Michigan 49 @ Minnesota 24

[lineygoblue]

Nice try, Cody.. but I've already accepted that this will be a Michigan loss.

Bad weather or not, Minnesota's passing combination against Michigan's new DB's are going to make this a long night for the Wolverines.

Combine that with inexperience at the QB position for Michigan, and the outlook is not good.

I have no idea why the powers that be, put Minnesota behind Michigan in the rankings, or made Michigan the favorite in this game. Maybe they'll share some of whatever they are smoking with the rest of us.

I see a Minnesota win, likely in the 7-10 point range I predicted earlier. I've seen nothing in the meanwhile that would cause me to change my mind.

[Hannibal]

I'll predict UM 38, Minny 17

Rumors are all but confirmed that Minny will be without the services of at least two OL starters -- good ones too. There are probably more that we'll find out at game time. Steve Deace also mentioned on the Michigan podcast this week that the Goophers stopped football activities for a while when the season was first cancelled. I feel fairly secure about this one. A loss wouldn't shock the hell out of me, but we've got the pieces in place to win this one handily. Milton will no doubt lay at least a dookie or two this year but I don't think that this will be it. I love our RBs, OTs, DEs,LBS, and safeties. I like the rest of our OL and our pass catchers. I like QB. I hate our DTs and CBs but -- such is life. We won't be fielding NW/Rutgers caliber guys out there, at least. Rashod Bateman is going to catch his 6 or 7 passes for 100 yards but I don't expect them to do much other than that. I don't know. I could be wrong.

We're going to give up big plays but I expect Morgan to face a lot of pressure too. Apparently, Hutchinson and Paye will be facing off against at a lowly rated backup tackle. That's going to be an absolute bloodbath.

My feelings are no doubt influenced by Minny having been our bitch for the better part of 40+ years.

[THE_WIZARD_]

HARBAUGH!!! 33 ROWTHEBOAT!!! 27

[Mike]

Hanni, I couldn’t agree with you more. Michigan rolls. I’m counting down the hours til kickoff.

As an aside, I haven’t been able to really get mentally/emotionally invested in sports like I used to in the post-normal world we live in. The Stanley Cup playoffs were always must-see TV like the NCAA tourney. I love the baseball playoffs. Just couldn’t get into it. But as soon as we got college football, the switch flipped. I can’t get enough. I’m more anxiously anticipating this season opener than I have in years.

[Whitley]

Hanni, I couldn’t agree with you more. Michigan rolls. I’m counting down the hours til kickoff.

As an aside, I haven’t been able to really get mentally/emotionally invested in sports like I used to in the post-normal world we live in. The Stanley Cup playoffs were always must-see TV like the NCAA tourney. I love the baseball playoffs. Just couldn’t get into it. But as soon as we got college football, the switch flipped. I can’t get enough. I’m more anxiously anticipating this season opener than I have in years.

I am really excited to see Milton. If he can be at Rudock level or better then the offense could look really really good.

[lineygoblue]

I hope Milton is the next great QB at Michigan. I really do. We haven't had a top-notch QB recruited and sent thru the process since Chad Henne. Devin Gardner was a bust. Denard Robinson was a slot receiver playing QB. Milton would be the first actual HS QB brought in and developed by the current staff since Henne.

If Milton can make enough good throws to keep Minnesota's defense honest, we've got a chance. I believe the running game has the personnel to be very good, but they won't get there if they play against defenses that don't respect the passing game. I'm excited to see Milton as well. I hope he has a great game. I guess I've just become too conditioned to expect the worst.

Michigan's front four on defense could make Tanner Morgan's day a difficult one, and that's what needs to happen.

I'm still picking Minny, but I would love to be wrong.

[Cody_Russell]

M has had plenty of top-notch QB recruits over the last several years. Whether it’s on the player, coaching, or recruiting service being off... fact remains, M has recruited several 5/4 star QBs.
Morris, Peters, McCaffrey, Milton (TBD), McNamara (TBD) ....

Nice try, Cody.. but I've already accepted that this will be a Michigan loss.

Bad weather or not, Minnesota's passing combination against Michigan's new DB's are going to make this a long night for the Wolverines.

Combine that with inexperience at the QB position for Michigan, and the outlook is not good.

I have no idea why the powers that be, put Minnesota behind Michigan in the rankings, or made Michigan the favorite in this game. Maybe they'll share some of whatever they are smoking with the rest of us.

I see a Minnesota win, likely in the 7-10 point range I predicted earlier. I've seen nothing in the meanwhile that would cause me to change my mind.

It sounds like there will not be precipitation during the game tonight. Cold (in the 20s), but weather hardly a factor.
My previous comment about “bad weather” related to the idea that there would be snow or sleet. In which, yes, that could hurt a passing offense.

That said, with weather hardly being a factor, I have no reason to change my prediction from last week of Minnesota winning 24-17.

[Jeff Buchanan]

I agree that this will be an M loss. Trend lines don't favor M and that's what I'm basing this on. Those can always be reversed and it would inject some enthusiasm among the fan base and the football program if M managed a win.

I'm not falling for the Milton hype. Not one bit.

[lineygoblue]

M has had plenty of top-notch QB recruits over the last several years. Whether it’s on the player, coaching, or recruiting service being off... fact remains, M has recruited several 5/4 star QBs. Morris, Peters, McCaffrey, Milton (TBD), McNamara (TBD) ....

You confirmed what I stated. We have not had a highly recruited QB that has started with the program, been developed, played and finished with the program, since Chad Henne. Shane Morris was the closest since Henne, and he flopped. He finished his career at Central Michigan.

Peters is in his 2nd year as Illinois' QB. He left as Michigan's 4th string QB. His limited playing time with Michigan was unremarkable.

McCaffery is gone, soon to be a starting QB elsewhere.

[WM Wolverine]

Yet every QB the buckeyes have is a heisman finalist.

[iam416]

JTB was never a Heisman finalist, though he was, somehow, a 3-time winner of the Greasy-Breeze trophy for best QB in B10. The finally turned the corner with QB play when they went with Haskins (and CRD).

From what I hear, they really like CJ Stroud, too. Good news!

[lineygoblue]

Yet every QB the buckeyes have is a heisman finalist.

While not every OSU QB has been a Heisman finalist, they sure haven't struck out on a QB recruit in a long time.

Troy Smith, Braxton Miller, Terrelle Pryor, JT Barrett, Dwayne Haskins, and now JT Fields... Not a single flop among them. Shoot, even Cardale Jones was better than anything Michigan has had over the last 20 years.

The list is LONG with QB failures at Michigan, which has directly impacted the results of the game over the past 20 years.

[Mike]

Michigan wins rather comfortably tonight. Minnesota doesn’t have their legs under them yet making this probably the best time to play them all year. There’s a reason the line has shifted 6 points toward Michigan.

[Hannibal]

Ugh. McGrone reportedly wearing a cast on his arm.

[JRB]

That's a promising start...