UM does not play well on the road - why?

I'd love to see game start time factored in as well. Just something I've noticed and perhaps it is skewed by level of competition but the team starts a hell of a lot better at 12 PM kicks. I think Harbaugh knows that and tries to push for more of those games. I've always felt road games really alter the routine both by being in a new environment and also starting at unusual times.

Not really part of the convo but mark my words - Northwestern will beat ND in Evanston this year.

This is the million dollar question.  No, seriously, answer it and you'll get $1 million.  Paid for by the dude that sends the team abroad every year.

We lost a lot of games on the road, even when we were very good. 1976 #1 Michigan lost to a sub .500 Purdue team. 1981, #1 Michigan lost to an un-ranked WI team that finished with only 4 wins that season. 1983 we lost to IL on the road. Then in '84 we lost to a bad Purdue team. 1988 we tied a bad IA team on the road. 1993 we lost to WI on the road. I was at the 1995 game we blew to NU at home and that was even a worse loss! In 1996 we lost to both NU and Purdue on the road. 2000 we lost to both NU and Purdue. 2003 we lost to IA. 2005 we lost at WI. 2007 lost to WI on the road. Everything else is sort of recent history! So we have a long history of not showing up to some of these road games against inferior opponents.  I'm just glad the team pulled this one out. Worse are the games over the years we lost to bad teams at home. Like Minnesota in '86 when Harbaugh was QB and we were number 2 in the country.

Because our offensive line sucks, previously because our QB was bad, and also because our offense was generally young last year.  We were not bad on the road in 2015 or 2016.  We won at MSU and at PSU.  But, last year we were terrible and this year we were not great at ND or in this last game.  Our QB is no longer bad, but Patterson had a bad game.  But, he was good enough to win. 

I also get the feeling that JH et al. still wants to be something we are not (quite yet) and that we often spend the first few drives trying to do something we're not great at before we realize we need to adjust.  I don't know if this is still on the o-line, the overall fairly young offense, or what.  I have to assume over more time in the system this sort of thing will get better.  Next year we basically return everyone on offense minus JBB and Higdon.  But, I'm always hearing that we're still learning our offense.  At some point the upperclassman should be able to help with this, but I'm not sure we're quite there yet.  I basically put it on the o-line and last year also on the QB and young WRs. 

Because we’re ill prepared and the players buy the media hype they’re given every single year. Talent wise we’re consistently a 7-9 win team. Yet the media hypes us as playoff contenders when we simply aren’t that good. 2016 is the only team since 2006 that’s deserved that praise. 

No, teams don’t just go all out for us. The only team that does that is MSU and maybe OSU. No, it isn’t the refs. No, it’s not bad luck with injuries. It’s the fact we’re an overhyped team every single year. It’s not hard to see this. I’m twenty years old. Mediocrity is all I know. So maybe it’s easier for me to see this than someone who’s seen actual success. But check the denial at the door, because this is our program right now. 

Quite simply, bad coaching.

Because we start slow on the road. If we want to win like we do at home, we need to be fired up to play football.

End thread.

We're probably pretty average. Stats offered here seem to suggest this. 

Until you have a truly dominant squad you're probably likely to lose your share on the road.

I do think having a transcendental QB can get you a few more wins. Though Shea gutted us out that one Saturday.  

I have a completely unsubstantiated idea that Michigan is aware of its schedule this year and is intentionally holding back plays unless absolutely necessary. 

I’m not sure especially last weekend because there were enough fans there from Michigan for that to not feel like an away game.  There are a lot of things that need to be cleaned up.  The defense was amazing in the second half but in the two away games so far they seem to have come out flat, and just to many stupid penalties.  As much as we love to play man I think there are times like 3rd and long where we just shouldn’t do that. It is creating open spaces/alleys for the qb to run, or just throw the fly pattern and a PI is called.  McSorley and Haskins are going to eat that up if they have time. Offensively it’s just like they still don’t have their identity. The first two road games we came out in shotgun a lot early, and did not execute.  I don’t like the little tricky plays especially when you are running the ball at a 4 yard clip up the middle.  The wide receiver running across and getting the toss from the Qb on second and favorable...why.  I have also never been a fan of the quick pass to the wideout especially against good ds.  Hopefully they figure it out quick because Maryland is no pushover. 

Two Thoughts:

1) Pat Fitz is an amazing coach. When you give him a bye week prior to playing any team, he gives them a game. 

2) How much more vanilla could we get? At some point, you have to put it on the team to execute and produce. We finally witnessed this on Saturday. Yes, we did not have great output as far as scoring, but once again our defense and offense stepped up and got the W. 

Until we can produce and succeed in high-stress situations, instead of just blowing opponents out, we will not rise and be great. Even 'Bama faces a game here and again when they have to rise up and produce and pull out the W in the fourth quarter. Stay the course... Those who stay, will be champions. 

Because the playcalling is even more conservative and predictable than it is at home.  

this sounds like a money making opportunity!  Bet against Michigan when playing high quality opponents on the road!