ESPN's Edwards has Michigan in 2016 Rose Bowl (Early New Year's Six Predictions)
Insider article, but ESPN's Brad Edwards lists Michigan playing Oregon in the 2016 Rose Bowl.
http://insider.espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/12304511/early-2015-new-year-six-predictions
Rose Bowl: Michigan-Oregon
This game is guaranteed to be Big Ten versus Pac-12, and I'm going out on a major limb by taking Michigan to have first-year magic under Jim Harbaugh (remember, Brady Hoke reached the Sugar in his first year). What I like is that Michigan has recruited well in recent years and has the most returning starters in the conference. Harbaugh must find a productive QB, but having all starters back on the offensive line helps, as does a schedule that sends Michigan State and Ohio State to Ann Arbor. The season opener at Utah is a huge game for this prediction. On the other side, I'm thinking Oregon loses the Pac-12 title game to USC but doesn't fall from the top 10 withoutMarcus Mariota. I chose the Ducks over UCLA for this spot, because they have a better track record of replacing productive QBs without too much trouble.
Other Games are:
Orange Bowl (Semi) Ohio State vs USC
Cotton Bowl (Semi) Aubrun vs Oklahoma State
Sugar Bowl: Tennessee vs Baylor
Fiesta Bowl: Notre Dame vs Alabama
Peach Bowl: Georgia Tech vs Boise State
February 10th, 2015 at 12:57 PM ^
Bowl predictions for next season before teams even have their first spring practice...... what's next? Christmas promotions in september?
February 10th, 2015 at 1:12 PM ^
They are promoting Christmas in September.
It is a little soon for bowl predictions though. I will just be happy seeing some passion on the field and fan support off the field. If it comes with a few wins, even better.
Go Blue!
February 10th, 2015 at 2:28 PM ^
Might want to check the batteries in your sarcasm detecter.
February 10th, 2015 at 1:01 PM ^
Bold, bold prediction indeed. Especially considering we don't have a QB right now. Harbaugh will find one eventually, but I'm not getting my hopes up for a lights out first year.
As long as we show week-to-week improvement this year, establish a respectable offense, and the defense can at least maintain the status quo, I don't think fans can ask for much more than that in the first year.
2016-17 is where we should be able to find out what this team is really made of under Harbaugh.
February 10th, 2015 at 1:18 PM ^
I'm not saying you're wrong or what I'm about to say is right, but to your point about "we don't have a qb yet". Lesser coaches have done more with lesser quarterbacks. We have the best posibble coach to work with quarterbacks in football and he gets to teach up and pick 1 of the 4 4* quarterbacks we have in the stable. I'll bet on Jim in this race.
February 10th, 2015 at 1:08 PM ^
Tennessee in the Sugar Bowl? I mean yeah, they're in the easier part of the SEC, and they've had good recruiting classes, but I can't see them getting past 8 wins.
Or maybe I just dislike them because a former teammate of mine is on their Dline, and he put the douche in douchebag.
February 10th, 2015 at 1:19 PM ^
Would be a great season, and imagine the recruiting class it would bring.
But Oklahoma State? I don't see that.
February 10th, 2015 at 1:31 PM ^
I don't know about 10 wins but I think that UM shows marked improvement in all phases of the game this year. I'm a big believer that in college sports the coach is the most important cog on the team. If the troops rally around Harbaugh--and i have no reason to believe they wouldn't--then this team will play great football and be a force. The Rose Bowl is certainly in play given the favorable schedule. But the main difference between this team and Hoke's team in his first year is that there is no established QB. Hoke had Denard Robinson who was a great college QB. I still think Michigan finishes behind OSU and MSU, but I think they best Wisconsin/Nebraska/PSU in the overall B1G standings. All conjecture at this point but I am glad that the Rivalry will once again be a decisive game that features two top-notch coaches. Go B1G!
February 10th, 2015 at 1:46 PM ^
February 10th, 2015 at 3:26 PM ^
cannot be true. Michigan cannot actually be good or important unless it has good teams to beat. The Big Ten was SO close to climbing into a hole of eternal irrelevance this year after the debacle that was the second weekend of this season. OSU, MSU, and Wisconsin did the conference a hell of a lot of good on New Years Day and beyond. You don't know it yet, but this past bowl-season was the most important post-season Michigan has had in a long time and they did not even play a game.
February 10th, 2015 at 2:41 PM ^
I like my beer cold, my music loud, and my OSU fans obnoxious and unreasonable. You, sir, are a disappointment.
February 10th, 2015 at 6:57 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
February 10th, 2015 at 1:39 PM ^
don't we start with a bowl game, ANY bowl game, and work from there.
February 10th, 2015 at 1:45 PM ^
Go B1G
February 10th, 2015 at 2:30 PM ^
I like the idea, but if any part of his reasoning is really "Hoke went to the Sugar in his first year, and Harbaugh's in his first year, so... Rose Bowl, big bowl game. ... because Hoke did it... and... Harbaugh's in his first year too... High Five logic", then I'm going to have to ignore it.
February 10th, 2015 at 5:12 PM ^
We were 121st in turnover margin and interceptions, and 120th in passes defended. If we are a little luckier regarding turnovers and can get the DBs to break up some more passes, and combine that with a more favorable schedule, it all comes down to quarterbacking. If we can get a full season out of Peppers, Lyons is serviceable and Countess returns to his 6-pick soph season, the defense can be nasty against the run and pass. Just grind out some scores on offense and we'll win our share of 17-13 type games.
February 10th, 2015 at 3:01 PM ^
Then why not? This schedule sets up well for us, though I never like playing PSU and OSU on back-to-back weeks. With the coaching staff assembled, I'm not worried about where they will be by time our conference schedule gets tough.
February 10th, 2015 at 5:08 PM ^
Last season, yea.......
February 11th, 2015 at 7:41 AM ^
February 10th, 2015 at 5:25 PM ^
I guess I'll book my tickets now.
February 11th, 2015 at 12:05 AM ^
February 11th, 2015 at 2:59 AM ^
at home. I think there is a chance Harbaugh will beat both of these teams at home and then do quite well against the remainder of the B1G. I could see a 10-2 or 11-1 record. We may come back down to earth in 2016 with tough road games against OSU and MSU. 2017 we'll the youth bubble, so it may be more difficult. I think by 2019, we will make the playoffs!
2015 10-2 BCS bowl.
2016 8-4 mid size bowl.
2017 9-3 Big bowl
2018 8-4 mid size bowl.
2019 11-1 playoffs baby!