2021's 10-1 vs. 2016, 2018, etc.
I don’t know about everyone else but I’ve had some trouble stepping back and realizing how awesome this season has been so far. 2016 and 2018 I was 100% pumped for each game and this year I’ve been a bit more guarded for obvious historical reasons BUT in many ways this has been an even better year than those (aside from the one obvious black eye). So at least until Ohio hate week officially starts I thought I’d post some highlights where this year may have been Harbaugh’s best so far.
- Michigan dominated inferior opponents.
This year Michigan is 8-2 against the spread as a favorite. Other than MSU and Rutgers we outscored our opposition more than predicted. 2016 had a lot of blowouts but of course we lost to Iowa and surprisingly Harbaugh was actually 5-7 against the spread as favorite that year. In fact Harbaugh's record against the spread as favorite at Michigan is 27-26-1 excluding 2020 which would make that number even worse.
2. Michigan won big away games
This was our first win at Camp Randall under Harbaugh. We were 0-2 there and 2-3 overall against Wisconsin since Harbaugh was hired. AND this was our first win in Happy Valley since 2015. We were 1-2 there and 3-3 against PSU with Harbaugh. Also the night game at Nebraska could have been similar to 2016 Iowa but we found a way to win this one.
3. Michigan came back against good teams
We won the aforementioned Nebraska game, the Wisconsin game and Penn State all after falling behind. This team showed fight. I would say the Nebraska and Penn State comebacks were more impressive than others I could remember from Michigan.
Pretty damn good for a team that probably had the lowest preseason expectations of any other Harbaugh teams.
That said: I’m all the way back in and ready to watch the team be legendary next week.
November 21st, 2021 at 2:27 PM ^
If you are too chicken to take the bet that is fine. Go Blue.
November 21st, 2021 at 3:07 PM ^
Cool, Needles.
November 21st, 2021 at 9:47 AM ^
I have this as a pretty bad - hopefully not MSU bad - loss that stings for the next month until bowl season. OSU turned into Alabama levels of firepower basically in the past few years while Michigan did not.
Its been a fun season so far, and I’ve enjoyed it immensely. But next week could get ugly. Here is hoping that Harbaugh has one more Stanford/USC left in him.
Just hoping Michigan can make some time consuming drives 5-7 minutes because that offense of OSU’s needs to stay off the field. On defense, someone needs to be a Mo Hurst next week and generate an interior rush that disrupts the quick passing that tore Michigan apart in 2018. Do these things and you might have a prayer.
At the end of the day, OSU and MSU always seem to have their game of the year where everything clicks against Michigan. Maybe this year Michigan can do this vs OSU.
November 21st, 2021 at 10:11 AM ^
@Minnesota (Week 1)
@Indiana
@Rutgers
@Nebraska
That's Ohio State's incredibly weak road schedule so far in 2021. MAC teams have tougher road slates. Getting pressure on Stroud and making them feel an actual road test is going to be so very important in the first half on Saturday.
November 21st, 2021 at 10:52 AM ^
Never thought of this but excellent point. They have not been tested in a hostile environment. Time to protect A2!
November 21st, 2021 at 2:02 PM ^
Yaup, if they can get to him and hit him early, could rattle the young man in a hostile environment
but damn they get the ball out quick. Tons of swing passes, quick hitches, they just get their stars the ball so quick, in space.
Do i expect them to win, no sorry, not after 1 win in …uhhh too many years.
can they win, your GD right they can. McDonald could be the X factor. He’s had to scheme up shit going against the freakin chiefs and other spread nfl teams ….obviously we are not full of nfl talent but i bet he has some interesting shit planned.
let go.
hail
November 21st, 2021 at 10:36 AM ^
Michigan has surprised us this year in a lot of games. We worried about Wisconsin on the road, Nebraska on the road at night, Penn State on the road, and then we played Michigan State on the road and threw away all the previous offensive game plans, which in itself was a surprise. I'm not expecting a win but I'm not expecting a loss either. It's Zen week for me. Just let things play out without any expectations at all.
November 21st, 2021 at 10:51 AM ^
This is where I am. Once we won on the road in Madison, I felt great about the rest of the season. Nothing to lose and everything to gain going against our chief rival. Cannot ask for more than that!
November 21st, 2021 at 10:50 AM ^
I'm with you OP. People have called me a troll since me saying this year was the year. I still believe and am proud of this team. Blown away by the leadership on this team. They are truly playing with an edge that I am happy to see!
November 21st, 2021 at 1:52 PM ^
This team, at home, they have a chance
like many have already said, our recent good squads have had to play in Columbus to earn the win and win the east
to have this type of game at home, huge
control the line of scrimmage, lean on run game, shorten game..you have a shot