OT: MIchigan Sports Thread: UM wins Natty Championship

[Lil Sebastian Cossa]

That win doesn’t mean Michigan is one of the top teams in the country.

However, acting like it doesn’t mean anything is equally incorrect. This is the exact type of game that Harbaugh would lose in past years.

Wisky-ND got out of hand because of the picks. It was a close game until those broke it open. They’re 1-3 right now because they lost to ND who was 9 in the country, PSU who is #4 currently and Michigan who has a good case for top 10 this week.

Also.. Michigan didn’t luck into this win or anything. They crushed Wisconsin without it being an OSU-Tulsa or MSU-Miami type crushing where it was a one score game and then a couple quick turnovers because the other team got one dimensional made it a three score win

 

[YpsiWings]

A statement win is beating a team that most people think you don't have a chance of beating.

This is exactly what happened today, Wisconsin was the favorite.

I guess we have different definitions, but when you go on the road as an underdog and win by 3 touchdowns, 4 if you take away that garbage time TD, that is making a statement. I’ll leave it at that.

 

[Hen Kolland]

This is exactly what happened today, Wisconsin was the favorite.

I guess we have different definitions, but when you go on the road as an underdog and win by 3 touchdowns, 4 if you take away that garbage time TD, that is making a statement. I’ll leave it at that.

Vegas generally gives the home team 3 points. Seeing the line as tight as it was leading up to the game, and watching the line cross over back and forth tells you that it you that the game was viewed as a toss up and ultimately a team has to be favored.

It’s a good win. A win that Harbaugh struggled for years to get.

People will see the score, give Michigan props and it legitimizes Michigan a little bit. But it’s not propelling them to new heights. At the end of the day, it’s still a Wisconsin team that has 1 win against Eastern Michigan.

Michigan needs to string multiple performances like this to earn the next level of respect. A win in East Lansing would be worth more. A win at Happy Valley would be worth more.

 

[jkutswings]

A win in East Lansing would be worth more.

I agree with everything else you said, but I don't yet know what MSU is this year. Really, the bulk of the schedule for both teams happens to be garbage this season, so it's tough to get a true sense of their caliber.

October 30 will be another level of fun if both are undefeated. But there's still a lot of questions to be answered.

 

[newfy]

Even without the two pick sixes, ND still hung 17 points on them in 4th quarter. You can can subscribe to your version of shredding, but that exposed them as paper Badgers.

10-10 going into the fourth quarter and Notre Dame scored twice on defense and a ~100 yard kick return. Notre Dames offense only scored 20 points against Wisconsins defense after Wisconsins offense turned the ball over 4 times.

You can call that shredding Wisconsins defense if you want I guess but I think about 99% of people would have a very different definition of shredding than you would

 

[Konnan511]

Lions. Goff. Ewww.

 

[SpookyTsuki]

Don’t disappoint us lions. Be the first team to go 0-17

 

[Bondurant]

Lions have the worst defense in the league. The receiving corps is near bottom of the barrel minus Hock. If Goff struggles the Lions have no chance in a game. He is underthrowing receivers with consistency. People joke about his little hands but it might be a factor.

 

[jaster]

Badger fan stepping in to say Wisco is hot garbage. I'll gladly share my texts with my brother from 2 weeks ago saying as much. That defense that is one of the "best" got shredded by a pedestrian Notre Lame team.

I take nothing away from UM's game today, they executed as they should have against the level of competition they faced. Sorry, but that was far from a statement win. When you face a team that has routinely curb-stomped you and beat them when they've dipped to lower MAC level, it is not that impressive.

It's a statement win. For how disappointing and unimpressive the Harbaugh era has been for Michigan, especially lately, this was a statement win. Which is pretty sad, partly for the reasons you give regarding how bad Wisconsin is this season, and partly because it underscores just how bad Michigan has been for so long.

Further, I think this win, like a few others in Harbaugh's tenure, is going to fool many Michigan fans into thinking this Michigan team is actually good. I mean, they have a great chance to be as good or better than any other Harbaugh team, but they aren't a top-10 team imo.

 

[jaster]

You're going to get some pushback because we just beat Wisco away and went 5-0, but I generally agree.

I think "problem" is harsh, but I agree that McNamara limits the offense's ceiling. The Bell injury has certainly depleted his weapons, but he still doesn't seem to have either the consistency or the exceptional talent to lead a truly great college offense imo.

I've certainly seen worse Michigan quarterbacks, but McNamara doesn't inspire a ton of confidence.

He's fine. Serviceable. He's high-floor, low-ceiling. Not a ton of talent, but I think he'll settle in ok. He's between a Wilton Speight and Jake Rudock. He's keeping the seat warm for McCarthy.... which begs the real question, how long before McCarthy takes the job? I think that'll become more clear after Michigan plays actual competition later this season.

