Schedule Lays Out Nicely (Update)
I posted this back on September 23rd and I think it holds up pretty well although I underestimated Northwestern like most people. We had just blown out Nebraska and were heading into the tougher part of our schedule. We now have a bye week and a 4 game stretch run that all look very winnable including on the road against the Buckeyes.
https://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/schedule-lays-out-nicely
1. The opponents and matchups get progressively more difficult for the most part allowing an improving team time and opportunity to develop talent and depth.
2. There is a nice break for the bye week to heal up with 4 games to go - not too early and not too late. It also breaks up the "murderers row" of Wisconsin, MSU, and PSU.
3. We have a couple of light games before OSU instead of recent years with physical road matches against Iowa and Wisconsin the week before The Game.
4. The road games (other than OSU) are not in pits of hell like Iowa or PSU. Northwestern will have more Michigan fans than the home team. MSU is not that loud or hostile - they can't even sell the place out regularly. Rutgers is Rutgers.
If the team continues to show improvement and we get some breaks, we could roll into Columbus at 10-1 and ready for a 2006 type of showdown with the Bucknuts. I'm not saying it will be easy but I think if the team continues its upward trajectory, it is doable. This is especially true if injured players such as Evans, Solomon, and Black return to gives us a boost along the way. (All are back now!)
Sept. 29 @Northwestern W 20-17
Oct. 6 Maryland W 42-21
Oct. 13 Wisconsin W 38-13
Oct. 20 @Michigan State W 21-7
Nov. 3 Penn State TBA
Nov. 10 @Rutgers TBA
Nov. 17 Indiana TBA
Nov. 24 @Ohio State Noon, Fox
October 21st, 2018 at 9:22 PM ^
Very winnable game in Columbus.Sure we can win,but are any games "very winnable " in Columbus?
6 weeks til that game a lot can and will happen,before that game
October 21st, 2018 at 9:26 PM ^
It's all relative. Other than the Luke Fickell year, how many times since 2008 could we honestly say it was winnable? 2016 was the most winnable and we almost pulled it off but that was a very flawed Michigan team with no QB. This is the most complete Michigan team since 2007. It still may not be enough to win but it is at least winnable now.
October 21st, 2018 at 9:32 PM ^
I raise my eyebrow at you for bringing up the team that provided The Horror.
October 21st, 2018 at 9:41 PM ^
That was a very talented team beset by key injuries and focus issues. It just seemed like Lloyd was distracted in his last season. He seemed to be pouting over not getting the chance to install his successor and it bled over into the games. They were expected to make a NC run and instead got beat by App St and blown out by Oregon at home. They eventually turned in a respectable season but that was still a good team.
October 21st, 2018 at 10:04 PM ^
We have to see how OSU responds. Last year they lost to Iowa and turned around and absolutely destroyed Sparty and looked good for the rest of the season.
October 21st, 2018 at 10:06 PM ^
When was the last time Michigan beat Ohio State?
EDIT: Beat Penn State
October 21st, 2018 at 10:36 PM ^
2013 was winnable, literally down to Michigan's last offensive play. Even with a QB suffering a broken foot for most of the game, it was winnable.
October 22nd, 2018 at 12:29 AM ^
My question wasn’t when was the last winnable game. My question was when was the last time Michigan “won” when they played Ohio State in football.
October 22nd, 2018 at 3:29 AM ^
Luke Fickell was the time.
October 22nd, 2018 at 1:27 PM ^
Yup.
Since the 100th Game in Ann Arbor, in the last 16 years, our only win against Ohio State was against Interim Coach Luke Fickell. Of the 15 losses, 7 were close, unfortunate, bad calls, bad coaching decisions, costly turnovers...but they all resulted in wins for Ohio State. Yes Ohio is the worst state ever, and yes I am glad we don’t have a program run like Ohio State, Penn State or Michigan State...but until we actually beat another Ohio State team with a real coach again...let’s not talk about that game as “winnable”.
I am super excited about this team, and how they get better every game. I am all onboard for the revenge tour and can’t wait for the Penn State Game. In 1998 we took one game at a time. If we get to Columbus at 10-1 with Coach Harbaugh anything can happen...but don’t get caught looking ahead...like Ohio State did on Saturday.
October 21st, 2018 at 9:38 PM ^
Off the top of my head, I’d say spelling bees and trivial pursuit are both very winnable in Columbus.
