2018 Michigan gameday #13: vs. Florida (Peach Bowl)

Just a few minutes after I post this the Wolverines will kick off their final game of the 2018 season.  While the destination isn't the one they ultimately had in mind thanks to a stunning collapse against the hated Buckeyes, an 11-win season is up for grabs, as are bragging rights, pride, and plenty more.

#7 Michigan's (10-2) Peach Bowl opponents are very familiar to this team:  #10 Florida (9-3).  This will be the fifth meeting in the series, and the Wolverines are undefeated to this point.  The programs faced off in 2003's Outback Bowl, the '08 Capital One Bowl (a nice sendoff for Lloyd Carr and my favorite draft class), 2016's Citrus Bowl, and the season opener in 2017.  Yep, Michigan's meeting the Gators for the third straight year.

The Wolverines will be without a number of their stars today as those players heal up or prepare for the draft, but it'll be nice to have the very effective Shea Patterson under center after last year's subpar bowl appearance.  Outgoing DE Chase Winovich will also be around, opting to play in his final appearance for the Wolverines, a move that's earned him a ton of respect (not that I blame any of the potential draftees for skipping the game).

These teams obviously know each other well and the line appears to be around six points in favor of my guys, so as is usually the case I have no idea what to expect, but I hope coach Jim Harbaugh's guys wash some of the bad taste of The Game out of their mouth's with a big win to finish the season off on a positive note.  Skin the Gators!

LET'S GO BLUE

2018 Michigan gameday #12: at Ohio State

It all comes down to this:  The Game.  #10 Ohio State hosts #4 Michigan in a matchup of 10-1 teams that have had completely different seasons.  While Michigan has mostly cruised to 10 straight wins (a three-point victory at Northwestern being the closest), unapologetic asshole Urban Meyer's bunch has struggled without a true dual-threat QB, getting curb stomped by Purdue and needing plenty of luck to survive Maryland.

But as been the case very often throughout the series (still 58-49-6 in favor of the Wolverines, despite the last 20 years going the Buckeyes' way) the path to a conference (or division) championship will be decided here in game 12, the best rivalry in all of sports (YMMV).

Despite a feisty Indiana team keeping last week's game largely close, and despite their best effort to prevent Michigan from getting out of the game healthy with a huge dose of cheap shots and dirty play the Wolverines won't soon forget, Jim Harbaugh's group got it done.  Now they have one last stop on the Revenge Tour, a concept that proves this team has the attitude to go all the way.

A great coach, dominant defense, and an offense that's been clicking thanks to a true dual-threat quarterback in Shea Patterson all have Michigan poised to do something they haven't achieved since 2000:  beat the Buckeyes in Columbus.  Meanwhile, OSU's offense has been mostly one-dimensional this year, they've struggled against lesser teams, and Meyer's "health" has been in question.  It's there for the taking, and if things go right it won't even come down to a bad spot or the wrong play on a game-deciding two-point conversion.

Complete the Revenge Tour.  Book a trip to Indy.  Beat Ohio.

LET'S GO BLUE

2018 Michigan gameday #11: vs. Indiana

It's a chilly November Saturday in Ann Arbor, textbook "football weather", and it's also Senior Day.  Players such as RB Karan Higdon and DL Chase Winovich will be playing their final game at the Big House, so it's sure to be an emotional day.  Add to that the almost guaranteed early departure of star DL Rashan Gary and the very possible draft entry of transfer QB Shea Patterson and you've got a number of key guys who'll be basking in the sights and sounds one last time.

They'll join their Michigan (#4) teammates on a 9-1 squad that still hasn't lost since week 1 against Notre Dame.  This week they're facing a 5-5 Indiana team looking for one more win for bowl eligibility, though they'll likely have to wait until their final game against Purdue for that.  They'll have to match up against the Wolverines, who were in complete control at Rutgers last week, other than one big run bust that led to the Knights' only points.

Of course, history is still against the Hoosiers in a series that's seen Michigan win 57 of 66 games, not to mention 22 straight since a loss in '87.  That and they're up against a team with conference and postseason aspirations.

I expect an Indiana team searching for one more win to try to keep things close early with Michigan limiting the playbook and trying to keep players healthy.  Still, the Wolverine offense has been getting it done week after week and should be able to do so one more time against a pretty bad defense while the Michigan D does its usual job of stifling the opposition.  This game should end with a return to double-digit wins for Jim Harbaugh's team and a huge matchup in The Game next Saturday.

