Time to Guess What our 2020 Football Record Will Be
To You Great MgoSeers and Prophets,
You are called to task right now: the task is to peer into the future and tell us what the Wolverines will do this year in terms of wins and losses. You get extra points for picking our cross-division game #9, and that outcome, as well as any bowl predictions. Whether you suffer from 2020-accelarated BPONE, you are an ecstatic lunatic, or you fall somewhere in between, it is time to share your prognostication.
And if any of you are correct, I'll mail you the sunglasses from a certain mod that I am holding hostage. They are nice, not overly fancy, a sure crowd-pleaser for the fashion conscious mgoblogger.
Have a great day,
XM
Saturday
Oct. 24
at 21 Minnesota Golden GophersTCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN7:30pm
Oct. 31
Michigan State SpartansMichigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI12:00pm ETFOX
Nov. 7
at Indiana HoosiersMemorial Stadium, Bloomington, INTime TBA ETTV TBA
Nov. 14
14 Wisconsin BadgersMichigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MITime TBA ETTV TBA
Nov. 21
at Rutgers Scarlet KnightsSHI Stadium, Piscataway, NJTime TBA ETTV
Nov. 28
8 Penn State Nittany LionsMichigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MITime TBA ETTV
Dec. 5
Maryland TerrapinsMichigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MITime TBA ETTV TBA
Dec. 12
at 5 Ohio State BuckeyesOhio Stadium, Columbus, OH12:00pm ETFOX
Dec. 19
vs Big Ten TBDSite, City TBDTime TBA ETTV TBA
Dec. 19
Big Ten ChampionshipLucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN8:00pm ETFOX
October 21st, 2020 at 11:26 AM ^
So if said pills are taken, Penix will take a beating.
October 21st, 2020 at 12:20 PM ^
"This is the way" Even Mando knows
October 21st, 2020 at 3:01 PM ^
Just make sure the cameras are off and you are not on a work meeting.
- Jeff Toobin
October 21st, 2020 at 10:37 AM ^
Chadillac skills, Chadillac frills.
Look at the scores of those Chadillac thrills.
7-2 including a bowl win.
October 21st, 2020 at 9:29 AM ^
4-4 or 5-3 with a win in the crossover game for 5-4 or 6-3. We got about the worst possible schedule we could get with the worst crossovers. Minnesota, PSU, OSU, Wisconsin, and Indiana all make me pretty nervous. I think we are going to be a pretty good football team but with a new QB and questionable CB play we are going to have some frustrating moments.
October 21st, 2020 at 9:30 AM ^
7-1, with the one unfortunately being the obvious one. We'll play Purdue in the crossover game and win handily. If we make it to a normal bowl season, we'll play Oregon in the Rose Bowl, finishing the season with a loss.
EDIT: Overlooked that the Rose Bowl is a playoff game. So we'll say we play Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl instead.
October 21st, 2020 at 9:30 AM ^
7-1
I have no faith in Wisconsin being able to beat UM this year in Ann Arbor. I have no faith in PSU being able to beat UM in Ann Arbor.
October 21st, 2020 at 9:32 AM ^
11-0
Minnesota rematch
Alabama
Clemson
/s
7-2
Lose to Minnesota and Ohio State
Face Wisconsin again
October 21st, 2020 at 4:48 PM ^
I think the BIG has said it will avoid repeat matchups for the crossover #9 game.
October 21st, 2020 at 9:33 AM ^
5-3 with losses to Minnesota, Wisconsin, and OSU.
Win over Iowa in crossover.
Win over UNC in Duke's Mayo Bowl.
7-3 final record.
October 21st, 2020 at 9:39 AM ^
If we get in a full season, 7-1 with that loss to 8-0 OSU. Three rankes wins plus one loss could be enough to get us in the CFP. I have a feeling no Big 12 team will finish with less than two losses. The UGA/UF loser will also have a second loss and I don't think the winner will will beat Alabama.
Either way, the CFP committee will have a tough task if we make it to bowl season.
