Postgame Thoughts: Northwestern at Michigan

Photo Credit: Thomas Beindit

Thought it was competitive for segments, Michigan was able to pull out a decisive victory over an overmatched Wildcats squad in Ann Arbor.  Michigan played well defensively and several players, including Trey Burke had outstanding nights.  For a full breakdown of the game, read here:

Postgame Thoughts: Northwestern at Michigan

Preview: Northwestern at Michigan

Photo Credit: Thomas Beindit

Today, Michigan will be facing its first repeat opponent of the season (Northwestern) at home.  This game will largely be featured as a lead to the showdown with Indiana on Saturday, but the Wildcats can be a tricky team for opponents and have improved significantly since their first contest with Michigan.  Along with this, Jordan Morgan will likely miss the game.  To read my preview, click here: Northwestern preview.

Week 3 Big Ten Update

I'm going to be starting a new recurring post on the blog updating the Big Ten on a regular basis.  Most fans are able to keep up with Michigan and maybe a couple of the other top teams like Indiana, Ohio State, and MSU, but a lot can get lost in between.  As a result, I'm going to post on a weekly basis (hopefully) to keep everyone updated on what's going on around the Big Ten.  Mainly, I'm going to address some of the main events, where the teams stand, and analyze what that means for the conference and Michigan.

I will start with the obvious, the rankings.  Not a lot changed in the most recent set of rankings.  The Big Ten currently has three teams in the Top 5, four in the Top 25, and two teams that are currently receiving votes (#26 & #27).  That is extremely impressive for one conference, especially at the top end.  So far, none of the ranked Big Ten teams has lost since the new set of rankings and only one of the teams receiving votes lost (Minnesota to Duke).  This basically means that the ranking position of the Big Ten teams will largely remain the same.  MSU and Wisconsin might be able to move up with some help, but most of the things will be the same, for now.

Recapping: Northwestern

Devin Gardner did it again.

We were all counting on Denard Robinson to make his return to the field on Saturday against Northwestern, but that didn't turn out to be the case. Instead, we had to once again out our faith in backup Devin Gardner, making the second start at QB of his career.

This game had a little bit more pressure packed into it, though, as the Wildcats are a rising team in the Big Ten and were still breathing in the Legends Division race.  Still, Gardner went out and made his greatest contribution to the Wolverines in his 3 years of wearing a winged helmet. He threw for nearly 300 yards and 2 TDs, adding 47 yards on the ground with another 2 TDs.

Week 11 BCS Rankings

It's been dubbed The Catch Version 2.0. I tend to think of it in more fan type terms--Holy **** Roundtree!! With 18 seconds to go, and Michigan was down by 3 points, and being on the wrong side of the field, Devin Gardner heaved a game saving 53 yard pass to Roy Roundtree, which led to a Brendan Gibbons field goal, which led to Gardner running in a 1-yard touchdown in overtime, which made the Michigan defense make the most important stop they've needed to all afternoon. Granted, Northwestern did out gain Michigan in overall yardage by twelve. They ran on the defense to a tune of 248 yards. Michigan's defense has generally struggled with a spread option quarterback (See Air Force), and with Braxton Miller and Ohio State coming up in two weeks, Greg Mattison will have a lot of work to do. As for the rest of the Big Ten...yikes.Penn State loses a heartbreaker to Nebraska with some help from the officials. I don't like blaming officials for a loss or a win mainly because it never should have gotten to that point but at the same time when everyone in the nation is calling a play a touchdown, and the official doesn't agree, there will be backlash. Wisconsin won the Leaders Division by trouncing Indiana by rushing for over 550 yards! Their last game was a 19 yard rushing effort against Michigan State  Oh and as always I get one prediction wrong for the week, and this week the winner was Purdue over Iowa..I didn't think the Boilermakers had it in them. Now onto the poll:

Preview And Prediction: Northwestern

At the very beginning of the season, I pointed this contest out as a game that could possibly give Michigan a scare. After all, it really isn't a surprise that our Wolverines are in the hunt to play in the Big Ten Championship, and the Wildcats have been flying under everyone's radar.

Northwestern, under Pat Fitzgerald, has been steadily improving through the last couple of years, and he has his Wildcats on track to be a force in the Big Ten through the coming years. When these two teams met up last season, the first half was completely dominated by Northwestern. But as Michigan always does, they went into the locker room at half time, came out with some adjustments, and ran away with the win.

Here are the keys to the game.

Michigan

The Wolverines are fresh of a big victory on the road against Minnesota, where Devin Gardner filled in for the injured Denard Robinson and put on a show of his own. Most importantly, they kept themselves in striking distance of Nebraska for the driver's seat in the Legends Division.

