Michigan 28, Arkansas State 18

[Mike]

Correct.

[Jeff Buchanan]

Seth at mgo has posted the UFR Offense. If you watched the game, you saw Minnesota changing the momentum of the game to end the first half then holding M to 2 FGs and 6 points in the 2nd while the Gophers scored 21 points. Seth contends, and I would agree based on my eyeballs at the game, the defense got worn down with key starters on D not playing because they were held out. Depth is a problem on this defense as the step down from roster All Americans to just guys is noticeable and exaggerated by the offense that had multiple three and outs causing way too many snaps for D players.

That's the big picture. You can plod through the UFR at mgo but frankly, I can't keep up with the complicated nomenclature for defensive plays any longer as my interest in following this team decreases. Salient points:

Wink didn't do anything terrible but he tends to ask players to do more than they are capable of doing (Big difference between NFL defenders v. College defenders.)

Seth thinks Wink doesn't have a "feel" for when to make the right defensive play call.

The "fucking refs" were blatantly responsible for extending Minnesota drives on one occasion: hands to the face penalty nullified a 4th down stop by the defense leading to a subsequent TD. Another thing they let go was Minnesota's OL formation being an illegal one. The right tackle, repeatedly stepped back and wasn't anywhere close to having any part of his body overlap with with center for most of the game. The more they got away with it the further back that RT pushed things. And yes it matters, because an edge rush is often decided by where the DE turns the corner, and having that take place an extra yard in the backfield took away sacks.

Seth thought the refs got the onside kick call right but not for the reasons that Minny fans have been complaining about. The Gopher's weren't off sides they said but the reason for the re-kick was that a Minnesota player touched the ball before it went 10 yards and if that wasn't enough a Gopher kick team member was blocking an M player also before the ball traveled 10 yards. Given that, there's no way Minny should have gotten possession.

At this point, I'm not expecting much from team 144 - too many problem areas not completely related to talent levels on both offense and defense. ST play looks good but that's about the only unit that does. M is going to lose at least 3 more games: Washington, Oregon and OSU. M's ceiling is 8-4 with the possibility of 2 more losses to close out the regular season at 6-6 and a post season visit to Ford Field or some other also-ran bowl.

[Hannibal]

I suppose that our true ceiling would be 9-3. UDub is winnable and we shouldn’t be underdogs against anyone else other than OSU and Oregon. (Maybe Illinois?)