Citrus Bowl - Optimistic takes thread
If someone had told us back in August that we would be playing Alabama in January, we would have been ecstatic.
Alabama has been an absolute juggernaut for over a decade now, and beating them could change the entire narrative around our program.
If we lose, so what? Literally no one expects us to win, so no change there. Nevermind the fact that we could easily lose to an inferior team in another "who gives a fuck bowl", like we often do. Our team should be highly motivated for this one.
Steel sharpens steel.
Go Blue!
December 8th, 2019 at 8:36 PM ^
Here's why we're gonna win:
Saban & Bobby Williams both coached at MSU. Only Bobby Williams was still coaching at MSU when Spartan Bob screwed us in the 2001 "Clock Game."
Saban & Bobby Williams coached together at LSU & Alabama where they won a combined 6 national championships together. (Yeah, that's a lot)
However, Karma has come calling this year and took back that 1 second costing Saban the 4th seed in the playoff. And MSU-killer, ASU's Herm Edwards, denied Bobby Williams, the Special Teams coach at Oregon, access to the CFP too.
We get to play Alabama this year because karma dictates that we now get to benefit directly. When we beat Alabama in the Citrus Bowl -- as improbable as that sounds -- it's going to spark the Harbaugh-lead revolution of UM football we've all been waiting for. It was written in the stars.
December 8th, 2019 at 8:59 PM ^
Bama's run game will destroy us just like Wisconsin and OSU. No matter how many starters sit out, the 4 and 5* players they have returning next year will be competing for future starting spots.
There is no way to coach around the discrepancy between their O-line and D-line and ours.
December 8th, 2019 at 9:55 PM ^
Why the negs? This is unfortunately true. You can talk about motivation and who sits all you want, but whoever is out there for Alabama is better than our guys. Wisconsin and Ohio St fucking bulldozed our defense and Alabama will do the same. They have better players. Period. Especially their offense vs our defense. Our offense can score some points on their defense but I’ve seen nothing to indicate they can win a shootout. There’s always a turnover, always a dropped pass, always something.
December 8th, 2019 at 9:04 PM ^
I'm pretty positive M will get destroyed.
2 game losing streak to end the year again and oh look a road game vs Washington to start next season. Coaches can't get the team up for these games. We beat UF in 2015, big whoop, they didn't have a QB and their coach was balls deep in a great white.
December 8th, 2019 at 9:18 PM ^
Duck man, you're going to be called an Ohio St troll.
December 8th, 2019 at 9:05 PM ^
Would rather lose to Bama than to South Carolina.
Is that optimistic?
December 8th, 2019 at 9:17 PM ^
No, but it's funny!
December 8th, 2019 at 9:10 PM ^
These meaningless bowl games are all about which coach can get his team more motivated to play hard. I have faith in Jimmy!
December 8th, 2019 at 9:13 PM ^
Bama’s second string will be fired up to get set up for starting spots next year.
Bama’s second string is better than our 1st string. Bama will win by at a minimum 14.
And if we are going to compare coaches, I believe Saban knows what he is doing.
December 9th, 2019 at 6:25 PM ^
Ironically, Saban lost the last game he coached that didn't have playoff implications... By 14.
December 8th, 2019 at 9:16 PM ^
There's nothing wrong with Michigan's coaching. Anyone who says there is is an Ohio St troll. They should all be banned from commenting.
am I doing this right?
December 8th, 2019 at 10:50 PM ^
You really sound like a salty bitch. Get over it.
December 8th, 2019 at 9:33 PM ^
I like the matchup. Instead of weak team we get a powerhouse. Can’t get better playing mediocre teams.
December 8th, 2019 at 9:37 PM ^
My optimistic view is that there is a hurricane and Michigan does not have to play this game so we don’t have to hear the media rip harbaugh all off season. This is going to be a beating. We have no dline.
December 9th, 2019 at 6:29 PM ^
December 8th, 2019 at 9:37 PM ^
Here’s my optimistic, and entirely plausible, take - the game allows everyone to see quite clearly that Josh Gattis can take us to the promised land, and that Don Brown cannot
December 8th, 2019 at 9:42 PM ^
Don Brown small D line is going to get smashed and Saban will get Judy and Rugg matched up with many times . We should be able to pass on them but I see 59-31 ish game . You thought osu pushed Paye and Kemp Backwards , wait til you see what that mammoth O line of bama will do
December 8th, 2019 at 9:47 PM ^
I don’t understand why everyone is so freaking afraid of Alabama. This years team is not the usual Alabama powerhouse. They had major deficiencies on defense all year and they lost their best player on offense. Their receivers can’t catch the ball if the QB doesn’t get it to him. DB’s defensive scheme is perfect for a young, inexperienced QB. We should be able to make plays on defense and if Shea can get it going, we have a chance to beat them.
