<p>Anything is possible, however I don't see UM going 9-3 but as far as RR'S spread offense it's very adaptable. look at when he was the oc at Tulane and he helped shawn king who broke the record for passing efficiency.They went 12-0. So if the starting qb is consistent and doesn't make too many mistakes they should surprise a lot of people.</p>
<p>I agree. 8-4 is more likely.</p>
<p>Michigan will not lose to Penn State as long as Joe Paterno is the coach there. Also, do people realize that RR coordinated the offense for that undefeated Tulane team with a non-mobile QB? Ironically enough, I think our offense this year will resemble Utah's 2004 offense with Alex Smith (obviously not as explosive since it is the first year under RR). I just can't wait for that Newsome kid to get here next season, the guy looks like a faster Tebow. Also, winning the OSU game isn't as far fetched as it sounds. Remember, 1969 wasn't suppose to happen and Tressel wasn't suppose to come into the Big House with a 5-6 team and beat Michigan in his first year.</p>
<p>Henne's and Hart's injuries weren't the reason that Michigan lost that game to Ohio State, it was the coaching staff giving up on the run way too early in the game on a rainy day. Last year in Big Ten play, the team that ran the ball won 83% of the time while the team that simply threw the ball more then the opposition lost 82% of the time. This is why Wisconsin is near unbeatable in Madison (averaged 52 carries per game at home in Big Ten play last year) and Ohio State was a great road team last year (49.5 CPG in Big Ten play on the road last year). Michigan dug their own grave that day by throwing the ball 34 times that day, compared to OSU's 13 pass attempts.</p>
<p>Seriously, it isn't that hard to figure out. Just run the football, and you will be successful in this conference. I have Michigan at 7-5 going 5-3 in-conference losing to Utah, at Notre Dame, Illinois, at Penn State, and at Ohio State. </p>
<p>If one thing happens this year, I want Rich Rod to completely overhaul the perception of this program. I'm sick of hearing about Bo, The "Quiet House", being Ohio State's whipping boy, and any defense that involves Michigan fans bringing up their history of the program. I don't care what we did 30 years ago or how Michigan overall, has the best of Ohio State. I care about present day college football.</p>
<p>I hope you guys aren't underestimating Northwestern.</p>
<p>They have basically the exact same team coming back that gave Michigan quite the scare last year in Evanston. Had it not been for Bacher handing us that game on a silver platter (+5 turnover ratio) we would have lost. I believe that we should win this game, but after last year I'm not taking them lightly. Not falling asleep for this game and getting revenge on Bielema's (two bad words) for running up the score at the end of last year's game are two of the long list of things that Michigan has to put on their short list of goals for this season.</p>
<p>"Like I said, Michigan has talent at all times."</p>
<p>So do all the other good teams in the conference. The difference is that this year OSU, Wis, PSU, and the Illini all have more talent. You have no quarterback to run RR's style of offense. Your quarterback is a transfer from GT that is a pocket passer, not the scrambler that RR needed. Honestly, I'm not sure how you can say that Michigan will go 8-4 this year. Definite Losses: Wis,OSU, PSU, Illinois. Possible Losses: Utah, ND, MSU. Probable Wins: NW, Pur. Automatics: Minn, Tol, Miami.</p>
<p>Michigan should go about 7-5. I wouldn't be surprised to see Michigan sitting at 6-6 at the end of the season.</p>
<p>Do you think the Utah game is sold out? I am not a season ticket holder and would like to purchase an individual ticket.</p>
<p>jec, no team in the counference has more talent than Michigan, OSU included. However, Michigan is young this year and has a new coaching staff and that will cause some problems early on. </p>
<p>Let us get one thing absolutely clear. RR does not need a mobile QB to win. He can coach a traditional offense just as effectively. Given the choice between the spread and a more traditional style, he would gravitate toward the spread, but he can succeed either way.</p>
<p>Personally, I think 8-4 is a moderate prediction. We could do horribly and go 6-6 and we could do well and go 10-2. I am not sure how you figure that Michigan has definite losses. There are, in my opinion, 3-4 likely losses, and 2 or 3 possible losses. For more than 5 losses to materialize would require horrible luck. </p>
<p>Not that any of our discussion will alter reality. I guess we will know how well Michigan will do by mid October. I expect a slow start. As I predicted above, we will probably start with a mediocre 1-3 record but we will end with a 7-1 streak. We are all entitled to our opinion, but I see no evidence that supports that Michigan has less talent or potential than other teams in this conference. We have recruited very highly ranked classes each year, so the talent is there.</p>