Week 11 Predictions and Notes

Entering Week 11 of the college football season, Michigan fans have been wondering one thing all week long. Who will start for the Wolverines on Saturday against Northwestern. I suppose the answer is your guess is as good as mine. I'm not sure if Denard will be fully healthy for the game. The ulnar nerve in his throwing elbow is probably not fully healed. I think it's safe to say Denard will start, but I don't know if it's just as safe to say he'll play the whole game. Devin Gardner did very well last week in his first career start against Minnesota, but I think the bottom line is that right now, this is Robinson's team. Regardless of the quarterback, Michigan (6-3, 4-1) could take a giant step forward in the tight Legends Division race by getting past Northwestern (7-2, 3-2).

Northwestern Players To Watch

There are 3 games left in the season, and with Michigan sitting at 6-3 (4-1 Big Ten) there is no time to let off the gas pedal.  No. 24 Northwestern has a 7-2 record (3-2 Big Ten) and they are right on the heels of the Wolverines. It's not implausible that the Wildcats could beat Michigan, and Nebraska then Illinois on their way to Indianapolis. They are after all in the BCS rankings for the first time in almost 4 years and want to stay that way.

Northwestern has the 13th ranked rushing offense in the nation behind Kain Colter and Venric Mark. Michigan in run defense is only 44th in the country, so expect some emphasis placed on the defensive line for the Wolverines this week. I'll write more about it in my weekly prediction post, but of a lot of the game will depend on who starts at quarterback for Michigan this week. Will Denard be better healed after missing his first college career start? Or will Devin Gardner be able to shine for the second week in a row? Either way it's going to be a slobber-knocker (Thanks Jim Ross). Here's a few Wildcats to be wary of:

Compiled 2012-2013 Big Ten Predictions

Every season comes with a flurry of predictions and rankings and this year is no different.  Right now, the best conference in college basketball is the Big Ten and they have received their fair share of preseason rankings and hype.  Well, everybody wants to know the team that will reign victorious at the end of the season.  It's a difficult challenge, but I'm going to be attempting to predict the Big Ten.  I will undoubtedly be wrong by the end of the season, but here's my best guess:

 Nebraska Cornhuskers--(12th in B1G) This team is going to be horrible.  I'm sorry I have to say it, but it's going to be true.  Will they be horrible by national standards?  No, but they are going to be pummeled by the Big Ten.  The Cornhuskers finished in last place at the end of last year and they've taken significant steps backward from that team.  They not only lost their best players, but they also fired their head coach.  I wouldn't call this a trainwreck because Nebraska is still adjusting to the major challenge of Big Ten basketball, but this is not going to be a pretty year for Nebraska.

 Penn State Nittany Lions--(11th in B1G) This is a team that I think has a chance to develop into a semi decent squad in the coming years.  They are a long way from vying for a Big Ten title, but they have a few pieces to help them get back to respectability.  Point guard Tim Frazier will lead the way again and he should have another big year.  They have a few decent pieces and recruits that should help him out and I definitely like the coaching that has occurred with the Nittany Lions.  They are a team that keeps fighting until the finish and I think they might have a chance at being the Iowa of last season.  Still a doormat to most of the big teams, but they might get an upset here or there.

Week 6 Big Ten/AP Rankings

Yesterday was a day of upsets, beatdowns, and quirkiness. Florida State, LSU, and Georgia all lost. Michigan is back into the Top 25 after a dominating performance by Denard Robinson over Purdue. Nebraska has fallen out of the poll for the second time this year after a humiliating, blowout loss to Ohio State . Northwestern took a huge fall after losing to Penn State, showing us that their 5-0 record was really just hype.

A few things stood out to me for the Big Ten games yesterday--1. Never count Denard out. Yes, he had a poor performance against Notre Dame  . Yet, after a bye week and knowing he had to take control, he did. Breaking the rushing record for a Big Ten QB was great, but winning  Michigan's first Big Ten game, and doing it on the road was even greater. 2. I think most people are aware that Ohio State is still undefeated, and is still not going to the postseason. The Buckeyes seem to be using this season as a statement, and it's a loud one by Urban Meyer. 3. Michigan State's win over Indiana could be construed as 2 things--they're not as good as anyone thought or, 2. Indiana is getting better. I'm tending to lean more towards the former point. Now onto the poll:

Week 5 AP/Big Ten Rankings

Week 5 AP rankings are out, and it shows that yesterday was a big one in college football. Geno Smith and West Virginia survived a shootout against Baylor, racking up over 1,500 yards between the two teams. Smith passed for almost 700 yards and 8 TDs, practically vaulting himself into the front spot of the Heisman trophy race. Louisville survived in a torrential downpour against Southern Mississippi. LSU looked to be quite mortal against the Towson Tigers in a game that the score was a lot closer than just 38-22.

