B1G Media picks Michigan to win the conference again
The annual B1G media preseason poll has Michigan as a three-peat conference champion. Wisconsin is projected to win the west. OSU has been the preseason media favorite the past 4 years. Their projected rankings are here:
https://twitter.com/Brett_McMurphy/status/1683818976327991296
Iowa will win the west and we'll beat Cade & company 42-14 in Indy.
Iowa being annoyingly good and All having 1000 yards receiving (or 80% of the teams entire passing game) in that offense wouldn't surprise me. Cade will be solid if they can protect him.
OSU needs to prove they can run the ball when needed. They have the best receiving duo in the country, but they've had the best receiving trio in the country the past few years. Add in breaking in a new QB and trying to fix a broken secondary...makes sense why UM would be the favorite.
PSU is formidable as well and it's a road game, but they lost a lot on defense and are also breaking in a new QB. Despite all the Clifford hate, he was tough as nails and never had a decent O-line. If PSU's O-line is still bad, Allard might be broken by mid-season.
A lot can happen between opening day and November, but given we only have 1 real unkown (the second outside CB position), a healthy UM should be the favorite.
I dunno. Cade is a good college QB, but he really needs a solid run game to support him. He had some bright spots in 2021, but largely it was the offense carrying the day and Cade supporting. Iowa was apparently 124th in rushing offense last year at 95 ypg. If that run game isn't fixed, Cade and Erick just aren't going to save that offense and Cade's going to be running for his life.
Counter point: Iowa had no threat through the air last year and teams were able to load up on the run. Adding a competent QB and passing target all of a sudden puts more fear in the opposing DC, which should also open up some run lanes. While I don't expect them to be world beaters, Iowa should be markedly better on offense next year.
Assuming the defense remains stout, I would think that Iowa should be a contender, if not favored, for the West crown.
Counter counter point: Iowa always has great tight ends so Erick All doesn't change the equation much. And then the question is- is Cade significantly better than your average Iowa QB? Vs the guys they had last year, of course. But he's not striking the fear of god into any opposing DCs
Cade does a very good job running an offense. He is very heady and good under pressure. Also, he hit quite a few deep balls for us in 2021.
I am very happy we have JJ but there is no need to minimize Cade as a QB
Just because Cade had a solid run game in 2023 doesn't mean he "really" needs a run game to perform well.
Cade and Co. should do pretty well in the B1G West if Iowa's defense repeats as their usual stout self. Unfortunately for really any team from the B1G West they have to play the B1G East champ and history is not on their side.
Wisky, Iowa, Minny, and maybe an upstart Nebraska should make that division a fun defensive battle but Mich, OSU, and PSU have just as good of defenses and the skill players on offense to make them a CFP threat.
That Don Thomas guy on Twitter will immediately claim Cade was superior to JJ in every way and should win the Heisman in the immediate aftermath.
He's insufferable.
EDIT to add the other day he was claiming Shea was as good as JJ.
That he is. He also listed Cade as a preseason Heisman candidate. I don't care how good Cade is this year...he's still playing in a B. Ferentz milk toast offense with a very limited number of offensive weapons. In his prime Tom Brady or Patrick Mahomes aren't putting up Heisman caliber numbers in that offense.
Milque - milk.
*the name of the character Caspar Milquetoast is inspired by the American dish milk toast, an extremely simple dish of sliced buttered toast with milk poured over it that is intended for people who are ill.
Both could apply to a B. Ferentz offense.
...how do you figure us, I mean, them getting to 14?
--Brian Ferentz Shadow Account
let's hope the media is RIGHT this year
Not sure how excited we should be. Been a couple years since they called this correctly.
It's nice to get the recognition, but I'd prefer if the media continued to doubt us and backed the Buckeyes. Not that Michigan needs to play with a chip on their shoulders (we've seen what happens with that - Denard nearly gets his head torn off, tunnel riots, etc). But it sure does feel good to prove critics wrong time and time again.
