Michigan Football: 2017 seems like a 9 or 10 win season for Wolverines
Michigan football should contend in the Big Ten East, but it’s still hard to see them winning more than nine or 10 games next season.
The 2017 season for Michigan football is still months away, but Tuesday, there were some early lines released for some of the Wolverines most important games next season.
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For the season-opener against Florida, which will be played at Jerry’s World in Dallas, Michigan football is opening as a 3-point favorite.
That gives UM a slight edge over the Gators. But in other high-profile games against Penn State and Ohio State, the Wolverines are heavy underdogs. The odds makers have them as an 8.5-point underdog to the Buckeyes and a 14-point underdog against Penn State.
With Michigan’s inability to win on the road under Jim Harbaugh, especially against good teams, it’s probably realistic to expect Michigan to lose at Penn State. A loss at Wisconsin late in the year is another possibility.
Wisconsin, Penn State, Ohio State and Florida are the four marquee games for Michigan. Two they will be favored to lose and the others should be considered a toss up. And with three of those four games away from the Big House, it’s really hard to see the Wolverines winning more than nine or 10 games.
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The game against Florida, will be key. Obviously, it matters the least in terms of the Big Ten title, but for overall record, it will be important. A win there could be a huge springboard. The next showdown comes with Penn State.
The Nittany Lions surprised everyone last year, winning the league and the Rose Bowl. Yet, this Michigan squad is no slouch. It also has a veteran quarterback, assuming Wilton Speight is the starter and as much talent as any Big-Ten team outside of Ohio State.
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Thus, 14-points (Penn State) seems a bit heavy handed. Michigan State for instance, is a 15-point underdog to Michigan for the game in Ann Arbor and I have a hard time believing MSU is closer to UM, than the Wolverines are to Penn State.
Yet, assuming Michigan loses to Penn State and Ohio State, 10-wins gets tough. To get there, Michigan would need to beat Wisconsin and Florida, a tall order.
Certainly, an upset in the Big Game is always possible. However, outside of that, it’s hard to see UM winning more than 10 or even getting there.
That doesn’t mean Michigan football won’t have a good season, they will. The Wolverines will be an easy victory for no one. The schedule just makes the path to double-digit wins, much more difficult.
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So it seems to me at least, that nine or 10 wins in the ceiling, which compared to where the program was at a few short years ago, is something we can all handle.