<p>We still have a few issues to iron out. Particularly when it comes to securing the ball. Mallett and Brown are still fumble-prone. However, they are young and they will improve. I am actually pleased with the RBs and QB progress. Brown has the type of breakaway speed I have not seen since Tyrone Wheatley doned the winged helmet back in the early 90s. I am also pleased with our kicking game. Hopefully, we continue to improve in that domain. </p>
<p>On a less positive note, I was unhappy that Hart did not play. I wanted him to use the Minnesota game as his warm-up going into the final three games of the season. Now, he is going to be rusty and will probably not return to form until the OSU game. I think not playing may have also hurt his chances for the Heisman, although given this crazy season, he is still very much in the hunt. The favorite now has to be either Dixon or Ryan, but Hart should be 3rd or 4th on the list, particularly now that Florida and Kentucky have both lost. If Hart can rush for 500 yards and 5 or 6 TDs in his final three games, including a game-winning effort vs OSU...and if Oregon and Boston College each loses one game between now and the end of the season, I think Hart wins it. </p>
<p>As for the next three games, they are going to be tough. First MSU at East Lansing. The Spartans always save their best for Michigan. This is not going to be pretty. If we can protect the football and if our defense continues to dominate, we win this one, but it will be close. I am expecting a low scoring, 10-point win. At Wisconsin is going to be tough too. It will be played in a hostile environment against a hungry Badger team. The home game vs OSU should be awesome. I really expect Michigan to win that one this year. Michigan may finish 9-3, but if it does, the loss will not come to OSU.</p>
<p>I am so pumped for East Lansing. I don't know how daylight savings works now for a 3:30 game, but a night game would be incredible (and unlikely.)</p>
<p>I love how the networks, coaches and polls are embracing us after the initial exile. I think it just goes to show the spirit of the team that they have eclisped numerous hurdles, silenced the skeptics and (in part) won over the same community that dispatched them as over-rated after a single loss ( Oregon of course doesn't count since the Ducks are the best team in the nation in my opinion). I just hope we can pull out of November with the Big Ten title in Ann Arbor. That would probably cap of the most remarkable season we've had since 1997.</p>
<p>Michigan jumped significantly in both the coaches poll (from 21 to 14) and in the BCS poll (from 20 to 12). That's definitely encouraging, especially when considering that we have yet to prove ourselves. Yes, PSU, Purdue and Illinois were fine wins, but Wisconsin and OSU are going to be the toughest games of our season. MSU is not impressive, but they are always at their best vs Michigan. If Michigan wins out, considering the number of teams ahead of us that still must play each other, we could be ranked in the top 5 when Bowl selection time comes around. If a couple of upsets take place (and this season has seen many upsets), it is not entirely inconceivable that Michigan would end the regular season ranked among the top 2 teams in the nation with a shot at the National Championship. But that would require some help from the teams ranked ahead of us and of course, a perfect gsme vs OSU. OSU looks unbeatable right about now, so Michigan had better be prepared.</p>
<p>MSU football stinks. U-M, which recovered nicely from ASU and Oregon will roll. Spartan fans are, as usual, biding our time for our real powerhouse: Izzo's basketball team. As for the football game? Wolves will roll over the Spartans... as usual.</p>
<p>Qunicy, MSU football doesn't "stink". At the moment, I'd say it is average. But somehow, MSU always plays Michigan tough, particularly at East Lansing. Just look at Michigan's results at MSU since 1992 (my Freshman year):</p>
<p>MSU leads 4-3 and with the exception of 1993 and 1997, all the games were won by 7 or fewer points. And if I recall, Michigan was favored in all of those games.</p>
<p>I think Michigan has a good chance of winning on Saturday, but I don't think it is going to be an easy win, especially if Hart and Henne aren't at 100%.</p>
<p>I think this game is a toss-up. MSU has already achieved mediocrity, a mid-season collapse, and one or two spectacular losses. The only thing their season is missing is a surprising overachievement, which at this point can only come at the expense of Michigan or Penn State.</p>
<p>I hope you are wrong, but I wouldn't be too shocked about it. We just have to hope that our talent prevails over theirs, because we know JT will be running circles around Carr's head again.</p>
<p>Personally, I disagree with Dilsky and Hoedown. I have a feeling Michigan will beat OSU this year...assuming our team has no major injuries like Henne, Hart, Manningham or Long. Michigan has more experience at the skill positions and Michigan has a better coach. Carr is arguably the best coach in the nation. Yes, he is predictible, but even then, he still manages to maintain the #1 record in the nation against top 5 and top 10 teams. Michigan football should never change. It is an identity and I hope our future coaches stick to it.</p>
<p>"Michigan has a better coach. Carr is arguably the best coach in the nation. "
agree with the second part. Disagree with the first part. Jim Tressel outcoached/outplaycalled lloyd carr so many times. He just has carr's number.</p>
<p>Carr and Tessel are very different. Tressel coaches to win at all cost. Carr coaches Michigan football. One has his own brand, the other upholds and ideal. I agree that Tressel has outcoached Carr, but I also think that Tressel and Carr have such different missions and approaches to the game that one cannot fairly compare the two.</p>
<p>jim tressel calls play with a determination to win (look at his aggressive playcalling to set a tone in the purdue and michigan state early in the game that basically finishes off the game early)
lloyd carr calls play to bore people to death. Run Run Pass. Run Run Pass. Of course jim tressel outcoaches lloyd that way.. because he knows what u r gonna do next.</p>
<p>I must respectfully disagree with Alexandre. Lloyd Carr is nowhere near the coach Jim Tressell is. And he also isn't the best coach, not even one of the best, coaches in college football. Like Alexandre said Carr coaches "Michigan Football", but I don't even know how to describe that term anymore. Is it years of mediocrity? Consecutive losses to OSU and in the bowl game? Losing to App State, which unlike many people alluded to after game is not a good team at all? Is it averaging 3 losses per season (when is the last time our beloved UM team had 1 or less than 1 loss besides the 1997 season?)? I don't know what you mean when you say different "approches" to the game, but their (as in actual great coaches such as Carroll, Meyer, JT, Stoops) approach is winning football games while Carr's approach is slowly eroding this program. The man is a chronic underachiever, could you even imagine someone like Pete Carroll coaching UM? Or any other great coach for that matter?</p>
<p>"MSU football stinks. U-M, which recovered nicely from ASU and Oregon will roll. Spartan fans are, as usual, biding our time for our real powerhouse: Izzo's basketball team. As for the football game? Wolves will roll over the Spartans... as usual."</p>
<p>haha quincy? how bout....loss to .....let's see division 2 grand valley state?</p>
<p>^GVSU was only an exhibition loss, my friend. Let's see how tough you guys are when U-M coached by Tommy A's replacement comes rolling into the Breslin.</p>