25 days and counting to the Kick-Off in Ann Arbor!
I know, I know….the Pre-Season Spectacular that everyone
looks forward to is a little later than usual this year…Work crap gets in the
way of goofing off sometimes…
I have to admit that this off season has been much, MUCH
less tumultuous vs. what was going on at this point last off-season. In fact, it’s been a relatively quiet
off-season….maybe TOO QUIET….Except in Columbus….and College Station…
Hyde will only get a 3 game suspension for his “assault” of
a woman in a dance club because said victim has chosen to “drop the charges”
for season tickets on the 50…Sorry, that was the MMQ ad libbing a little there
at the end…But whatever, punch your woman and get a 3 game suspension…that’s
the going rate in Columbus….
For attending a non-paid autograph session and “getting paid”?
He’s the HEISMANN TROPHY winner fergodsakes…..Let
him enjoy the moment.
THE NCAA NEEDS TO
GO AWAY!
What a bunch of crap….
And evenour own Desmond Howard has gotten involved and has stated that Johnny should
pay the price if he was compensated (everyone is saying he wasn’t) and that
Johnny should own his signature and likeness and choose to sell it if he wants….Where’s
the line?
Michael Dell started his
business in his college dorm room….NCAA GO AWAY!
Here’s a great link for more details….
And THEN the University of Michigan has to go and do
something….I hate to start with a rant, but I’ve been using a seat cushion at
the Big House since I graduated and there’s never been an issue…until now.
Seat Cushions are
NOW BANNED AT THE BIG HOUSE! But you can fork over the $35 (per seat!) for
the University installed ones…..I’m so ticked I could spit…In fact, if the day
comes when I give up my season duckets…Well, this’ll be one of the many items
on the list.
Okay….On to Football.
In case you are wondering who’s in what conference: I have no friggin’ idea anymore….Who’s
coaching who? That’s an even TOUGHER
question and it’s going to take a season to figure out who’s wearing what hat with
which color on what sideline before I’ll be comfortable and have it all figured
out……Tubberville in the Big East? Bowden
somewhere? Bielema in the SEC???
I do know that the B1G is going to re-align geographically
and that’s a good thing….so we have ohio in our division starting in 2014 when
Maryland and Rutgers come into the fray.…Big deal. You have to beat ohio sometime in order to
win the conference, more than likely. I
will miss seeing the Cornhuskers on an annual basis as discussed with their
number 1 fan that is a regular reader.
However, if the B1G can somehow get to a 9 game rotation, that helps the
situation a lot…
What to expect this year as far as what Michigan will put on
the field? I remember writing last year
that Michigan could be better (I think they were) than the 2011 team that won
11 games and went to the Sugar. In fact,
if you are a regular reader of mgoblog.com, they have more or less offered
evidence that supports that theory. With
the exception of Wins & Losses. So,
it boils down to how good can the defense be WITHOUT an injured Jake Ryan (And
a graduated Kovacs) and how good will DG be when it comes down to filling the
shoes (tied or untied) of De-Rob? And
can the team collectively put more W’s on the board than L’s?
Me-thinks that the defense is going to be okay and that the
bigger question mark is Devin. I want to
believe that getting put into the fire last year has to help him this year and
he won’t be starting “cold” on opening day.
In fact, his starting game numbers were actually kind of extraordinary….And
Michigan has an incredibly favorable schedule with all the most challenging
games at home, eerily similar to 2011…and 1997.
(See the side bar) Also, with Funchess a year older and Lewan back,
well, that’s a pretty experienced offense that Michigan will be putting on the
field. In addition, let’s not forget
that this is Hoke’s 3rd season after more or less cleaning the slate
of Dick Rods guys that weren’t so great, collectively. And there’s “Something” about those magical 3rd
season Head Coaches wherever you look in college football that makes this season
worth paying attention to….
What are you talking about MMQ? Well, let’s list a couple of third season
success stories for you right here…
- Most recently, the team we love to hate,
the Domers, were in their third season with Head Coach B. Kelly last
year. He got them to the National
Championship. Thank God they didn’t
win…
- Urban Meyer, our new
nemesis at ohio, won a National Title in his third season at Florida….
- Satan won a NC in his
third season at LSU…and in his 3rd season at Bama…(Excuse the
MMQ while he throws up in his trash can)
- Les Miles won the NC at
LSU in his 3rd season….
