WAY too early bowl predictions from ESPN
Via On3: https://www.on3.com/news/espn-releases-2023-college-football-bowl-projections-week-2/
For those who lack the initiative to click, WAY too early predictions have Michigan going to the NC playoffs. That's not surprising.
Let's hope we have a blessed year and see this team give Harbaugh a NC.
September 11th, 2023 at 10:53 AM ^
Casting a protection spell for OP against people coming to bitch about posting bowl projections this early in the season. It's nice to have something.. anything to read while at work and nothing has been posted on the board in two hours.
September 11th, 2023 at 10:57 AM ^
If anything, it is something that is documented that can be referred to later on in the season to see how well, or poorly, the early season predictions were.
September 11th, 2023 at 10:58 AM ^
I'm not sure why anyone would bitch at the OP for posting it.
1. It's a fun topic for discussion
2. Like you said, not like it's displacing any other breaking news
I thought it was interesting that they all seem to have bought into the Texas/FSU hype train and have quietly moved OSU off the final four grid. Definitely going to be a very interesting game this, I mean next Saturday in South Bend.
Thanks for the correction Maize Halo
September 11th, 2023 at 11:02 AM ^
i think nd might just blow them out, and i would love it. also the nd/osu game is next saturday - not this saturday.
September 11th, 2023 at 11:09 AM ^
OSU will never be bad at football, but I'd love to see them with a 3+ loss season followed by a panicked firing of Day and then the hiring of their own RichRod/Hoke combination of bad to mediocre coaches.
September 11th, 2023 at 1:10 PM ^
I don’t know that they’ll have a RichRod/Hoke hire. Seems like Fickell could be waiting on the wings. I’d rather they stick with Day.
September 11th, 2023 at 11:27 AM ^
people complained about a heisman post last week. Mainly just a response to that.
September 11th, 2023 at 2:37 PM ^
Are you kidding me? This is mgoblog. There are certain people who bitch about everything.
September 11th, 2023 at 5:48 PM ^
Your comment could use a little more cowbell.
September 11th, 2023 at 11:41 AM ^
Agreed. I've been entertained by the meltdown on 11 warriors about their OL and DL play. They look like they're in for a rough season.
September 11th, 2023 at 1:00 PM ^
I'm signing on to bitch about people casting spells.
September 11th, 2023 at 11:00 AM ^
MSU in the Quick Lane bowl feels wildly optimistic.
September 11th, 2023 at 11:38 AM ^
Dantonio being involved in an interim capacity is weird. I understand that he's a rallying flag for them and recruited their current QB1, but I wonder if it's setting up for lots of power struggle and communication issues.
They haven't defined his role, he's gonna wear a headset, and all of Mel's staff is still in place.
Potential for an absolute tire fire going into Week 3.
September 11th, 2023 at 11:43 AM ^
For a fanbase that was happy about him leaving they sure have unrealistic expectations about him coming back. He's 2 years older and grumpier.
September 11th, 2023 at 12:03 PM ^
More like 4. His last season was 2019.
September 11th, 2023 at 12:09 PM ^
Dantonio left EL over 3 1/2 years ago. How similar / different are the offensive and defensive schemes - the communication / nomenclature / etc.? With the attrition / portaling - how many players were actually coached by him - or members of the staff from the 2019 season?
It's going to be interesting.
I don't think Washington has a lot to worry about this Saturday.
September 11th, 2023 at 12:38 PM ^
Corn Flakes Bowl for Mel "Spanky" Tucker at the Battle Creek sanitarium
September 11th, 2023 at 12:41 PM ^
State in a lubricant bowl? How fitting.
September 11th, 2023 at 11:11 AM ^
I'd like to see OSU in the Cricket Celebration bowl!
What bowl will OSU be in if they have a 9-3 record this year?
September 11th, 2023 at 11:26 AM ^
If you were to ask Brian, the Outback Bowl. He had a not-so-subtle hot take before the season that they'd be heading down to Tampa for New Years Day.
Not sure how serious he was, but they're way too talented to end up in a bowl like that.
September 11th, 2023 at 12:06 PM ^
Why do you say that? If PSU and ND are for real, 9-3 is absolute possibility. Hell, Maryland tends to give them trouble a lot of years too. If 9-3 were to happen, a Tampa bowl game would be a very real possibility.
