January 4th, 2024 at 2:20 PM ^
37-28 Michigan!
January 4th, 2024 at 2:22 PM ^
I had Michigan 27-21 in my early December Rose Bowl prediction thread on here. So close!
January 4th, 2024 at 2:23 PM ^
Michigan 35-28. The matchup of the game is our elite D-line vs. their elite O-line. We win that matchup and sack Penix at least twice, but he still manages to get some shots in. They can't stop our run game or our pass game, and both Blake and JJ have a field day. Washington scores a late TD to make the game seem closer than it actually was.
January 4th, 2024 at 2:24 PM ^
30-24 Michigan. I think Michigan controls TOP with the run game and Washington gets a few big plays on deep balls, but not enough.
January 4th, 2024 at 3:15 PM ^
Okay Seth.
January 4th, 2024 at 2:28 PM ^
42-27 〽️
January 4th, 2024 at 2:44 PM ^
Yep. Think its OSU 2021 redux.
They move the ball, but get bogged down in the red zone.
We run at will and a bunch of play action early.
Wear them down and run out the clock in the 4th.
January 4th, 2024 at 2:30 PM ^
41-27
January 4th, 2024 at 2:30 PM ^
Michigan 38-28, but with Washington scoring late to make it respectable.
January 4th, 2024 at 2:30 PM ^
Either way - it will not be a blowout. Do not underestimate Washington and the sophistication behind their advanced offense. All they need are small windows of opportunities to make big plays and they do that with little nuances, tricks and deceptions especially in the play-action game. It is really important that we do not fall for their bag-o-tricks.
What worries me is if we fall behind (similar to the TCU game last year) and we have to rush around to play catch-up. I almost want us to get the ball first and establish the tone of the game from the start and man them up physically so they tire as the game moves into the 2nd half.
January 4th, 2024 at 2:36 PM ^
42 - 26 Michigan
Our offense will control the ball and drag them up and down the field. When they are behind Penix will force the issue against a defense trying to take away the big play. Its a recipe for disaster for Washington. GO Blue.
January 4th, 2024 at 2:40 PM ^
41-17, Michigan
January 4th, 2024 at 2:42 PM ^
I’m Mr pessimist because I have been all season (or at least the last 5 games). I’ve predicted losses against PSU, OSU, and Bama. Thankfully I’ve been wrong, but I will continue this pessimism for the sake of the team.
I don’t see how we stop them. All they need is one or two stops and they win a shootout. Wash wins 42-35
January 4th, 2024 at 3:45 PM ^
It's weird how your post anticipated mine.
I predicted losses to PSU, OSU and Alabama. Given that sterling record of accuracy, I see no reason to change now.
Washington 36 Michigan 35
January 4th, 2024 at 4:19 PM ^
Saw somebody unjustifiably negged you for this, so, I evened you out to neutral.
No matter how outstanding this team has been (incredibly), and no matter how much we love this team (deeply), BPONE is still real and harder for some of us to escape.
As a man that changed his shirt partway through the Rose Bowl 4th quarter to the other lucky Michigan shirt (and you can’t convince me that’s not why we won), I respect the superstition. Stick with what works.
Plus, can you imagine the irrational guilt if you flipped to a win and we lost?
January 4th, 2024 at 5:43 PM ^
Obviously not the first person to ever think of this, but I decided to bet against Michigan for the Rose Bowl (first time ever sports betting). Rationalized it as, if Bama won, at least I can sadly benefit financially. If we won, it’s basically paying for pleasure (which should be legal anyway, lol). I plan on repeating for this game.
January 4th, 2024 at 6:38 PM ^
My younger brother (a B1G alum from a much lesser football school) suggested I do exactly this for the same reasons, calling it a “happiness hedge.”
I considered it, but ultimately concluded there was only one outcome that could’ve possibly resulted in happiness: an M win.
A therapist friend of mine explained why I have no desire even bet on Michigan, let alone against them thusly (besides superstition): Sports gambling is often used to add excitement to games. I, as a lunatic Michigan fan, most decidedly do not need any more excitement as I watch the games.
January 4th, 2024 at 2:46 PM ^
38-28 Michigan.
The Vegas O/U early Tuesday was 66 points. That's a good metric. The Huskies defense is not ranked very high. I don't want to see this being shootout and it probably won't.
The most points Michigan has given up so far this season was 24 points to the Terps and then Buckeyes. Washington might surpass that. I'll feel real good if our offense can score 40 or more points. The Michigan-D won't give up more than 30.
January 4th, 2024 at 2:52 PM ^
I've seen the O/U at 55.5...
January 4th, 2024 at 2:47 PM ^
I think 45-26 Michigan. The opposite of the Rose Bowl becomes a shoot out. The difference is, UW has to settle for field goals while Michigan scores TDs.
January 4th, 2024 at 2:49 PM ^
31-20 Michigan
Michigan pulls away late from a tight game
January 4th, 2024 at 2:50 PM ^
I say it's 24-21 and then a critical strip sack by Barrett with a couple mins to go gives us the ball in Wash territory. UW, with the championship on the line, sells out to stop the run on 3rd and 3 in order to get the ball back and JJ pulls it and hits Barner for a rumbling 35yd TD to seal the game. 31-21 good guys. Pure jubilation.
Not to be specific or anything...
January 4th, 2024 at 2:53 PM ^
40-31, Michigan.
January 4th, 2024 at 2:57 PM ^
Michigan 45-23
I think Minter will be able to neutralize some of the UW firepower and Michigan will control TOP.