Well, if we're playing the underdog/disrespect card, Vegas still has OSU favored (although only slightly) to win the conference
It's mostly because everyone knows that 2022 wasn't a fluke now. Michigan has destroyed OSU both at home and on the road 2 years straight. They've returned almost the entire roster AND The Game is in Ann Arbor this year. Michigan should be the favorite. No question. If the media didn't lean this way, I would have been surprised.
I agree with you. I'll add another very important factor: Michigan returns an experienced (and talented) QB. OSU does not. McCord has talent, but extremely limited game experience. That early season game where OSU travels to South Bend will be one to watch. It doesn't impact the B1G race, but it certainly could impact the CFB playoff.
I think I saw a stat a few months ago that PFF said Michigan is bringing back ~80% of overall production, OSU is closer to ~65 (I'm sure Stroud is a huge part of that).
This is the rare occasion, when it would probably be better if we played Ohio early in the season.
The current Vegas odds - as of this morning - has Georgia as the favorite at +250 followed by Alabama and OSU - both are at +600. Michigan follows at +1000.
I only care about beating Ohio State. I don't even care about winning the B10 or the Natty.
The players care about the championships, so I'm with them.
To your point, they don't drink Natty Light and I'm good with that, too.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, so I am not attempting to disrespect yours but this attitude feels eerily similar to what I would expect from an MSU fan re: Michigan. Two years ago, I might have shared your sentiment as UM needed to get over the mental hurdle of beating OSU, but now the goals should be more aspirational than just beating OSU.
Personally, I am expecting an 11-1 season from UM with a tough loss at PSU, a tough win against OSU, a Big 10 championship and, sadly, another disappointment in the playoffs.
Its a noon kickoff at PSU. I expect a Michigan win. Michigan went there 2 years ago and beat them in a late afternoon game. With the experience they are bringing back they'll do it again.
If PSU stays healthy until that game, it should be a back and forth battle that could come down to the last possession. I don't know why but I'm getting the feeling that Frames uses this game as "save my ass" coaching job and pulls out a win in an extremely frustrating way. Hope I'm wrong and if I am, I think he gets the chop if he can't beat OSU or Mich this year assuming they can find a suitable replacement.
PSU will provide some resistance, but Harbaugh has Frames' number. Frames needs a really smart coordinator with the brainpower to challenge M's brain trust, plus a generational player or two. Their DC is pretty decent, but I don't think they're up to the task.
I'm also skeptical as to whether Allar's production will exceed that of Clifford , at least for this season. I think we'll all see what Clifford meant to the PSU teams the last couple years. Allar has more raw talent, but Clifford had an indomitable will and grit.
I think the game at PSU will be tough as expected but then again we absolutely eviscerated their DL last year en route to rushing for 500+ yards. They were so beaten down that all Frames could say as he left the field was "We've gotta get stronger."
We might have SEVEN offensive linemen get drafted or signed as undrafted free agents next spring. So yes, it's a road game against the third best team in conference so by definition it will be tough. But it might not be all that close.
I always look at which West team ducks at least 2 of UofM, ohio, and/or Penn State as the front runner for the division. Illinois ducked ohio & PSU last year, but couldn't quite close out the division. This year Illinois & Iowa don't play the Wolverines or _uckeyes. Wisconsin doesn't play the Wolverines or Lions.
Purdue had 3 conference losses and Illinois/Iowa/Minny all had four last year. I expect more of the same this year with some different teams at the top.
or _uckeyes
...the heck is this? Yes I know they do that dumb stuff with no M's, because our logo is... an M. Their logo is an O, not a B. So why is the B removed?
I removed the "F" because of the children. That's the way I've always spelled it.
I taught my 2 year old to call his dirty diapers "buckeyes." The whole family sorta picked up on it
FWIW 92.3 The Fan here in Cleveland spent most of the morning talking about this and what it might possibly mean for Day's future at OSU should this actually happen........AGAIN.