- Michigan’s own Lloyd Carr
won a NC in 1997 in his 3rd season…
- Kyle Wittingham won a
claim to the share of the mythical title in 2008 in his third year at
Utah…Okay – he didn’t win a NC, but he went undefeated.
- Larry Coker got Miami to
the NC in his 1st season as head coach and won…but he was the offensive
coordinator for the Canes for awhile before that…
- The SweaterVest got ohio
into and won the NC in his 2nd year… ( 1 year off)
- Gene Chizik won a NC at
Auburn in his 2nd (okay, this one is a year off)…
- In 2000, Bob Stoops won a
NC at Oklahoma also in his 2nd year…(so, the 2nd
season can be special, too…)
So….Yeah.
Those third
and sometimes 2
nd seasons are kind of a big deal.
I think it has to do with focus of the coach
and the team.
The first kids you recruit
are the ones you bond most closely with, so they say.
So, let’s see where this goes as the season
develops….
Who do I like this year?
Well, let’s not waste any time and get right to it.
My Top 10
Instead of a pre-season Top 10, you all know I try to figure
out who’s going to be in the top 10 at the END of the season. Who I like, without rhyme or reason. Okay, maybe a little reason:
- Alabama
– You finish number 1 and you bring back that defense and a starting QB
and you are still number 1.
- Stanford!
– Yep….I’m going with the Cardinal to be in the BCS Championship against
BAMA….Is it crazy? Maybe…I thought
they kinda got hosed last year.
Shoulda beat the Domers…
- Michigan
– Surprise Big 10 Champions! The
National Title will be out of reach with two or more undefeated teams
above (or below)….Michigan will have started much lower in the polls this
season than anyone else here…But if someone above stumbles…Well, I reserve
the right to put Michigan in the title game when the time comes! A weak B1G may hurt whoever comes out on
top of the B1G…as far as the National Championship goes…
- South
Carolina – Yeah, I have to give these guys a nod. Michigan played them as well as anybody
on its schedule and couldn’t beat them.
I also think that this team has a shot at the Bama slot if they can
beat them, but that’s a tall order…And they will be young on offense…But
they have a “Clowney” on Defense, and we all know that helps….
- Texas
A&M – I wouldn’t be the MMQ without feeling a little love for the
Heismann Trophy winner…But can he do it again? IF yes, A&M gets a much higher slot
at the end…maybe even a look at the title if they beat Bama and can pull
off the SEC championship???? Of
course…this is all pending the NCAA ruling on Johnny Football being able
to sign his name for free…
- Louisville
– Proved to me last year that Beast football isn’t dead! With a weak schedule and Charlie Strong
hitting his stride…anything is possible.
In fact, I will be disappointed if they aren’t undefeated in the
regular season…
- Oregon
– Chip Kelly is gone, but Oregon is forever at this point….
- Ohio –
yeah….they’re gonna finish up here somewhere…schedule is too soft with the
exception of one team…And their colors are Maize and Blue…
- Florida
– Something about head coaches in their 3rd season…
- Texas
– this is a do or die season for Mack…If he doesn’t finish in the top 10,
I’m afraid it’ll be time to hang up the whistle….
Dark horses to infiltrate the Top 10 with a bit of
Luck:
Okie State, Florida State, LSU,
Clemson, Nebraska, and Georgia….But not necessarily in that order.
So, with all that being said, how does Michigan in fact win
the B1G and potentially get a shot at the National Title Game? Here’s the entire season, game by game!
8-31-13 CMU: Michigan should be a heavy favorite in this
game as they are bringing experience and talent into the Big House and the
Chips are coming off a successful season and bowl game. However, that doesn’t mean that Dan Enos will
have a good team this season….In fact, it’s a question mark and opening with
Michigan probably isn’t a great way to figure out what kind of team you have…but
I doubt we really learn much about Michigan in this game. Stats galore and we’ll be drinking Maize and
Blue kool-aid….
Michigan 51-Chippies 13
9-7-13 DOMERS: In come the National Championship qualifying
Domers for the last time in the Big House – and the last time under the lights. This is so bittersweet that I’m really torn
as to how to feel about it. I honestly
believe that the Domers will be far worse off not playing Michigan (and the
teams in the B1G) than the B1G will be for not having the Domers…But that could
be sour grapes. Some day in the future maybe cooler heads prevail and figure
out a way to get this game back on the schedule. Anyway, with everything in Domerland upside
down and with Reese coming into the Big House as the starting QB, and his last
nightmarish appearance that he put in here…well, it’s kind of hard to go
AGAINST Michigan at night in the Big House….
