Great Week 1 Games/Prediction Thread

[Boise4Life]

SEC considers BYU P5

The also consider Army to be a Power 5 opponent, so yeah.........

 

[Boise4Life]

I'm not sure why you think the Utah game "could be ugly"? Michigan returns a solid defense and kept our defensive coordinator on staff and added like 3 NFL coaches to the defense.

Additionally, it's not like Utah was some offensive super power last year. They didn't finish in the top 40 in any major offensive statistic. As bad as we were, we only lost to them 26-10. Mostly thanks to Gardner's 3 INTs.

+Harbugh. We have Harbaugh now, not Hoke. I expect to win this game as we should out-talent Utah by quite a bit.

Bro, I understand you are excited to have Harbaugh and you should be. The guy is a helluva coach and will turn things around, but you might want to temper your expectations a bit. It's going to take some time. Don't expect to win that Utah game in Salt Lake. I would be pretty much shocked to see it happen. I wouldn't like Michigan's chances against any Pac 12 South team outside of Colorado home or away next season. They'll take some early lumps while Harbaugh gets his system and guys in place and on the same page and then after that I hope to see them start challenging (and beating) Ohio State again. Throw Michigan State in there too. Damn. It's been a while. Seems like forever.

 

[belcherboy]

I'm not sure why you think the Utah game "could be ugly"? Michigan returns a solid defense and kept our defensive coordinator on staff and added like 3 NFL coaches to the defense.

Additionally, it's not like Utah was some offensive super power last year. They didn't finish in the top 40 in any major offensive statistic. As bad as we were, we only lost to them 26-10. Mostly thanks to Gardner's 3 INTs.

+Harbugh. We have Harbaugh now, not Hoke. I expect to win this game as we should out-talent Utah by quite a bit.

I love your optimism, but from what I've read they are returning 8 starters on each side of the ball. I thought they were a pretty good team last year, and had some pretty good wins (#14 UCLA, #24 USC, Stanford). They did lose some games badly though (#10 Arizona, #2 Oregon).

I'm curious, why do you think they are so inferior to Michigan next year? Not that I don't think Michigan has better athletes at many positions, but Michigan will also be playing its first game in Harbaugh's system, with Utah returning the vast majority of its players from last year, AND having the game @ Utah, I don't see how this is such a slam dunk in your mind. I hope it is a big win for Michigan, but I wouldn't be too shocked if Michigan lost this game.

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

Bro, I understand you are excited to have Harbaugh and you should be. The guy is a helluva coach and will turn things around, but you might want to temper your expectations a bit. It's going to take some time. Don't expect to win that Utah game in Salt Lake. I would be pretty much shocked to see it happen. I wouldn't like Michigan's chances against any Pac 12 South team outside of Colorado home or away next season. They'll take some early lumps while Harbaugh gets his system and guys in place and on the same page and then after that I hope to see them start challenging (and beating) Ohio State again. Throw Michigan State in there too. Damn. It's been a while. Seems like forever.

I think people are seriously underestimating the talent on our team. Just my opinion, albeit a biased one. If we get solid QB play out of any of our QBs this year, we'll win a lot of games. That was the missing thing last year that separated us from being an 8/9 win team and turned us into a 5 win team. Utah was a decent team last year and will probably be a pretty good team this year. But they are beatable, especially given they're the first game and Harbaugh has 6 months to prepare for them.

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

I love your optimism, but from what I've read they are returning 8 starters on each side of the ball. I thought they were a pretty good team last year, and had some pretty good wins (#14 UCLA, #24 USC, Stanford). They did lose some games badly though (#10 Arizona, #2 Oregon).

I'm curious, why do you think they are so inferior to Michigan next year? Not that I don't think Michigan has better athletes at many positions, but Michigan will also be playing its first game in Harbaugh's system, with Utah returning the vast majority of its players from last year, AND having the game @ Utah, I don't see how this is such a slam dunk in your mind. I hope it is a big win for Michigan, but I wouldn't be too shocked if Michigan lost this game.

Michigan should be the better team. We have the better talent, the better players and the better coach. All Harbaugh needs to do is make one of the QB's serviceable, and by all accounts our Iowa transfer should be plug and play, and we're a completely different team that what we saw last year. Our defense kept us in pretty much every game last year, so I expect the same this year. Assuming the offense takes even a minor step forward, that's the difference between winning and losing a lot of games. And it's not like Utah is known for it's great home atmosphere. I bet there will be a huge crowd of Michigan fans there.

 

[Tin Man]

I think Losing Cooper actually will make our offense better this year. We will be way more balanced instead of constantly trying to force the ball to him. I'm telling you this Bama team is loaded.

