Michigan will be just fine
UPDATE [8:02 AM 8/31/08]: OK so that was bad. Michigan’s touted defense played horrible in the first half, and the offense never put the ball more than 3 yards downfield, let alone gained those yards.
Still, this team is just going to keep getting better and better. By the time Ohio State (spit!) rolls around, they’ll be ready.
To be on the safe side though, maybe 9-3 is more likely overall.
The Rich Rodriguez era begins in earnest this afternoon at a newly-skyboxed Michigan Stadium, aka The Big House. There has been much gnashing of teeth over how much the Blue will struggle this year while learning RichRod’s new system and waiting for the super-atheletic recruits who will really take it to the next level.
I think that’s bollocks.
Rodriguez is a coach who wants to win. He believes his system and his personnel give him the best chance to win. But he has also said again and again that he can and will adapt his system to the personnel he has.
Year after year, Michigan has one of the best recruiting classes in the country. I think the athletes in Ann Arbor will do just fine at this new system.
Plus, Rodriguez has one of the most intense strength and conditioning programs imaginable. No knock on Lloyd Carr, but this is one of RR’s specialities. I’m sure the Blue will be ready for the season and should maintain the high standards of the winningest college football program in history.
Do I think they’ll win every game?
I’m putting my money where mouth is with game-by-game predictions below. Realistically, Michigan only plays half a dozen tough games all year. They’ll win four of them.
They will be Ohio State.
Trust me, no one in Ann Arbor will have any problem running the ball or throwing the ball if their buddies are standing a little further away than last year. That’s all the spread offense really is.
| 8/30 | Utah | WIN |
| 9/6 | Miami (Ohio) | WIN |
| 9/13 | @Notre Dame | WIN |
| 9/27 | Wisconsin | LOSS |
| 10/4 | Illinois | WIN |
| 10/11 | Toledo | WIN |
| 10/18 | @Penn State | LOSS |
| 10/25 | Michigan State | WIN |
| 11/1 | @Purdue | WIN |
| 11/8 | @Minnesota | WIN |
| 11/15 | Northwestern | WIN |
| 11/22 | @Ohio State | WIN |
Todd, you are smoking crack. This Michigan team is the worst team to wear the maize and blue in our lifetimes. The offense is terrible; they had only 34 rushing yards in total. The defense is terrible; they allowed 7.5 yards per play in the first half.
This year's team is abysmal. It is quite simply the worst team in the history of Michigan football.
I'm not exaggerating. I challenge you to find any game, in any season, with statistics that bad.
I believe that Michigan can have a winning season. To do so, the team will need to improve rapidly and dramatically. I believe the team, and RichRod, are capable of that improvement. I do believe, however, that it's a long shot.
Even if they find such improvement, however, your 9-3 prediction is so overly optimistic it would seem you were the one drinking yesterday, not me.
Michigan can and should beat Miami, Notre Dame, Toledo, Purdue and Minnesota. That's five wins. They will then need to win at least two of the remaining six games in order to secure a winning season and a bowl berth. I believe they will beat Northwestern, that's six. If they can split against Wisconsin/Illinois or Penn State/Mich State, that's seven.
I predict Michigan will finish the season at 7-5, their worst season in recent memory. I hope and pray I am wrong. From what I saw yesterday, however, a 7-5 record for this team would be a generous gift.
http://themagicorange.com/?p=165