| I'm going to say this up front - I am obsessed | | | | difference. Robinson has made the biggest move. |
| with Michigan. Proof: my newborn son was | | | | He's clearly capable of passing this year. Last year |
| wearing a Michigan hat within minutes of his birth. | | | | he could only complete passes to the other team. |
| It was the first thing he wore other than a diaper. | | | | He looks to be in the driver's seat, with Forcier as |
| And I wouldn't have had it any other way. | | | | a comfortable second choice. |
| That means two things: First, like all Michigan fans | | | | Behind them is Devin Gardner, a true freshman |
| I shouldn't be left alone with anything sharp after | | | | who promises to be better than both of them |
| the emotional toll of the last few years in both | | | | when he gets his turn. Michigan should get by far |
| major sports. Second, I am, like any fan of any | | | | the best QB play of the Rodriguez era, and that |
| team, going to be more likely to be optimistic | | | | can't help but improve the team. |
| about the team than the average college football | | | | The quarterbacks have a very solid receiving |
| fan. That being said, I think that Michigan isn't | | | | corps to work with, a deep though reasonably |
| getting quite enough credit in the media heading | | | | unproven stable of running backs, and an |
| into this season. It has become popular to note | | | | offensive line that should be fine. This team will be |
| that Rich Rodriguez is under intense pressure (he | | | | more offensively consistent than they were. |
| is), the team has some issues (it does), and is | | | | Defense - A lot of the negative attention on this |
| facing some unwanted attention from the NCAA | | | | team is focused on the defense, and that's |
| (it is). The conclusion from that is most often that | | | | definitely an area of concern. I don't think it is as |
| this team is likely to only barely become bowl | | | | bad as it seems, though. |
| eligible - if they even manage that. I disagree. I | | | | There is one major problem, and we'll get that on |
| think that this team has the potential to win eight | | | | the table right away - the secondary is scary. |
| games and take a solid step forward and out of | | | | Injuries, and ill-advised move to the pros, and a |
| the nightmare of the last two years. | | | | transfer have robbed the program of the guys |
| If I'm right then there could be some college | | | | who would likely have been in the top four |
| football picks value to be had on betting on | | | | positions on the depth chart at corner. Teams will |
| Michigan - rare for a team this public. Here are | | | | be able to pass on Michigan. |
| four predictions for Michigan to justify my relative | | | | The defense should be helped out by the front |
| optimism: | | | | seven, though. The brilliant Brandon Graham has |
| Coach - Rich Rodriguez has made more than his | | | | gone pro, but he's left behind some nice talent to |
| share of mistakes in his two years at Michigan, | | | | fill the gap including Craig Roh, a sophomore who |
| and he hasn't always handled the transition from | | | | is poised to become a star. |
| Lloyd Carr to him very smoothly. It's a mistake | | | | The defense has some stability finally as well - |
| to totally discount him and his chances this year, | | | | coordinator Greg Robinson is in his second year |
| though. | | | | after some early instability on the defense under |
| For a start Rodriguez has a good track record of | | | | Rodriguez. The defense won't be stellar, but it |
| success, so he's not just going to forget how to | | | | should be better than many anticipate. |
| coach. He's faced a much bigger rebuilding job | | | | Schedule- This is the main reason for relative |
| than most coaches in his position as well. His | | | | optimism, because the schedule certainly has its' |
| program couldn't be more different than Carr's in | | | | opportunities. |
| playing style, so there was inevitably going to be | | | | They open at home against UConn in a game |
| some growing pains as Rodriguez recruits players | | | | that, while no gimme, is certainly winnable. Then |
| more suited to his style. He also faced a serious | | | | they travel to Notre Dame - a team that will |
| defection of talent in his first year when good | | | | have a lot of kinks not yet worked out with a |
| NFL players like Jake Long, Chad Henne, and Mario | | | | new coaching regime and a new quarterback. |
| Manningham all went pro and Ryan Mallett left and | | | | That's followed by four very winnable games - |
| there weren't guys of similar caliber behind them | | | | UMass, Bowling Green, Indiana, and a home game |
| in the pipeline. | | | | against the Spartans. Check out the football |
| If there is fault to be laid here the Michigan | | | | betting lines for more. |
| administration should shoulder much of it for | | | | This team has a good look at five or six wins in |
| underestimating the impact of a massive change | | | | their first six games. That will help the record as |
| like this. Rodriguez is a strong coach, and sooner | | | | well as the confidence of the team. Two more |
| or later he's going to show it again. | | | | games down the stretch are very winnable as |
| Quarterbacks - Michigan has struggled through | | | | well - Illinois and Purdue. |
| two years of very difficult quarterback situations. | | | | That leaves four tough games against currently |
| The first season was a disaster - Mallett had long | | | | ranked conference rivals. We'll see what the |
| been tabbed as the starter, so there wasn't any | | | | college football handicapping line has to say. Two |
| top-level talent waiting behind him when he left. | | | | are at home, though, and Michigan played a couple |
| Last year they were forced to play two true | | | | of these opponents very close, so a win or two |
| freshmen. Tate Forcier started strong but | | | | from among the four games isn't an impossibility, |
| struggled with injures, and Denard Robinson was | | | | either. Michigan started strong last year but |
| lightning fast but clearly not ready to play at this | | | | faltered down the stretch. They will have learned |
| level. | | | | a lot from that and won't be looking to have it |
| The summer seems to have made a big | | | | happen again. |