<p>"jec, no team in the counference has more talent than Michigan, OSU included."</p>
<p>Wow, talk about someone that has had way too much of the wolverine Kool-Aid. You keep on believing that...</p>
<p>jec, you are entitled to your opinion. There are obviously facts to support your contention that Michigan is a middle-of-the-pack Big 10 team. I see it differently. We only lost two conference games last season. At Wisconsin with a True Freshman QB and no starting RB and vs OSU by 10 points. We beat Illinois and PSU. Obviously, this is a different team. This year, Michigan's offense is going to be weaker than last year but our defense is going to be stronger.</p>
<p>Fair enough. I look forward to October 18th. Always a good game.</p>
<p>How exactly do you conclude that the defense will be stronger, Alexandre?</p>
<p>The same way I conclude that the offense will be weaker. The offense will be younger and less experienced...therefore it will probably be weaker. Onversely, the Defense will be stronger, fitter and more experienced. This generally means improvement.</p>
<p>According to recruiting websites, Michigan actually has accumulated more talent than any other team in the Big 10 over the last few years. It's just that our former staff did a horrendous job of developing talent and putting them in winning situations.</p>
<p>Actually FUTBIL, OSU has recruited just as effectively. In terms of results, Michigan outperformed all Big 10 teams but OSU over the last 5 or 6 seasons. Michigan has not been fortunate either, have many "bad bounces" over the last couple of years. </p>
<p>But I agree that Michigan definitely has a lot of talent. We must wait and see how this season unfolds.</p>
<p>"Personally, I think 8-4 is a moderate prediction. We could do horribly and go 6-6 and we could do well and go 10-2."</p>
<p>Alexandre, care to revise your prediction for the season? That was quite the nail biter with Miami of Ohio. I see Michigan winning about 4-5 games, with definitely no bowl game. Still see a 7-1 streak coming at the end of the season? Ha, michigan football has become such a joke.</p>
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<p>Huh? This I don't get at all. If Michigan struggles this year, it will be for reasons both understandable and predicted by a lot of analysts. I've not heard anyone knowledgeable about football who thinks Michigan is in for some long-term slide into laughability. Most of what I've read suggests that the team has potential to be excellent under Rodriguez in future seasons.</p>
<p>Can you expand on what you mean?</p>
<p>"If Michigan struggles this year, it will be for reasons both understandable and predicted by a lot of analysts."</p>
<p>Obviously not that many, as they were ranked in the top 25 coming into the season. This is the first time that michigan has lost home openers to fbs schools for two straight seasons since 1989. They now struggle to beat mac teams. Maybe the only knowledgeable people that you have spoken with are Michigan fans. The mystique of the program is gone. Honestly, the Michigan job used to be one that was coveted. In this past search for a Michigan coach they got turned down twice, one of which was an alum another was a coach of a big east school, before they got desparate to save face and began throwing money at rich rod. Now, this weekend, they go into a game that was once one of the premier games of the season. This game is now almost irrelevant. Honestly, if you want to see Michigan in a few years you have to look no farther than your weekend competition. Notre Dame brought in some self-proclaimed offensive genius, like rich rod, and where has that gotten them? For all this talent that I keep hearing about up in Ann Arbor, the players have looked completely inept in the first two games. They were getting pushed around in all phases of the game by Miami of Ohio. The Michigan program has fallen from winning a national title in the late 90s to now losing to the likes of app state and Utah and being pushed by a mac team.</p>
<p>I think U of M still has the mystique of being one of the biggest names in collegiate football--as does Notre Dame--but my concern is with the advent of the spread offense in Ann Arbor. U of M has always been a great quarterback school and, as great as Rodriguez might be at implementing the spread, i don't think it will find nearly as much success in AA as it did in West Virginia. It may take 3-4 years of mediocre seasons (7-8 wins) in order for people to agree, but I truly that think that it will eventually be kicked out of AA.</p>
<p>Regardless of the state of both teams, I still think this weekend in South Bend will be awesome. I don't see it being a blow out on either side (primarily since neither teams can score) so it definitely will be another awesome representation of the rivalry. GO IRISH!</p>
<p>I thought Northwestern would beat Michigan but after Duke's game, I don't think so anymore unless Duke has actually been underrated.</p>