Oct 26 | Michigan

[stlnd01]

Michigan was better than PSU in their own house.

The final score would dispute this. And it wasn't a turnover-filled fluke, but a close, well-played game that Penn State won, largely because Michigan spotted them 21 points. The "better" team doesn't do that.

Regardless, our defense will have to bring its A game. Play tight on those WRs and get in Patterson's face. Force some turnovers (with the pass rush, not b/c Gilman is riding RBs downfield trying to strip the ball when he should just tackle them). On offense, I forsee big nights for Kmet and Tremble against their safeties. Hopefully Jafar and Lenzy are ready to play and we've spent the bye week working on some plays to get fast guys the ball in space because it does appear that's how you beat this Michigan defense. And I think Jones and the O Line will again mount a big drive in the fourth quarter.

No idea where Michigan will be mentally. On one hand, they're effectively out of the hunt in the Big Ten now, so beating us amounts to their whole season. And they always play better at home. On the other, they just lost a tough, physical game and really have nothing to play for. If we can get ahead early and frustrate their offense, they might just pack it in.

I've no worries about our mental state. Week off to prepare. Lots to play for. And I kind of doubt "the Big House" will top Georgia in the atmosphere department at this point.

I think we win. But it'll probably be close and relatively low-scoring. Something like 28-21.

 

[BobbyMac]

Koon... You did a huge flip flop on the UGA game too if I'm remembering it correctly.

 

[ND88]

The final score would dispute this. And it wasn't a turnover-filled fluke, but a close, well-played game that Penn State won, largely because Michigan spotted them 21 points.

Regardless, our defense will have to bring its A game. Play tight on those WRs and get in Patterson's face. On offense, I forsee big nights for Kmet and Tremble in the seams. Hopefully Jafar and Lenzy are ready to play and we've spent the bye week working on some plays to get fast guys the ball in space because it does appear that's how you beat this Michigan defense.

No idea where Michigan will be mentally. On one hand, they're effectively out of the hunt in the Big Ten now, so beating us amounts to their whole season. And they always play better at home. On the other, they just lost a tough, physical game and really have nothing to play for. If we can get ahead early and frustrate their offense, they might just pack it in.

I've no worries about our mental state. Week off to prepare. Lots to play for. And I kind of doubt "the Big House" will top Georgia in the atmosphere department at this point.

I think we win. But it'll probably be close.

Well, according to Harbaugh, they’ve already played their “finest hour” so expect more fine things to come like crucial dropped passes and crying on the sidelines.

 

[koonja]

Michigan had 26 first downs to PSU's 14. This alone is so stark nothing else needs to be noted. But..

Michigan also dominated them in total yards, 417 to 283.

Michigan had both more rushing and passing yards.

Michigan dominated the TOP, 37 to 22.

If you can't see how Michigan outplayed PSU and any PSU fan with half of a brain feels lucky to have gotten the W, we don't have to talk football anymore.

If they played again on a neutral field Michigan would be favored over PSU.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/matchup?gameId=401112226

 

[koonja]

Koon... You did a huge flip flop on the UGA game too if I'm remembering it correctly.

How so?

 

[arrowryan]

Theres a lot of doubt in this thread.

Besides receiver, I’m not sure there’s a position group that Michigan is better at than Notre Dame. Lea is a far superior coordinator than Gattis. If Long can score on a much better defense in 2018 with an inept QB, I think he’ll be able to put something together this weekend.

 

[koonja]

Theres a lot of doubt in this thread.

Besides receiver, I’m not sure there’s a position group that Michigan is better at than Notre Dame. Lea is a far superior coordinator than Gattis. If Long can score on a much better defense in 2018 with an inept QB, I think he’ll be able to put something together this weekend.

They're better at WR, but 3x over. Shea is also better than Book against teams that matter. I expect Shea to be the best QB QB Saturday night.

They're also much better at corner. Their #1 is better than our #1 and their #2 is better than ours.

Their front 7 I dont know well enough at an individual level, I just watch them and they get penetration and play really fast. I think their front 7 is as good as Georgia's.

 

[NorthDakota]

They're better at WR, but 3x over. Shea is also better than Book against teams that matter. I expect Shea to be the best QB QB Saturday night.