September 11th, 2023 at 12:10 PM ^
Yeah. This could certainly change, but as of right now I'd say OSU looks like the third-best team in the Big Ten East, and I don't know that they can beat ND on the road, either. They do get PSU in Columbus, but if ever there were a year for Franklin to get that big road win, it might be this one.
September 11th, 2023 at 1:39 PM ^
I don't care for ND - but, with Hartman as QB, and the game being in South Bend - an ND win is getting easier to see all the time.
Central Michigan travels to South Bend this Saturday, while the Buckeyes host Western Kentucky.
This weekend's game won't prove - or, probably, disprove - very much.
Right now, ESPN's predictor favors the Buckeyes in their game with the Irish - 56% to 44%.
I wonder if Notre Dame Stadium will have "as much red / scarlet" as it did a few years ago when Georgia played there.
September 11th, 2023 at 11:14 AM ^
Penn State looks scary right now for Michigan. They are also playing a lot of young guys and look better on the field than Michigan's second and third stringers. Also, the game being at Happy Valley makes it scarier.
September 11th, 2023 at 11:16 AM ^
counterpoint, Michigan looks scary to Penn State.
September 11th, 2023 at 11:27 AM ^
Yeah I'd be worried about that interior OL against Grant, Graham, and Jenkins.
September 11th, 2023 at 11:40 AM ^
Kenworth (my nickname for him) Grant is a massive truck of a man and is going to be taking some souls this season.
September 11th, 2023 at 11:46 AM ^
Michigan knows they can beat PSU. Not the other way around. At least it's a Big Noon game and not a night game. Either way, Michigan is battle tested and can win big games on the road.
September 11th, 2023 at 11:51 AM ^
Judgment Day 2.0 coming, perhaps.
September 11th, 2023 at 12:10 PM ^
One nice thing about the PSU game is - it's during the day - and NOT a Whiteout.
September 11th, 2023 at 12:43 PM ^
It might not be a "whiteout," but it will be a whiteout for that game.
September 11th, 2023 at 1:40 PM ^
I'd assume it could be an "afternoon" whiteout - pretty easily, just as Michigan had a daytime "maize out" for the opener.
September 11th, 2023 at 12:13 PM ^
They look good, and may well end up being our toughest opponent, but we still have to see if their OL can stack up against a stout defensive front.
September 11th, 2023 at 1:33 PM ^
Rewatch the penn st game from last year. That was no fluke they may have looked like the worst run defense we played. Maybe they bring more to the table this year but if we can run for 5 per run and have JJ good luck PSU.
September 11th, 2023 at 12:22 PM ^
Penn State's issue is that they have potential weaknesses that match up extremely well for Michigan to take advantage of.
Penn State's interior DL is pretty undersized, and its something that an extremely good, extremely seasoned IOL like Zinter, Nugent and Keegan can exploit. Their DEs will be a problem, but undersized opposing defensive tackles bode well for a team with an extremely good IOL and the best RB room in America.
We still really don't know what Penn State's offensive line is. Franklin says its the best one he's had at Penn State, but that tells us nothing because his offensive lines have never been anything more than mediocre. They haven't been challenged by anyone yet, and while they do have that projected first rounder, that is based more off his measureables than his actual production. If memory serves, he really hasn't played a whole lot. Michigan has talent all across the DL that could wreak havoc if Penn State's OL isn't up to snuff.
This is not all to say that Penn State can't win. They can, and being at home will help for them. But Michigan is built to take advantage of the weaknesses Penn State currently has.
September 11th, 2023 at 12:34 PM ^
West Virginia and Delaware State don’t tell us a whole lot.
Remember last year the annihilated Auburn at Auburn, who is probably equal to or maybe possibly a little better than WVU is now. Delaware State is the aforementioned baby seal.
They are certainly good, and Allar I think gives them an uptick from last year. I still think Michigan matches up well.
September 11th, 2023 at 12:40 PM ^
Do we know enough to say Allar is an improvement? I personally don't think so. He's maybe a better passer than Clifford was, but he's not as a good a runner or broken-play improvisor. At best it's a wash. If PSU's OL holds up, then maybe Allar will be a better person to have back there. But if Michigan is getting pressure up the middle, they might be wishing they had Clifford back.