December 9th, 2019 at 9:15 AM ^
Still have to get to the qb. Through their OL. Tough ask.
December 8th, 2019 at 9:52 PM ^
I think Alabama gets the team's attention. No one is going to opt out of this game.
edit - huge challenge ? Heck yes, by why play some chump game ? I love this matchup. Great football game. Jan 1 pre-gaming in the morning with Mimosas and Bloody's.
Go Blue !!!
December 8th, 2019 at 9:53 PM ^
"If we lose, so what?"
You and I aren't going to lose any sleep over it if we do, but the general reaction locally and nationally to a loss—especially a lopsided one—sure as shit won't be "so what." It will reinforce the narrative that Harbaugh can't get it done here, and in the eyes of many Michigan fans will put him squarely on the hot seat going into 2020. That won't make recruiting any easier.
December 8th, 2019 at 10:01 PM ^
I'm optimistic for two reasons:
- Back-up QB who never expected to play this season
- A defense that was unable to stop any team with a pulse
Obviously the players surrounding that QB remain top-tier talent, so who knows.
December 8th, 2019 at 11:24 PM ^
Your wrong. 100% wrong and most likely posted the same thing before Michigan played Wisconsin, Penn State, and Ohio State. Bama will embarrass Michigan.
December 8th, 2019 at 10:59 PM ^
Good Lord, the negativity masquerading as "realism" on this board is nauseating. This is one post looking for positive takes on the upcoming bowl game, yet it's littered with crap responses. Coming to an optimistic takes post and saying you don't have any optimism is like walking into a Best Buy to tell them you don't want any electronics.
I think this game will be much more appealing to Michigan's players than Alabama's, giving us an edge in motivation. We saw it last year with the Georgia/Texas bowl game. Hell, we were on the uninspired side of it last year against Florida because our playoff hopes had been dashed. This will be the first time Alabama has played a game without a national championship on the line since the 2013/14 season (a game they lost to Oklahoma by double digits, btw).
December 8th, 2019 at 11:06 PM ^
not the ideal matchup, still....given that the major disappointments have already taken place..
Some upside, getting a new opportunity for postseason practice against the Holy Grail.
December 8th, 2019 at 11:21 PM ^
You can put all of the spin on it this game that you want to but the truth is the truth and facts do not lie. Alabama is WAY better than Michigan and it begins with their mentality. They are the standard for college football and have been since Saban arrived 12 years ago. Yes, they are not as good defensively but they have the athletes to stop Michigan’s offense. Also, their offense will hang 60 on Don Brown and the Michigan defense. They will run the ball down Michigan’s throat and the passing game will slice Michigan’s secondary apart and this is with a backup QB. Facts and statistics prove that Don Brown’s game time calls against good offenses are embarrassing and the Alabama receiver corp matched up against Metellus, Glasgow etc will make for a looooong day in Florida on New Year’s day. Michigan would have matched up much better with Georgia.
December 8th, 2019 at 11:40 PM ^
In Alabama's last 125 football games (dating back to 2011), they have been out of contention for a NC in exactly one contest. They lost that game by 14, fwiw. Teams that are used to playing for NCs play a lot differently when the stakes are lower. Michigan has much more to play for than Alabama in this one.
December 8th, 2019 at 11:31 PM ^
I just don't see how our defense holds up in this game.
I'm thinking something along the lines of 42-28 Tide.
December 8th, 2019 at 11:47 PM ^
Very good opportunity for Harbaugh to redeem himself. Alabama will be playing with a QB who's started one game. With that being said Alabama is still an amazing team. They lost their 2 games by a combined total 8 points, and have NFL players on both sides of the ball.
If Harbaugh can win this game, it'll take the heat off him for the time being.
December 9th, 2019 at 12:29 AM ^
Optimistic take:
We lose by less than the 29 point margin in which we lost to OSU.
I feel this is optimistic.
December 9th, 2019 at 1:57 AM ^
I don't mind the downside. College football in general lacks big-time matchups, and this is a big-time matchup. I'm excited for it. In fact, I'd even argue that switching places with PSU to play Memphis would put M in a worse position. That is no-win in a way that this can't be.
