The 2008 BCS Championship Game will take place in New Orleans on Jan. 7 and the Michigan Wolverines will make up half of the title game's field.
Several people have said they'll wait until some point midway through the '07 season to decide what the Wolverines are, but that's not necessary.
Heading into last season, all the talk in Columbus centered around the Buckeyes losing almost all of their defensive starters from a team that walloped Notre Dame in the '06 Fiesta Bowl. Well, for 12 games, at least, that group of no-named Buckeye defenders played well enough to help their team secure a spot in the 2007 National Title Game.
Michigan is in the same boat. The team's four best defensive players-Leon Hall, Alan Branch, LaMarr Woodley and David Harris-were among the first 50 players chosen during April's NFL Draft. Five of the seven UM players taken in the draft play on the defensive side of the ball. In total, the Wolverines lost 10 defensive standouts to either graduation or the NFL.
A group of unfamiliar names will be asked to step up this fall. It'd be easy to say they'll tak their lumps throughout the campaign, if it weren't for a few key items.
The schedule
I won't discuss Michigan opening with Appalachian State or the Wolverines scheduling Eastern Michigan halfway through the season. Even though I don't like either of those teams being on a top team's schedule, you have to play what you're given.
That's two Ws right there, with both games set to be played at the Big House. Six of the Wolverines other 10 games are in Ann Arbor, too, meaning Michigan only has to travel outside the Ann Arbor city limits four times this season-at Northwestern Sept. 29, at Illinois Oct. 20, at Michigan State Nov. 3, and at Wisconsin Nov. 10.
That's three road tilts against teams that will most likely finish at the bottom of the Big Ten and a tussle at Camp Randle that could have conference championship implications.
I'd say a rivalry game in East Lansing late in the season could be tough, but can you name me five starters for the Spartans? And the game at Wisconsin would be a question mark, as well, if it were played earlier in the season-like when the Wolverines lost a heartbreaker in Madison in 2005.
Home games against Oregon (Sept. 8), Penn State (Sept. 22), and Purdue (Oct. 13) should test Michigan's mettle; as will the season finale Nov. 17 against the hated Buckeyes. However, homefield advantage should play a role in the Wolverines coming out of those games unscathed.
The offense
At the beginning of each college basketball season, there's a list put out of the 50 players who could win the Player of the Year award. If there were a college football equivalent of that, three Michigan players-Michael Hart, Chad Henne, and Mario Manningham-would make the top 15 of that list.
The Wolverines are loaded on the offensive side of the ball, returning almost every major cog on a team that outscored opponents 29-16 in 2006. Imagine what that margin would be if head coach Lloyd Carr would open up the playbook every once in a while!
It'd be extremely difficult for Hart to outdo his 1562 yards, 14 scores and 4.9 yards per carry from a year ago; but, with Michigan turning out offensive linemen like a factory, it's possible.
Henne will look to end his career in Ann Arbor with a ####, and his first bowl win. The signal caller also has a good shot at improving on his 2,508 yards, 22 TD, eight pick performance from '06, too.
Manningham, who only appeared in 10 games last season, is sure to best his 703 yards, nine TD performance from last season. And sophomore-to-be Greg Matthews should make his name known this season, making for a potent 1-2 punch on the outside.
Those two things alone make it extremely possible that Michigan could mark the 10-year anniversary of its last national title with another trip to a title game.
If Hart or Henne sustain injury, however, all bets are off. Huge improvements need to be made in the secondary, as well, since the squad was out gained by an average of 225-195 through the air in 2006 and yielded 132 first downs through the air to its 118.
So, Wolverine fans can start making plans to migrate to the Bayou this holiday season. But, as a Spartan alum, if none of the things mentioned above happen, I'll be FAR from upset.
Hmmm....first off, you are an excellent writer....this was a fun piece and the flow was great. But I disagree with your arguement.
The Wolverines return the same team as last year, the same team that got spanked by OSU and USC. Henne isn't that great of a QB and LLoyd Carr has got to get more aggresive in his playcalling. He's simply too predictable. His bowl record speaks volumes....get in a bowl, then lose. I just don't see a killer instinct in him as a coach.
How I see it? The winner of the Michigan-Wisconsin game goes to the Rose Bowl against UCLA. I think the Rose Bowl officials will choose to go with the traditional pac-10 v big 10 match ups.
I think Carr is on the hot seat this year...he simply can't just go to a major bowl, he has to win it.
I think LSU and USC are in the big game. Yes, I am a Trojan fan, but a lot of experts also agree.
Great read. Michigan will be a tough club this year, but Lloyd will be fighting for his job. I'm sure the grumblings are getting heated in Ann Arbor these days. If they don't beat Ohio State or win their bowl game, I'm afraid Mr. Carr's days at Michigan are over. No doubt this team has the weapons to make it to New Orleans. I just have to question the turmoil sourrounding Carr, and whether he has the moxie to lead them there. There has never been any question about the talent at Michigan. More a question about the talent wearing the headsets.