They're also much better at corner. Their #1 is better than our #1 and their #2 is better than ours.

Their front 7 I dont know well enough at an individual level, I just watch them and they get penetration and play really fast. I think their front 7 is as good as Georgia's.

Shea hasn't done anything against any good teams. That's sorta his M.O. he's probably better than Book but to pretend he's a big game player is just dumb.

 

[koonja]

Shea hasn't done anything against any good teams. That's sorta his M.O. he's probably better than Book but to pretend he's a big game player is just dumb.

I dont see the words "big game player" anywhere.

He's just better than Book. And that's all that matters Saturday.

 

[stlnd01]

They're better at WR, but 3x over. Shea is also better than Book against teams that matter. I expect Shea to be the best QB QB Saturday night.

They're also much better at corner. Their #1 is better than our #1 and their #2 is better than ours.

Their front 7 I dont know well enough at an individual level, I just watch them and they get penetration and play really fast. I think their front 7 is as good as Georgia's.

Based on what? You watched them "play really fast" against Iowa and Army? Their defense played a good second half last night, sure, but also got shredded by Wisconsin. (and for that matter by Penn State in the first half). Our front seven also does not suck, btw.

I'd agree their passing game is better than ours. But that's mostly the WRs. Patterson's fine but among QBs we've played Fromm is clearly better and I'd say Slovis and the Virginia QB are in the same ballpark. So's Book.

The key to this for us will be pressuring Patterson into making some mistakes (seems quite doable), winning the turnover battle (unlike Michigan we've given up very few TOs this year), and finding a way to make a few big plays on offense (this is the biggest question mark). Do that and we win.

 

[Wild Bill]

I dont see the words "big game player" anywhere.

He's just better than Book. And that's all that matters Saturday.

Book has more TD, less INTs, about the same yardage and played in one less game. More dangerous with his feet too. Neither are great but I'll take book.

 

[PANDFAN]

Michigan had 26 first downs to PSU's 14. This alone is so stark nothing else needs to be noted. But..

Michigan also dominated them in total yards, 417 to 283.

Michigan had both more rushing and passing yards.

Michigan dominated the TOP, 37 to 22.

If you can't see how Michigan outplayed PSU and any PSU fan with half of a brain feels lucky to have gotten the W, we don't have to talk football anymore.

If they played again on a neutral field Michigan would be favored over PSU.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/matchup?gameId=401112226

I love ya koon... But you're going to have to sit out some of these threads with your takes,...I hate PSU but the reason the top and less first Downs is because they had big plays for TD's s

 

[Crazy Balki]

I dont see the words "big game player" anywhere.

He's just better than Book. And that's all that matters Saturday.

Shea Patterson:

57.4% completion pct. / 1522 yards / 7.5 ypa / 9 TDs / 4 INTs

Ian Book:

63.2% completion pct. / 1419 yards / 8.3 ypa / 14 TDs / 2 INTs

Patterson plays one semi-decent game against Penn State and suddenly he's better than Book? I say this fully aware that Book has had his struggles, but we're a better team than Penn State and are coming off a BYE week, rather than coming off a 4-quarter grind at Iowa.

 

[Wild Bill]

Phil needs to play. The longball is Michigan’s weakness on D.

Wisconsin could only run for 400. Thankfully their qb was spraying it all over the field.

 

[BGIF]

Michigan had 26 first downs to PSU's 14. This alone is so stark nothing else needs to be noted. But..

Michigan also dominated them in total yards, 417 to 283.

Michigan had both more rushing and passing yards.

Michigan dominated the TOP, 37 to 22.

If you can't see how Michigan outplayed PSU and any PSU fan with half of a brain feels lucky to have gotten the W, we don't have to talk football anymore.

If they played again on a neutral field Michigan would be favored over PSU.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/matchup?gameId=401112226

The Hillary argument, ... "But I won the election"

But LOST HOW THE GAME IS SCORED.

FINAL PSU 28 UM 21

 

[EvilleIrish]

We're 7.5 dogs.

But keep saying they suck and pretending our offense isn't garbage.

https://www.oddsshark.com/ncaaf/odds

I am beyond stunned at that line.

 

[irishtrooper]

Im interested to hear why you think Book will move the ball on offense against this defense, in their house.

