The
FMQ is BACK!
I know it’s close because the Michigan Football Parking Pass
arrived in the mail yesterday!
And based on the fact that we have a GAME TONIGHT I figured I’d
better post an FMQ!! I’m getting goose
bumps as I read through all the drivel and self-promotion blogs and everyone
right now is undefeated and figuring out ways to win it all!
Some feedback from the Pre-Season
Spectacular was that I didn’t include enough information about EVERY TEAM
out there…Granted, I always try to do an overview of the National landscape and
top 25, but my B1G centricity has
been a little lacking, lately. So, in
order to appease the torch and pitchfork crowd that is demanding that the MMQ
take a look at how the rest of the B1G finishes, here goes.
Let’s start with the B1G
West. For those of you that aren’t
sure who’s in what division, I’ll list ‘em for ya’:
- Nebraska
- Minnesota
- Iowa
- Northwestern
- Wiscy
- Illinois
- Purdue
And look at that….I believe I’ll go with that as my
prediction on how that division finishes.
The Cornsuckers
were literally 5 plays away from 5 additional wins last season and that would
have made them a 10 win team. The UCLA
destruction in the Bowl was a great segue into the 2016 season. Riley has not let those last second losses get
the team down, either. In fact, it’s
been a great motivational tool for the team that they HAVE TO FINISH everything
they do – Practice, class, whatever. I
foresee Nebraska coming back into its own this season and they’ll also want a
piece of that Title Action in Indianapolis.
I’m not sure what the floor is for the Cornsuckers, but 8 wins seems very
doable (assuming they get past the Oregon Ducks) and the other 4 are kind of
toss-ups. So 10 wins is possible….
The Golden “Freeze!”
Gophers have a schedule that looks like something only 2nd year Coach Clay could have dreamed up. Not only do they NOT play Michigan, ohio
and Sparty, but they have 7 home games, 5 road games and if they aren’t at
least 8-1 (Iowa is right smack dab in the middle of the season) going into
their last 3 games (Nebraska, Northwestern, Wiscy) I’d be a crying, sad little
gopher fan…if I could ever bring myself to root for the Gophers. So, I’m actually thinking the “little M”
crowd might be ranked in the mid to low teens come November. And if Nebraska is a 1 or 2 loss team, that’ll
be a game to circle on the calendar. And
if they can win the last 2 out of 3…Hmmmmm.
Could the furry little rodents be in Indy this season?
Iowa is
always a mystery. Their schedule is
manageable (they don’t leave Iowa until October 5th and that’s at
Northwestern) and they have most of the tough games at home. And they don’t play BlueBloods OSU or MSU. But you never know what kind of Team Ferentz is going to field Year over
Year…So I’m looking at this in the Up then Down trend. Last season was so good for Iowa (except for
that B1G Championship and the subsequent flop in the bowl game) that they are
probably due to be a little down which might lead them to finishing strong, but
not quite at the top of the heap.
All bets are off as to where Northwestern finishes if Fitzgerald puts a vintage Wildkitten team on the field this
season. The BTN crew seemed to like them
when they visited camp (But then, who DOESN’T Gerry Dinardo like) and I’ve
always respected Fitzgerald and what he’s accomplished at the Stanford of the
East. In fact, look for the Wildkittens
to upset the Cornhuskers at home after an inspired win over ACC’s Duke. If the Wildkittens start strong, they could
be in the middle of the top 4 and in the hunt for a trip to Indy at the end of
the season.
Wiscy hasn’t
been the same Wiscy since Andersen left to be a Beaver. Chryst
is just an extension of Alvarez and
I get the feeling that there’s un-happiness in Madison. Not only that, but Wiscy hasn’t evolved on
the offensive side of the ball as much as they need to. That being said, I’m not saying they can’t
come out and surprise people this season, but of the top 5 teams in the West,
Wiscy winning the division would shock the MMQ the most….
Purdon’t. How Hazell is still head coach I’ll never
know. With Sumlin on the Hot Seat at Texa A&M, Hazell will be lucky to
keep his job if Purdue Alumnus Sumlin gets the ax….The temptation to pull a
Michigan - Harbaugh and bring home a somewhat successful favorite son will loom
huge for Purdue and they need people in the stands to help offset all the MONEY
they are pumping into their facilities.
They need fans to fill the seats and they need them soon…
Illinois is dumpster
fire and I’m not saying they’ll go o-fer on the season, but O-fer in B1G
conference play is a real possibility….enuff said and typed…
The B1G East
Division summary
- Michigan
- Ohio
- Maryland
- Sparty
- Indiana
- Penn State
- Michigan recruiting Class of 2017
- Rutgers
What did you think?
That I was actually going to put somebody else in the top spot after I
picked Michigan to win the B1G? I know Herbstreit thinks Michigan is a season
away, but there’s too many great seniors on this team to be “a
Season Away”. And Herbie didn’t
watch and suffer through every Goddamn underthrown pass last season by Ruddock
that should somewhat correct itself just ‘cause…and with Brown’s Badasses
leading the way on Defense, well, I still like Michigan finishing in the top
spot this season.
The ohio
school for kids that don’t read so good will be right there at the
end, but I have a feeling that there will be a blemish or two on the resume
before the final game. The Urban “Legend”
Official Health Watch will officially begin after the Oklahoma upset and don’t
be surprised if somebody else pulls off a miracle, also. They will be thirsty for BLOOD in East
Lansing and that will be a great game to watch…and Michigan is going to want
some of its own revenge in the Shoe come November….