 

[RabidBadger]

10-10 going into the fourth quarter and Notre Dame scored twice on defense and a ~100 yard kick return. Notre Dames offense only scored 20 points against Wisconsins defense after Wisconsins offense turned the ball over 4 times.

You can call that shredding Wisconsins defense if you want I guess but I think about 99% of people would have a very different definition of shredding than you would

Okay, fine. The term shredded was a overly strong statement on my part. It sure felt that way as I was watching

By the same token I think most people have a different definition of a statement win; beating a unranked team with a losing record would not be a qualifier for most, regardless of history.

 

[Kingpin794]

He's fine. Serviceable. He's high-floor, low-ceiling. Not a ton of talent, but I think he'll settle in ok. He's between a Wilton Speight and Jake Rudock. He's keeping the seat warm for McCarthy.... which begs the real question, how long before McCarthy takes the job? I think that'll become more clear after Michigan plays actual competition later this season.

Fine and serviceable get you 9 or maybe 10 wins with good D but your teeth kicked in against the real conference contenders. They're still a one dimensional team that basically poops itself if its more than 3rd and 3. I'll enjoy this win for now, but there's nothing from this season so far that makes me think we aren't in for serious pain against MSU, Penn St, and OSU.

 

[RabidBadger]

It's a statement win. For how disappointing and unimpressive the Harbaugh era has been for Michigan, especially lately, this was a statement win. Which is pretty sad, partly for the reasons you give regarding how bad Wisconsin is this season, and partly because it underscores just how bad Michigan has been for so long.

Further, I think this win, like a few others in Harbaugh's tenure, is going to fool many Michigan fans into thinking this Michigan team is actually good. I mean, they have a great chance to be as good or better than any other Harbaugh team, but they aren't a top-10 team imo.

That was a great honest and cogent response.

They've taken care of biz as they should have with the exception of Rutgers. I have no qualms saying they are a top 10 team at the moment. I think they would have more than a puncher's chance against a few of current top 10 teams. Beat Sparty, play tOSU and State Penn close and they should be considered legit. If the opposite happens, it's same old-same old.
As a bystander, I think they have a shot to be respectable in the conference. I understand your reticence due to the anguish of the Harbaugh era, though.

 

[guinness]

To Michigan's partial credit, no one is really looking standout this year, save Alabama, maybe Georgia.

And even there, it's still early.

Everyone else looks beatable on any given weekend. That, and the pre-season rankings this year were some serious hot garbage. Stop making ND trying to happen.

However, if Harbaugh can't beat tOSU this year, I can't see him sticking around. Beat the Indiana's, the Illinois', Rutgers, directional schools all day long, but they have to beat Ohio again.

 

[Konnan511]

 

[Lil Sebastian Cossa]

That was a great honest and cogent response.

They've taken care of biz as they should have with the exception of Rutgers. I have no qualms saying they are a top 10 team at the moment. I think they would have more than a puncher's chance against a few of current top 10 teams. Beat Sparty, play tOSU and State Penn close and they should be considered legit. If the opposite happens, it's same old-same old.
As a bystander, I think they have a shot to be respectable in the conference. I understand your reticence due to the anguish of the Harbaugh era, though.

I also will say, and this is only kind of a cop out... Rutgers is gonna get up for that Michigan game. There are still players on that team who were being recruited at the time of that 78-0 shellacking. A guy like Isaih Pacheco, you saw it.. he runs like he hates the Wolverines.

 

[Bondurant]

Ragnow out. Decker still out. Romeo to IR. Ugly results incoming. Made an OL signing from the Texas practice squad. The Texans, dude.

 

[chances14]

Ragnow out. Decker still out. Romeo to IR. Ugly results incoming. Made an OL signing from the Texas practice squad. The Texans, dude.

at this point might as well go for some more history and be the first team to go 0-17 in a season

 

[Bondurant]

at this point might as well go for some more history and be the first team to go 0-17 in a season

Ragnow now on IR. Decker still on IR. Sewell may miss an unspecified amount of time now. Going 0-17 is a legitimate possibility at this point.

 

[Ed Ned and Leddy]

Can't watch the Wolverines for some reason tonight, Big Ten + has been a trash streaming service for me.

 

[SpookyTsuki]

Can't watch the Wolverines for some reason tonight, Big Ten + has been a trash streaming service for me.

Hopefully they don’t get out of a tournament cause of a dumb rule again.

Champ or bust

 

[Konnan511]

Can't watch the Wolverines for some reason tonight, Big Ten + has been a trash streaming service for me.

I think it's on ESPN, that may be why.

 

[Konnan511]

Thorne --> Nailor Wow....

 

[Konnan511]

I am not a fan of State doing awesome in the first half and then coasting games.

 

[Hen Kolland]

I am not a fan of State doing awesome in the first half and then coasting games.

They gave up 0 points in the second half. I don’t care if they coasted offensively…taking a lead into the half and then giving 0 points after it is suffocating the other team.