Time: 7:30 EST
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Weather: Cold, 20 with light snow
TV: ABC
Line: Michigan -3
Can't believe we are close to watching Michigan Football again. I didn't expect it to happen in 2020 after New Years Day. There have been 3 Michigan schedules this season, the trip to Washington is only trumped by a trip to Twin Cities to start the season. I can't stand opening day road games (I need a support group for this aliment) and the only way to make it worse is to have a primetime kickoff. The Big Ten Bingo again gives OSU a cake wake at home and sends Michigan into the frozen tundra against a ranked Gophers team that was 11-2 last season. Let me say that again, the Golden Gophers were 11-2 last year.
Why Minnesota?
We really don't know shi*t about either team. We know Minnesota was pretty good last year and beat Auburn in a Florida Bowl game. We know the Gophers have an accurate QB in Tanner Morgan and an NFL WR in Rashod "Jason" Bateman, who opted back in after heading for the NFL when the season got cancelled. The Gophers secondary is anchored by former Wolverine Ben St-Juste, who left Ann Arbor under strange circumstances and has been playing well for the Gophers.
We know Minnesota lost a ton on defense and also could be suffering some COVID loses to the roster but at this point we don't know who and if they're starters or not. Their giant offensive lineman (that Michigan recruited for a minute) Faalele is rumored to have opted out. I'm guessing someone would have noticed if a 6'9 400 pound man was practicing.
The Gophers want to run the ball but their best shot to beat the Wolverines is to light up the inexperienced secondary, as I'm sure Don Brown has a LB covering Bateman. They will also have to take advantage of some Michigan offensive turnovers. They probably lose a bit of the home field advantage in an empty stadium but it is still a night road game for the Wolverines.
Key match-up: Bateman taking Don Brown to the Ozarks.
Michigan
Lets be real, we love the hype about the offense but I'm not buying it. Michigan never looks good week one and even worse with a new QB. Yes, I hope Joe has Brady's accuracy, Denard's speed, and Cam Newton's body/athleticism but we know he will be nervous and make mistakes when the game speeds up. Speed in space isn't great in cold weather and Michigan will try to protect their young QB with a ton of quality RB's and a good Oline. If Michigan can run the ball for first downs, they will let Joe throw a few deep balls. Move the damn game to whatever is the Metro Dome now.
This game will be ugly on both sides and Michigan has to win this game on defense. Hutch and Paye needs to pressure Tan Morgan all night and hope he doesn't have time to find his WR's down field. Stopping the run in the Big Ten is always an important strategy and really shouldn't even be mentioned. I expect Dax to see a ton of Bateman, as Michigan CB's still are brand new to Big Ten football.
Key match-up: Michigan DE's not against Andre The Giant
Well, we're waiting...............
Did I mention that I don't love opening the season on the road at night? Michigan hasn't lost in Minnesota since 1977 and even Nick Sheridan (IU's OC) won a game there. This is personal for PJ as he made a name for himself in Kalamazoo and would love to dust off the case for the Little Brown Jug. I do like that Michigan has been practicing non-stop for 3 months and should be as ready as any Michigan team has been under Jimmy in 6 years opening day. Michigan did play better in the second half against PSU on the road last season and maybe Jimmy figured something out. I don't believe in moral victories, but Alabama seems to be wrecking teams this year and Michigan was ahead at the half in the Citrus.
There is a lot of mystery around Minnesota and players not being available, so much that the Vegas line went from Michigan getting +2 to a -3 favorite. Many people in the media think Minnesota is the 3rd best team in the Big Ten behind OSU and PSU. I think the jury is still out on that and my biggest concern is the Wolverine secondary. If Tan Man Morgan has time to pick apart Michigan's secondary, I won't have a good nights sleep. I do think Michigan will have the talent advantage and both lines could dominate. The Gophers might feel like Chris Evans has been killing them out of the backfield for like 10 years.
Michigan 24 Minnesota 20
29 comments:
It would be nice if Michigan could play all of their games at home but we know that, that's not how it works. It's time for Michigan to grow up put on their big boy pants and play like an elite team. Elite teams don't always win but they play elitely, in other words you know that you've been in a damn fight (you punch me and I break your fricken legs). That is what I am expecting from Michigan this year.
We know that Joe Milton and the O-line are new and have to adjust which means that some ugliness will likely be present but that goes with the territory. Minnesota is a good enough team where we can get a good indication just where this Michigan team is. Time to get it done! IMHO!!!
Just my opinion but its put up or shut up season for coach Harbaugh. The expectation is undefeated in all games expect osu & that game needs to be competitive. A game that could go either way depending on a key play here or there. Anything other than that it's time to put Harbaugh in the portal. Just my opinion.
Both very good and wise comments.... this team has enough to do just that Goose... 7-1 and an actual contest in columbus, I have to stay positive with it or it’s going to make me even more of a raging fanatic....in this game we seem to have the edge on both sides of the line, having said that, Harbaugh is suppose to be the difference maker with QBs, if this is His guy, finally we get to see just how good he is with his own product, this is exactly the situation that we all thought Jim would make the biggest difference...please Jim, please show us that you know something about the position you played
Agree with the above. It's time not just to win, but win convincingly.
Michigan should be able to have ugly moments and still crush Minnesota.
Michigan should be able to have the secondary miss assignments and the defense still dominate by stopping Minnesota's run game and placing deadly pressure on the QB.
