How will the michigan wolverines and new coach rich rodriguez do in the 08 - 09 ncaa football season?

Question

kinda skeptical on the new team. life long fan of the team and would like a few thoughts from a few people because i havent had time recently to follow......... all opinions!

Answer 1

I'm a Maize and Blue fan myself, and I don't think they'll get more than 5 wins. Because of their QB and RB problems, their offense will suffer under the new system. I don't think the defense can carry the team for the whole season.

Answer 2

I think Michigan is going to go 11-2, win the Big Ten outright, and beat Ohio State for the first time since 2003

Lets go through the schdule again:

Utah=Michigan is ten times more talented then the Utes, RR is a much better coach then Kyle Whittingham, RR is not going to let his team lose in his first game as head coach, and the players are going to come out hugely motivated because they don't want to lsoe a second straight season and home opener. Combine these four factors and you ahve a 3 or 4 TD blowout for Michigan.

Miami(OH)=they are an MAC team playing at the big house. This will be a whitewash for the Wolverines

at Notre Dame=the Fightless Irish went 3-9 last season, their head coach sucks, Michigan has outscored ND 85-21 the last two seasons, RR is going to be looking to make a statement in his first game against one of the wolverines rivals, and the players will be fired up after weis said to h**l with Michigan. This will be a shutout blowout victory for the Wolverines

Wisconsin=its RR's first experience against against a Big ten team, this is offenses first experience against a defense that is actually good, and the Badgers return 8 of 11 starters on both sides of the ball. The Badgers will eke out a close victory in this one

Illinois=Michigan beat Illinois 27-17 last season in Champagne when the illini had Rashard Mendenhall, and Michigan returns most of its defense. So there's no way the Wolverines will lose to illinois in the Big House when the illini no longer have mendenhall. This will be a 10 point victory again for Michigan.

Toledo=(see miami(oh))

at Penn State=I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Michigan losses this game. However, the Nittney lions never have an answer for our running game, and now that they have lost Sean lee for the season, 2008 will be no different. Our defense has put the clamps on their offense the last two years, and now they lose Rodney Kinlaw and Anthony Morelli, while we return most of our defense, so again, 2008 will be no different. Not to mention we've won 9 straight against them overall, including 4 straight at Happy Valley. we are in their heads, and we will continue to be in 2008. Michigan will gut out a clsoe victory in this game.

Michigan State=I shouldn't even have to bother explaining why Michigan will toast the Fartans in this game

at Purdue=Normally i'd be worried about a trip to West Lafayette, but the Boilmakers have no defense in 2008, and by the 9th game of the season, our offense will be in gear. Not to mention joe tiller is going to be too angry at RR to actually coach a good game. Michigan will win this game by at least 10 points.

at Minnesota=the Wolverines ahven't lost to the golden Gophers on the road since 1977, and Minnesota is comnig of a 1-11 season in which they were last in the nation in total defense. its a rivalry game, so this might not be a blowout, but Michigan will still win it

Northwestern=if this game was at ryan Field, i'd be worried, but the Wildcats never beat us at the Big House. This could be a clsoe game, but Michigan will still get the W.

Here's why we will beat Ohio State:

1. Rich Rodriguez brings an offense to Ann Arbor that Ohio State is absolutely horrible and pathetic at defending: the spread offense. Illinois, Florida, and LSU all tore the Buckeyes a new a*****e by running the spread offense on them, and the Buckeyes defense crumbled like toothpicks each time. RR is the God-father of the spread offense, and he's going to find ways to pick apart the weaknesses in Ohio States overrated defense

2. RR is going to be running the spread offense with a bunch of 4 and 5 star prospects, whereas at WV, he was running it with 2 and 3 star prospects. Considering how well he did at WV with that 2 and 3 star talent, imagine how well he's going to do with all the 4 and 5 star talent he has at Michigan

3. Because of all the talent RR has to work with, and because Michigan will be running the spread offense against a team that is horrible at running the spread offense, Michigan is guaranteed at least 21 points in next years game (injuries notwithstanding). Ohio State's offense is one dimensional with beanie Wells, who dominated us last year, but despite that fact, the Buckeyes only scored 14 points. They are going to have to score alot more then 14 points to keep up with Michigans offense, and they can't do that, as their passing game with Todd Boeckman sucks, and as Michigan returns 7 of 11 starters on defense.

4. Motivation. Michigan has a chip on their shoulder after losing 4 straighht to the Buckeyes, while Ohio State is going to get complacent after dominating the rivalry for 7 seasons. It looks more and more like 2001 all over again, where the team that is dominating the rivalry assumes they'll continue to dominate, while the team that is being dominated plays their hearts out and earns a huge upset on the road. Ohio State did it in 2001, and its Michigans turn to do so in 2008

5. Intimidation. Tressell is already sweating at the thought of going up against RR, as he proved by criticizing RR's recruiting schemes. Ohio State's players, coaches, and fans know in the bottom of their hearts that they can't stop RR's spread offense, or any spread offense, and they are petrified at the prospect of having to stop his offense  

Answer 3

its hard to tell? as an avid wvu fan, i'll try to be unbiased as i can. he evokes a kind of fear from players with his language and premadoona attitude, plus he calls odd plays in games such as south florida and pitt. plus, just like in a marriage can his fans, his state, his school and mostly his players trust him to keep his word to back them when the tough gets going or a better offer comes along.justin boren had it right he is no lloyd carr, he is a better innovator with his plays and his spread offense but his character is far lacking next to lloyd carr. hard to tell at this point what kind of fit he will be for michigan?/ good luck.

Answer 4

8-4

maybe 7-5

Answer 5

As an Ohio State fan I would usually hope that Michigan lose every game. But as a combination of a weaker Big 10 and arrogant SEC fans, I have come to respect Michigan and feel they will fair better than predicted this year. Yes they will be weak on offense, but then again, they are utilizing the spread offense and they have nothing to lose this season. The defense should be stellar and their schedule is somewhat favorable, so I look for them to win 8-9 games.

Additionally, I feel that within 2-3 years Michigan will back at the top of the national championship picture.