I love me some BIG BLUE, but I doubt that I can be this optimistic.
Their defense is seriously thin this year. And I'm afriad to have any UMich QB not named Elvis or Brady lining up behind my center.
The Wisconsin game scares me the most. But I think they may have OSU's number this year (job security for Lloyd). I'm afraid that the BCS love for Florida, USC and the like will keep the Wolverines down.
Sorry I ain't seeing it. Michigan had some terrible games last year. Note Ball State in the Big House last year. What an embarrassing event. Michigan fans come out early to hypr their favorite team....and for their efforts we will be treated to another season of Michigan over ranked in the polls and ending with a Bowl lose because they are in another game out of their league. Michigan has impressed us with 4 straight bowl game loses....I guess we will see #5.
Sorry I ain't seeing it. Michigan had some terrible games last year. Note Ball State in the Big House last year. What an embarrassing event. Michigan fans come out early to hypr their favorite team....and for their efforts we will be treated to another season of Michigan over ranked in the polls and ending with a Bowl lose because they are in another game out of their league.
The preseason watch list for the Maxwell Award includes Henne, Hart and Manningham. Michigan was one of five schools with three players named. The others were Texas, Florida, Arkansas and Louisville.
The Michigan schedule is favorable. I can't wait to see the game in Madison. Heck, I can't wait to see Florida Int'l against Louisiana-Monroe.
Lisa, I know UM got whooped in its last two, but OSU will be down this year. Remember, my argument is that Michigan will be in the game, not that they'll win it. Lloyd Carr is predictable at times, but his teams do well enough to gt to a New Year's Day game every year. I think he's undefeated against the "best conference in the country" (SEC) in bowl games, too.
Nostradomus, Lloyd Carr has that job until his successor is picked. If he was gonna be out, he woulda been gone when UM went 7-5 and lost to the team in your avatar in the Alamo Bowl.
Rev, it won't need to be vengeance. Have you seen their slate? Open with App. State, play Eastern Michigan in mid-October??
Showtime, wasn't O$U's D supposed to be thin last year? Or was it just that the guys never got PT before? UM's offense will be very good, which could hide any deficiencies on the other side of the ball. And if there was so much love for UF and USC, why'd it take all season for Florida to leapfrog UM in the BCS? Seriously, your guys only play four road games and three of them are against JV teams.
Killsurf, like I said, I'm saying they'll get there, not that they'll win. They will be ranked high and all the talk will center around the offense.
Who said Hawaii was going to the title game?
Hogfan, that FIU/Louisiana-Monroe game is the first game of the year, right? The schedule is favorable. When the Wisconsin game is played is why I think UM will take that game, plus I can't recall any four-year starter losing to O$U every year of his career.
Last edited by jaycarmel81 on July 7th at 7:23 AM.
Just a bit too early to be making claims like this. As a fellow fan of a Big 10 team(my is Penn State), I know as well as you do that conference games are always tight, brutal affairs. I wouldn't pencil in any victories there. And you said a reason why the Buckeyes would lose to Michigan is a homefield, well Ohio St. has won there twice under Tressel, both times Michigan had the better team going in. Plus Tressel just owns Lloyd Carr, much like Carr used to own John Cooper, and it will probably end up costing him his job, much like Cooper. Michigan will probably have a strong season, I don't know about National Championship like though. We will see.
I just love how everyone rips Carr. Did you know he's got just as many national championships as Tressell, Fulmer, Spurrier, Stoops.....do I need to go on?
The man has an incredible record but for some reason will never get his just due.
Nice article. And no one is probably a bigger fan than I. Yes, I have the ticket stub from the game when John Wangler threw the ball to Anthony Carter for a last second touchdown against the team from Indiana coached by none other then Lee Corso.
I will say that I am getting frustrated with the bowl losses though. There is a lot of predictibility in Carr's mentality as eluded to earlier. We shall see though. The first hurdle is being able to get the option to play in the BCS. I am not sure about some bloggers predictions of Michigan versus Hawaii, but we have to get over the John Cooper syndrome to get there. It would be nice, but I am not holding my breath
Hoit...I love the fact that you love your team. But what have they done lately? Carr is too "old school" for the speed of the talent coming in to Ann Arbor.
Henne has a VERY strong arm, but makes bad decisions under pressure and is tied down by Carr's playcalling.
Moreover, as far his record, if you loook back at the last 6 bowls, he as lost 5 of them, including 3 Rose Bowls, an Alamo Bowl and a Citrus bowl. He won the Outback bowl, which is NOT an acceptable bowl for UM boosters.
It's simply not enough to go bowling, he must win. It's also unacceptable to lose to OSU 5/6 last meetings.
