Athletic Article: Stewart Mandel projects UM in the Citrus Bowl
The insider's claim is that Citrus Bowl wants us which would pair us against Auburn. Honestly, the Holiday Bowl gives us a chance to go to the West Coast where we have a lot of fans and play maybe USC or Washington (teams we match well against). I love the idea of watching UM on New Years (even if not a NY6 bowl). I love it more when I think we actually have a shot. Auburn coming off an Iron Bowl win like that is probably not going to be pretty.
Thoughts?
December 3rd, 2019 at 8:17 AM ^
I'm thinking another disappointing bowl performance regardless.
December 3rd, 2019 at 8:41 AM ^
Looking forward to hearing "four seasons of 9+ wins" for the next year, because another wet fart bowl game isn't going to cut it against Auburn.
December 3rd, 2019 at 1:19 PM ^
But how could we possibly beat Auburn in a bowl game when anOSU is historically great?
December 3rd, 2019 at 8:49 AM ^
It's behind a paywall, please explain how we would jump Minnesota, Wisconsin, and or Penn St. After one of the above goes to the Rose Bowl, we would have to jump 2 teams with better records, and a higher ranking. Having said all that, the bowl season really sucks now. Do you realize there are 5 bowl games, not including the playoff's, after Jan 1.
December 3rd, 2019 at 10:17 AM ^
Minn and Wis don't have the fanbases we do, which is why we routinely go to better bowls than we probably should from just the records.
December 3rd, 2019 at 10:19 AM ^
Didn’t read but the reason is, and always will be $$$.
M draws more viewers, so often it seems the bowls who pick first will look to invite the wolverines if they are still on the board. Thus, we jump other teams ahead of us only to get matched up with a better team. And then everyone complains about our bowl record when we lose.
December 3rd, 2019 at 12:45 PM ^
I guarantee Minnesota or Wisconsin would fill any Florida bowl game.
December 3rd, 2019 at 11:31 AM ^
we would have to jump 2 teams with better records
Because it's by selection position not standing position. If that bowl's committee doesn't want to take Minny, they don't have to.
December 3rd, 2019 at 8:19 AM ^
If they play like they did against Alabama and we play like we did against OSU, Auburn would kick our ass.
December 3rd, 2019 at 12:11 PM ^
December 3rd, 2019 at 8:20 AM ^
A win over Auburn to close out the year would be best precisely because they took out Alabama.
December 3rd, 2019 at 8:22 AM ^
Yeah, but how likely is that? We haven't won a bowl game since 2016.
December 3rd, 2019 at 8:25 AM ^
So.... 3 years? 2 losses? Is that supposed to be dramatic?
December 3rd, 2019 at 8:46 AM ^
What? Are you letting facts get in the way of a good story? Common Bruh.....
December 3rd, 2019 at 8:53 AM ^
3 losses in a row actually. We have a sub .500 bowl record all time as well. Thinking we're probably not winning a bowl game is rational.
December 3rd, 2019 at 9:27 AM ^
How dare you be rational on here!?
The nerve of some people...
December 3rd, 2019 at 9:29 AM ^
Additionally, tradition dictated (like, pre-2000s) that Michigan as B10 champs played in the Rose Bowl against a Pac10 team. I'm assuming it was hard to win bowl games when the other team has a strong home field advantage. Michigan is 8-12 in the Rose Bowl, and that's after winning the first 4 in a row.
December 3rd, 2019 at 9:34 AM ^
But also historically Michigan has done well in bowl games against the SEC. So there! But yeah if they are as unmotivated as last year it will be ugly. Not quite the same since Michigan was out of conference title contention early.
December 3rd, 2019 at 12:23 PM ^
The historical bowl record has zero bearing on how we might do against Auburn. The historical bowl record is what it is, whether we end up playing Auburn or Little Sisters of the Poor.
December 3rd, 2019 at 8:21 AM ^
Michigan generally gets a better bowl game that we deserve because of the money/fanbase that comes with it. That's one of the reasons our overall bowl record isn't very good.