LET'S GO BLUE

2018 Michigan gameday #7: vs. Wisconsin

It's crunch time in Ann Arbor, and I don't just mean the leaves on the ground as fall has arrived in full force.  We've reached the toughest three-game stretch of the season for the Wolverines:  today's game, a trip to face Michigan State, then a return home against a Penn State team that will likely remain ranked.  5-1 Michigan (#12) has won five straight, including a trio of conference games, since the opening week loss to Notre Dame.

Last week's homecoming tilt with Maryland went quite well for the Wolverines, as Jeff and I can personally attest.  All three phases got it done besides a special teams TD and a couple garbage time scores, and QB Shea Patterson had what was probably his best game since migrating to Ann Arbor.  Plus that hurdle by Ben Mason (a FB!) was ridiculous.

Now Michigan has to deal with its first ranked team since week 1, #15 Wisconsin, who are 4-1, though as usual for the Badgers the devil is in the details.  Their win at Iowa was good but the preceding week they fell to a mediocre BYU team, and the rest of their schedule is weak as usual.  Penn State is their only real challenge remaining as the enjoy their annual feast of the Big Ten West.

Aside from some health issues on the defensive line Michigan appears to be catching the Badgers at home at a good time.  Wisconsin brings their usual beefy OL, video game stats-compiling RB, and above average QB to the table, but a below-average defense beset by injuries and an away night game against a humming Michigan team make this a tall challenge.  That likely explains the two-score spread, though I have a feeling this one will finish closer than that.  It's crazy for me to believe that the series between the teams has been absolutely dominated by Michigan, which leads 50-15-1.

So rest assured I'll be nervously watching tonight at 7:30 EST, and hopefully I'll be treated to one of the biggest wins of coach Jim Harbaugh's tenure at Michigan!

LET'S GO BLUE

2018 Michigan gameday #4: vs. Nebraska

Just kidding, that was a couple coaches ago

Pictured:  new Nebraska HC Scott Frost with coordinators

While last week's tilt against SMU wasn't the performance many Michigan fans wanted to see, QB Shea Patterson and the Wolverines got the job done despite a number of questionable calls in a game that infringed on what would have otherwise been four solid hours of commercial breaks.

Now the #19 Wolverines (2-1) open conference play at noon today against relatively recent Big Ten newcomer Nebraska.  While the Cornhuskers have won the last two games between the programs, they can't say the same about this season as they stand winless in head coach Jesse Plemons' Scott Frost's first season, though surely they're undefeated when it comes to outhitting their opponents.

As is often the case the betting line has no basis in reality with Michigan an 18-point favorite despite some obvious flaws that were on display in the first three weeks.  Then again when you lose to Troy at home you're probably not gonna get much respect.  If talented Husker freshman QB Adrian Martinez is good to go this could be a very interesting game indeed. 

Hopefully an offensive line that's made some improvements since week 1, helping Patterson establish good rhythm with his WRs and TEs, is the difference for the Wolverines in this one, though it'll need to be joined by a better performance from the defense.  I'll be rooting for my alma mater to break the 4-4-1 series tie in just the 10th meeting between these two programs, and open Big Ten play on a strong note.

LET'S GO BLUE

2018 Michigan gameday #1: at Notre Dame

This angry purple man will be on the sidelines tonight as he leads his #12 Notre Dame squad against the visiting #14 Wolverines.  The on again/off again rivals last played in 2014, at which point the Irish dickishly cancelled the series (which stands at 24-16-1 in favor of Michigan).  On the line, as usual, are bragging rights, playoff implications, and the all-time winning percentage record.

Ole Miss transfer Shea Patterson is the new QB, one who will hopefully return the position to some semblance of competency after last year's sub-par play due to injury and ineffectiveness.  Despite losing #1 WR Tarik Black for an unknown period of time this looks like an offense that could be more balanced than it's been in a while, with multiple talented WRs and TEs to go with a the two-headed RB group of Karan Higdon and Chris Evans.  The biggest question mark remains the offensive line, though a coaching change and simplified scheme could alleviate some of last year's issues.

Meanwhile the defense will once again be the strength of this team.  Former #1 overall recruit Rashan Gary returns to a D-Line that will be downright scary with its skill and depth.  The linebackers look quite good with Viper Khaleke Hudson back to build on his excellent 2017.  And David Long and Lavert Hill form one of the best CB duos in the country after a season that surprisingly earned them less notice than you would have thought.  All of this adds up to another top-5 defense that should keep Michigan in games as the offense finds their groove.

With rain in the forecast will we see one of the ugly games caused by poor weather in the series, or an instant classic like 1991 (above) and 2011, the amazing comeback "Under the Lights"?  Tune in to the Notre Dame Broadcasting Company (NBC) at 7:30 EST to find out.  You all know who I'll be rooting for!

LET'S GO BLUE