Mailbag question: Can Michigan start the season 6-0?

Posted at 8:00am — 7/28/2010

Mailbag question: Can Michigan start the season 6-0?

There has been discussion (like every year) of how well Michigan will do this year, but I am wondering if you guys think Michigan can really be 6-0 to start the season?

What are your thoughts on going 6-0 and what is the percentage you guys assign to a 6-0 start?

Thanks guys,

BlueBuckeye

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Thanks for the question, even though it is a tough question in need of a premiere crystal ball. Sorry, we are not into giving percentages on these types of things because too many factors go into the final outcome, anything from a key injury to some 18-year-old player falling on a loose ball by accident. Some factors include turnovers, weather, injuries, how the other team is playing coming into the Michigan game, how Michigan is playing — did they come off a tough loss or win a huge game that might make it a let down game the next week, etc.

It is certainly possible for Michigan to get off to a 6-0 start. But in our opinion this is unlikely and here is why in a breakdown of the first six games.

Michigan’s first six games have two games where Michigan is clearly the better team, UMass and BGSU. They should win both games, but again they don’t play games on paper and Michigan has to go out and get it done on the field. Two examples of this are Appalachian State and Toledo.

The Indiana game is one where Michigan is supposed to be the better team possessing more talent, but playing on the road makes it a bit more of a toss up. Michigan has sometimes struggled playing at IU and the trip seems to always be a let down game for UM. Keep in mind the IU community (coaches, players, and fans) are still a little bitter about the supposed big break that Michigan received from a tough call.

Three games, UConn, Notre Dame, and Michigan State are complete tossups.

In our opinion it is not likely that Michigan would win all three toss up games and here is an extended explanation as to why.

UConn is a team with a veteran quarterback and an experienced offense with many starters returning from last season’s team, one that went to a bowl game. This will be a tough opening game, let no one convince you that UM will role the Huskies. UM will be delighted with a win and run to the locker room. The Huskies have had months to scout and prepare, an advantage both teams have in an opener.

Still, openers are not as predictable as other games throughout the course of the season and anything can happen. Michigan Stadium being completed and dedicated will add a lot of hoopla to this game. Some teams react well to such happenings and are motivated and some teams become distracted and play down to the added pressure.

There will be thoughts in the back of Michigan players’ minds about the extra pressure to start the season off right, getting the fans behind the team on a positive note, and not allowing a “here we go again” type of mantra of the last couple of seasons permeate the team so early.

Notre Dame, at South Bend, is historically a game where anything can happen, and it usually does for some reason. Throughout the years it seems like the ND/UM game has a play or two that turns the game completely around and usually not in Michigan’s favor when playing in South Bend.

Even though Coach Kelly is going through the same transition that Coach Rod went through at Michigan several years ago, do not make the mistake of believing that ND will be as inept. Notre Dame has plenty of talent, especially on offense, compared to the third tier material on Michigan’s offense in Coach Rodriguez’s first season. Coach Kelly and Notre Dame likely have circled the 2010 Michigan game to prove a point to a lot of people. Remember Coach Kelly wasn’t even provided an interview when the Michigan job came available and many were throwing around negative comments about him when the UM job opened up. Simply put, payback for multiple reasons is a powerful motivator.

Then you have Michigan State, a team we believe is a nightmare match up for Michigan. The good thing is the game is played in Ann Arbor and hopefully the team will be on a roll going into this game and good play carries over.

The Michigan State game is almost a must win game for Michigan for several reasons. We have heard all about the negative recruiting talk, but to lose to Michigan State three years in a row will not help to simmer down the verbiage (taking over the state and recruiting talk) anytime soon. Michigan should circle this game and almost assuredly the team and coaches have indeed secured a wide body magic marker.

Frankly, a logical, knowledgeable, cold-hearted betting man would be hard pressed to say Michigan will go undefeated in the first six game, but we hope everything goes well for this team and we would love to be demonstrated as being incorrect on this prediction. Maybe after watching a couple of games we might give a different take, but at this time we wouldn’t put money on Michigan going 6-0 with all the factors we have pointed out.

This is an honest take, nothing more, with no side agendas.

Do not look for us to pick Michigan to win every game even though that is what readers may want to see.

Written by GBMWolverine Staff

Go Blue — Wear Maize!