Michigan's schedule & predictions
Schedule's out now. What's your prediction?
- @Minnesota
- MSU
- @Indiana
- Wisconsin
- @Rutgers
- Penn State
- Maryland
- @OSU
No one knows anything, but I'm gonna say
Lean W: MSU, Rutgers, Maryland
No clue: @Minnesota, @IU, Wisconsin, Penn State
Lean L: Ohio State
I could convince myself of anything from 3-5 to 6-2
September 19th, 2020 at 11:04 AM ^
6-2. Win the home games and split on the road with bookend losses to Minnesota and OSU.
September 19th, 2020 at 1:42 PM ^
Am I missing something? Why the angst over Minnesota? Their main advantage was that raucous crowd. They are better, than they used to be but the Oline is not that good and they lost their best defensive players. Not worried about anyone but OSU.
September 19th, 2020 at 2:18 PM ^
Exactly Minnesota is a good football team where things really fell into place for them last season. They lost a few big pieces from that team. I would expect us to win by a couple of scores
September 19th, 2020 at 3:10 PM ^
Early season, on the road, good QB and Bateman is trying to return to play so they have the pieces to attack our secondary.
I know “on the road,” is a bit less meaningful now that there’s no crowd, but I’d still rather wake up in my own bed and go play a game than get on a plane, stay in a hotel and go play a game.
Also factor in 4 brand new OL starters (Assuming Mayfield either didn’t sign with an agent or is forgiven by the B1G, I haven't heard anything definitive on their eligibility) and a brand new QB all making their first starts.
At the end of the day there are enough question marks and things in Minnesota’s favor for me to look at it and say it’s a toss up. Maybe 55/45 in our favor?
September 19th, 2020 at 3:18 PM ^
They stay in a hotel at home the night before a game too.
September 19th, 2020 at 7:59 PM ^
Minnesota was 20th on the S&P+ for this year. Michigan 21st. They're not OSU, but it's hardly a gimme. Especially first game of the year with a QB who has barely played. And we still don't know what guys we're getting back.
September 20th, 2020 at 1:31 PM ^
What do you mean oline not that good. Their oline will be a strength. Plus strong returning QB and best WR in B1G. Their defense will be weak likely. Tough call - 50/50
September 19th, 2020 at 2:25 PM ^
I’ll go 6-2 with the losses being OSU and Wisconsin
September 19th, 2020 at 11:04 AM ^
Road games are not “road” games. We’ll be fine. If we beat minny, we’ll roll
September 19th, 2020 at 12:00 PM ^
But nobody is picking Michigan to lose against Minnesota because of the crowd and atmosphere. It's the team, especially with Bateman currently back and Ambry Thomas out.
It's not like OSU getting to play PSU in Happy Valley without a without.
Or traveling to Madison or Kinnick in Iowa without fans.
Hell, even traveling to the Shoe this year is advantage Michigan since there isn't a crowd...not enough of an advantage to win. But it's a plus to play them with no crowd than with one and a championship on the line.
September 19th, 2020 at 1:21 PM ^
Talent will win out. I like our talent way more than theirs.
September 19th, 2020 at 2:11 PM ^
Which is fine...and a very realistic take.
All I'm saying is that people fearing Minnesota on the road aren't really factoring in the crowd. It's just a solid team away from home.
There are plenty of other places in the conference where no fans will make a true difference, I listed them...Minnesota ain't on that list.
September 19th, 2020 at 11:05 AM ^
Really depends in Milton.
If he is solid or good Michigan has a chance at 7-1. If he struggles 3-5 is a real possibility.
September 19th, 2020 at 12:37 PM ^
Feel like it depends a lot on Michigan's secondary too. All four of their tough games (Minn, Wisc, PSU, OSU) are against returning QBs that were varying degrees of good to excellent last season. Fields, Morgan, Coan were the top 3 QBs in the conference last year, and Clifford wasn't far behind -- roughly on par with Shea.
September 19th, 2020 at 12:50 PM ^
I hear you on osu and Minn. But Coan? UM may lose to UW this year but I’d be stunned if it was cus of Coan. Taylor best them ast year.
