Sloppy win, but I'll take it!

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Michigan
1

<p>With a partially injured Henne and no Hart, Michigan managed to beat a sound Illinois team by 10 points in a pretty hostile environment. Michigan is now officially back on track. OSU and Michigan remain perfect in conference play and not other Big 10 team has fewer than 2 losses in conference play, so that gives OSU and Michigan and enviable buffer. </p>

<p>This win should propel Michigan into the top 20. Not only was the win convincing, many top 20 teams lost this weekened, including #20 Tennessee, #22 Texas Tech, #23 Cincinnati and #25 Kansas State. I really cannot imagine Michigan being ranked worse than #20. </p>

<p>Minnesota should be a easy win next week, assuming Michigan does not overlook them. We will probably rest Henne and Hart. That is not to say they will not play (Hart needs to warm up for the final three games of the season and he needs to pad his stats if he is to have a realistic shot at the Heisman), but I don't expect them to play a full game. </p>

<p>The craziness continues. This weekend, #2 South Florida lost, as did #6 South Carolina, #8 Kentucky and #10 Cal. #5 LSU could also find itself on the losing end. #1 OSU and #4 Oklahoma also got scares. Top 10 teams seem to be losing at an alarming rate this season. I have said it before and I will say it again...there will most likely be a 2-loss team playing in New Orleans this coming January at the BCS national championship game, and as far fetched and unlikely as it may seem, Michigan is one of the possible candidates for that game, if they can somehow manage to beat Minnesota, MSU, Wisconsin and OSU.</p>

2

<p>Sloppy? may be ... but we now have a dependable field goal kicker and a backup for Hart!</p>

3

<p>Agreed. It is good to see an improvement in the kicking game. Brown is a decent substitute for Hart, but he isn't nearly as consistant or dependable. Anyway, here's hoping Michigan finishes the season strong and that the upsets continue. Auburn just took the lead vs LSU with 3 minutes left to the game. Go Auburn!!! LOL!</p>

4

<p>God, I was so close to heading down to Champaign at about 1pm this afternoon, my sleeping arrangements were even in a U of I sorority house. I am kicking myself right now.</p>

<p>I already have plans for the game in East Lansing, I guess I might just need to do Madison this year also. GO BLUE!</p>

5

<p>"God, I was so close to heading down to Champaign at about 1pm this afternoon, my sleeping arrangements were even in a U of I sorority house. I am kicking myself right now."</p>

<p>DSMO, I would be kicking myself too if I were you. You had the opportunity to sleep over at a sorority house and missed out on that gift? You fool! LOL!</p>

6

<p>HJa, lol at the sorority house thing. I think UM is out for the NCG, but Rose Bowl is a definite possibility if they win out. I just think pollsters will take LSU, OK, OR, etc. over a team that lost to App State, as much as I'd love to see UM in the NCG. Plus, if they go to the Rose Bowl, I can watch them!</p>

7

<h1>19 on the new AP poll</h1>

8

<p>And #20 in the new BCS ranking. Michigan should ascend rapidely if we continue to win. There are going to be a lot of major upsets and big rivalry games in the next 6 weeks. Just look at some of the matchups taking place in the next three weekends:</p>

<h1>2 Boston College at #8 Virginia Tech</h1>

<h1>3 LSU at #22 Alabama</h1>

<h1>5 Oregon vs #9 USC</h1>

<h1>6 West Virginia at #25 Rutgers</h1>

<h1>7 Arizona State Vs #18 Cal</h1>

<h1>9 Florida at #20 Georgia</h1>

<h1>12 Kansas at Texas A&M</h1>

<h1>15 South Carolina at Tennessee</h1>

<h1>17 Texas vs Nebraska</h1>

<h1>2 Boston College vs Florida State</h1>

<h1>4 Oklahoma at Texas A&M</h1>

<h1>5 Oregon vs #7 Arizona State</h1>

<h1>6 West Virginia vs Louisville</h1>

<h1>7 Arizona State at UCLA</h1>

<h1>9 Florida at #15 South Carolina</h1>

<h1>9 USC at #18 Cal</h1>

<h1>12 Kansas vs Nebraska</h1>

<h1>13 Missouri at Colorado</h1>

<h1>13 Missouri vs Texas A&M</h1>

<p>And then, you have the last two weeks of college football (Nov 17-24), when all the big rivalry games are played. Finally, in eary December, you have all the conference championship games.</p>

<p>When all the dust settles, I would be very surprised to see many 0 or 1 loss teams. Hopefully, Michigan can remain a 2-loss team. A 4th trip to the Rose Bowl in 5 years would be nice!</p>

9

<p>if Michigan can run the table I can see them easily in the top 6 or 7 by the end of the year...simply because the top 25 is so PAC-10 and SEC heavy that they will all play each other and beat each other up.</p>

10

<p>sub: true, but, look at Cal: They have two Pac-10 losses and are still ahead of UM. Pollsters know the Pac-10 and SEC are tough, compared to an off-year in the Big-10, and therefore those harder conferences are allowed a little more lee-way in the win-loss column.</p>

11

<p>Yes and no VC. Having 2 losses vs tough conference foes is obviously not as bad as having 2 losses, if one is to a team like Appalachian State. However, Michigan's upside at the moment is tremendous. First of all, one of the teams we lost to is actually ranked 5th in the nation. Secondly, our two losses were our first two games of the season. Other teams with two losses will have lost a game at midseason or worse yet, at the end of the season. Michigan could be sitting on a 10-game winning streak, including an impressive 8-0 conference record. </p>

<p>If Michigan wins out, it will most likely leap past most 2-loss teams, assuming of course, that OSU remains undefeated and ranked #1 when we play them.</p>