It would not surprise me to see a game like 2022 UM/OSU--close with some enemy fireworks in the 1st half and a slow, methodical beatdown in the 2nd.
January 4th, 2024 at 2:59 PM ^
UM wins a nail biter: 31-28.
January 4th, 2024 at 3:10 PM ^
Washington's defense in SP+ is 44th and they're giving up 397 yds/game and 23.6 pts/game. The closest comps we've played this year are:
SP+
Minnesota (31) -- we scored 52
Wash (44) - TBD
MSU (45) -- we scored 49
Yards
Indiana (394) -- we scored 52
Wash (397) -- TBD
UNLV (402) -- we scored 35
Pts
Maryland (23.3) -- we scored 31
Wash (23.6) -- TBD
Minnesota (26.9) -- we scored 52
Against the 5 most comparable defenses (counting Minn only once), we averaged 44 pts and never scored less than 31. Of those games, 3 were true road games. We still averaged 27 pts against the best the best 4 defenses we faced (PSU, OSU, Iowa, Bama), with only one of those coming at home. Anything can happen in the postseason but I just don't see us scoring less than 30 pts here, so it's a matter of how much we can contain UW's offense. I'm comforted by knowing no one has scored more than 24 on us--but if there's a team to do it, it's UW.
31-21 good guys. Defense wins championships.
January 4th, 2024 at 7:50 PM ^
The thing is the PAC12 has 6 offenses that would be in the top half of the Big Ten with most being on OSU/Michigan levels. Any defense in the Big Ten is going to shine. That being said perhaps Washington's offense may be pumped up by weaker defenses they are playing. Its fun to try and figure this shit out. How Michigan beat Bama with all the yips we had is beyond me.
If we play a sloppy mistake prone game like TCU and Bama anything can happen.
January 4th, 2024 at 3:20 PM ^
38-14 UofM
Semaj runs a punt back for a TD and Harbaugh pounds his shoulder pads and smiles.
January 4th, 2024 at 3:20 PM ^
42-28 Michigan
Please don't make me sweat.
If I were a neutral, I'd probably say more like 31-28.
January 4th, 2024 at 3:30 PM ^
I'll go with 42-27
January 4th, 2024 at 3:45 PM ^
45-23 has a nice ring to it as well
January 4th, 2024 at 3:40 PM ^
28-26, Michigan, in an absolute butt-clencher that’ll make the Rose Bowl stress seem like child’s play by comparison.
January 4th, 2024 at 3:49 PM ^
I envision Washington being down 26-20 with the ball and under a minute to go, driving the field and scoring a TD as time expires. Then on the XP with zeroes on the clock, to win the title, Michigan blocks the kick and returns it for two points to win 28-26.
January 4th, 2024 at 4:06 PM ^
Michigan 45
Washington 24
January 4th, 2024 at 4:06 PM ^
M 38
W 30
January 4th, 2024 at 4:12 PM ^
Michigan 34, Washington 23
I think we methodically move the ball on offense while chewing clock and keeping their offense off the field. Washington will be effective on offense, but we will also get our stops.
January 4th, 2024 at 4:16 PM ^
49-21 Michigan.
We score TDs, they score FGs.
January 4th, 2024 at 4:23 PM ^
UM 31 UW 17
January 4th, 2024 at 4:26 PM ^
This game almost certainly gets decided by the matchups of Michigan offense vs. Washington defense.
Washington offense vs Michigan defense is elite vs. elite. Washington wins its battles, and Michigan will win it battles. I see those matchup being somewhat of a stalemate. Washington’s defense, however, is just not good. Scoring defense, I think they’re about middle of the pack in the country, but total defense, they are definitely in or close to the bottom 25%. So they cede a lot of yards, and against an offense that wants to methodically and brutally punish you throughout the course of the game, that likely is a red flag for Washington.
I’m not going to make a score prediction because yes, I’m paranoid about jinxing it. But Michigan has several paths to win this game. I think even if it becomes a shootout, Michigan has a chance to win that kind of game. I wouldn’t favor them, or pick them in that scenario, but I think they have the capability. But that is Washington’s only path to victory. if it becomes a slowdown, grind it out, kind of game that Michigan wants to play, where every possession counts, and Michigan controls the clock, I don’t think that’s a game Washington can win.
So I would say it’s more likely that Michigan wins because they have more paths to victory. Their defense is designed to play a team like Washington, Washington has a suspect defense, and Michigan can score. Washington has to make this game a shoot out. That is their only path.
They can certainly do it, but if Michigan bogs them down, they are in a lot of trouble.
January 4th, 2024 at 4:28 PM ^
30-24 good guys
January 4th, 2024 at 4:28 PM ^
Michigan 38 - Washington 27
January 4th, 2024 at 4:31 PM ^
M 35
W 27
January 4th, 2024 at 4:33 PM ^
Meechigan 23-6
January 4th, 2024 at 4:40 PM ^
Michigan wins, 38-24.
January 4th, 2024 at 4:44 PM ^
B1G East Champs 38
Nouveau B1G West 31
Same score as when I was in Pasadena on 1/1/93 to see these two play in the Rose Bowl.
January 4th, 2024 at 5:03 PM ^
M 34 - 27 W
January 4th, 2024 at 5:35 PM ^
35-24 good guys.
January 4th, 2024 at 6:12 PM ^
31-17 Michigan
January 4th, 2024 at 6:13 PM ^
Michigan wins 31 - 18
January 4th, 2024 at 6:59 PM ^
My shadow says Forty Six & 2 Michigan