I’m not sold on Clifford either. Psu was another team that didn’t really rely on their QB to beat UM.
September 19th, 2020 at 12:59 PM ^
Coan was sneaky good. Completed almost 70% of his passes (13/16 vs Mich last year), and threw for 2700 yds, 18 TD and only 5 INT. 82 QBR for him as well, which was only behind Morgan (84.2) and Fields (92.1) in the Big Ten.
For reference, Clifford had a 76.8 QBR and Shea was 71.3.
And I hear you on not being sold on Clifford, but he's still one of the top 4 returning QBs in conference, and a veteran that was as good or better than Shea was.
September 19th, 2020 at 1:34 PM ^
Coan was fine. But he doesn’t win UW the game last year without Taylor. He hasn’t shown that he can beat quality defenses without the help of an incredible run game.
He may do that this season. Or UW might have another game breaking back. But Coan himself doesn’t make me nervous. Fields does. Morgan does also but to a lesser extent. I really think the key to beating Minn is UMs run game and their D Line. If 1 of Hinton/Smith and 1 of Charbonnet/Haskins/Corum have a good game UM wins comfortably.
September 19th, 2020 at 3:55 PM ^
I can't here the name Coan without thinking of Andrew Dice Clay.
A Bada Boosh.... how's it goin' Mrs. Coan.
September 19th, 2020 at 11:05 AM ^
I think we end up going 5-3. That is pulling one win out of the Penn State, Minnesota, & Wisconsin games.
September 19th, 2020 at 1:21 PM ^
I’m going 5-3 or 3-5. All depends on Milton.
September 19th, 2020 at 2:20 PM ^
He is definitely the X factor. Really all 3 of those games are going to be virtual coin flips, I dont think the talent level is that different among the teams. Home field advantage being basically nullified also brings the playing field further level. Its just hard to have faith in our luck right now, because some of those games will likely come down to it.
September 19th, 2020 at 11:05 AM ^
I'm going to say 5-3
Dubs: Minnesota, MSU, IU, Rutgers, Maryland
L's: Wisconsin, PSU, and OSU
September 19th, 2020 at 12:01 PM ^
They are more likely to beat Wisconsin and PSU at home than Minnesota on the road.
September 19th, 2020 at 12:19 PM ^
New QB making his debut on the road throwing to unproven WRs feels like a problem.
A vet QB like Tanner Morgan coming back (with his entire OL also returning) against Michigan's secondary feels like a larger problem. If Bateman gets cleared to return, they don't have anyone to matchup with him.
September 19th, 2020 at 2:24 PM ^
I think our secondary can handle Bateman if he comes back. Gray is a very good CB you match up on him. We have as good as safeties as there is in the conference. So bracket him and everyone else can clearly match up with them.
September 19th, 2020 at 6:08 PM ^
I think you underestimate Bateman. Top half of the first round type talent, and putting Gray on him is a mismatch without dedicating safety help. The other side of that is our opposite corner spot is a MAJOR question mark without Ambry. So I’m not nearly as confident as you are that we can “clearly match up with them.” If anything it’s foggy and you’d hope it’s a wash.
Minnesota IS a talented team returning a very good QB and all of their OL. Should not underestimate that.
September 19th, 2020 at 11:06 AM ^
7-1, lose to Ohio State by double digits.
September 19th, 2020 at 4:58 PM ^
Triple!
September 19th, 2020 at 11:06 AM ^
5-3
Wins over MSU, IU, Rutgers and Maryland and one out of Minnesota, Wisconsin, PSU, OSU grouping.
September 19th, 2020 at 11:07 AM ^
This is not an easy schedule. I am going to say 7-1 with a loss at Columbus. This is predicated heavily on Milton's growth. If Milton becomes the next Trevor Lawrence then 8-0 is not crazy talk. If he is average then 5-3 is the probable result.
September 19th, 2020 at 11:11 AM ^
If Milton was going to be the next Trevor Lawrence he wouldn't have sat on the bench the last two seasons
September 19th, 2020 at 11:22 AM ^
Joe Burrow sat the bench ....