I know how you feel Hoit...as a Trojan, we had to endure a lot before getting the right coach. UM needs a younger coach who is aggresive in playcalling, and like I said earlier, not so predictable. Florida also went through some growing pains before finding the right coach. CARR is not the answer for Michigan. I wish you luck.
the piece starts out with the Wolverines will make up half the field for the BCS title game. This just shows how good sports the Wolverines are, to help with the field matence work is very classy since they sure as hell wont be playing on it. They have a better chance of playing in the Big ten title game. UW will crush the downed Big Ten and probly end up playing another team with easy schedual *cough* Pac Ten team *cough* LSU is in the SEC and its sooo hard to come out of that undefeted. my pick UW vs USC
Ed...I have USC playing in the BCS game against LSU....the Bruins get the Rose Bowl against Mich-Wisc. winner.
98....one win in this millenium doesn't constitute the Bruins as a power in the pac 10, does it? I am not offering any excuses as to why USC lost to the Bruins last season, but you need to get real with that statement. The Trojans OWN the Bruins in football, just as the Bruins OWN USC in bball. Capiche?
Play a bowl game on the road? Two BCS games THIS MILLENUIM in Florida, one an Orange Bowl and one a NC game, both in FLORIDA, totally contradict what you just said. Try again.
The whole premise of Michigan's great team this year is that they had a great team last year (which they didn't).
Exhibit #1: Michigan ranked #2 last year when playing Ball State ranked #99 in the "Big House".
The gamed 34-26 with Ball State in the Red zone threatening to score for a tie.
Exhibit #2: Michigan ranked #2 struggles against #87 Northwestern. Deep in the third quater Michigan only lead 10-3.
Exhibit #3: Michigan pull two late game touchdowns to be Iowa by 20-6.
Michigan was over rated last year. They are not that good, and last years performance should not be used as a premise for them to be in the top 10. Giving useless terms like "they are reloaded" does not change the facts.
Jay - nicely written and you bring up some great points. However, I also disagree that Michigan will be playing in the championship game. Not because of all the redundant reasons that Lisa is spouting off about AGAIN. I just believe that there are too many questions on the defensive side of the ball. The offense is going to be insane this year and Michigan will put up some points.
Now...I also keep in mind that Michigan has a guy on the defensive side of the ball named Ron English who I believe is the heir apparent to the Lloyd Carr job. English is a master at putting pieces together and the Mich D may surprise us all this year. My early money however, is not with my Wolverines.
Oh and layrissonm - With your LINE OF THINKING...or should I say, LACK OF THINKING...the Florida is not a National Champion. Not when Florida slid by South Carolina (UNRANKED) by blocking two field goal attempts...one of which, a Florida player was offsides and a penalty was not called!!! The Gators barely got by the Gamecocks by two points. Hell, Florida is not a great team or a National Champion. THey only won the game by 2 points. Yer a dumb ####.
Your whole argument was based on citing THREE GAMES that MICHIGAN WON!!!
Exhibit#1 - Michigan won the game.
Exhibit#2 - Michigan won the game.
Exhibit#3 - Michigan won the game.
UM is overrated every yr! not along the the lines of Notre Dame, but overrated nonetheless. every yr they talk about another stron armed QB, big O-Line, and a stud RB...and at the end of the yr where are they? Big 10 teams hinge their seasaon on one or two big games a yr and they are usually spread weeks apart. Play a schedule that has u playing top 15 teams back-to-back-to-back and then come see me! UM's offense looks good against week defenses(i.e OSU and other BIG 10 schools), but where was it in last yr's ROSE BOWL against a good D? No doubt UM will be in he discussion for top teams of the yr. But do u think they really deserve it?
Imax - Where are the Wolverines every year? The same place they've always been...The WININGEST team in NCAA Football History. Where are they every year? Ranked in the top 25!!! Where are they every year? Either winning the Big 10 or finishing second in one of the toughest conferences in Football. Where is Michigan every year? Well they have won seven national championships and rank 5th all time. Where is Michigan every year? Playing in a Bowl game...that's a given. They currently rank 2nd in Rose Bowl appearances and victories behind USC. Where is Michigan every year? Playing in "THE GAME" against Ohio State. But I guess that since you say they're over-rated, they must suck.
By the way...Write a freaking blog, have an opinion and then back your opinion up with more than just subjective conjecture. Try to use FACT when making a point.
Rumor has it Ferentz is getting the job next year. That'd be a huge coup for the people in A-squared. If you look at what he's done at Iowa, with mediocre to average talent, think about what he could do in Ann Arbor.
My name is Jason Carmel Davis, and I am a graduate of the Michigan State University School of Journalism. Yes, we do go to class in East Lansing, not just to bars and the liquor store.
I'm almost positive I had an SI with me in the womb, checking out Ralph Wiley. He's the main reason I ever decided to pursue a career in sportswriting .
I even remember the first highlight I ever saw on SportsCenter. I don't remember who was reading it, but it was Michael Jordan's 63-point game against the Celtics in the Garden in the 86 Playoffs. I've been hooked ever since.
