Michigan Football, Team 139, 2018 Season

[The Oracle]

Won't shock me at all to have the division wrapped up before they even get on the bus to Columbus. Doesn't make it any less important.

[Jeff Buchanan]

osu will curb stomp Sparty. It looked to me like Day and his OL coach have the osu run game going and Haskins is going to torch MSU's #98th ranked pass D. True, osu isn't much better in that department (#89) but Lewerke isn't good enough to advantage the offense without Felton Davis's help. MSU's run game is meh. Mork seems to be out of clever ideas and these typically don't work when your scoring offense is ranked, what? #110. LOL.

Ignore most, but not all, of talent's comments implying that osu is hot garbage or some such terms. They're more than good enough to take down Michigan State in their house and send MSU fans into apoplexy over Dantonio's continued employment.

The Game will be for the BT East Championship and will punch the dance card to the CCG for whoever wins this game. Looking ahead to M's next two games.......

Indiana has the #70 rushing defense to S&P+, Rutgers has the #117 rushing defense. Indiana has the #102 pass defense and is 86th in havoc rate, Rutgers is #79 and 95th. While it's now quite important to keep Patterson healthy, Pep shouldn't have to do much else v. either of M's next two opponents than have him hand-off to Higdon and Evans. Throw in a pass now and then to keep the D honest and walk away with Ws and healthy starters. Put the shiniest tools away in the tool box, put nothing new on film.

[iam416]

[WingsFan]

I half believe Talent this time, wouldn't be surprised if Sparty wins.

[Rocky Bleier]

Nah, Sparty won't be too motivated to hand "scUM" the Big Ten East.

[WingsFan]

Good point

[Detroit Dan]

Good point.

With regard to Michigan's season, it's been fun. This is similar to 2016, except we lost to Notre Dame this year but don't have to face Iowa before the OSU game. Notre Dame seems to be the real deal this year, and that was a good test for us to get ready for the B1G season.

Fun facts: The last 2 times the B1G got to the playoff, the results were:

• Clemson 31- Ohio State 0 (12/31/2016)
• Alabama 38 - Michigan State 0 (12/31/2015)

Can we even be competitive in the playoffs? Why or why not?

[The Oracle]

osu will curb stomp Sparty. It looked to me like Day and his OL coach have the osu run game going and Haskins is going to torch MSU's #98th ranked pass D. True, osu isn't much better in that department (#89) but Lewerke isn't good enough to advantage the offense without Felton Davis's help. MSU's run game is meh. Mork seems to be out of clever ideas and these typically don't work when your scoring offense is ranked, what? #110. LOL.

Ignore most, but not all, of talent's comments implying that osu is hot garbage or some such terms. They're more than good enough to take down Michigan State in their house and send MSU fans into apoplexy over Dantonio's continued employment.

The Game will be for the BT East Championship and will punch the dance card to the CCG for whoever wins this game. Looking ahead to M's next two games.......

Indiana has the #70 rushing defense to S&P+, Rutgers has the #117 rushing defense. Indiana has the #102 pass defense and is 86th in havoc rate, Rutgers is #79 and 95th. While it's now quite important to keep Patterson healthy, Pep shouldn't have to do much else v. either of M's next two opponents than have him hand-off to Higdon and Evans. Throw in a pass now and then to keep the D honest and walk away with Ws and healthy starters. Put the shiniest tools away in the tool box, put nothing new on film.

I've got my own eyes and brain. Zero chance OSU curb stomps sparty. Don't care about regurgitated stats from fancy pants.

[iam416]

Dan:

There's a nascent CFP discussion on the general CFB thread. As of today, Alabama would be a 14 point favorite against M. I would give the points. And probably 10 more. M's key is get to #3. Or, perhaps, have Georgia beat Alabama and hope that somehow Alabama gets left out.

Clemson plays its "toughest" game this week -- really, the only game I can see them losing without some sort of act of god shit. So, you need to fully embrace BC on Saturday.

Notre Dame probably plays its toughest remaining game next week. I think USC plays too much like ND to beat them. Syracuse and Babers have the chance to take their doors off offensively. It's not a great chance, but it's definitely a realistic possibility. If it becomes a scoring-fest then it's anyone's game.

Otherwise, M is stuck playing Alabama. And I think that will end about the same way the last 2 B10 trips to the CFP have ended.

[froot loops]

Dantonio rents space in Jeff Buchanan's head, fancy pants said so.

[THE_WIZARD_]

Alabama could win the NFC North this year.

[froot loops]

I think of any of the contenders Michigan could Tressel-ball them. Not a great chance but a chance.

And no, MSU will not lay down to OSU to give them a chance at the East title. They have a chance at going to the Rose Bowl if they win out. If anything the Spartans need the Wolverines to get the CFP for that to happen, so get of your Mgoblog bubble.

[UMStan White]

Only an uninformed idiot would suggest that MSU will tank the MSU-OSU game to "prevent" UM from advancing to the CCG or the CFP. But this is the same idiot that suggested we should tank the Big Ten title so we can avoid playing Alabama.

People who espouse that shit have never played the game and have no idea what it means to compete upon the field.

[iam416]

Correct. Whatever the odds, you want in. If it's ugly, it's ugly. But you'll never win a national title unless you play in the CFP and, frankly, beat Alabama. I think every non-Bama CFP winner has beaten Alabama. There's really no getting around it. If your goal is the CFP, then make your peace with what comes with that.

[iam416]

Here's a fun fact: since 2006, all but 1 national title winner has been Alabama or beaten Alabama. The lone exception is Florida State, who rallied in the final seconds to beat the team that Kick-Sixed Alabama.

Here's another fun fact: if you compare yourself to Alabama you will end up miserable. See OSU Fanbase. You can't keep up with Alabama year in and year out. So don't even start thinking like that. The Nick is just too good. But, you might be able to get him in any given year. This year doesn't look promising, but stranger things have happened.