Michigan v. Georgia, Orange Bowl, Miami FL, Friday, 12/31/21, 7:30pm, ESPN/ESPN Video

[Hannibal]

I've seen worse running than what we did against Georgia. But the lack of talent at QB and WR was glaring. And like I said, the defense was exposed badly. TBH that's what I expected our defene to look like all year. Maybe MacDonald did an excellent job of hiding our flaws until the bowl game.

[iam416]

You didn't play a single dynamic offense until the final game. Maybe UNL was the 2nd best offensive team you played? Sparty? I think that's true. It would have maybe been interesting to see M against Purdue toward the end of the season. Purdue would have put points up. But the offense in the B10 this year was horrible. I mean, HORRIBLE. I firmly believe that Ohio State's defense didn't improve so much as they played shitty offenses from basically Tulsa to Michigan with the exception of Purdue.

And even Ohio State sort of played into what MacDonald wanted to do. M's defense is generally meh, but it had enough players, especially Hutchinson, to disrupt good offenses. And Ohio State's offense played unevenly all year -- they were very much a big play type offense but struggled to sustain drives against competent defenses, which is what M was. So, they often kicked FGs (UNL and PSU and, yes, M -- twice inside the 10 for two FGs). And M was smart enough to keep shit in front of them and force OSU to drive the field knowing that they were one disruptive play away from getting a sack.

Georgia, on the other hand, had an offense that was methodical. They could run. They confidently took the short passes. They could pass protect. They forced Hutchinson to play every facet of the game, so his running start speed rush gets largely negated if Georgia isn't afraid to run straight at your ass. It was a terrible matchup for M. I thinkIs said that. Georgia does what M does only Georgia has better players at almost every position. Like Dax Hill would just be a guy on that defense.

I think M would have fared way better against UAT. They would have still struggled on offense b/c UAT has some boys on the DL, too. But, I do think M's defense would have fared way better against UAT than against UGa. UAT doesn't have a great running game. They were able to bully UC, but that team was so massively out-talented that The Nick basically took the gimme win approach. He couldn't do that against M. And UAT isn't that great at pass-pro. They would have had some real issues with M. I think it's still at 10-14 point game at the end of the day, but it ain't 10-14 (and utterly hopeless) after 10 minutes.

[froot loops]

You can get lulled into a false sense of security in the Big Ten by how good both your offensive and defensive lines are. You can go through the whole season and look really impressive on the lines but they aren't truly tested until they get to the CFP. It is kind of the same story every year.

[iam416]

You can also paper over things with great skill players like, ummm, Ohio State does. But, yeah, ya gotta have line play. That's why I really do think that the 2019 OSU team was best OSU team of the CFP area. That team had no holes. They probably lose to the historically great LSU team because Burrow, Chase, CEH, etc were generationally good. But, they were considerably better than fucking Clemson.

I mean, look -- it's almost at every position. M and Penn State are the 2/3 recruiting teams in the B10 and neither brings in enough talent to win the CFP (IMO). Or even come close. Sparty has, IMO, zero chance. Wisconsin, the same. All those teams can win and have won the B10 in the past decade. But, until you play against the SEC's best or an elite Clemson team (the DL OSU played in 2016 was the best DL I've ever seen OSU play), you just don't really know.

My wife always asks me why I get so angry at shitty OSU performances when they're still winning by 2 scores or something. And I the point I always make is that it's not about winning the B10, it's about being good enough to win the CFP. Or, at least, that's the point I used to make. I suspect I'm going to be back to where just winning the B10 is good enough and the CFP is a pipe dream.

[lineygoblue]

Until there is a parity rule for college fooball, about the same as there is in the NFL, then the CFP is going to be the SEC's playground. For now, the NCAA seems to be fine with that. It may change if an elite group of teams/schools break off from the NCAA to form a de-facto NFL minor league, because teams coming into that will insist on some sort of parity rules. I have no idea how that will be accomplished, but they'll likely try. Especially with the billions of dollars that will be on the line from the networks.

Of course, "parity" seems to be taking a hike in the NFL as well, given some of the scores this year.

[iam416]

IMO, there's a functionally zero chance of any sort of parity rule. First, kids will get to choose where they want to go to school. Always. So, the greatest parity-maker -- the draft -- will never happen. Second, they're not going to "salary cap" teams. Most likley the NIL/Booster money will sort itself out in the next few years and more schools will be competing at that financial level.

[froot loops]

Talent keeps on disrespecting Mel Tucker.

[Niffla]

JJ McCarthy prancing around the field two hours before the game like a basic Tik-Tok boy was a bad omen.

Lol I haven't been here since prior to the Orange Bowl, but as I was logging in just now I just knew that you would have crawled out of whatever hole you were in so you can kick us while we're down.

I didn't see as much as a whisper out of you regarding Michigan football in the weeks after the Ohio State game and Big Ten Championship -- but of course you're back in all of your glory immediately after Michigan gets trounced.

I'm sure you enjoyed that immensely. Congratulations.

[lineygoblue]

Nothing Frooty says can take away what Michigan accomplished this season.

Undisputed Big Ten Champions

Soundly defeated OSU fair and square, no luck involved. Just straight up better football. MSU got trounced by OSU.