September 19th, 2020 at 12:05 PM ^
While sitting behind two 1st round picks in Haskins and Fields. Big difference
September 19th, 2020 at 12:20 PM ^
When did Burrow sit behind Fields? He missed Fields by 2 years. Burrow’s last year at OSU was 2017, Fields’ first at OSU was 2019.
September 19th, 2020 at 12:35 PM ^
Well, you’re no longer allowed to contribute to this conversation
September 19th, 2020 at 1:40 PM ^
Indeed.
September 19th, 2020 at 1:49 PM ^
To be fair he was brought on as a project. Why are you trying to compare him to TL?
September 19th, 2020 at 11:07 AM ^
Ambry and Nico come back we win 7. If not, 5 or 6.
September 19th, 2020 at 11:08 AM ^
5-3 with Nico
3-5 without Nico
2-6 if any starter misses games due to a positive test.
September 19th, 2020 at 4:32 PM ^
Other teams are just as likely to lose players due to positive Covid tests. It's a wildcard for every game.
September 19th, 2020 at 11:08 AM ^
Definite, "absolutelynopossiblewayyoucanwinthisgame" loss: Ohio State
Probable loss: Wisconsin, Penn State
Possible loss: Minnesota
Possible win: Michigan State, Indiana
Probable win: Maryland
Definite, "butnotasdefiniteaslosingtoOhioState" win: Rutgers
So 4 and 4. That probably puts them 3rd or 4th in the division, so they'd play likely Iowa or Nebraska in the championship week game. I'll give them a win in that one to go 5 and 4.
September 19th, 2020 at 11:22 AM ^
We don't lose to Wisconsin or Penn State at home.
September 19th, 2020 at 12:20 PM ^
Yep, the road woes are well documented because everyone loves to pick on Jim Harbaugh nationally, but no one talks about the fact that Harbaugh has been stellar at home sans OSU - though one has to note that we won't have the same homefield advantage this year
2016 future top 10 PSU - W 49-10
2016 #8 Wisconsin - W 14-7
2018 #15 Wisconsin - W 38-10
2018 #14 PSU - W 42-7
2019 #8 ND - W 45-14
Harbaugh has been really good vs our peers at home
September 19th, 2020 at 11:25 AM ^
You have Michigan State as only a possible win? They are going to be terrible this year. Worse than Maryland.
September 19th, 2020 at 12:24 PM ^
Michigan State on Halloween in the middle of a pandemic.
Labeling that as anything other than a nerve-wracking probable win means we've learned nothing from 20 years of playing MSU.
September 19th, 2020 at 8:15 PM ^
It's hard to say when we know next to zero about Milton. If he really beat out McCaffrey I feel pretty good about him, but really have no idea.
Wins: We beat Maryland and Rutgers. Though who knows how good Maryland will be.
Should definitely win but who knows what craziness might happen: MSU and Indiana and possibly Minnesota now.
60/40 percent chance of winning if Milton is good and our D line is healthy: Wisconsin and PSU.
20/80 percent chance of winning: OSU. But if Milton and SpeedInSpace are fully operational who knows. This would be the year that we win so that OSU fans can tell us it didn't count because of COVID.
6-2 to 8-0 call me a homer. Only Rutgers is a gimme. Though I could see MSU and Maryland sucking too.
September 19th, 2020 at 11:10 AM ^
Harbaugh achieved the first goal, to pass MSU and knock them back into oblivion....CHECK.
Next goal is to catch OSU... and this is the year we do it, with Milton a Heisman candidate. We will enter the national spotlight again, too. And Milton will be the next great M QB in the NFL.
8-0
September 19th, 2020 at 11:25 AM ^
^ I’ll have whatever they’re having
September 19th, 2020 at 12:50 PM ^
8-0 with this schedule would be unbelievable! I think 7-1 means we are really really good. 4 of the 8 hard.
September 19th, 2020 at 11:51 AM ^
We all want Milton to excel but pump those brakes a bit.