Yeah, it'll take the loss of 23 1st & 2nd string players to a wretched bout of food poisoning for Bama to fold to Tennessee in Tuscaloosa this year.

 

[Tin Man]

TCU @ Minnestoa

MINNIE! MINNIE! HA! HA! HA! GOOOOO GOPHERS!

 

[ellupo]

Michigan should be the better team. We have the better talent, the better players and the better coach. All Harbaugh needs to do is make one of the QB's serviceable, and by all accounts our Iowa transfer should be plug and play, and we're a completely different team that what we saw last year. Our defense kept us in pretty much every game last year, so I expect the same this year. Assuming the offense takes even a minor step forward, that's the difference between winning and losing a lot of games. And it's not like Utah is known for it's great home atmosphere. I bet there will be a huge crowd of Michigan fans there.

I am curious about the better coach comment. When you compare the two I don't see Harbs as being better. He had one of the best QB's in years but they only won one BCS game. While Utah won several bowl games including a BCS game vs. Bama.

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

I am curious about the better coach comment. When you compare the two I don't see Harbs as being better. He had one of the best QB's in years but they only won one BCS game. While Utah won several bowl games including a BCS game vs. Bama.

I don't think any national football expert would put Kyle Whittingham on a level anywhere near Harbuagh. Going undefeated in the Mountain West simply doesn't have the same gusto as winning big in the Pac10 and since joining the Pac 12 Utah has dipped significantly -- last year being the only year they had a winning conference record. His significant regression proves why he's not as good of a coach; and the fact that no major school has seriously tried to lure him anywhere else. He's had 4 years in the Pac12 and has only managed 9 wins. The fact Harbaugh has taken two dumpster fire teams, in both the college and NFL leagues, and turned them into powerhouse programs is more amazing than anything Whittingham has done.

 

[Texas Jefe]

Michigan should be the better team. We have the better talent, the better players and the better coach. All Harbaugh needs to do is make one of the QB's serviceable, and by all accounts our Iowa transfer should be plug and play, and we're a completely different team that what we saw last year. Our defense kept us in pretty much every game last year, so I expect the same this year. Assuming the offense takes even a minor step forward, that's the difference between winning and losing a lot of games. And it's not like Utah is known for it's great home atmosphere. I bet there will be a huge crowd of Michigan fans there.

I dont know, think it is a little tougher to win there than you'd think, at least for teams that dont play there often.

Not a big deal to BYU's, Boise's, etc. But for a team to travel across the country and win there, just wont be easy in year 1 of Harbaugh.

 

[KnightAndDay]

I'm not sure why you think the Utah game "could be ugly"? Michigan returns a solid defense and kept our defensive coordinator on staff and added like 3 NFL coaches to the defense.

Additionally, it's not like Utah was some offensive super power last year. They didn't finish in the top 40 in any major offensive statistic. As bad as we were, we only lost to them 26-10. Mostly thanks to Gardner's 3 INTs.

+Harbugh. We have Harbaugh now, not Hoke. I expect to win this game as we should out-talent Utah by quite a bit.

I think people are seriously underestimating the talent on our team. Just my opinion, albeit a biased one. If we get solid QB play out of any of our QBs this year, we'll win a lot of games. That was the missing thing last year that separated us from being an 8/9 win team and turned us into a 5 win team. Utah was a decent team last year and will probably be a pretty good team this year. But they are beatable, especially given they're the first game and Harbaugh has 6 months to prepare for them.

Michigan should be the better team. We have the better talent, the better players and the better coach. All Harbaugh needs to do is make one of the QB's serviceable, and by all accounts our Iowa transfer should be plug and play, and we're a completely different team that what we saw last year. Our defense kept us in pretty much every game last year, so I expect the same this year. Assuming the offense takes even a minor step forward, that's the difference between winning and losing a lot of games. And it's not like Utah is known for it's great home atmosphere. I bet there will be a huge crowd of Michigan fans there.

I don't think any national football expert would put Kyle Whittingham on a level anywhere near Harbuagh. Going undefeated in the Mountain West simply doesn't have the same gusto as winning big in the Pac10 and since joining the Pac 12 Utah has dipped significantly -- last year being the only year they had a winning conference record. His significant regression proves why he's not as good of a coach; and the fact that no major school has seriously tried to lure him anywhere else. He's had 4 years in the Pac12 and has only managed 9 wins. The fact Harbaugh has taken two dumpster fire teams, in both the college and NFL leagues, and turned them into powerhouse programs is more amazing than anything Whittingham has done.

