The Little Brown Jug Preview

Time: Noon 

Location: Huntington Bank 

Weather: 60 small chance of rain 

TV: Fox 

Line: Michigan -5.5

The Little Brown Jug has plenty of history and outside one of the true rivalry games Michigan plays (MSU and OSU), this trophy is very important to the program.  It's also very important to Minnesota and they have an empty trophy case just waiting for it.  This is the Golden Gophers Super Bowl on Saturday and this trophy would probably get The Row the Boat captain an extension with a win. 

Dear Coach Whitt:

I've got to say this straight up to you and I think I speak for many Michigan Football fans.  This non-deciplined football is Bull Shit and completely unexpected.    I would've expected these type of mistakes from a Sherrone coached team, not one lead by you and your experienced coordinators. 

The Iowa loss completely washed over the narrative that your offense is getting better and Bryce had one of his best days as a Wolverine.  I think the pick was on Marsh, but clearly they weren't on the same page.  The defense struggled and Michigan didn't get as much pressure on the Iowa QB as they should've. 

Coach you were brought here to be the calm in a program that has had too many storms lately.  You have brought some of that, but what I'm watching on the field does not seem to match that.   You have to understand Michigan Football before you can be successful at it. BTW, that does not mean learning as you go, you have to figure this shit out quickly.  

The big learning this week is the Little Brown Jug.  The Minnesota program lives and dies with this trophy and we haven't played the Golden Gophers in a few years.   This is also a great test for your team on the road.  It's about time you got out of Ann Arbor and took at trip.  This team needs a mental reset and a couple day trip to play some football should be the cure.  

The Golden Gophers are feeling pretty good because they won a Big Ten After Dark game last weekend in Seattle which is not an easy place to get a W.   Coach Fleck got so happy he rubbed blood on his cheeks from one of his players after the game.   This team is hot and waiting to pull an other upset and get the prize of the Little Brown Jug. 

Play CLEAN FOOTBALL, stop the penalties and turnovers.   Rush the passer and stop the run.  On offense continue the positive progression with Bryce and lets get Marshall or Hiter over a 100 yards please!  If you haven't noticed JJ is always open, throw him the damn ball! 

Bond as a team on the road and play Michigan Football! 

Michigan 31 Minnesota 20

Big Ten Preview Week 5

There are a couple interesting conference games this weekend.  Including Ohio State traveling to Iowa.  Don't sleep on Friday's night game with Penn State at Northwestern.  Only 7 Big Ten games this weekend. 

Friday:

Penn State (-3) @ Northwestern:  I haven't watched either team this year and PSU got upset by Wisconsin last week.  I like Northwestern in this game but Penn State is probably the better team.  Northwestern 27 PSU 20

Saturday:

Ohio State (-14.5) @ Iowa: It's hard playing at Iowa and the Hawkeyes will keep this one close for maybe a half.  Then OSU will find out they can pass on this defense and score a ton of points, if they just score points in the red zone. No upset this weekend for Iowa.   OSU 28 Iowa 13

Maryland @ Nebraska (-14.5):  Nebraska continues to dominate the lower teams in the Big Ten, they could be schedule good this year.  Nebraska 31 Maryland 9

Purdue @ Illinois (-10):  Illinois looked decent at times against OSU last weekend, Purdue does not play defense.  Illinois 38 Purdue 24

Washington @ USC (-9.5):  Trojans has a tough weekend and so did the Huskies.  USC should be able to rebound from the Oregon beat down.  USC 41 Wash 31

IU (-23.5) @ Rutgers:  This is a night game?  Why?  IU 44 Rutgers 21 

Michigan and Minnesota injury report:

Marsh, Nichols, Sprague, and JHD on Questionable is not great, but last week most guys on "questionable" played.  So we got that going for us.  Yes, Michigan needs all 4 guys on Saturday. 

Wolverine Wednesday: Does Coach Whitt Know?

I've been critical of Coach Whitt and staff for not knowing Michigan traditions until after they happen, they should have a Michigan Historian on staff.  Examples through 4 weeks that Coach Whitt was surprised about:

• Michigan playing poorly in game 1 
• Michigan playing poorly in a night game 
• Maize Jerseys 
• That people are still talking about a play from Week 1 
• That the Wolverines play best a noon 
• Iowa has some weird magic
• Every point against Iowa is ultra important 
• Every defense they will face will sell out to stop the run 
• Even when you win it feels like a loss as the Michigan Head Coach 

There is another one coming up on Saturday and you better be prepared.   Minnesota will play like they are in the CFP this weekend to win the Little Brown Jug.  It's the most important trophy the 

Golden Gophers can win.   They will not win a Big Ten Championship or get to the CFP,  this game and maybe a bowl game in Nashville are the most important prize for the Golden Gophers. 

When you have young players and transfers they don't understand.  When you mix in a new staff and they are naive to these things, do you know what happens?  You actually lose football games you should win.  Best example was the Iowa game last weekend.   Long time, Michigan fans knew bad things were coming after that weird tip ball that landed in a Hawkeye's hand after coming from out of bounds. 

If the Wolverines are not ready to play on Saturday, they are going to lose another game and the oldest trophy in college football.  

Like I said on Monday, sometimes playing at home has too many distractions.  Get on the road, start bonding as a team, play Michigan Football and start to dominate on both sides of the ball.  Everyone has to be better this week, Coaches, Coordinators, Head Coach, Players, Defense, Offense, and Special Teams. 

Michigan Tuesday: JJ to Giants

Michigan fans love JJ no matter what.  Even if he doesn't complete another pass in the NFL, he delivered a National Championship to Michigan in a year full of non-stop distractions.  He will always go down as a legend in Ann Arbor.  

We all know he got off to a bad start in Minnesota, injured during his first pre-season game and struggled in year 2 without any NFL experience and more injuries.   This year, Minnesota wasn't all in on JJ and signed Kyler Murray and JJ dropped to #3 on the depth chart.  

Michigan fans love JJ and so do the Harbaugh's and luckily they control 2 NFL franchises.  John (maybe the better coach) traded for JJ to replace his young and hurt QB and to backup Jameis until that story gets too old and JJ learns the playbook.  Great spot for him but NYC is never easy on a QB.  

• Lesson #44 on being the Michigan head coach.  This quote from Coach Whitt yesterday: He feels they’re 0-4, but 3-1 and need to be better.

• Coach Whitt didn't like the 4th down jump QB sneak by Bryce.

• Coach Hill made the call on the defensive formation for the last play and thought it was the best formation for the moment. It wasn't.

• I did like the hoodie coach was wearing during his press conference. Nike put it up for sale!

• Coach also said John Henry Daley was walking around on Monday without a boot, so he hopes he is ready to go on Saturday for the Little Brown Jug.

• The Big Ten will not allow any player that signed an NBA or NFL contract to comeback, the good news is Roddy Gayle did not sign an Exhibit 10 contract and should be ok for next season.