Our team is really good. Unfortunately our QB has proven he's not.

Ummm, because Wimbush was able last year. Freaking Army did...... Wisconsin had no issue. Book moved it just fine most of the UGA game (running game was the problem there). I’m not convinced that they’re as good as you think they are is all. I was confident that we’d keep it close against Clemson last year too so maybe I’m way off (although one could argue literally EVERYTHING that could go wrong did in that game and they were too good to not have some breaks go our way). I get it, our ND fandom allows us only to assume the worst version of us will show up while the best version of our opponents will be there. The last two seasons has helped me become a lot more confident in our prep and I am convinced we will “show up” with this staff/group of players

 

[NDinMI]

I am beyond stunned at that line.

Isn’t that the pre season line? I could be wrong, but I don’t think the actual line comes out until tomorrow. I would assume it’d be MI -2.5/-3.5

 

[irishtrooper]

Yeah, I don’t think the odds are set for this week yet

 

[EvilleIrish]

Sagarin has us as a 2 point favorite.

 

[ND88]

Wisconsin could only run for 400. Thankfully their qb was spraying it all over the field.

Fair enough. The only game I watched this season of Meatchicken was last night, and based on that game, the deep pass killed them. If the worldbeaters of Wisconsin destroyed them with the run, we have no excuses but to do the same.

 

[stlnd01]

Yeah, I don’t think the odds are set for this week yet

What tho the odds...

 

[koonja]

Sagarin has us as a 2 point favorite.

Home field is worth 3 in football.

What is a BYE worth? Never heard that before. Curious if its anything.

 

[EvilleIrish]

Home field is worth 3 in football.

What is a BYE worth? Never heard that before. Curious if its anything.

I know. He has us as 5 point favorites on a neutral field.

 

[Wingman Ray]

I know. He has us as 5 point favorites on a neutral field.

And THIS is why ND doesn't belong this year, and may never belong, in the Playoffs.

Do you think OSU will be favored by 5 on a neutral field vs the might Michigan Wolverines? Clemson? Bama?

The answer is no. All those teams would beat Michigan by 14+ easily and never be in doubt.

That's why ND should not be in the playoff discussion.

#dropthemic

 

[EvilleIrish]

And THIS is why ND doesn't belong this year, and may never belong, in the Playoffs.

Do you think OSU will be favored by 5 on a neutral field vs the might Michigan Wolverines? Clemson? Bama?

The answer is no. All those teams would beat Michigan by 14+ easily and never be in doubt.

That's why ND should not be in the playoff discussion.

#dropthemic

Bet you’re fun at parties.

 

[Wingman Ray]

Bet you’re fun at parties.

Truth hurts sometimes

 

[arrowryan]

And THIS is why ND doesn't belong this year, and may never belong, in the Playoffs.

Do you think OSU will be favored by 5 on a neutral field vs the might Michigan Wolverines? Clemson? Bama?

The answer is no. All those teams would beat Michigan by 14+ easily and never be in doubt.

That's why ND should not be in the playoff discussion.

#dropthemic

I don’t think anyone on here thinks Notre Dame is or should be in the playoff discussion. But you’re basing your opinion off of how much Notre Dame would be favored on a neutral field? Lol

But that was a fire hot take!

 

[Crazy Balki]

And THIS is why ND doesn't belong this year, and may never belong, in the Playoffs.

Do you think OSU will be favored by 5 on a neutral field vs the might Michigan Wolverines? Clemson? Bama?

The answer is no. All those teams would beat Michigan by 14+ easily and never be in doubt.

That's why ND should not be in the playoff discussion.

#dropthemic

I mean, ND is most likely going to be ranked 7th or 8th going into this week, so they aren't really in the discussion at this point unless some significant chaos ensues.

That being said, who has Ohio State played who is of consequence? Michigan State? Their defense is very good, but their offense may be the best defense in college football. Cincinnati? A feel-good story, but they are very fortunate to be in the East division of the AAC. It is far and away the weakest division. They dodge Navy, Tulane and SMU, and only have to play Memphis before the championship game.

Their two biggest games are Wisconsin and Penn State, both home games and both are fairly overrated.

 

[NDinMI]

Circa Sports out of Vegas just came out with a line of MI -4.