I hope it happens. I'd rather be excited for a good game for a month than play a middling 7-5 team likely without their HC. Players would probably feel the same way and be more likely to be motivated over the next month, unlike some underwhelming bowls/performances we've seen in the past.
December 3rd, 2019 at 8:39 AM ^
yeah. that's the other side of the coin here; that our players would be really motivated to play Auburn and not USC or Washington. no idea how Harbaugh gets the team exceedingly motivated in either scenario.
December 3rd, 2019 at 2:23 PM ^
His track record to date would suggest he doesn't really do that. His bowl record is 2-4 going back to Stanford. He has two dominating wins - one with Andrew Luck at Stanford and the other in his first year at UM. Beyond that though, his bowl performances have been rough. No doubt there are a lot of "If's" that we have, which may have changed these outcomes...but we lost either way (with or without the "if's").
December 3rd, 2019 at 9:35 AM ^
This idea that the players would be excited to prep for Auburn but not for USC/UW is desk jockey analysis.
The fans want to see us rep well against the SEC. The players -- they either have their head in the game throughout December or they don't. There is no 'rivalry' motivation with one opponent versus another here.
From past conversations with M football players, it usually breaks down this way:
1) some group of guys who are checked out for the bowl game, either bc they are going pro, have decided to transfer, whatever
2) some group is going to work hard no matter what
3) the balance of the guys will follow the team leaders into one camp or the other
So it's about the leadership within the team swinging camp #3 into camp #2.
I find it extremely unlikely that the team leaders would be extra, extra motivated against Auburn but not one of the west coast schools. This exercise will be about JH and the coaches getting the team leaders on the same page post-OSU and then building the momentum into that game.
From recent experience, I'm not sure JH will be overly successful at that. The last bowl game against SCAR in Tampa really soured me on that, when I saw the team dynamics (or lack thereof -- embarrassingly lethargic) with my own two eyes.
December 3rd, 2019 at 10:15 AM ^
I think people sorta mis-remember that game. Michigan was up 19-3 midway through the 3rd quarter and had held SC to under 100 yards of total offense. USC then found a bit of a groove (and some lucky breaks throwing downfield) and they pull off the rally. But considering Michigan was playing it's 3rd QB of the year, coming off a concussion (I believe) and possibly a leg issue, they were fine. The more dispiriting loss was last year when Florida absolutely handled them after the first couple of drives. But I have to imagine most of the team and staff this year won't want a repeat of that. But that's just speculation on my part.
December 3rd, 2019 at 10:33 AM ^
One time tested way to get your team uninterested in the bowl game after taking a 19-3 lead is to hand the ball off to the tight end operating as a tailback.
December 3rd, 2019 at 11:14 AM ^
I am thinking this year, the guys that want to go pro have some work to do still because they lost three of four games of national interest: two of them badly. A good showing would go a long way for PR.
By contrast: last year the pro-goers had already proven themselves before the game.
December 3rd, 2019 at 11:59 AM ^
Pro scouts watch all the games, not just the ones of National interest. The bowl game won't make much of a difference in anything.
December 3rd, 2019 at 3:03 PM ^
I'd rather not play an SEC team, specifically Auburn which will run us over just like Wisconsin and OSU. Their O-line and run game will be brutal. While I trust our O-line to protect Shea, we won't be able to run against them. Auburn is a terrible matchup for us. I'd much rather play a Pac 12 team.
December 3rd, 2019 at 9:37 AM ^
Thought I saw that Peterson will coach through Washington's bowl game.
December 3rd, 2019 at 10:19 AM ^
rc15 is right and I have always hated this.
There are so many years when Michigan is number 3 or 4 in the B1G and then played number 2 from another conference. Apples and Oranges.
People get in a bunch about conference bowl records, but the way that they schedule bowl games is horrid. Fan Base/Money > Merit.