October 21st, 2018 at 9:56 PM ^
I would love to see us blow out Rutgers and Indiana within the first 20 minutes so we could sit our starters, especially Patterson. I really want this to be the year we have the better QB matchup.
October 21st, 2018 at 10:16 PM ^
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
THIS!!!!
October 21st, 2018 at 10:30 PM ^
There is only one reason one would consider such a "blow out" as being likely to happen-it is one word and it's not a complimentary word. Let me give you a guarantee "Jim Harbaugh will never consider a college football game at this level to be over after 20 minutes". Never. Feel free to ask him.
October 21st, 2018 at 10:38 PM ^
Yeah, I'm not completely sold on the strategy of using the first three quarters of FB to set up the 4th Q for the win. Why not just set up the win in the first Q and build from there?
October 21st, 2018 at 9:24 PM ^
If we beat Penn State, that Indiana game is a little bit scary. We should beat them but they're one of those teams that could pull off an unlikely upset if we don't show up.
October 21st, 2018 at 9:29 PM ^
I agree is a little scary but the fact that is at home provides some comfort. We could get caught looking ahead to OSU but its less likely at home in my opinion. This team seems to be on a mission so I don't think they will trip up on Rutgers or Indiana. PSU could give them a game if it turns into a shootout though.
October 21st, 2018 at 10:20 PM ^
^^^^^^^^^^^
THIS!!!!
October 21st, 2018 at 9:42 PM ^
Indiana hasn’t pulled off an upset in a long, long time. They always stumble over themselves as they did vs PSU.
October 21st, 2018 at 9:50 PM ^
The most recent Indiana stunners that come to mind - and this is obvious not a comprehensive list - are from the early-mid 2000s. They beat Iowa in 2006 when it wasn't expected and they beat Wisconsin in 2002. I think they even beat Oregon once in that stretch, and I know they beat Ohio State once in the late 1980s. Of course, that doesn't amount to being the upset special very often.
October 21st, 2018 at 10:14 PM ^
They did beat Oregon at Autzen. I was at the game and in disbelief. It was back when they had that player with 3 names (not Randle-El).
Iu has played us tough though, that's what worries me. Plus it's a classic trap game before OSU. Lastly. I'm guessing we play conservatively to avoid putting stuff on tape for OSU.
October 21st, 2018 at 10:21 PM ^
Two things. We've beat Indiana like 50 times in a row now.
And Mike DeBord is their OC.
October 21st, 2018 at 10:28 PM ^
It’s the seniors/early entries last game. Why would you think they would overlook it?
October 21st, 2018 at 10:41 PM ^
I'm not sure I understand what you're saying. Are you suggesting that UM lose to PSU to make the Indiana game less scary?
October 21st, 2018 at 11:18 PM ^
Huh? I'm just saying Indiana could be a trap game for a team with an undefeated conference record the week before OSU.
October 22nd, 2018 at 8:13 AM ^
Luckily it’s Senior Day, which should help with being focused that week.
October 21st, 2018 at 9:25 PM ^
When you say that the bye breaks up the "murderers row" of "Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Penn State" - I am assuming you mean murderers row literally and not figuratively when describing the Neanderthals over at MSU?
October 21st, 2018 at 9:27 PM ^
Technically, MSU and PSU would be a rapists/pedophiles row
October 21st, 2018 at 9:32 PM ^
Agree completely. A perfect ramp on which they can improve and from which they launch.
The pathway to the Big Ten Championship, and a BCS bid is very clear: Keep improving and knocking off the foe immediately infant of you, one at a time, and the sky is the limit.
Go Blue!
October 21st, 2018 at 9:39 PM ^
One game at a time.
October 21st, 2018 at 9:41 PM ^
Hopefully we get Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt to call The Game this year. They are the best Duo in the business right now.
October 21st, 2018 at 9:44 PM ^
More of a U shaped ramp but sure. The fancy stats say Penn St is the second best team we’ve played.
October 21st, 2018 at 10:31 PM ^
Yeah PSU is not gonna be easy. It helps that it's at home sure. It's after a bye but byes are so overrated. But MSU got pretty lucky in their game, and even though OSU isn't the same, that's obviously not a bad loss. They're still top 10 in S&P+. I mean, Michigan is clearly the better team and should win, but we certainly shouldn't be expecting an easy win. Really hope Gary can get back from that one.