September 11th, 2023 at 2:56 PM ^
WVU was ranked 76th overall by ABC at the start of the season, in comparison Michigan's first opponent East Carolina was 81st, so both PSU and U-M played teams with similar rankings. Delaware State is in the MEAC and not ranked at all, while UNLV was at 106 when Michigan played them. Both M and PSU have played very weak teams so far, but watching the two teams play I have seen more questions for Michigan than PSU. Mainly; outside the starters Michigan seems to lack strength in depth. I think Michigan's starters all have NFL talent, but when Michigan's second and third stringers somewhat struggled against UNLV's second stringers, then that is a major question mark, because the starters can't play every snap on offense and defense. Hopefully when Harbaugh gets back everything will settle in before the PSU game.
September 11th, 2023 at 12:38 PM ^
I'm confident that Michigan will not be playing 3rd stringers against PSU.
I'd take Michigan on almost all aspects of game over PSU
QB McCarthy > Allar
RB M >> PSU
OL M >>> PSU
DL M > PSU
LB M=> PSU
DB M > PSU
Coaching Harbuagh >>> Frames
Venue PSU >> Michigan
Could PSU win- of course, the tale of this game will be Michigan's D-line stopping the run and pressuring Allar into a mediocre to bad game
September 11th, 2023 at 1:45 PM ^
I'm wondering which teams will stack the box against Michigan - and, what those game results will look like.
If the run game "only" results in 150 yards - and, JJ throws accurately for 350 yards - is that a difference maker? Does it cause anyone to be concerned about that imbalance between run and pass ratios?
I don't...
Through two games - Michigan's run / pass ratio is 52/48. It's been a while since it's been that close to 50/50. I like the play calling.
September 11th, 2023 at 2:27 PM ^
I will agree on all those positions except for RB. Albeit Corum is playing well, that elite ability is not there yet, and who knows what is going on with Edwards. Stokes has fallen off since the beginning of last year, too. As of this moment, PSU's running backs are out-playing Michigan's. I also believe Michigan's OL is better right now, but PSU's is not that far off based on the rushing yards they are getting. I get the competition is inferior, but so has Michigan's. Overall I think Michigan takes the game by 3 points, but it is a tougher game for Michigan than OSU's game on the road was last year IMO, because of their 2 sophmore running backs who could run in the direction of Michigan's weakest defensive position group; the EDGE guys.
September 11th, 2023 at 2:08 PM ^
Penn State definitely looks like the competition in the BIG this season and being on the road it is a real concern. No doubt about it. My take on this game is I am not sure Michigan is going to be able to bully ball PSU on the ground the way they did last season. However, I know PSU isn't going to run all over UM and I will take JJ over Allar to go win a game for his team without a consistent running game.
OSU is in trouble. Every day that team is further away from Urban Meyer they get worse. Ryan Day is not a HC.
September 11th, 2023 at 2:42 PM ^
Penn St. being at noon makes it less scary.
September 11th, 2023 at 11:48 AM ^
Lock it in....we're there!
September 11th, 2023 at 11:51 AM ^
This might be the most parity we have had in the Top 10-15 in a long time.
September 11th, 2023 at 12:14 PM ^
Great point. These early season OOC losses - especially by SEC teams - makes the full season scenario much more interesting.
USC was relevant in the conversation last year -and, had they won the Pac-12 CCG against Utah, would have been in the CFP.
The ACC looks like FSU. The Pac-12 - hmmm, USC - maybe Oregon - and, for at least another week - huge speculation around Colorado. SEC - suddenly, Georgia's path has become clearer - and, that Tennessee v Georgia game will be huge. The B1G - Michigan, OSU, and PSU. The Big 12 - Texas, with their win against Bama surges to the top of the discussion.
September 11th, 2023 at 12:21 PM ^
A few teams have an easier path to the playoffs than Michigan.. just hope they slip and we don't.
September 11th, 2023 at 1:53 PM ^
I think PSU/OSU combo with Maryland in there is a dangerous 3 game season. The rest of the football world wish they had our first 9 games.
September 11th, 2023 at 12:42 PM ^
Please please please let USC be good so we can get a Michigan v. USC semifinal at the Rose Bowl. Don't care about the other game (Georgia v. Texas/Florida State/Notre Dame would be fine with me-- give me some good old fashioned college football blueblood action for all four teams).
September 11th, 2023 at 12:51 PM ^
Also, Bonagura must really like Eastern Michigan.. he has them playing in both the Myrtle Beach Bowl and the Armed Forces Bowl! (as of 12:51p)