October 21st, 2020 at 9:40 AM ^
UM 10, Minn 9
UM 10, MSU 0
UM 10, IU 8
UM 10, Wisc 7
UM 11, Rutgers 3
UM 10, PSU 2
UM 10, Maryland 0
UM 73, OSU 12
Big Ten title: UM 3, Nebraska 0
Semifinal: UM 35, Bama 34
Final: UM 3, Clemson 2
October 21st, 2020 at 9:52 AM ^
Talk about keeping the offense under wraps.
October 21st, 2020 at 9:42 AM ^
7-1
I can't see UW or PSU beating UM in Ann Arbor. I also can't see UM losing to Minnesota - the UMinny defense is flat out weak in the LB area, and Harbaugh just loves to fuck with LB's. Don Brown's defense is always solid against Tier II teams (if you will), especially when given a modicum of support from the offense. A basic game from Milton will be enough for the win because of the weapons around him.
And because Covid effects everyone, I'm not going to give it any credit either way.
So I'll say 7-1, which sounds really good. But we will all know that there's a lot of window dressing around the edges because the offense is still a little wobbly with growing pains.
October 21st, 2020 at 9:45 AM ^
7-1 with a loss to Ohio State
OR
6-2 with losing to OSU and maybe Minnesota
Wisconsin lost a lot of talent plus Jack Coan being most likely out for the year with an injury. Penn State Lost KJ Hamler, Journey Brown (injury), Micah Parsons (OPT out.) I don’t think our schedule is that hard besides OSU and Minnesota. Maybe I’m wrong, either way I’m just happy Michigan Football is back.
October 21st, 2020 at 10:25 AM ^
You're absolutely wrong about the schedule. Wisconsin's QB is like their 10th most important player. Penn State is stacked at DE and RB so those losses aren't a huge drop off for them. PSU and Wisconsin are both top 10 teams. No saying we can't beat them, but wrong to say our schedule isn't that hard. It's top 5 most difficult even with the losses to Wisc and PSU
October 21st, 2020 at 10:41 AM ^
Yeah but without a known quantity at RB and a 4th year player at QB, losing Coan for the foreseeable future is a pretty big loss to Wisconsin. They'll plug and play as they always do but they won't have the same teeth as the past few years (2021 will probably mean same ole big bad UW).
Losing Journee Brown on O for PSU isn't as crazy a loss but still a formidable one, he was one of the best backs in the conference. Throw in no Micah Parsons and regardless the remaining talent on that defense, they don't have a legit 1st round mike who's ready to step in and play at that high of a level. Plus, let us not forget the lost production of one KJ Hamler.
These are all of the margins it takes for teams to from good to great or good to very solid. While formidable, I think we're dodging some pretty big bullets in terms of the talent lost from both of these teams.
October 21st, 2020 at 9:47 AM ^
5-3/4-4
October 21st, 2020 at 9:51 AM ^
W - @ #21 Minn (50% confidence)
W - MSU (80% confidence)
W - @ IU (65% confidence)
W - #14 Wisconsin (55% confidence)
W - @ Rutgers (95% confidence)
W - #8 Penn State (55% confidence)
W - Maryland (80% confidence)
L - @ #5 OSU (75% confidence)
8-1 (50% confidence)
If we beat Minnesota on Saturday, I could see us rolling into Columbus with 0 to1 losses because it:
A. Shows that the Milton hype might be legit or he atleast won't be a liability.
B. Gets us by our toughest road game outside of The Game
C. It means we have a solid to legit good team and historically we've traded beatdowns with Wisconsin and PSU depending on who the home team is.
Only game outside of Minn, Wisc, PSU, and OSU that might be frisky is that road game against IU.
If we lose to Minnesota on Saturday, I could see the wheels coming off a bit and we lose 2-3 games before heading to Columbus. I predicted us to win against Minn based on the rumored players they might be missing and the weather that might play in our favor (our run game should have the edge).
EDIT: Given the parity of the season thus far and how poorly highly talented teams have played, I wouldn't be surprised to see complete anarchy this season. As in everyone will have 2-4 losses and OSU will drop atleast one game they should have won.