We should be able to run effectively against an inexperienced defense and when they stack, it should be time for Milton to show us some talent.
Michigan 38
Minnesota 13
Please don't get me wrong, I am not saying that Minnesota is chopped liver, they are a solid and very good team that's well coached. They are not pushovers. All I am saying is that now is the time for MICHIGAN to step up and play like an elite team. We shouldn't have to be scared or lose sleep over whether or not they can compete with any team because it's on the road or a night game. Elite teams don't lose sleep, they make you lose sleep. They command respect from every team on their schedule.
Let's look at Alabama. They've won the National Championship only once within the last four seasons which was 2017, but yet everyone asks, "can we keep up with Alabama, I hope we're not blown out by Alabama..." then the same folks wet on themselves when they take the field. Michigan has got to garner that same level of respect when we're on the road. We need to make them lose sleep and hope that they're not blown out, but in order for that to happen we have to "play that way."
So I am simply saying that now is the time for Michigan to start playing Michigan football and join the ranks of the Alabama's, Clemson's, osu's, etc. but win or lose, "play that way." If we do
going forward Michigan should be ranked within the top five teams every year. If you'd remember, when Harbaugh came back and the team was playing well, the pollsters would rank Michigan within the top five-ish because they assumed that Michigan was back and that was where they belonged. Now we're starting at around twenth because we've struggled with beating top ten teams. We've got to do much better.
Now it's 2020-21 and Coach Harbaugh has his own team. Every player and every coach are his and there are no hold overs. Moreover, to be honest he has upgraded the roster particularly at the O-line, and QB, positions. Also, this coaching staff is the best staff that Michigan has had from top to bottom since the Gary Moeller era. They can recruit and develop players. They just have to make in-game adjustments. So now that Harbaugh has his own team and staff now is the time for Michigan to prove that it is (or can be) elite.
Let me tell you one more thing, we know and understand the rivalry that we have with osu, but they've been watching and doing everything that they know how to do both within and outside of the rules to stay ahead of Michigan because they know that Michigan is soon to step up and play like an elite team. That bothers them as well it should. When we do, it will effect osu's recruiting just the same as it had effected MSU's recruiting when Michigan started winning again.
Personally, I am not as concerned about Michigan "crushing" Minnesota as I am "how" Michigan plays and develop. Are we still scratching with the chickens or are we soaring with the eagles? We'll see. IMHO!!!
We have to remember who we are:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGQnGQzlAmA
Lol.... Why people are so nervous in here... Please fire Don Brown after the game tomorrow
I just cant wait to be king!
Rutgers is putting to MSU... what a welcome to the football season!!! 14-0... so far...Tucker looks like an angry and out of place person... this is GREAT tv...
Guys mark my word...Harbugh last year...row the boat or goat will be our coach next year...
Looks like a Harbaugh coached team to me... OUCH
BucknutGirl, it’s the last year of his contract. Pretty BOLD prediction with those 50-50 odds. Ha. Loser.
More important- would be nice if we could kick field goals.
Surely someone on the Minnesota sideline can punt better than that guy. My 13 year old can do better than 18 yards. Any chance p.j. will extend him an offer???
Ha... no doubt goose. It’s crazy.
MILTON!! He is for real!!
Ahhhh, aren’t you one of the Jim can’t coach guys? Hello bandwagon
It appears that Michigan is starting to "play like" they are an elite team, and yes, there was some ugly spots during the game and they have a number of things to clean up before they play osu, psu, wis., etc. but I am more encouraged because Michigan has just beat a very good football team in Minnesota, at night on the road. Like I've said, it's time! IMHO!!!
Looked pretty good. I will eat crow, I believed Minnesota would pull the upset. Really glad they didn't and it was never really close after Michigan got the lead.
Milton looked good, down field passing still needs work. Defense looked good I hope theres a different game plan for teams that have elite receivers or I'm afraid the story will remain the same.
Another problem for another day though tonight I will enjoy my crow dessert and sleep well with the win.
Excellent win! Never doubted them in this game, Rush defense has some things to improve on, but Intensity is not one of them!! The kicking game will hurt late in the year but this was an awesome day!
That was the CRUSHING we needed....in Prime Time.
We'll fix the kicking situation - that's all just a mind game.
OL played great. Game plan great. RBs look great. Receivers got open.
Milton played very well and will only get better.
Defense played very tough football. Can't we have one free safety back there surveying the field and making sure no play gets out of hand - doubles on key receivers?
Guys listen don't get too excited Minnesota had a lot of players missing due to injuries or cover issues.. we look pretty good for the most game...our defense cannot give a big place Don needs to tighten up the defense a little or just fire him
Covid
I don't think Milton have the address enough to throw deep... Our secondary is going to hurt us big time this year
Accuracy
You're right bucknutsgirl. I'm sure if those two kickers out with covid were in there Don's defense wouldn't have done so well. All those sacks wouldn't have happened if a good punter is in the backfield. What a douche!!
Hahaha. Love that comment ^^
MichiganMan and some of you others must be just trolls.
I have one question for you true Michigan fans:
Charbonnet is our starting RB. He had 1 run for 70 yards and yet he had 4 carries all night.
Is he our starter? Why does our starter - who is clearly faster than Minnesota's secondary - get only 4 carries?
Well this is Harbaugh's offense he does dumb stuff at times
And from the mouth of the troll.
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