While most dismissed the idea that Day could be fired if Michigan wins.....AGAIN....some werent so sure and many talked about the difference the two teams have at QB this year as being the big advantage Michigan holds.
One interesting point was made I thought. One host said "It's not that OSU has gotten any worse, it's just that Michigan has gotten much, much better"
Day shouldn't be on the hot seat, just like Harbaugh shouldn't have been on the hot seat after the COVID year. You can't do any better than those two at their respective schools.
If OSU could've made one 4th Quarter stop in 2021, that game may have turned out differently. If HTTV 2023 cover doesn't happen in 2022, that game may have turned out differently. To put a coach on the hot seat for essentially four bad quarters of football is dumb.
You’re not wrong at all, but it all goes to show how completely spoiled and entitled OSU has been and felt over the last two decades. Particularly the millennial/Gen-Z fans who grew up during the Tressel and Meyer Years, and have known nothing but dominance. To them, beating Michigan is not a goal to strive towards. It’s a birthright. If you lose to Michigan one time, it might as well be 10 times.
The one bad thing about winning all the time is that you have no idea how to handle and cope with losing.
C'mon, man. The IF game is silly, but here are some counterpoint ifs.
In 2021, if Cade doesn't throw the worst INT of his career and we don't drop our own goal-line INT we win by even more. In 2022, if Corum isn't out and Edwards doesn't play with a cast we win by even more.
The whole premise starts out silly when a guy who's 45-6 with 3 CFP appearances is on the hot seat.
Day will get canned after the season. Not because he loses to Michigan, but because of the way he loses to Michigan, again.
I am fully of the belief that Michigan will dominate OSU on the lines and wear them down in another one sided run heavy win. With Michigan taking victory laps in the fourth quarter to cheers from the home crowd.
I agree. I don't think Day's OSU is built to beat Harbaugh's UM if both teams play their best.
OSU is too pass heavy and focused on the development of skill positions above all else. UM is built from the inside out and that takes its toll, specifically at the last game of the season where everyone is dinged up.
OSU is probably the better built team for bowl season (history backs this up), after a month to heal up and start flinging the ball around in domes and 75 degree weather.
Yet OSU gave Georgia a game that I don’t think we could have, at least last year. This year I’m not so sure. Footballs a funny sport like that.
I suppose OSU hasn't technically gotten worse recently, but Michigan has masterfully exposed 2 big weaknesses in Day's program
- Run game has basically evaporated
- They can move the ball between the 20s, but if you sit back you can force them into field goals because of issue #1
Indeed, but point 2 actually shortchanges U-M’s defensive performance last year a bit. In the second half, OSU got inside the 20 only twice.
Lets say Day loses to Michigan again this year, which should happen. An osu has to keep him because they'll be in the playoff every year after this season. It will kill their fans to lose to Michigan but as long as they compete with Bama or UGA thats all that matters right? Unlesssssss they start meeting up with Michigan in the playoffs. Losing to Michigan in the playoffs would get Day fired.
It's true that Mich is finally on the same level as OSU and with that come increased expectations. I, for one, welcome the top dog status and believe the team does as well. Coaches and players will always find a way to embrace an underdog mentality but the bad taste from the dog fart performance against TCU should be enough to keep an eye on the prize.
It's also going to be a slow week or two around the office and this time of year sucks before fall camp arrives.
That is indeed an interesting point mGrow...but IMHO OSU has gotten worse. They lost a two year starter/2nd pick in the NFL draft at QB and will be breaking in a talented but mostly untested QB this year. By the time they come to Ann Arbor that new QB will have a season's worth of experience, of course, but zero experience with The Game on his shoulders.
Second, the mental toll of consecutive beat-down losses to Michigan is wearing on them, even if they insist that history is history and they're all focused on the game in front of them. To me that also qualifies as a way in which they are worse in comparison with their pre-2021 game super confident selves.
OSU gets worse by the year. Every year they aren't coached by Meyer.
No more accolades! Rat Poison! No more kudos. No more positives. Tune that shit out.