Could Michigan go into mid October undefeated?

[belcherboy]

This is kind of scary, but if Michigan can manage to beat Utah tomorrow, they seem to stand a pretty good chance of making a good run early in the season. I definitely want Michigan to win every game, but I'm not excited about what a 4-5 game win streak to open the season will do for the "fair weather Michigan fans" that will come out in droves proclaiming Michigan to be a national powerhouse this season.

If Harbaugh can win 8 games this year, and get to double digit wins next year, and manage to beat MSU or OSU one time in the first 2 seasons, I will be VERY pleased with the program. Anything more is just gravy to me.

College football week 1 upset alerts: Ohio State, Alabama, TCU

Michigan (+5) upsets Utah

Thursday, 8:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

The impact:
“Not this year, but maybe next” was the narrative at Auburn when Gus Malzahn took over for Gene Chizik, but an upgrade at head coach put the Tigers in the national championship game in year one. I’m not saying Michigan is going to contend for the Big Ten East title, much less the national title. But the Wolverines recruited at a top 10 level up until the final year of Brady Hoke’s tenure. It wouldn’t be the craziest thing in the world if Jim Harbaugh was able to shape this into an eight- or nine-win team.

The way Michigan’s schedule is set up, the Wolverines might not lose until mid-October if they can come away with a win in Salt Lake City.

Why it could happen:
Because Michigan’s offense was so bad, you might not have realized they had a top 15 defense last year, but they did. Harbaugh might have just enough to work with on the offensive line and at running back to get away with not really having a quarterback to speak of. If the Wolverines can muster any kind of offense at all against a Utes defense that’s missing sack-monster Nate Orchard and transitioning to a new coordinator, Big Blue could come out on top in a pitchers’ duel.

Why it might not:
Utah sacked opposing quarterbacks more often than any other team in the country last year, and Michigan’s offensive line was not especially good at protecting theirs. That’s not the best situation for the winner of the Jake Rudock/Shane Morris quarterback battle to step into at the helm of a new offense on the road.

Another interesting read from this website:
Jim Harbaugh and Jim McElwain look to lift Michigan and Florida

 

[Olyduck]

2 losses heading into the game with MSU

 

[outofyourmind]

No is the answer

 

[WABLTY]

Maybe? After a brief glance at their schedule, there are maybe 7 games that they could/should lose so even if you split those 8-4 seems like the high end. I don't think you're beating Utah though.

 

[Texas Jefe]

lot depends on quarterback play, imo.

we were in a similar position at Texas last year, although I imagine we were in a much, much worse position as to offensive linemen, so that may be a plus for Michigan and whoever plays QB

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

Maybe? After a brief glance at their schedule, there are maybe 7 games that they could/should lose so even if you split those 8-4 seems like the high end. I don't think you're beating Utah though.

Couldn't we lose all of them?

 

[Wamu]

This is kind of scary,

No it's not.

 

[WABLTY]

Couldn't we lose all of them?

Probably not. You've got some pretty bad teams on your schedule. Or did you mean the games against good teams?

 

[Tin Man]

 

[7Samurai13]

It's definitely a possibility but I see them going 2-2 in their OOC losing to Utah and a toss up between Oregon St and BYU. A lot of emotions in that first game so it might be within a score. It could happen but being at Utah gives them the edge.

 

[SeeYouNT]

Utah.

 

[packerzrule]

no....but the consolation is that they go into September undefeated so they have that going for them

 

[ElTexan]

Could Michigan go into mid October undefeated?

 

[BoiseMike19]

Couldn't we lose all of them?

After one, not all of them. But both to schools from Utah are pretty much a certain thing.

 

[HuskerOC]

1-3 rolling into conference play is a very definite possibility as well.

 

[belcherboy]

I meant undefeated in Conference play. Sorry for the confusion!

 

[Olyduck]

I meant undefeated in Conference play. Sorry for the confusion!

2-0 vs maryland and Northwestern is more likley

 

[belcherboy]

2-0 vs maryland and Northwestern is more likley

And that would be enough to get us to mid October!

 

[B_dub]

 

[Shanemansj13]

The better question: Could Michigone go into the mid-October defeated??