Sure Alabama will probably win, but who knows until they play. Steal a couple of possessions early and maybe there's a chance.
I also want Don Brown going against elite offenses as much as possible, so he can either find the necessary tweaks or realize he needs to go elsewhere. Hiding away will do neither of those, and one really does need to happen.
December 9th, 2019 at 2:08 AM ^
Figures. Can't even have an optimistic thread that isn't polluted by the cesspool of weak defeatist losers.
December 9th, 2019 at 3:04 AM ^
My prediction (based on my awesome proprietary, in-house, custom mathematical model):
Michigan 45, Alabama 42.
You heard it here first! :)
December 9th, 2019 at 4:20 AM ^
---- Alabama lost its quarterback ----
Given that he is one of the best QB's in the country, that is a big loss, and Alabama without him is not going to be as good as before.
In fact, they are going to lose the very thing that was so deadly against Michigan in The Game: an opposing quarterback who is both a deadly passer and a deadly runner.
---- Alabama defense is not as good as Ohio State ----
Alabama defense is #7 in SP+. Ohio State is #2. Alabama is #9 in passing yards allowed. Ohio State is #2. Alabama is #36 in rushing yards allowed. Ohio State is #7. Penn State is #5, and Michigan was able to run some there.
---- Alabama does not have Ohio State's permabubble of luck ----
To me, it seems Ohio State is a great team, but also very lucky. The Game-winning call in 2016; losing the starting QB and having the backup come in late and change the whole Game in 2017; losing one of the winningest coaches in college football and seemingly not missing a step; fumbling the ball in The Game and having it bounce right back up to the RB in stride, etc.
Alabama does not have the secret luck weapon. They are *unlucky*. They lost their starting QB shortly before the game against Michigan. In their game against Auburn, some critical calls (including some bad calls) didn't go Alabama's way.
Alabama does not have an invincible protective bubble of luck.
---- Opportunity: this might be the weakest Alabama in a while ----
Alabama is still a strong team. But . . . if you ever wanted YOUR team to have a shot at Alabama, this is a year of opportunity. It is a rare year when they aren't full up and going into the CFP as #1 or #2 by a mile over everyone else. Time to go for it! :)
---- Other teams have lots of high-ranked players, yet get beat ----
Don't be overly afraid of a team full of high-ranked recruits. They are not invincible. Michigan fans would not be afraid of Florida State or USC, and both of those teams are top-6 in talent composite.
---- Upsets happen all the time ----
Just this year: Unranked South Carolina beat #3 Georgia, at Georgia. Unranked North Carolina nearly beat #1 Clemson. Unranked Kansas State beat #5 Oklahoma. Unranked Illinois beat #6 Wisconsin.
And, most importantly, #15 Auburn beat Alabama.
---- Underdogs don't win by giving up before the game is done ----
Just because you are an underdog, you don't have to be a defeatist and submissively surrender before the game is even played, like a cringing weakling.
Every underdog who ever won did the opposite of that -- went in with moxie, and fought hard to the end, no matter the odds.
We play lower-division teams at the Big House every year who aren't sissies and are willing to fight hard and give it their all on the big stage, no matter the odds or outcome.
---- In Conclusion ----
Lose that PBONER, and join the side of goodness and mirth: the Wolverines who are eager to take on Alabama.
If we win: UNFATHOMABLE GLORY!
If not: We went out swinging for the fences! Congratulate the opponent on a good game, and move on without feeling bad, because next year is a whole new season either way.
GO BLUE! GO FOR GLORY!
December 9th, 2019 at 8:45 AM ^
I like this take. If we show up to play and our receivers can hang on to the ball I think we have a decent shot. How different would the OSU game have looked without the dropped passes and stupid errors?
December 9th, 2019 at 5:59 AM ^
Unmm....we have a better helmet. Hopefully that pays dividends
December 9th, 2019 at 8:44 AM ^
We also have Michael Jordan on our jerseys and they got the regular Nike symbol that's got to be worth at least three yards
December 9th, 2019 at 10:19 AM ^
If they are going stay in the game against Bama it will take the offense having a big day, taking the good stuff from the last part of the season and executing for a full game and putting 35+ on the board. Alabama's defense is not quite as dominant this year and the offense was moving the ball on OSU when not shooting itself in the foot. On the flipside I see no way the defense holds Alabama to less than 35+ points. Going to have a huge size disadvantage upfront and committing extra bodies at the line is going to leave one on one matchups against Bama's great receivers.