017 at 8:50 AM ^
August 31st, 2017 at 9:02 AM ^
I want Florida to come into this feeling confident and jacked up. Rockin' their jorts, gator chompin', and generally acting the SEC fool.
And I want them to leave broken in spirit, rueing the day they ever scheduled this game. I want McElwain to cry into the fins of his chondrichthyian lover on Saturday night. Garments in Gainesville should be wrent, and their fields salted by the Gator nation's tears.
That's what I want.
August 31st, 2017 at 9:35 AM ^
feel the same way. I used to not hate Florida because they have cool uniforms, stadium, etc. I thought they were kind of an "OK" SEC team, and since we completely own them I really had nothing against them. But the amount of whoofing that Chief Brody and his players have done over the last month has irritated me a little. I want to see Pain.
August 31st, 2017 at 9:59 AM ^
August 31st, 2017 at 10:05 AM ^
too. But since we kicked Tebow's ass, his mere existence did not compel me to hate them.
August 31st, 2017 at 4:49 PM ^
Michigan didn't "kick Tebow's ass" in '07. They beat a good team, but it was a close game and Florida put up plenty of points.
Michigan *did* kick their ass a couple of years ago.
August 31st, 2017 at 9:18 AM ^
Yep. "Crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentation of their women."
August 31st, 2017 at 10:01 AM ^
Most of the Gators who will be on field on Saturday were part of the dismantling of Iowa in their last game. So just because a couple of starters and some bench guys won't be playing doesn't mean we blow them out just by showing up.
August 31st, 2017 at 10:53 AM ^
Exactly. If you put Florida in the B1G, they would be 2nd only to Ohio State in terms of Michigan's most talented opponents.
August 31st, 2017 at 10:12 AM ^
prettier than a 20 dollar whore.
August 31st, 2017 at 12:21 PM ^
The problem with this is that a lot of the Florida players are ready and willing to talk trash publicly, but then they get suspended and can't even play.
August 31st, 2017 at 9:09 AM ^
Steve Clark brought that up on WTKA yesterday. According to him, Florida folks are confident that they're winning this game.
But Clark also brought up that Gator nation was confident they were going to beat Michigan in 2003, 2008 and 2015. Sooooo, take that for what it's worth.
August 31st, 2017 at 9:18 AM ^
August 31st, 2017 at 9:36 AM ^
August 31st, 2017 at 8:50 AM ^
Win, draw or lose, this game was not going to put either team out of the NC picture. If we win, it means slightly less than it did before. Very similar to when OSU lost to VA Tech in their home opener a few years back and then won the NC.
Lose your first game, go 11-1 and win the B1G championship and we are in great shape.
August 31st, 2017 at 11:05 AM ^
August 31st, 2017 at 1:10 PM ^
a win will be a huge confidence boost and put the team on track to being undefeated heading into Happy Valley. If we lose big we may end up 7-5. If it is a close loss we may still be in good shape but 10 wins may be our ceiling.
August 31st, 2017 at 8:50 AM ^
August 31st, 2017 at 8:51 AM ^
August 31st, 2017 at 8:51 AM ^
The analysis seems relatively well thought out to me. All of the scenarios they propose are possible outcomes of the game.
August 31st, 2017 at 8:53 AM ^
I've read, re-read and then read again the four possible outcomes listed by SI and I'm missing any "excuse" they're putting up for Florida. They list the potential outcomes and what the narrative will likely be following each one. And which one specifically do you disagree with? Those are pretty much, IMO, EXACTLY what the national pundits and Michigan/Florida fans should be saying and questions they should be asking after each one.
I'm guessing you were hoping for something like this:
Michigan pounds Florida - "Well we expected that. Michigan being God-like and all that."
Michigan squeeks by Florida - "The refs sucked. Without their help Michigan would've pounded Florida"
Florida squeeks by Michigan - "Well we should HOPE so what with Michigan forgetting the game time and only having the band show up and having to use them as players"
Florida pounds Michigan - "Hardee har-har. That's never going to happen and we all know it."
August 31st, 2017 at 8:58 AM ^
August 31st, 2017 at 8:59 AM ^
Nothing matters until the clock says 00:00
August 31st, 2017 at 9:00 AM ^
August 31st, 2017 at 9:00 AM ^
/ s
August 31st, 2017 at 9:02 AM ^
Pound Florida and let the enemies keep guessing about Michigan. It's a win win.
August 31st, 2017 at 9:09 AM ^
August 31st, 2017 at 9:13 AM ^
Yeah, if only we didn't have a roster full of criminals.
August 31st, 2017 at 9:51 AM ^
Mike and Mike? Are they still a thing? I thought that show was cancelled when Mike moved on, and left Mike behind?
August 31st, 2017 at 10:49 AM ^
August 31st, 2017 at 10:07 AM ^
August 31st, 2017 at 9:10 AM ^
UM is in a lose/lose situation when it comes to the national media in this game, no matter the outcome. Michigan will be deemed overrated if a loss or Michigan beat a very limited Florida if a win.