Into the wood-chipper we go - Michigan's 2018 schedule vs OSU, MSU & PSU

Submitted by mGrowOld on

Yesterday Brian, Seth and the guys looked at whether we were "on track" and if we should be optimistic for 2018.  The general consensus of the group was yes we were and that the team should be quite a bit better next year.  What was not discussed, however, was our 2018 schedule and just how insanely brutal it really is.  And when you compare it to our chief rivals (sorry Rutgers & Illinois you didnt make the cut) you see that while we might be much, much better as a team we also might not have a much better record than we do right now.  

Take a look at what we've got next year vs the other teams on our side of the conference (as of this week's rankings)

Michigan OSU PSU MSU
@ #9 Notre Dame @ #10 TCU # 8 OSU # 23 Northwestern
@ #23 Northwestern @ #12 PSU # 5 Wisconsin #8 OSU
#5 Wisconsin @#21 MSU #21 MSU @ #12 PSU
@ #21 MSU      
#12 PSU      
@ #8 OSU      

I said it when it was announced and I'll say it again now, scheduling Notre Dame as an away game in 2018 was insane.  We play (as of now) six ranked teams and four of them on the road.   Compare that to PSU & MSU who only play two three ranked teams and get both of them at home.

Yikes.

MGoBoard

Jimmyisgod

November 22nd, 2017 at 1:17 PM ^

Likely losses:

@MSU and @OSU

Tossups:

vs Wisconsin, PSU, @ND, @NW

Wins:

All the rest

I see 8-4 or 9-3.  10-2 with that schedule would be an outstanding season.  The lack of quality road wins over the last 3 seasons is what's most concerning.  Someone from the outdie looking in could say that we should lose the tough 4 games on the road and then possible one more for 7-5.

 

Joined: 01/24/2012

MGoPoints: 10342

butuka21

November 22nd, 2017 at 1:38 PM ^

Bring it on.I love it, even if they come out of those 5 games 4-2 they still have a shot to get just based on strength of schedule.  Next year is a whole new year too, so anything can happen.  Vs. ND we have the Brian Kelly Factor which negates their home field advantage.  PSU loses a lot, Northwestern is a game they should win just based on talent, I like being home vs. Wisconsin with hopefully a healthy 1st string QB.  I don't see losing to MSU next year if they are healthy, and there is not a hurricane in Michigan again next year.  OSU loses Barrett, although I like their backup.  If they can make it out of that 4-1 or 3-2 before the game next year they will be battle tested and experienced and playing for the big ten title.

Joined: 11/22/2016

MGoPoints: 2889

KTisClutch

November 22nd, 2017 at 2:02 PM ^

The "best teams don't care who they're playing" is horse crap. Alabama play 3 absolutely trash teams every year. Penn State is about to have back to back seasons of trash non conference games. Even great teams could easily lose a game or two if they are playing 5 top 25 teams with several on the road. 

Joined: 03/02/2014

MGoPoints: 2677

Rabbit21

November 22nd, 2017 at 2:37 PM ^

Well, we can either look at this as a hindrance or as an opportunity.  I'd rather call it an opportunity to make some noise and finally get this stupid "Can't win a big road game." monkey off of our backs.

Joined: 11/12/2009

MGoPoints: 30387

Jeep

November 22nd, 2017 at 4:02 PM ^

Modern football schedules suck.  Go back and look at schedules from 30 years ago and you don't see many games against directional schools.   When you bought your season tickets you still had to endure Illinois, Indiana and Northwestern and maybe one nonconference cupcake.  Today it's the same, but add another cupcake, Rutgers and Maryland.   Everyone in the Big Ten has added three "lousy" games.  
 
Thank God we added ND back on the schedule.  We actually have something to look forward to in the first four weeks.  This is suppose to be about entertainment.  Below is the 1986 schedule.   
 
If we still played schedules like this, I wouldn't have given up my season tickets.  
 
Lastly when people compare today's coaching staff against staffs back in the day, give me a break.  The schedules back then were way tougher.  Winning 10 or 11 games back then actually ment something.
 
Opponent
Notre Dame
Oregon State
Florida State 
Wisconsin
Michigan State
Iowa
Indiana
Illinois
Purdue
Minnesota
Ohio State
Hawaii
Arizona State

Joined: 11/05/2017

MGoPoints: 159

jmblue

November 22nd, 2017 at 5:00 PM ^

It’s too early to look at this in detail. We have to see what these teams have coming back first. I know ND’s going to lose a bunch up front, for instance. And Northwestern is Northwestern. This year they’re 3-0 in overtime. Don’t expect that to continue.

Joined: 11/07/2008

MGoPoints: 103061

uminks

November 22nd, 2017 at 5:39 PM ^

Loosing a lot of seniors. MSU will be tougher but we should beat them on the road. PSU will be breaking in a new QB. OSU will be tough to beat on the road. The team will be much better but we will loose 2 or 3 games.

Joined: 11/10/2009

MGoPoints: 32173

Bubba

November 22nd, 2017 at 7:36 PM ^

It's spelled Losing. MSU loses hardly anyone and we lost to them at home this year. We actually were losing by more before the monsoon. What exactly is behind your logic making you think "we should beat them on the road."? Their weakness was the inexperience of their OL, which returns all but 1 guy. What makes you think our youth growing older will somehow trump their youth growing older ? What makes you think our development (pick ANY position) will exceed theirs in the off season ?

Joined: 12/18/2013

MGoPoints: -357

LabattBlue

November 22nd, 2017 at 7:00 PM ^

Every Big Ten team is assigned an annual opponent in the opposite division from 2016 through 2019. Series played each year during that cycle include Wisconsin-Michigan, Nebraska-Ohio State, Iowa-Penn State, Northwestern-Michigan State, Illinois-Rutgers, Minnesota-Maryland and Purdue-Indiana. Spanning that four-year scheduling cycle, every school will compete against two other cross-divisional opponents twice and four opponents once Indiana-Purdue is considered the only permanent cross-divisional rivalry. The other 12 schools will rotate “permanent” rivals for another four-year block

Joined: 03/28/2015

MGoPoints: 721

MJ224

November 22nd, 2017 at 9:32 PM ^

We'll be better than these teams next year. We shouldn't ever worry about our defense. I feel bad for them this year. But we'll only lose about 2 or 3 players on each side of the ball. Hopefully Winovich stays another year, if that's the case then McCray and Hurst will be the only players to replace. Soloman and maybe one of the young linebackers will be very good problems. On offense we'll only lose our fullbacks, Hill and Poggi, but Mason looks really good and Mason Cole. Our line will be better next year. Hopefully Newsome comes back. Receivers and backs will be more mature and experienced. Brandon Peters looks like he's our QB for the next 2 or 3 years. Ohio State is going to lose key players due to the draft and graduation. Mainly JT Barrett. Penn State will lose Barkley, Hamilton and Gesicki. Michigan State is nothing special but they always play us tough but next year we'll get them. They have gotten pretty lucky in the Harbaugh era against us. Wisconsin is not that scary. We had them until Peters got hurt and we get them at home. Only teams I will be worried about is Notre Dame and Northwestern. Notre Dame because it's an away game and they are pretty good but a good early test for us. And Northwestern kind of seems like one of those trap games. These games will help our CFP resume.

Joined: 11/22/2017

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