Ohio State shut down Michigan State's vaunted running game, and following the loss against Ohio State, State's defensive coordinator, Pat Narduzzi, made complaints concerning "doctored" game tape from Meyer. Northwestern improved to 5-0, while Minnesota came in undefeated and were exposed against Iowa. Purdue gave up a lot of points against Marshall while Illinois was blown out again versus Penn State, probably giving them the title of worst in the Big Ten next to Indiana. Nebraska had their biggest comeback ever against Wisconsin, setting Wisconsin back to 3-2 on the season. Here's the poll:

Week 5 Notes And Predictions

This Saturday marks the bye week for Michigan. Michigan will be the only Big Ten school on a bye this week as the rest open up the conference game schedule. College Gameday is making their stop this Saturday in East Lansing, where the Buckeyes are going to take on the Spartans at home. Obviously, that makes it the premiere Big Ten matchup of the week. That being said, don't overlook the Wisconsin-Nebraska game, which should be a close game between two teams, one on the way up in Nebraska, and the other one on the way down in Wisconsin. Both teams are currently 3-1 and looking for a signature win in conference play. Here's a taste of each game:

The Top 3 Trap Games For Michigan Basketball In 2012-2013

Every year, there are some tough opponents on the schedule for Michigan and its basketball team.  Typically, they come in games against teams like Indiana, Michigan State, and Ohio State.  However, there are also some tough games that are not easily predicted.  Michigan's game against Iowa last year comes to mind.  Michigan was easily favored and frankly, was a better team than Iowa.  Despite this, Iowa dominated Michigan at home and gave the Wolverines one of their worst losses of the season.

Typically, most refer to these as "trap" games because they are unexpected challenges along the way.  I do admit that it is virtually impossible to predict a true trap game (I mean, you shouldn't know when a trap is coming, right?), but I'm going to give it my best shot to select the teams and games that are most likely to fill the trap game role for Michigan basketball this year.  Just to specify, this does not mean I am predicting any of these teams to beat the Wolverines.  Michigan should and will most likely be favored against every one of these teams.  What I'm simply trying to do is select a few games that could present the most unexpected challenge.  Let's look at the top traps games for 2012-2013:

Week 4 Rankings--The Fall of the B1G Ten?

College football is an amazing sport. Where else can you find all these men playing a violent game on scholarships? Or even those players without free rides trying to make the team? They don't get paid for the millions of dollars of revenue they produce for their schools. They don't get paid money for merchandise that carries their name on it. Sure, the usual argument is that the scholarship alone is worth enough money for that player and the players say they can't hold jobs or have time for a job, much less order a pizza.

Yesterday showed us that even among scholarship players, blue chippers and huge programs alike....that even the mightiest can fall. It was widely joked about yesterday as to the state of the Big Ten, and rightfully so. Ohio State was sluggish against UAB and nearly completely overlooked them. It wasn't until the end of the 2nd half that the Buckeyes put some touchdowns on the board, and even then didn't score in the 3rd. The scary part is that while the Buckeyes are still undefeated, UAB came into the contest winless, and never backed down. Michigan State struggled mightily against Eastern until the 4th quarter where it appeared as though the Eagles threw in the towel on some assignments (also bad 3rd down playcalling sunk the offense) and Bell ended up having a career day with 253 rushing yards. Iowa lost to Central Michigan 32-31 with 3 seconds to go...on the leg of a non-scholarship walk-on 3rd string kicker. Kinnick Stadium won't be the same for a while. Louisiana Tech completely blew out Illinois on a turnover filled night.

Michigan and Big Ten Rankings Review--Week 3

The AP rankings of Week 3 are out. It was a hectic couple days of college football. USC lost to Stanford for the 4th straight year, leaving any chance of the national championship on the doorstep. That's not to say USC is a bad team; they're just not as invincible as the preseason analysts made them out to be over the summer. Florida State is looking like a powerhouse team again, reminiscent of the Seminole's teams from the 90s. Notre Dame thoroughly beat the Spartans, breaking their 14-game home winning streak. Even though the Tennessee Vols have improved, they showed they still have a long way to go in their loss against Florida. Wisconsin needed the whole game to put away Utah State, and of course Indiana lost to Ball State.