October 21st, 2018 at 10:31 PM ^
Do the fancy stats account for Franklin not being able to coach his team out of a paper bag?
iowa is going to beat them next week. Iowa is to PSU what Purdue is to OSU, only more so
October 21st, 2018 at 9:46 PM ^
Did the top corner of the upper deck ever fill up yesterday? Every time they showed it, it was empty.
October 21st, 2018 at 10:15 PM ^
Yes it did, almost all of us up there were Michigan fans
October 21st, 2018 at 9:56 PM ^
I never thought I'd say this but I don't want to see Evans play for awhile... that fumble kept us from the shutout... can you imagine the dagger, had we shut them out ??? aside, i had the same problem with McKeon last year...
October 21st, 2018 at 10:22 PM ^
You should have just not said it. OSU killed PSU with screen passes. Evans will be needed in two weeks.
October 21st, 2018 at 9:59 PM ^
I think PSU will be the most difficult game IF they come with their OSU game plan and not their WTF MSU game plan. Coming off the bye we will probably come out flat - thankfully it's at home.
It will be interesting to see how OSU responds after the Purdue loss but I currently fear a mobile QB (PSU) more than a more talented but 1 dimensional OSU team.
I just don't see Rutgers or Indiana being able to do much against our defense.
October 21st, 2018 at 10:09 PM ^
You're completely insane. Not only is Penn State worse than Ohio State overall, the game is in Ann Arbor and Penn State completely lacks a run defense at the moment, making them an ideal matchup for Michigan.
I love to pile on OSU too, but if people think they can't bounce back from last night and be a playoff team they're deluding themselves.
October 21st, 2018 at 10:49 PM ^
The key to defeating our defense is having a mobile QB and we have played better against OSU the last two years than we have PSU. Have you not watch our games against PSU the last two years? Reminder: 2016 PSU 44 UofM 10 2017 PSU 42 UofM 13
We play at home but we are coming off a bye week and an emotional victory. The pressure is going to be on us as they might have 3 losses considering they play Iowa this next weekend.
Like I said this is how I feel currently - OSU might turn it around and suddenly become a much better team but they should have 2 losses and struggled against both Minn and Indiana.
October 21st, 2018 at 10:53 PM ^
The bye week is irrelevant. If anything it helps Michigan get healthier and expand the offense. and if Penn State comes into the game with three losses, they're more likely to roll over than play at a higher level than usual. Did you watch PSU-IU? Ignore the final score. Penn State was extremely lucky.
October 21st, 2018 at 11:23 PM ^
I hope you are correct.
October 21st, 2018 at 10:56 PM ^
We destroyed psu in 2016...
October 21st, 2018 at 11:21 PM ^
Yeah my bad - last years lost has me thinking we lost two years in a row
October 21st, 2018 at 11:41 PM ^
You even went as far as to make up a score. I respect your hustle.
October 22nd, 2018 at 5:39 AM ^
Lmao..
October 21st, 2018 at 11:09 PM ^
Ummmm, might want to recheck that 2016 score. Pretty sure PSU got thumped 49-10.
October 21st, 2018 at 11:13 PM ^
"Have you not watch our games against PSU the last two years? Reminder: 2016 PSU 44 UofM 10"
What sport are you talking about again?
October 22nd, 2018 at 12:22 AM ^
Leaving aside the score, and the fact that you were off by... 72 points on the margin of the 2016 game :).. your argument doesn't make any sense either. If your evidence that Michigan has trouble with mobile quarterbacks is last year's PSU and OSU games, last year McSorley had 11 rushes for 76 yards (vs. 17/26 passing for 282 yards) and Barrett had 15 rushes for 67 yards (vs. 3/8 passing for 30 yards) before he went out.
McSorley isn't a particularly mobile quarterback. He's basically at Shea Patterson's level of mobility. If you only saw this year's PSU/OSU game, you might not know that, but that was a gameplan thing that isn't normal for him. He'd prefer to stand in the pocket.
Meanwhile, Michigan's played four so-called mobile quarterbacks this year. Wimbush picked up a couple of key third downs but was completely bottled up after about the first twenty minutes. SMU's backup quarterback, who had something like one snap in his career, moved about pretty well. Adrian Martinez would probably rather not talk about the Nebraska game, and, uh, lolwerke... yeah.
This "can't beat a mobile quarterback" thing is old news.
Michigan matches up very well against PSU and OSU. I fully expect them to win the PSU game at home and go into Columbus no worse than a toss-up.