Around the Big Ten

[iam416]

[lineygoblue]

The ND game was the first time in decades, I saw elements of the kind of Michigan football I came along admiring: physical, tough, error free, a run game that was punishing and a conservative passing game that was both enhanced by the run game and enhanced the run game itself. In the end, they humiliated the Irish in a very satisfying sort of football way that people like us understand. I'll be one happy fan if M looks like they did against ND, win or lose, in the remaining games this season.

^^ This ^^

If they can finish the season with the efforts we've seen in the last 6 quarters, it will make for a very interesting finish to the season. The Big Ten Championship and playoffs are out of the picture no matter what, but the chance to play spoiler is real.

As far as Wisconsin, I think they've regressed since they beat Michigan. I think a rematch of Michigan v Wisconsin on a neutral field would be a lot closer than the original offering. Michigan seems to be defending the run better and the offense is definitely better since then. It would have been interesting to see had Wisconsin been the opponent last night in Ann Arbor instead of ND. Not saying M would have won, but I doubt we would have seen a repeat of what happened in Madison.

Maryland is up next. This should be a win unless there's a hangover. After that Michigan can grease the rails for Dantonio's exit from MSU. They face a real trap game in Bloomington followed by "the game", which hasn't been 'the game' in decades.

M's win last night brought 8 wins back into the picture, with a possibility of 9. 10 wins would be a modern day miracle. Problem is, if they regress, 7 wins is still a possibility. Sorry for the cold shower, but its true.

[Jeff Buchanan]

Here's the thing ....... when talent has his tenuous, tosu trained reasoning questioned, he just turns up the volume in response. Shouts a lot actually.

??????Look, I really do think M's defense is > Wisconsin's right now and looking forward. Looking back, which you'd argue is considering a team's entire resume, Wisconsin is > M. But looking back is pretty useless unless you're on the CFB Playoff Selection Committee trying to justify your CFB Playoff berth selections.

To put that objectively: today's S&P+ has Wisconsin's D at #3, M is at #2, even a fucking osu grad should know that being #2 at something is > being #3. That is not being a prisoner to recency and hot takes nor is it staggering to back your reasoning with facts and analysis instead of increased volume.

I also think that I like the diversity in M's offense a whole lot better than that of Wisconsin's. For 2019 Wisky demonstrates a particular preference for the run over the pass (65/35)% while M demonstrates a comparatively more balanced approach (59/46)%. To me, diversity makes an offense executed well a lot harder to defend than one that doesn't have diversity even if it is executed well like Wisconsin's has been for decades. Talented, well coached and executed defenses like 2019 osu's is and 2018 M's D was, can shut Wisconsin's run the run game down and it's hard for the QB in that system (Hornibrook in 2018 and Coan in 2019) demonstrably can't shift gears well enough to compensate. Patterson, OTH, demonstrably can .... when he played in 2018 and he's playing in 2019 like he has played in the last 6 quarters. Bottom line in this comparison is that the diversity in M's offense to begin with compared to Wisconsin's makes it easier for the QB to shift gears when it's necessary to do that.

Finally and to be clear, I remain skeptical that Michigan football can get out of their own way and sustain what we saw v. PSU and ND. While I am optimistic regarding Patterson's apparently improving capacity to run M"s offense, as it is now taking shape, it's still Shea Patterson with a well established resume of hesitancy, bad reads and crazy attempts to make something happen on doomed plays. Jim Harbaugh is still on the sidelines with the track record he has and a long list of justifiable complaints about his coaching. Wildly optimistic? Hardly. Fact and analytic based viewpoints instead of increased volume? Yes.

[iam416]

[iam416]

[Jeff Buchanan]

Heh ..... fuck off.

[iam416]

I didn't realize Notre Dame was such a terrible running defense. Well, according to the objective fancy stats. That explains a lot.

I also didn't realize M hasn't played a running offense with a pulse since Wisconsin rolled up 900 yards on them.

[lineygoblue]

It was only 890.

[UMStan White]

Why the fuck are you guys discussing UM vs Wisc? Who gives a shit.

[iam416]

Apparently, we give a shit. That's an easy answer. Esoteric B10 power rankings from internet posters matter, dude. THEY MATTER!

[hack]

FORUM POWER RANKINGS 10/28

1. anyone but Stan
2. anyone but Stan
3. anyone but Stan
4. anyone but Stan
5. anyone but Stan
6. anyone but Stan
7. anyone but Stan
8. Stan
9. bots
10. Wiz

[iam416]

Wiz=Rutgers? What did Rutgers ever do to you?

[hack]

1. anyone but Stan
2. anyone but Stan
3. anyone but Stan
4. anyone but Stan
5. anyone but Stan
6. anyone but Stan
7. anyone but Stan
8. Stan
9. bots
10. Any potential Rutgers-fan who might post here
91. Wiz

[iam416]

3-5 in conference and 1-2 in specials. The death spiral continues. 30-40-1 and 15-10-2. Nothing tidy about that. Thankfully, everyone has a bye so I can only lose 4 conference games.

Michigan (-21) at MarylandRutgers (+20) at Illinois. UMass autofade.

Bowling Green (-5) vs. AkronI like rolling with the surprising Chips.

[AlabamAlum]

Woulda like to have seen the Ga-Fla pick at the bottom.