As for Michigan … 9th in the conference is a mildly pessimistic prediction, I’d think. I don’t know that they’ll actually be much worse than last year, but aside from App State, most of the losses were total beatdowns, and the wins were very close (a muffed punt by Illinois and the idiotic switch to the prevent by MSU were all that stood between Michigan and 6-6 last year). It won’t take much of a drop-off to swing a couple games. (On the other hand, they get both of those games at home this year – but I think at least one of those two wins, plus Ohio State and two of Wisconsin, PSU, and Utah.)

As for UM, I don’t deny that I think we should win that game at home — that’s what good teams do — but thinking we should and actually expecting to see us come through are different things entirely.

Your complete reference to Mich St – Ohio St in your otherwise beautiful blog,

http://nittanywhiteout.com/2008/06/11/crystal-ball-roundtable-2008-big-ten-final-team-standings/

Is from TWO YEARS AGO, and not last year. Matter of fact, we were getting our butt kicked all game long until the end of the third quarter, when a Spartan defense (down by 20 points) hammering of both Ohio State heisman QB Troy Brown and RB Chris Wells on successive plays led to returns for TDs. MSU got back into the game, but not enough time against a stoudt OSU defense and Wells running all over us.

The game you mention, with the blocked FG, was truly the beginning of the end for John L Smith. But, it was 2006, not 2008.

Enlightened Spartan

That being said – Michigan 9th seems a bit far-fetched to me…

Can I buy some pot from you?

Another question I had, I know Iowa has probably the easiest schedule of all the teams in the conference, but 4th? I’m not sure there’s enough in place on that team to take advantage of the easier road.

Michigan this season’s ND? The differences between the two teams couldn’t be more vast, from the coaches on down.

People counting on Michigan ineptitude for the myopic and mindlessly repeated “Rodriguez can’t run his offense” are in for a very rude awakening this fall.

“For years Michigan has been beating on its fellow Big Ten rivals mostly due to Lloyd Carr’s impeccable coaching” I’m a huge Lloyd Carr guy, but to deny the fact that Michigan has been a member of the two most talented teams in the conference year in and year out is a gross mistake. The recruiting over the past four years has been great as usual, and if there’s any team other than Ohio State who can reload, it’s the Wolverines.

The defense is loaded, Rodriguez can coach (unlike a certain ND guy), and like it or not, Michigan still trots out more talent than every team in the conference save for one. The defense alone will allow the young offense the chance to make some mistakes without absolutely killing this team.

No one is predicting instant greatness… that’s equally as idiotic as picking us to finish 9th in the conference (feel free to tell me the last time that happened by the way). The worst season in over 40 years? Yeah right.

I’ll gladly enjoy returning to this space in the fall to either eat a heaping plate of crow or to watch you do likewise.

GO BLUE!

I disagree with (strangely enough) MSU beating OSU. The game was 24-17, but wasn’t nearly that close. OSU’s defense dominated all day (held Ringer under 50 yds, Hoyer to about 125 passing yds), and the only reason the score was close is that MSU’s defense scored on an interception and fumble return in the 3rd quarter. Anyway, I liked the Toughest Venues Series, and it’s nice to see a crystal ball that doesn’t have Minnesota finishing last. Keep up the good work.