The Terps under
new head coach Durkin is my sleeper
for the East Division. I almost had
Indiana finishing 3rd, but they’re the Hoosiers, fergodsakes. The Terps will have a taste of Har-Ball from
Spring and Fall Camps and they will surprise some people this season. IF you’re playing the Terps early (PSU, Gophers
and Sparty) look out.
Sparty,
Sparty, Sparty…The Terps and Sparty could easily flip-flop,
but when I looked at what Sparty lost from last season and how close they were to
losing a couple of games in the first 8 games of last season, well…I think it
might turn into a long season for the Jolly Green Giants of East Lansing. When they get to the meat of their early
schedule (Domers, Wiscy, Indiana, BYU, Northwestern – in that order), I
honestly feel like there might be a 50-50 situation happening there, or a 3-2
or 2-3 record looming….. And I’ll go on
record now and say that the Hoosiers, Domers and the Wildkittens really spoil
things for Sparty early. Marcus Antonio will be on Heart Watch before October
has ended and Michigan will come in with revenge on their minds. I’m not kidding when I say that 4 losses for
this year’s Spartan’s is possible…and maybe probable.
The Hoosiers
could be higher on my list, but they are AT ohio, AT Northwestern, and AT Michigan. I love
Wilson and what he’s doing for that team, but that's a bunch of tough road
games and three losses in the B1G is where I see them.
I can’t believe I have the Nittany Kittens this low, but looking at their schedule, it’ll be
amazing if Penn State is above 0.500 going into October! At Pitt and At Michigan is tough to manage
early. And you’ve got Temple in there,
also. Based on Franklin’s track record for managing QB’s and that fact that they’re
starting a newbie, I think it’s another LONG season for PSU fans….
Michigan
Recruiting Class of 2017 could easily take on and beat Rutgers. If Illinois is a dumpster fire, Rutgers is a
Tire Field fire….I don’t know what they’re doing in Jersey, but they better
figure some things out quick if they ever want to have a chance in the B1G.
Great article on what it takes to be a Blueblood of College
football. I think ESPN pretty much got
it right. The only one I might have had
a little higher on the list was Penn State, but I think some of the backlash
from the last 30 years of history and the Sandusky thing have tarnished that
ranking. Without all that, I think PSU
is a single digit Blueblood.
The
FMQ
So, the last time I did this I finished with a Goose Egg,
which is a great reason to NOT bet college football. But with so many big games coming this
weekend and next weekend, I have to get back into this and start with the
imaginary $1,000 clams and see what happens and if I’m really as good of a
prognosticator as I think I am!
Tonight!
Hawaii
@ California (-19.5)
Have to bet this game because A: It’s the first one and B: Hawaii continues
East to the Big House next week and C:
It’s in AUSTRALIA! You read that
right, sports fans. Hawaii and
California trekked to the land down under to play football. Can you say long flight, tired kids, and jet
lag? I’m taking the Bears and laying the
points due to the fact that the Rainbows are really, really bad….
Take California
and lay the 19.5 for $25
Thursday – September 1st
Oregon
State @ Minnesota (-13)
The Gophers get an early test at home, but I have a feeling
they’re going to show the Pac12 who’s boss.
Take
the Gophers and lay the 13 for $25
Saturday, September 3rd
Western
Michigan at Northwestern (-6)
The MAC favorite is going to Chicago, not as the annual
macrifice, but to try and spoil things for the Purple Kitties early. I’m nervous about this pick, but I’m going to
say that the Kitties win and can’t cover…
Take
Western and the 6 points for $50
Hawaii
@ Michigan (-41)
If Hawaii wasn’t so bad, I’d take the points – BELIEVE
ME. My first inclination WAS to take the points. I’ve seen enough early Michigan games at the
Big House to know trouble lurks….But I have a feeling Michigan might be busting
at the seems by the time game time gets here to finally hit somebody – ANYBODY else. And Harbaugh will have had a week to look at
tape…and Hawaii won’t have anything to look at but Jet-Lag – both from coming
home from Australia and flying to Michigan…and that’s very, very bad for the Rainbows…
Take
Michigan and lay the 41 for $50
Oklahoma
@ Houston (+10)
The upset pick for Saturday seems to be this one. Everyone loves Houston. I’m not totally sure and I usually like to go
the opposite way of the money. I know
this line has moved so smart money is liking Houston and 2nd year
head coach Hermann, but I’ll go the other way and take Stoops.
Take
Oklahoma and lay the 10 for $25
UCLA @Texas
A&M (-3)
Sumlin is coaching for his LIFE at A&M. He needs this win BAD. And at the new and improved home of the 12th
man, I’ll take the Aggies and lay the points.
Take
Texas A&M and lay the 3 for $50
USC @
Alabama (-10.5)
This spread made me scratch my head a little. I had this game at around three scores of
separation (17-19 points) and I was trying to figure out who knows what. And it got me to thinking that maybe
somebody knows more than I do in Vegas.
Therefore,
Take
USC and the 10.5 for $25
Clemson
@ Auburn (+7)
I have a feeling the Orange Tigers get a wake-up call early
this season and have to learn that what you did last year is last year’s
news. Malzahn is another hot seat coach that would love to have an early
scalp for this season…and he’s had an entire off-season to prepare.
Take
Auburn at home and the 7 for $50
Sunday, September 4th
Domers
@ Texas (+3.5)
This is the upset special of Labor Day Weekend! I just can’t believe that Charlie Strong, who’s also coaching for
his life, is going to let what happened in South Bend last season happen
again. New Offense for the Burnt Orange
and a decimated Domer Defense should make it at least closer. I know I could have egg on my face on this
one, but
Take
Texas and the 3.5 for $25
Parlay!
4 team parlay pays 7-1
Michigan
– Texas A&M – Auburn - Oklahoma for
$50
