Post Game: Welcome to Basketball Season

This result was very predictable wasn't it? One team played Michigan Football and other was way to beat up and young to.  Ohio State is better than Michigan today and has been for a couple years.  Last year was a psychological fluke.  This year was not.  

Michigan did have its chance early with a long run on the first play and an early pick but 6 points is not going to beat the #1 team in the nation.   Then Marshall goes down and the game is over.  I'm sure you were doing the same thing I was and predicting the plays all game.  OSU didn't have to risk anything to win this game. 

You're not going to beat any solid team with your 3rd string walk-on RB and not rushing the passer.  Even a bad QB can pick apart a defense with zero pass rush.   Michigan is lucky the score was not in the 40's.  It's actually going to be a very good Big 10 Championship game and like week 0 from the CFP. 

Cheers:

• A good start 
• Hill with a pick 
• The crowd seemed ready! 
• Marshall was good early 
• Z did what I asked and made all his kicks

Jeers:

• Bryce was the dump off king all day.  He missed Marsh wide open 3 or 4 times.  
• No holding calls on Michigan DE's
• No pass rush from any Wolverine 
• Not scoring TD's on two early drives 
• Not being able to stop the run 
• Chip and Wink were average at best 
• Defense was gassed and on the field way too long 
• Horrific coaching decision to put Marshall back in 
• Cut the punter 

Let's be honest, Michigan is much too banged up to play in the Big Ten Championship or CFP.  They played hard for a half today but after that was never in the game.  

9-3 is a good result for this young team.  Bryce if he stays will be better moving forward.  Sherrone has to do better in limiting injuries and giving next years team more depth.   He is still way over his skies in this job but had a decent year.  The Hausmann thing is difficult to understand and I hope there is a explanation of him not playing.  If he quit as a captain, that will be one of the more disappointing situations I have witnessed as a Michigan fan. 

Sherrone will probably need to hire a new DC in the off season that can recruit and work the transfer portal. 

The good news is Michigan has really good basketball team that dominated this week.  Welcome to Basketball Season! 

Preview Ohio State

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Time: 12:14
Location: Big House
Weather: 30 Snow around 2:00
TV: Fox
Line: Michigan +9.5

It's time again for THE GAME.  The best rivalry in sports and there is no other.  Both teams spend all year, including the off season preparing for this game.  Michigan has a win streak in the series but OSU won the National Championship last year.   They are also the #1 team in the nation and have the #1 defense guided by former Lions Head Coach and Bill Belichick disciple Matt Patricia.  Michigan is 9-2 and OSU is 11-0.  Michigan has the youngest team in the Big10 and has played like it most of the year but winning games.  OSU is the defending champs and haven't been in deep water at anytime this year.  Both teams have played a favorable schedule.   Something has to give on Saturday. 

Dear Sherrone:

There is not much advice I can give you this week.  You know the assignment.  What your team accomplished last year in Columbus is still shocking.  Your team was hurt and missing stars everywhere and let's be frank, you were not good on offense.    Finding anyone on the roster to complete a forward pass was a challenge.   

You have your own challenges this year, but the future is very bright with your 5 Star QB.  Ohio State will stuff the box and Bryce will have to use his TE's, Marsh, and McCulley to move the sticks and score points. Please don't try the trick plays, just play Michigan Football.  Use the offense momentum from last week against Maryland and have a balanced mix of run and pass.   Patrica will try to confuse Bryce, so be careful getting too complicated in his reads.  I assume Chip understands that.  

I'm not a fan of Wink's but what he did to Ohio State's offense last season was out of this world great.  He also had 2 future NFL draft picks on the defensive line.  Wink will have to design some schemes to try to confuse Sayin.  There is one thing for certain, both QB's will be 100% nervous playing in this game for the first time.   I'm not buying that the Buckeye star WR's are banged up, be prepared for them to play and targeted often.  

Do what you do Sherrone.  Get the team prepared to shock the world .  Play clean, smart, hard, and most importantly play Michigan Football.  The CFP awaits with a win, the Citrus with a loss.  

I expect this to a be a low scoring game.  Michigan will struggle to get the ball in the end zone and Z needs to make all his field goal attempts.  Michigan's punter must also average 40 yards per punt.  This game was Wink's finest moment last season, can he replicate it in Ann Arbor?  That is the big question.   Michigan is very young everywhere and how both teams handle the pressure of the rivalry will be the difference in the game.  OSU is clearly talented,  Michigan is as well, but much younger.  Who will step out of the shadows and be the hero?  It's a lot of pressure on one football game and none of us would have it any other way.   Stay away from personal fouls and Play Michigan Football! 

OSU 24 Michigan 12

Happy Thanksgiving!

 Happy Thanksgiving to all Michigan and Big House Blog fans!  

Go Blue! 

Wolverine Wednesday: Big Ten Week 14 Preview

We all know the most important game this weekend, so no need to cover that.  There are a few interesting games that could swing the pendulum of the Big Ten Championship game.   There are also a couple of Friday games. 

Friday:

Iowa (-6,5) @ Nebraska: A battle of 7-4 teams, which seems to be right.  Both teams are average at best and playing for a Black Friday corn trophy.  Iowa 17 Nebraska 13 

Indiana (-28.5) @ Purdue:  What a miss-match game for two teams close to each other in Indiana.  IU will be in Indy for a home game against a foe TBD.  IU 41 Purdue 10

Saturday:

Oregon (-6.5) @ Washington:  UW plays well at home but its a short trip for the Ducks.  Oregon has something to play for in maybe Indy and probably the playoffs.  Oregon 28 Washington 27

Wisconsin @ Minnesota (-1.5): The Badgers have been playing better and the Golden Gophers are doing their late season dive.  I think Wisconsin wins this one 21 Minnesota 17 

Penn State (-13.5) @ Rutgers: Both teams have 5 wins and the winner gets two more weeks of practice and a bowl game.   Neither team wants to pass.   Penn State 30 Rutgers 21

Maryland @ MSU (-3.5): Is this game a Ford Field?  Don't watch or attend this game.  Maryland 17 MSU 16 

UCLA @ USC (-21.5): USC is clearly the better team.  USC 38 UCLA 21 

Northwestern @ Illinois (-6.5): Both teams are bowl eligible and nobody cares about this game.  Illinois was way over ranked all year.  Northwestern 28 Illinois 17