All in all it was a decent weekend for Big Ten teams, with only Indiana and Michigan State losing their respective games. Yet, Michigan blew out UMass 63-13, and still ended up dropping one spot in the polls. This is where the fallacy of the strength of schedule comes into play. Remember last week when then No. 6 FSU played Savannah St, were up 55-0 in the 3rd when lightning stopped the game? They were moved to the 5 spot after that. Up one spot after beating a team that is far behind even UMass, and they gained a spot. However, Michigan moved down a spot. Needless to say...I'm not happy. Here's the rest of the polls:

Breaking Down Michigan's 2012 Big Ten Schedule

Every season has its twists and turns.  Whether its new players, coaches, or stadiums, there are always some interesting changes.  One thing that typically stays the same, however, is conference play.  Yes, there are always some variations, such as location and timing, but for the most part, the teams on the slate are pretty similar, if not identical on a yearly basis.  With the Big Ten's new format, things have become even more interesting.  Not just because there are now more teams competing for the conference championship, but also because of the new division layout and more complex scheduling.

The reason the division layout and scheduling have become so important is because of the way the Big Ten has divided the teams.  This may seem obvious, but it's important to note how this process has occurred and the impact of the change.  Since the Big Ten has attempted to divide the conference based on long-term winning percentage, it has effectively separated the good and the bad teams.  On average, there should be two really good teams, two average teams, and two bad teams in each division.  In the long run, this will probably be true, but that's not always how it works out, especially when we're analyzing just one year.

The Top 3 Trap Games For Michigan Football In 2012

Michigan's 2012 schedule fixes to be one of the most difficult in Michigan football history.  Michigan gets to play 10 teams that made bowls last season, 2 rivalry games on the road, and 7 games away from Ann Arbor.  I recently compiled a list of the 5 toughest games for Michigan next season.  The list was filled with quality teams both on the road and at home, but what many have forgotten are the remaining 7 teams on the schedule.  Do they have a chance to beat Michigan?  Well, we're going to be breaking down the most likely trap games for 2012.

Trap games are just a term used to describe games that are likely wins on the schedule, but could easily be a loss if the team overlooks the opponents.  Michigan has several games with the "trap" element in 2012.  It actually took me a good bit of time to narrow the list down to just three teams.  Obviously, the games that I listed as the toughest for Michigan were immediately excluded, but with games against Air Force, Illinois, Northwestern, Purdue, and Iowa, there are many games that could be traps for Michigan.  Most assume that Michigan will be favored in at least 8 of its games so there is definitely a chance for at least an upset or two.  Let's check out the list.

Previewing Big Ten Football: Northwestern

One of the most consistent teams as of late have been the Northwestern Wildcats.  They've went to bowl games the last four seasons and have had at least one win over a ranked team every year during this tenure.  For a program that only has been to bowl games 10 times in its history, that's pretty substantial.  Pat Fitzgerald has taken a program that frankly, was a whipping post for years, evidenced by the program's .422 winning percentage, and turned them into a relatively respectable team.  The Wildcats aren't exactly rewriting the record books with 6-9 win seasons over the last four years, but for the Big Ten's most prestigious academic institution, it's a big step forward.


Northwestern began 2011 with high hopes, but they weren't able to capitalize on the preseason hype.  In fact, before the season began, Northwestern quarterback Dan Persa had been mentioned in the Heisman discussion.  However, he was injury plagued throughout the year, leading to a lot of playing time for Kain Colter.  Despite Persa's 519 rushing yards in 2010 and 164 carries, he only had 79 carries and 32 rushing yards in 2011.  This was the big change for Northwestern's offense in 2011, an immobile Dan Persa.  Kain Colter did help make up for this with 654 rushing yards, but it was still a major setback.

Living Up To Expectations

In the world of sports, the toughest part of putting together an incredible season is coming back the next year to back it up with everyone expecting the same results. The world of Wolverine fans will be expecting nothing less than a BCS bowl win this season, plain and simple.

But before expectations can be met, expectations have to be established. For example, how many Michigan fans would say their number one goal for this season is a Big Ten Championship? That is exactly what Brady Hoke is saying, though. He has made it very clear from day one that his teams will strive for Big Ten Championship trophies before focusing on anything that comes after that, like a National Championship. Some reporters at Hoke's first press conference had a very hard time understanding that logic, so it is very easy to see where fan and coach expectations are colliding.

2012 Early Big Ten Predictions

Read any sports mag, or sports site online and they always have mock rankings, drafts, etc...Well people--here is my first attempt at doing the same. Below you will find a 2012 version of how I believe our B1G Ten teams will finish, both conference wise and overall. Keep in mind I reserve all rights to my opinion, and the views expressed are mine and nobody else's. I will be doing a more in-depth analysis into each team every week from now till the beginning of the season. So let me give you a brief synopsis into the season.

Legends Division

Iowa Hawkeyes--(4-4 Big Ten, 8-4 overall) Kirk Ferentz always has his team ready to play every season. James Vandenburg has the potential to be a good QB, but the Legends Division seems to be pretty strong this year. Wins--NIU, Iowa State, Northern Iowa, CMU, Minn, MSU, PSU, Indiana.  Losses--Northwestern, Purdue, Michigan, Nebraska