October 21st, 2020 at 9:53 AM ^
Wolverines 8 Covid 0
7 wins and a loss vs WS or PSU
We are undefeated vs The ohio state penitentiary in December... we keep that streak alive
October 21st, 2020 at 9:53 AM ^
10-1
Because 10-win seasons are cool, Covid seasons are weird, OSU sucks, Harbaugh rules, and dreams are fantastic, but football gods are fickle.
October 21st, 2020 at 9:56 AM ^
This is impossible to even come close to predicting because .... Joe Milton.
If Joe Milton is as good as the insiders/players/coaches say he is, then 7-1.
In reality, what we are going to get is 5-3. And honestly, with the schedule Michigan has, that is not too bad.
October 21st, 2020 at 9:57 AM ^
Undefeated, except for Ohio State.
October 21st, 2020 at 9:58 AM ^
7-0 with the Big 10 title on the line in the Shoe. I see no reason to change my prediction each season as long as Harbaugh is here.
October 21st, 2020 at 10:58 AM ^
There are 5 years of data points that say you should change your prediction.
October 21st, 2020 at 11:20 AM ^
And exactly none that say otherwise.
October 21st, 2020 at 10:00 AM ^
6-2
Iowa
October 21st, 2020 at 10:00 AM ^
New guy here.
I see 7-1 heading into the last game.
UM always beats PSU and Wisc at home and loses to them on the road. Both are home games this year, so UM wins.
OSU will be a loss as always. Minn is not as good as their record last year. UM will run over them on Saturday night.
GO BLUE
October 21st, 2020 at 10:04 AM ^
9-0
Hail
October 21st, 2020 at 10:06 AM ^
9-1 with the loss at OSU. Second place in East. Play Wisconsin for the B1G championship participation trophy and win. Bowl game vs Florida (LMAO) at one of the big ones -- Fiesta, Rose, Sugar or Orange. Win the bowl game. It's gonna be a great, but not unbelievable year.
October 21st, 2020 at 10:18 AM ^
9-1 with our schedule and youth would be bordering on unbelievable and would signal Michigan could absolutely compete with OSU in the next couple years
October 21st, 2020 at 10:06 AM ^
I think the new offense means trouble for Wisconsin. They've never been able to keep up with OSU and I think moving forward M athletes will be in a position to outperform their lower ranked counterparts.
Plus it's the alternate year so PSU/Wisconsin are due for wins this year.
Minnesota might be the Week 9 game, but there's no guarantee they will be as good as last year missing all the pieces they lost. I go 8-1 including the final game. And a bowl game against a "very good" SEC team in Florida...like Florida, Auburn, Ole Miss, or LSU.
October 21st, 2020 at 10:09 AM ^
4-2, not all games played.
2020.
#BRINGBACKOPPONENTWATCH (add covid as an opponent also)
October 21st, 2020 at 10:09 AM ^
2-0 then season canceled
October 21st, 2020 at 10:10 AM ^
11-0. Fuck it this year has been unpredictable.
October 21st, 2020 at 10:12 AM ^
7-1.
Only OSU has demonstrably more talent, and I won't believe Wisconsin or PSU can win in Ann Arbor until I see it.
I just hope there's an (interesting) bowl game too.
October 21st, 2020 at 10:16 AM ^
Michigan has a lot of talent, it's just extremely young. So many sophomores
October 21st, 2020 at 10:13 AM ^
I am going with 6-3. I see losses at follows: OSU, either Wisc or Minnesota, and one of PSU or the crossover game or allowing for a bad luck game. We have a good team but schedule is pretty brutal and we have a number of high variance guys we are counting on (Milton, newer OL, depth in secondary). If several of them have a bad game, we may lose a game we are supposed to win. Anything better than that qualifies as a good season for me this year.
October 21st, 2020 at 10:16 AM ^
5-3. All 3 losses to top 10 teams. The game in championship week will be huge for how we look at the season. A win over say., Iowa, puts us at 6-3 which would feel WAY better than 5-4 (that we unfortunately get the 2 winnable ones at home during a pandemic).
