Harbaugh had a tough schedule draw this year for his first season. He could have used the four home game rotation Michigan gets every few years. Hoke's 2011 season for example was WMU, EMU, SDSU, and ND all at home.
Michigan should be favored vs. Oregon State and UNLV, but that BYU game will be tough. BYU returns 17 starters and gets back the QB Hill who was lights out last year before breaking his leg. I would expect that to be a "pick em" and Michigan needs to stay healthy given their depth issues.
I would say it is 50/50 that they are 2-2 vs. 3-1. They better be 3-1 because I am not seeing more than four wins in the B1G. Maybe as low as two or three.
Probably Losses: Ohio State and Michigan State
Probable Wins: @Indiana and Rutgers
Northwestern at home is their next easiest game.
The other games are interesting. The B1G of course gave UM (and OSU & PSU) major cross over breaks for the "new" B1G 2014 and 2015 schedules. OSU crosses with Illinois and Minnesota. UM with Northwestern and Minnesota. Penn State with Northwestern & Illinois. All three of the traditional "heavies" miss the West's teams Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Iowa.
It backfired on Michigan though because suddenly Minnesota got good. Michigan has to play @ Minnesota on an 8pm kick off on Halloween Night. Anybody remember the MSU 2009 experience in that scenario?
At Maryland is not exactly daunting, but it is a night game.
The other game is @PennState on Senior Day. PSU has the week off before the game and UM will have played consecutive weeks of @Minn, Rutgers, @Indiana (track meet) with Ohio State looming the next week. Penn State does not lose very often on Senior Day.
Stack it all up and 6-6 looks more likely than 7-5. In fact, I would say 5-7 is just as likely as 7-5.
Michigan should be favored vs. Oregon State and UNLV, but that BYU game will be tough. BYU returns 17 starters and gets back the QB Hill who was lights out last year before breaking his leg. I would expect that to be a "pick em" and Michigan needs to stay healthy given their depth issues.
I would say it is 50/50 that they are 2-2 vs. 3-1. They better be 3-1 because I am not seeing more than four wins in the B1G. Maybe as low as two or three.
Probably Losses: Ohio State and Michigan State
Probable Wins: @Indiana and Rutgers
Northwestern at home is their next easiest game.
The other games are interesting. The B1G of course gave UM (and OSU & PSU) major cross over breaks for the "new" B1G 2014 and 2015 schedules. OSU crosses with Illinois and Minnesota. UM with Northwestern and Minnesota. Penn State with Northwestern & Illinois. All three of the traditional "heavies" miss the West's teams Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Iowa.
It backfired on Michigan though because suddenly Minnesota got good. Michigan has to play @ Minnesota on an 8pm kick off on Halloween Night. Anybody remember the MSU 2009 experience in that scenario?
At Maryland is not exactly daunting, but it is a night game.
The other game is @PennState on Senior Day. PSU has the week off before the game and UM will have played consecutive weeks of @Minn, Rutgers, @Indiana (track meet) with Ohio State looming the next week. Penn State does not lose very often on Senior Day.
Stack it all up and 6-6 looks more likely than 7-5. In fact, I would say 5-7 is just as likely as 7-5.