Michigan 27- Afraid of the Dark Domers 24
9-14-13 AKRON: I never say that any team is a push over any
more. Coming off the Domer win, Michigan
will be poised for the classic trap/let down game that teams can fall
into. And guess what? Guess what?
Guess what? Terry Bowden is the
coach at Akron….Scary….However, I believe overall talent carries them through
and Michigan figures out a way to beat the Zips.
Michigan 42 – little ohio 10
9-21-13 @ U Conn: ….I
can’t believe Michigan is going to play out east in a stadium with a capacity
of 40,000 that the university can barely keep half full. It should be full for this game,
however. This is a basketball school and
I think the momentum will be on Michigan’s side heading into this one…
Michigan 35 – UCAN’T 13
10-5-13
MINNESOTA: Wow…A game at home for
the Little Brown Jug. Kill has not materialized
into the head coach that everyone thought he could be at Minnesota. In addition, I’m not sure he’s taking the
team in the right direction when it comes to what needs to happen at Minnesota
for the future of the program. I won’t
say this is a must win game for Kill, but I will say that it would be good for
his career if he could figure out a way to get the Jug back. I don’t think he will….not in a Homecoming
game in the Big House…
Michigan 45 – Road Kill 17
10-12-13 @ PSU: Michigan hasn’t played PSU in awhile and I do
think this will be a very good test of sorts as O’Brien has the PSU players
that he is able to get playing well and believing that a small squad can pull
off miracles. Not to mention that Happy
Valley is a screwy place to play and it’s a night game….
Michigan 28 – Probation Cats 23
10-19-13 INDIANA:
Should this university be allowed to field a team in the B1G? I know they are good in Basketball, but
jeez….Figure out a way to get some kids to that school that want to play B1G
Football….I’m not even looking them up for lack of time, but suffice it to say
that Michigan ROLLS at home…..
Michigan 49 – Who’s There?
3
11-2-13 @ MSU: After last year’s close victory with a
Figgie that was the difference (Thank you B. Gibbons - btw – CHECK OUT THE SIDE BAR AND THE LINK TO
THE WOLVERNE HISTORIAN’S COMPILATION OF GAME WINNING KICKS! AWESOME!), I’m sure the jolly green giants
will be hell bent on revenge and thinking that they are gonna “payback” the
Wolverines on their home turf. See,
here’s the thing about history and “regression to the mean”….Michigan has to
win at least 11 more in a row to make up for that 3 in a row that you won…So,
expect a lot of hype, but this will mark the traditional demise of the Sparty
football season as they sweat about whether or not they will play in the Little
Ceasar’s Pizza Bowl….
Michigan 38 – Little Brother 24
11-9-13 NEBRASKA: If the
Children of the Corn North are undefeated at this point, I’m really, really
happy….because their nuts are gonna be in their throats coming to the Big
House. And there’s a really good chance
that they will be undefeated as The Huskers don’t even leave Nebraska till mid
October. Purdue and Minnesota will not
be tests for them. Michigan owes them a
little payback for what happened last year in Lincoln….sorry Huskers. Winning at “Good” schools in the B1G is
tough.
Michigan 35 – Candy Corn 27
11-16-13 @ Northwestern:
THIS is the trap game on the schedule for all of you that have been
paying attention at home. Coming off a
potentially close game at home against the Huskers and going into Ryan Field
with an emotionally charged Wildcat team that had Michigan beat until Roundtree
did his thing last year…Well, let’s just say this game is always closer than
anyone thinks….And it’s scary for the MMQ to pick this one.
Michigan 27 – Kitty Kats 24 (OT – maybe)
11-23-13 @ Iowa: I
can remember when they used to play football in Iowa…Anyone else remember
that? Ferentz can’t….And the Children of
the Corn South certainly can’t seem to field a B1G team anymore…I did a quick
read over at Black Heart Gold Pants and they are not optimistic about this
season. In fact, they don’t seem
optimistic about…well, anything.
Michigan 56 – Corn Cobs 35
11-30-13 ohio (HOME): So, if you’ve been paying attention and I know
you have, right now, Michigan is undefeated.
However, I do believe that this is where things get a little east of
Telegraph/south of 10 Mile….you know…Sketchy….I am hoping that the suckeyes are
also undefeated coming into the Big House and Michigan can beat them on home
turf. However, ohio will also be more
than likely undefeated and that means that Michigan would have to re-match them
in the B1G Championship a week later…..The one and only time in Big 10 Football
History that this can happen now that Maryland and Rutgers are in the mix in
2014….Make it so
Michigan 27– Suckeyes 17
Big 10 Championship: Michigan
gets a 2nd victory over the suckeyes in 1 season thus bringing the
Michigan program full circle from where it was in 2008!