It's settled then.


Utes win 30-17.

 

[ellupo]

I don't think any national football expert would put Kyle Whittingham on a level anywhere near Harbuagh. Going undefeated in the Mountain West simply doesn't have the same gusto as winning big in the Pac10 and since joining the Pac 12 Utah has dipped significantly -- last year being the only year they had a winning conference record. His significant regression proves why he's not as good of a coach; and the fact that no major school has seriously tried to lure him anywhere else. He's had 4 years in the Pac12 and has only managed 9 wins. The fact Harbaugh has taken two dumpster fire teams, in both the college and NFL leagues, and turned them into powerhouse programs is more amazing than anything Whittingham has done.

What a football "expert" and reality are two different things. Harbaugh won at Stanford because he had Luck. Without that level of QB then his record there is not near as good. There has also been articles by the experts that Harbs did not develop Kaepernick as a QB at all. By the way Whittingham did turn down a job at TN. So a major school did seriously try to lure him.

 

[theSabanator20]

winners in bold

Michigan* @ Utah
Washington @ Boise
Wisconsin* vs. Alabama
Louisville vs Auburn
Arizona State vs aTm
Texas @ Notre Dame*
BYU @ Nebraska
Ohio State* @ Virginia Tech

Notes: Post any I missed.

Michigan won't be ready with new coach and new system.
Same with Nebraska.
Wisconsin just a feeling, new coach but better than michigan and nebraska
Texas still wont have a QB good enough, to beat ND @ ND
No way Ohio State folds 2 years in a row.
Boise has to win this game or they fall off the map completely.

Michigan 20-17
Washington 34-27
Alabama 38-17
Auburn 38-31
Arizona State 35-34
Notre Dame 23-13
BYU 41-31
Ohio State 24-20

WAY TOO EARLY predictions

 

[Boise4Life]

Michigan 20-17
Washington 34-27
Alabama 38-17
Auburn 38-31
Arizona State 35-34
Notre Dame 23-13
BYU 41-31
Ohio State 24-20

WAY TOO EARLY predictions

Got that Ohio State game close.

 

[KnightAndDay]

Michigan @ Utah
Washington @ Boise
Wisky vs Bama
UL vs Auburn
Arizona State vs ATM
Texas @ ND
BYU @ Nebraska
tOSU @ VT
South Carolina vs North Carolina
TCU @ Minnesota
Stanford @ Northwestern

Utes, 30-17
Broncos, 37-16
Tide, 22-10
Cardinals, 23-17
Sun Devils, 28-20
Domers, 38-20
Cougars, 31-28
Buckeyes, 38-23
Tar Heels, 24-14
Frogs, 20-10
Trees, 28-13

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

What a football "expert" and reality are two different things. Harbaugh won at Stanford because he had Luck. Without that level of QB then his record there is not near as good. There has also been articles by the experts that Harbs did not develop Kaepernick as a QB at all. By the way Whittingham did turn down a job at TN. So a major school did seriously try to lure him.

I mean, that's kind of the point right? Recruit and develop good players? He was only there 4 years, and Stanford remained good after Luck. So I'm willing to bet that you're hypothesis is probably wrong. If they only won because of Luck, then they wouldn't have won without him.

Harbaugh did develop Kaepernick, and then he got famous and something happened. You also seem to be ignoring the fact that he took a team to a superbowl in 3-4 years. A really, really bad team.

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

It's settled then.


Utes win 30-17.

I'm going to wager Utah won't get to 30 points scored. Their offense simply isn't that good and our defense should be the strength of the team.

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

I dont know, think it is a little tougher to win there than you'd think, at least for teams that dont play there often.

Not a big deal to BYU's, Boise's, etc. But for a team to travel across the country and win there, just wont be easy in year 1 of Harbaugh.

It is year 1, but it's the first game -- meaning, unlike the rest of the games, you get 6 months to prepare for it. Michigan has in the past few years had a tendency to explode offensively in the first game and then regress.

 

[ellupo]

I mean, that's kind of the point right? Recruit and develop good players? He was only there 4 years, and Stanford remained good after Luck. So I'm willing to bet that you're hypothesis is probably wrong. If they only won because of Luck, then they wouldn't have won without him.

Harbaugh did develop Kaepernick, and then he got famous and something happened. You also seem to be ignoring the fact that he took a team to a superbowl in 3-4 years. A really, really bad team.

Coaching not good enough?

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

Coaching not good enough?

To some extent, there's only so much you can do for NFL players. Harbaugh got the team to the Superbowl in a very short amount of time, and that's what should count more than the rise and fall of 1 individual player.