MichiganTeacher

October 30th, 2016 at 9:56 AM ^

I'm thinking the same. NW-OSU surprised me. So did Nebraska-Wisconsin, although I probably underestimated the loss of Cichy (and Biegel still doesn't look to be at his best either, imo).

So yeah, I think the Huskers have a shot. Would love to see it.

Joined: 10/06/2011

MGoPoints: 9263

AA Forever

October 30th, 2016 at 10:28 AM ^

They've won without being all that impressive so far this year, but they hung right with a very good team in Wisconsin on the road.  They don't seem to have a lot of great playmakers on offense, but their D was very solid.  Not sure how well they'd do against a team with a more effective offense, but I would give them a reasonable shot at beating OSU.

Joined: 08/14/2016

MGoPoints: 765

Red is Blue

October 30th, 2016 at 10:34 AM ^

Nebraska beating OSU would be great on a number of fronts.  Most notably and obvious, Michigan would then have a cushion that allows them to drop a game and still be East champs.  Also, means that Michigan would be more likely to face Nebraska instead of Wisconsin in B1G.  Always tough to beat a team twice in one season (the Browns being the exception to that rule).

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MGoPoints: 23922

Chalky White

October 30th, 2016 at 10:38 AM ^

Even if that were true, Harbaugh has only been here for a year and a half. I can't think of a coach in the modern era who won a national championship inside 2 years after taking over a losing team. Regardless of how many seniors are on this team, they aren't supposed to be contending for a title yet. People were saying last year's team would be 6-6. They said 8-4 would be like winning the Superbowl. This is also the 3rd  defensive coordinator they have had in 3 years.

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Don

October 30th, 2016 at 9:52 AM ^

Clemson "barely survived" at home against NCSt, but that's entirely different from "barely surviving" on the road against a FSU team with shitloads of talent and speed—Dalvin Cook?—in front of a frenzied crowd.

Which victory is going to be more impressive to poll voters in other parts of the country—Michigan's workmanlike, unspectacular defeat of a struggling MSU team starting a large number of first-year players, or Clemson's resilient victory against a program not that far removed from a NC? Don't be surprised if Michigan's margin in the polls over Clemson narrows quite a bit.

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MGoPoints: 148504

M-Dog

October 30th, 2016 at 9:06 AM ^

We'll be #2 on Tuesday at 7:00.  Clemson and Washington held serve, but did not do enough to pass us.

Being #2 in the CFP poll does matter, despite what some people say.  If we make the CFP, I want to be the 2 seed.  We match up well with Clemson or Washington in Glendale, AZ.  I don't want to face Alabama until the last game possible.  At that point, anything can happen.

 

Joined: 07/06/2008

MGoPoints: 257573

MC5-95

October 30th, 2016 at 9:37 AM ^

Of course Saban would be too. The whole "one game at a time" mantra is good for players to hear to keep focused but any head coach who didn't have some contingent of staff, maybe just analysts, preparing for a potential championship, is not a good coach.



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Joined: 02/26/2014

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M Ascending

October 30th, 2016 at 9:29 AM ^

I absolutely agree. HARBAUGH can come up with new shit in an instant. Our best chance against Alabama would be the element of surprise. They have the best physical talent in the country, so we would need to outsmart them. No way do I want to give them a month to prepare for us.

Joined: 09/14/2016

MGoPoints: 21498

Trump

October 30th, 2016 at 9:57 AM ^

If Ohio state loses next week, we could lose to them and still make playoffs if we win the B1G. Please don't think I feel like this will happen. That's just the greatest chance of dropping a game this season.



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LSAClassOf2000

October 30th, 2016 at 9:59 AM ^

If you use the ratings to predict margins in upcoming games for us, you get something like this:

OPPONENT RATING HFA EST. MARGIN
Maryland 70.42 2.44 30.56
Iowa 79.14 2.44 16.96
Indiana 71.52 2.44 29.46
Ohio State 96.67 2.44 -0.57

I'll take an estimate of going into The Shoe being basically 11-0 and being a tossup game right now. 

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MGoPoints: 130800