December 3rd, 2019 at 8:24 AM ^
Auburn would depants Don Brown’s defense. I’m sure since he’s a stand-up guy he’ll make himself available for media questions after the game.
December 3rd, 2019 at 9:10 AM ^
They have a freshman QB who has problems throwing to his own receivers aka the QB's the defense tends to feast on.
The issue is whether the team goes into the bowl giving a shit after the latest OSU evisceration, so far the trends ain't promising.
December 3rd, 2019 at 11:20 AM ^
Exactly. 13-10 at half, with top-four defensive players sitting out, plus our starting RB. Even though I don't begrudge kids for sitting out to protect their future, missing all of those leaders -- and talent -- matters. Outscored 28-5 in second half.
December 3rd, 2019 at 9:35 AM ^
Bo Nix doesn't scare me.
December 3rd, 2019 at 9:43 AM ^
Nix has not been good against non cupcake opponents. Auburn's point total against Alabama was inflated by two pick sixes.
December 3rd, 2019 at 9:44 AM ^
Auburn's offense is really mediocre (entered Bama game at 46 in SP+). Against Bama they threw for less than 200 yards and completed 50% of their passes.
What are you actually talking about?
December 3rd, 2019 at 9:59 AM ^
He’s probably talking about our defense that yields big plays to any team with a pulse.
Donnie B says “they better watch out”!!!
surrenders ~600 yards
Auburn likely embarrasses Michigan. If it’s still possible to get embarrassed in big games.
December 3rd, 2019 at 10:48 AM ^
Indiana (14th), Penn State (18th), and Notre Dame (21st) averaged 261 yards and 19 points against us.
Auburn's offense is 38th.
December 3rd, 2019 at 11:20 AM ^
Those are really good arguments. But I'm going to have to concede this argument to the internet tough guy. He's too much of a badass.
December 3rd, 2019 at 11:03 AM ^
Wrong
Yes, OSU destroyed our defense -- NEWSFLASH -- OSU's offense is really good. Auburn is just not a very good offensive team and if we were to play them, it would not be their offense that concerns me
December 3rd, 2019 at 1:48 PM ^
Based on what -- Bo Nix?
Auburn does not have a great offense. They scored all of three offensive TDs against Alabama.
December 3rd, 2019 at 8:29 AM ^
I would agree. Rather see us out west and play someone like USC
December 3rd, 2019 at 11:55 AM ^
No thank you.
1. Michigan has an awful record vs USC.
2. USC would absolutely shred Michigan's secondary and throw those deep jump ball passes.
This game would end in a disaster for Harbaugh.
December 3rd, 2019 at 3:26 PM ^
So games against Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush have relevance to a 2019 matchup against an 8-4 team? Okey dokey.
December 3rd, 2019 at 8:33 AM ^
So Florida's going to the Citrus Bowl?
December 3rd, 2019 at 12:18 PM ^
Any bowl where we dont play Florida again is the right bowl
December 3rd, 2019 at 8:35 AM ^
USC has the best collection of skill guys. They may pass for 300+ yards against UM, but their D isn’t great.
UW is probably the worst team out of the 3, but with this being Peterson’s last game you know they will be extra fired up and I’m not sure how motivated UM will be. Plus UM opens with them next year so do not want a back to back matchup.
Auburn has a top 5 D in the country, a mobile QB and a good run game. This would present UM with the biggest challenge. I would think Auburn would be at least a 7-10 point favorite.
I wouldn’t mind a change of scenery and get out of Florida for once. My vote would be USC in the holiday bowl.
December 3rd, 2019 at 8:36 AM ^
Playing a team like auburn will hopefully increase the focus and bowl prep. I like it, get back on the damn horse
beating a team like auburn will change the offseason narrative to a positive (hopefully).
December 3rd, 2019 at 9:28 AM ^
Beating any team in a bowl game would be a positive that positively changes the offseason narrative.
December 3rd, 2019 at 10:19 AM ^
This is also true