Michigan 38 – ohio 35 (OT)
Wow…An undefeated season and shot at the BCS Mythical
National Championship. But with Bama and
Stanford on potential cruise control, Michigan will need a lot of help to
actually get into that game….
Idle Thoughts From the Pre-Season
-Compared to last year?
Quiet….Real quiet…
-Then came Hyde in Columbus.
-Don’t hit girls…I think I learned that in
like…Kindergarten?
-And of course Johnny Football signing his name….He should
have known that was illegal….
- Does the Cushion banning in the Big House thing feel a
little Big Brotherish? Or are they just chasing a buck…Both?
-OR - Are they TRYING to piss me off?
-Is anyone else pissed?
-I hope so….
-Hoke is a funny guy.
-But you have to listen.
-I love the B1G 10 Network….
-B1G media days were pretty good…
-SEC is unusually quiet this year…
-Even with Bielema there at Arkansas…
-Is everyone figuring Bama wins again and it’s a race for 2
nd?
-Is the Bama freight train ready to get de-railed?
-Can Johnny Football beat them two years in a row?
-What about LSU?
-Is this the beginning of the end for several coaches in the
country?
-This is the last year for “lobbying” yourself into the
title game…
-Next year is the 4 team play-off….
-I certainly hope that Michigan isn’t one of those teams
wishing there had been a play-off this year…
-That would suck.
-Does it seem like this season is sneaking up on us compared
to last year?
-No one likes Michigan this year…Kind of like 1997
-Michigan was ranked 15 or 16 pre-season that year….
-This year everyone has them in the low teens….
-I like that!
-Except at the end and there’s more than 2 undefeated…then
it will take a miracle…
-Will the Domers make any kind of run this year or was last
year a fluke?
-I think it was a fluke…but I will give them the benefit of
the doubt until proven otherwise…
-John Falk is retiring….
-He’s the equipment guy at Michigan….
-Ask any player about how John used to get comfortable in
his office….It wasn’t pretty.
-But he will be missed.
The Hot Seat
What would the Pre-Season Spectacular be without a Hot Seat
Mascot! And as I said when I first saw
her in the stands at the National Championship game, “There’s are pre-season
Hot Seat Mascot Nominee!” Katherine Webb
might have used up her 15 minutes of fame, but the MMQ will honor her with the
first spot of the season! As always,
anyone with suggestions for the Hot Seat Mascot are more than welcome to send
them in.
Without further ado, a few shots of Ms. Webb!
Hot Seat Rank
- Mack
Brown: I know, I know. But until Mack gets a big game under his
belt and a BCS bowl behind him, well…It’s gotta be getting warm in Texas…
- Lane
Kiffin: After last year’s fiasco of
a season and without a defense and with UCLA getting better….I have to
believe that the USC fan base is fondly remembering the Pete Carroll
years…
- Weiss: Why not?
- Ferentz: I can’t believe the Iowa fan base isn’t
screaming louder for his head…
- Randy
Edsall: He might not make a game in
the B1G….
- Steve
Sarkisian: Washington is starting
to think they made a bad deal….
- Terry
Bowden: Akron….They expect more
there….
- Ron
English: Eastern Expects More and
thought they were getting more….But maybe he turns a corner this year?
- Kill: I’m not sure why I have him here, but it
can’t be pleasant in Minnesota right now…
- Spaziani: OR Maybe BC just doesn’t care???
FMQ
Well, the FMQ was in the RED for the first time in a long
time and it had a lot to do with getting in the hole early and not being able
to dig out…We did get close to the black in week 11 only to be followed by an
incredibly dismal result in week 12. We
finished the season and the bowl betting with $695 to our name of the original
$1,000 we started with. Not so good….I
got off system and I promise not to do that again this year.
As I get into the season, I’m going to re-visit my
spreadsheet calculator that handicapped teams that I was betting on. I will say that the sheet worked incredibly
well with Stanford in 2011…but there wasn’t a Stanford (or rather more
importantly – Stanford’s STATS) in 2012 and things got tricky….I will try to
use the calculator religiously this year and see what we can produce.
Remember – start with a $1,000 clams and double our dough is
the goal! Win is the original bet less
10% for the Vig….Damn House….
