Around the Big Ten

[Mike]

I'd rather have home and home games instead of the NFL venues. The college atmosphere feels neutered.

Me too. But for TV purposes it makes for some really good non-conference match-ups to watch the first couple weeks of the season. A lot of them are one-offs. So if we can't get a home and home with Florida, I'm happy to play them at Jerry World once.

[Jeff Buchanan]

I'd rather have home and home games instead of the NFL venues. The college atmosphere feels neutered.

Agree.

When M traveled to Jerry's House to face Alabama, I went to that game. First off, the ticket prices were very high compared to what I would have paid for M to open in AA or Tuscaloosa. Sure, the bar and restaurants on the mezzanine were nice ...... if you like $10 beer, $12 drinks and $15 burgers. It did not feel at all like a CFB game. Totally different vibe.

Of course, Diamond Dave loved this kind of thing and we would have done a lot more of them had he not met his demise as M's AD.

[entropy]

Hawaii is awful.

yes, but JH will also use the game to work on things he wants for an identity. I don't see him going for style points, but rather building an identity.

[lineygoblue]

yes, but JH will also use the game to work on things he wants for an identity. I don't see him going for style points, but rather building an identity.

Agree. JH isn't a "run it up" type of coach, unless the opponent has done something to make him mad. I doubt that the Rainbow Warriors are in his gun sights....

I think if he senses that he has a big advantage, he'll use the opportunity to get a look at some people on the bench. That will keep the score down.

[Hannibal]

Well, 41 and a half! You guys added the best DC in the country to the most talented defense in the country and you have the best QB coach in the country working with at least 2 sublimely talented QBs.

So I assume your surprise is that it's only 41' when sharps around the nation know it should be in the high 50s.

Where is that 41.5 number from? I looked on ESPN and they didn't show any lines today.

[WM Wolverine]

Hawaii is awful, awful even for a MWC program. 40 is high for any game with M's offense but it's a game that isn't going to be close at halftime.

[Jeff Buchanan]

........(it) isn't going to be close at halftime.

And I will be loving it.

Good times return. It's been a long road.

[lineygoblue]

And I will be loving it.

Good times return. It's been a long road.

I think it might be worth the trip to A2 and Doug's post-game tailgate gathering, just to see Jeff smile again ... :-)

[iam416]

Hanni:

http://www.vegasinsider.com/college-football/odds/las-vegas/

They're obviously not taking into account HARBAUGH!!!!!!! the Benevolent.

[iam416]

If throttling Hawai'i is all it takes think M is "back" then you guys were even further lost than I imagined.

[Hannibal]

41.5 points, eh? Last time I saw a spread like that, I was predicting Michigan to beat Akron 51-3, if I remember correctly

Just sayin...

Of course, that's back when we still thought that Brady Hoke was a decent football coach.

[lineygoblue]

I think we're safe, Hanni.

I doubt we'll see a 40-point blowout, but I'm confident that Harbaugh will have the guys ready to go. I think Harbaugh is probably the best game-day coach we've had since Schembechler.

[Jeff Buchanan]

If throttling Hawai'i is all it takes think M is "back" then you guys were even further lost than I imagined.

Lost would be putting it mildly. Words that come to mind: catastrophe, chaos, massive suckage and incredible levels of asshattery.

There were only two things that saved M football from being permanently destroyed: (1) Having the opportunity to watch Shoelace play in the Big House, live..... and I'm remembering his singlehanded comeback against a red faced Brian Kelley and his band of Irish. (2) The fortuitous circumstances that brought us Jim Hackett, who shit-canned DB and landed JH. Wooooooo.

[Hannibal]

Hawaii is really bad though. And they will be traveling to Ann Arbor for a noon game, a week after flying around the world to play Cal in Australia. They will just be recovered from their jet lag by the time that the game rolls around. I can't imagine having to prepare in that environment (on top of already sucking because you are Hawaii). So 41.5 does seem about right

[WingsFan]

Plus Harbaugh has the Hockey mentality - never forgeting a cheap shot, take a number per say. I'm sure he will pour it on Hawaii for mocking his satellite camps on Twitter.