Week 1 2012
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Okay, first up it's A'maize'n Blue and his
Michigan prediction:
Hoke-a-mania: Year 2.
Long gone and simply fading into a nightmarish memory is RichRod, the bane of all that is Maize and Blue. Brady Hoke quickly became a savior last year, leading the Wolverines to a bounce back-defy-the critics 11-2 season; narrowly missing the Big 10 Championship [thanks a lot Iowa, not!] and taking out the Virginia Tech Hokies in an exciting 23-20 overtime Sugar Bowl victory.
The Wolverines are blazing a trail into the season starting as the Big 10's highest ranked team at #8 in the preseason poll. Back is Brady Hoke, back is Denard Robinson, easily the country's top dual-threat quarterback, and with him are 13 other starters from last year's team, including Fitzgerald Touissant, a then-sophomore running back who racked up over 1,000 yards rushing in a time-share backfield, and 3 linebackers and 4 in a secondary that played outstanding 'ball last year ranking 16th nationally against the pass and 6th overall in scoring defense. Some possible worry across the O and D lines only returning 1 starter each, and a receiving corps that includes a recently removed from knee surgery Roy Roundtree, and lost top wide-out Junior Hemingway to graduation, but this team is hungry, very hungry, and the look in their eyes says one thing: Big Ten Champions.
First up is #2 Alabama(who I may add was scheduled by RichRod, I call a conspiracy!!). This game is easily opening week's #1 contest, and what better place to play such a game than in the home stadium of the Dallas Cowboys. (which, sadly, with a main seating capacity of only 80,000 can't hold all us Michigan Fans...which brings me to my Wolverine Fact of the Week: Michigan home games have averaged an attendance of over 100,000 spectators since 1975, The Big House currently seats 107,501.) But back to the game! The highly anticipated season openerwill be a tough game, for both teams. Nick Saban's Tide, coming off a National Championship win over LSU, returns possibly the country's #1 defense and is looking for back to back championships and stand poised in a great position to do so. Although the Wolverines are 14 point underdogs as a die hard fan I am wishing for this game to come down to the wire, and with a QB like Robinson who has the potential to take it to the house every time he touches the ball; it just may. But like they say, most games are won in the trenches and the scales definitely tip in favor of the Tide, with 4 returning starters on the O Line (with their only new blocker projected to be better than all of them) leading the way for a 4-headed platoon of RB's in the backfield. At the end of the day those Big Uglies may just be too much for the Wolverines, but with a little grit and a never give up attitude (aided by a 70 yard as-time-expires game winning run by Denard) Michigan could just pull this one off and shock the nation.
Predictions:
What I want to see- Michigan 23, Alabama 21. Alabama drives safely into Michigan territory and attempts to run out the clock…but Michigan forces and recovers a fumble on 3rdand 2 to go. Denard wins it all in the waning moments and the Heismanhype begins...
Most likely scenario- Michigan 17, Alabama 31. Nick Saban proves to be the best defensive coach in the country, keeping Robinson bottled up in the run, forcing him to try and win it in the air. Early in the season, and with shaky play and bad decision making, turnovers provide to be costly and Michigan falls behind too early, too far to recover.
Now we have Bill from
Bill's Big 10 Corner
checking in with his Big 10 predictions!
Hey, it’s football time again! Most Big 10 teams are favored and playing at home. Here is a quick run down showing last years conference record and bowl game (note, a record 10 Big 10 teams went bowling last year):
Michigan St (7-1, Outback) – 8/31 vs Boise St (ESPN)
Michigan (6-2, Sugar) – vs Alabama (ABC)
Wisconsin (6-2, Rose) – vs Northern Iowa (BTN)
Penn State (6-2, Ticket City) – vs Ohio U (ESPN)
Nebraska (5-3, Cap One) – Southern Miss (ABC/ESPN2)
Iowa (4-4, Insight) – Northern Illinois (ESPNU)
Purdue (4-4, Little Caesar) – E. Kentucky (BTN)
Ohio St (3-5, Gator) – Miami, OH (BTN)
Northwestern (3-5, Meineke Car Care) – at Syracuse (ESPN2)
Illinois (2-6, Kraft Hunger) – W. Michigan (ESPNU)
Minnesota (2-6) – 8/30 at UNLV (CBSS)
Indiana (0-8) – Indiana St. (BTN)
Ace checked in early cause his Minnesota game was Thursday night...this is what Ace said...
Well the Goophers roll the dice and spin the wheel tonight in Lost Wages against UNLV. I predict that they just might win if they can beat the odds of being a cooler on the road and if Marquis shows that he's the ace everyone thinks he is.
And this was the score Minnestoa 30 UNLV 27
TEXAS
Bevo Jr. checked in with his
TEXAS game day prediction:
Are there any Longhorn followers out there? If so, you have been very patient the last 2 football seasons while Texas has struggled to find the right QB.
Well you may need to grit your teeth a little longer; the quarterback situation is settled in the coaches’ minds – but not in mine. Not yet anyway. David Ash is capable but not great (the way we expect our QB’s to be in Texas). The low-key Ash starts the season as the #1 disher; good thing the 1st game is against Wyoming in Austin. Need to see 4 touchdowns running and 2 passing, or else - who knows at this stage?
Big 12 lost 2 good teams with TX A&M and Missouri going SEC; but we picked up W. Virginia and TCU; should be xciting football……
(Looking fwd to Bama / Michigan game this weekend!)
UT – 42, Wyo – 13. BEVO jr.
A couple of Iowa fans just checked in!
Turnkey Tim: Thank god it's finally here. First football weekend. First Iowa game.
I have not been this excited for some time. When the Hawks line up to play the Northern Illinois Huskies, we will see a more aggressive team on offense with ne coordinator Greg Davis at the helm. James Vandenberg at QB should be be a good fit for this offensive scheme. I feel the offense will take a good step forward as we have a good offensive line, good wide receivers, and one of the best tight ends in the country in CJ Fiedowitz. The only mystery will be who will emerge as the #1 running back.
On the defensive side of the ball, Phil Parker, no relation to Norm who retired at the end of last season, takes over. Big question will be the defensive line. We do have good linebackers and defensive backs. I also look for Phil Parker to bring a more aggressive attacking style defense, especially since the defensive line needs tome to gel.
On the Huskies side, they bring back most of their defense, but not much on offense. They will also be braking in a ne QB. This is a team who has won many games over the last three seasons. Last season there were MAC conference champion. This team will be a good challenge for the Hawks.
End result: Iowa 27 NIU 19
If anyone would like to send in game day comments for their fave team,
simply submit them to me, Angie, via email
[email protected]
Send in comments by Friday sometime and I'll get 'er posted :) Everyone's comments are welcome!