MSU has their "win" due to incompetent officiating, and they know it. The conference admitted it. Fact.

Michigan got beat by Georgia, and rightly so. The Dawgs are a very good football team. I think they would have beaten anyone they played on Friday, including Alabama. It was a resounding win. Well deserved, and I hope they can put a dent in Nick's armor.

But Michigan had a great season. Nothing anybody says can take away from it. Eventually as many as 10-15 guys from that roster may end up in the NFL someday. MSU's roster will produce about 4-5. Maybe.

They've got their billion-dollar coach. They've got 2 wins over M. They've got a Peach Bowl win to show for a 11 win season. Bully for them.

BDC needs to portal some CB's.

[froot loops]

Lol I haven't been here since prior to the Orange Bowl, but as I was logging in just now I just knew that you would have crawled out of whatever hole you were in so you can kick us while we're down.

I didn't see as much as a whisper out of you regarding Michigan football in the weeks after the Ohio State game and Big Ten Championship -- but of course you're back in all of your glory immediately after Michigan gets trounced.

I'm sure you enjoyed that immensely. Congratulations.

But you have to agree those track suits those Tik-Tok boys were wearing was atrocious.

[Niffla]

Nothing Frooty says can take away what Michigan accomplished this season.

Guy is a troll.

If Michigan loses you can count on him like clockwork being the first one here, rushing here like a little kid on Christmas morning to logon and heading straight to the game thread. When they're playing well though it's like spraying Raid. He's nowhere to be found. But as soon as they lose he's here. Like ants on an unwrapped candy bar laying on the sidewalk or something. He cant help himself.

I don't think I've ever once in my entire life went to a Michigan State forum. Not once. Not even to lurk, let alone actually post amongst them just so I can take shots at them after losses. Anybody who goes to another team's board to troll is a child.

Bright side though is it's the offseason and Michigan can't lose for the next 8 months. Which means he'll go hibernate under whatever rock he hibernates under until he inevitably emerges as soon as Michigan loses their next game.

[lineygoblue]

I can't see what blocked people are saying unless they are quoted, so I'll take your word for what he does.

I find myself on other teams' sites from time to time when I click on a link, but I don't hang out in those sites anymore. When I first got a computer back in the 90's, I'd go lurk on OSU and MSU sites, but I got kicked out of most of them. The others I just decided to leave to their own wallowing.

This site is supposed to be a Michigan fans site, but its actually a restart of the old "megasite" from the WX days. That's fine with me, but its actually mis-labeled.

[froot loops]

Guy is a troll.

If Michigan loses you can count on him like clockwork being the first one here, rushing here like a little kid on Christmas morning to logon and heading straight to the game thread. When they're playing well though it's like spraying Raid. He's nowhere to be found. But as soon as they lose he's here. Like ants on an unwrapped candy bar laying on the sidewalk or something. He cant help himself.

I don't think I've ever once in my entire life went to a Michigan State forum. Not once. Not even to lurk, let alone actually post amongst them just so I can take shots at them after losses. Anybody who goes to another team's board to troll is a child.

Bright side though is it's the offseason and Michigan can't lose for the next 8 months. Which means he'll go hibernate under whatever rock he hibernates under until he inevitably emerges as soon as Michigan loses their next game.

Come on now Niffla, I have no beef with you, I'm not trolling. I'm not sure why you have to get on my case. Those track suits looked ridiculous, I'm sorry if that offends. McCarthy looked like he was doing his best Sammy Guevara impersonation when he was walking around the field.

You wouldn't ever hang out at Michigan State message boards because there really isn't any. There are numerous fans here with different affiliations but you have to single me out? I've been doing quality posts for 20 years and this is my thanks. Eh tu Niffla? I don't go around telling people to STFU, that fella is a troll/shit poster.

[Niffla]

There are numerous fans here with different affiliations but you have to single me out? I've been doing quality posts for 20 years and this is my thanks.

I think when it comes to the Lions forum, you're a hall of fame level poster. You've been there since the beginning and have been a huge contributor. You're probably a great guy too IRL. But when it comes to here -- the UM forum, over the years I've come to notice (you can't help but notice as a Michigan fan) that you specifically are guaranteed to be here taking subtle and many times not so subtle shots at the Michigan football program after each & every loss. I mean I get it to a point, yeah you're a State fan and it's in your blood to despise everything about UM from the team to the fan base (and pregame warmup tracksuits apparently). So of course you enjoy it and revel in every Michigan defeat. But do you really have to drop by to pour salt in the wound after literally every single loss?

You've been trashing the program for years. Specifically Jim Harbaugh. How about giving him or the program a little credit for having a pretty incredible 2021 campaign by just about all measures? They were unranked entering the year. Ended Ohio State's absurd conference win streak, won the first outright conference title since 2003 and Harbaugh being named AP national coach of the year. You disappeared from here after all that though. But of course as soon as Michigan gets throttled you're here immediately to revel in it. Yeah it gets tiring.

[froot loops]

Harbaugh had a great year. I think he is a total jerk, I don't like the guy but I give credit where credit is due. I didn't post that much due to some personal reasons unrelated to this forum. I just thought those track suits were bad and mind you that's the only thing you will find in regards to losing that game. Believe me, we have been there and I have heard about 38-0 for 6 years.