October 21st, 2020 at 10:19 AM ^
7-1 in the regular season. I really do like our chances vs Wisconsin and Penn St which Jim has handled at home in his tenure. I'm strangely less worried about this Minnesota game than I otherwise should be. I expect the loss to OSU to be in the 45-17 range.
We go 7-1 in the regular season, win the +1 game and manage to again lose a bowl game.
8-2 season.
October 21st, 2020 at 10:33 AM ^
I like that and agree. Minnesota just doesn’t have the talent to hang with us. Last year was a fluke season and I don’t see it as the rule for their program. I predict a 42-10 type of game, some ugly mixed in with some holy shit.
October 21st, 2020 at 10:19 AM ^
8-0 or 6-2
October 21st, 2020 at 10:26 AM ^
I believe 5-3 is the way I'd go if I had to put an amount of money that matters on it...
Losses: PSU, OSU, and one of UW or IU or MN
October 21st, 2020 at 10:27 AM ^
5-4 , Iowa is the crossover.
October 21st, 2020 at 10:29 AM ^
7-1. Finally after a half a decade we get to see a QB that Harbaugh recruited.
October 21st, 2020 at 10:31 AM ^
This isn't my first rodeo but a 1 loss season (you know who) and we probably end up playing Minnesota again in the cross over to cap a strange, strange year. I think that additional time off and the team staying in AA without a crazy outbreak within the program will pay massive dividends this fall.
October 21st, 2020 at 10:34 AM ^
Making predictions about a team with so many unknowns is basically impossible. In particular, we have three enormous unknowns with huge potential impacts at QB, DT, and CB. So I would say our range of potential likely outcomes falls somewhere between 4-4 and 7-1.
4-4 happens if all three of those positions are serious weaknesses for the team. Milton shows arm talent and solid athleticism, but little else. On top of that, the DT get bulldozed the same way they did last year. Lastly, because of a lack of interior pressure, our cornerbacks get constantly victimized. That is a possible outcome, but it assumes everything that can go wrong, will go wrong.
5-3 happens if Joe Milton and Chris Hinton show flashes of major potential, but are too inconsistent to display that on a regular basis. CB is still a problem, but our ability to get pressure reasonably consistently, and our use of zone coverage allows us to mask those problems.
6-2 happens if Joe Milton and the defensive tackles are high quality Big Ten players. Joe Milton is obviously still raw, but displays a consistent ability to make big plays to supplement our high quality rushing attack. And our defensive tackles are able to eat blocks on running plays and get reasonably consistent interior push on passing plays. CB is a problem, but Vincent Gray is really good and one of the Nickel corners emerges as a solid player. There is still a weakness at the other corner spot, but again, it is much easier to hide a weak spot at one CB with scheme and pressure, than to hide a weakness at other spots on the team.
7-1 happens if Joe Milton is one of the 2 best QBs in the Big Ten, Carlo Kemp is solid, Chris Hinton emerges as a future high draft pick, Vincent Gray is really good, and the CB opposite Gray is fine.
Unlikely scenarios are QB, DT, and CB are all simultaneous disasters. Milton and Cade Mcnamara both get injured, forcing us to play a true Freshman or walk-on. On top of that, injuries at other positions weaken otherwise strong positions (like defensive end, linebacker, running back). All this results in a worse than 4-4 season. All that going wrong seems extremely unlikely.
Similarly, 8-0 happens if Joe Milton is instantly a Heisman contender and first round draft pick. Carlo Kemp is excellent and Chris Hinton shows he will be a first round pick next year. The CB position isn't a clear weakness and they are able to hang with even the best receivers in the conference. Just like the last scenario, all those things going right at the same time seems incredibly unlikely, especially with the BPONE that comes along with being a Michigan football fan.
So I guess at the end of the day, I am neither a true pessimist, nor a true optimist, so I'll say 6-2 with losses to Penn State and Ohio State.