OPINION: Ten predictions for Michigan sports in 2010 includes visions of a bowl game

Could be who knows? I'm watching the Rose bowl game and it's second quarter and well I'll be darned looks like that pesky spread is holding it's own against the,"great ohio state buckeye's", who would have thunk that a smaller team running the spread would be this close at this point, darn we better hurry up and fire ol RR before he develops a spread to. Maybe Oregon should quit and go home at halftime I mean we all know that the spread can't compete with ohio state and their antiquated style.

We will beat osu and are D will be better beacuse we will have depth the same guys wont have to play all game with out a sub. I think with cullen jt turner marv then u get big will craig roh do people forget we had like 12 4 star recruits we have like 5 now so theres some good guys that will get a chance you cant say the D gonna be worse just cuhz of BG and warren this is a football team not 2 guys..theres alot of talented guys who will have a chance next year so dont count them out befor they had a chance.

I pray that #1 is correct. #6 is incorrect. They'll make a news years bowl. #7 is half right There record will be around there, but there defense will improve. Instead of 3 very good players and 3 horrible players. It will be8 pretty good players and average players and more depth.

Michigan videos
http://www.youtube.com/user/InRichRodWeTrust

Yes...I agree fire RR.
2-6 and 1-7 in the Big Ten.
No excuse for that.

I see the michigan defense being about the same as this year. overall.

they will drop significantly in talent but there will be a very noticable improvment in thier cohesivness and understanding of the scheme. that being said they will still be mostluy frosh and sophmores with afew upperclassmen. 2011 will be when the defense REALLY gets good. and keep in mind they will never DOMINATE the big 10. the big ten is too big. the defesne will be small and fast very fast.

Nice fantasy on the football team. Dare I say that even though their record was better in 2009, this year's team wasn't as good as 2008? i am guessing no progress for 2010 and another sub-.500 season.

Antiquated style wins.

Just finished watching Rose Bowl. Oregon is a much better team that U of M and OSU handled them well. Maybe if RR were dismissed Michigan could be back in a bowl game again but best case senario will be 6 wins, a butt whopping from the vest again (what will that be 7 or 8 years in a row?) and maybe maybe the Pizza Pizza Bowl

After seeing Pryor today I doubt Wisky wins the big ten. The Buckeyes return their whole offense minus one lineman who missed enough games that his backup got signifigant pt. We saw today why RR wanted TP so badly and despite tate's great comebacks the first couple games he's no pryor nor will he be....

Yea, the spread held up great.We will beat OSU and are D will be better. BOWL GAME,you people dont realy belive the vomit your spewing? The only mention of u of m today was the transfer to OSU.
WV football no.16 WV basketball no.6. Hows that working out for you?

1/01/10: Ohio State beats Oregon 26-17. Pryor is getting better (and he's HUGE). Next season: OSU gets most of its current players back = they are going to be BETTER than this year.

Next season: Michigan also returns some veterans plus they'll have significantly more depth and talent. Big difference though is that THIS Michigan team is still pretty green and has NO winning history to build on. It's gonna be tough going - but it may also provide new hope and new positive drama. Prediction: 8 - 4 season, fairly good bowl (because bowl committees STILL LOVE the Wolverines - they'll be welcomed back).

All of that is contingent on RichRod not being completely stupid and not having any more "outside issues' which reflect badly on his character and Michigan's reputation.

Back to OSU vs Oregon: it's an amateur's mistake to make this game a "case" for any particular style of football. It should be emphasized that Oregon made it to the Rose Bowl for the first time in decades: BECAUSE the Pac 10 was weak this year. OTH - OSU was also in a weak conference but they have Pryor improving and a really solid defense.

Also it should be noted that Oregon has consistently beaten Michigan and that provoked a lot of comment about the need for Michigan to "modernize" it's playing style - by going to a spread offense and a defense which is faster. ha-ha!! Now we are getting what these people asked for!
And they are still unhappy - because THEIR idea doesn't seem to be paying off INSTANTLY. See - this stuff takes time, Nancy.

Here's a prediction for you:

A video of Tim Tebow will show up on YouTube. He will have a pipe in one hand, a beer in the other, a scantily-clad cheerleader on his lap, and a smile on his flushed face. Among other things, he will be heard saying, "I didn't really go on a mission. I was hanging out in Vegas with Tiger, MJ, and Charles."

This will result in mass Gator nation suicides which will be more-than compensated for by a spike in births nine months later among fans of FSU, UGA, UT, 'Bama, and various fans all over the country who object to what they feel has been excessive and one-sided coverage of Tebow's career.

Iowa,Wiscy,OSU, ND and PSU will beat Michigan next year. The big
blue will battle MSU, Indiana, and NW for sixth of seventh.

Terrance Robinson breaks out big in 2010, offense is unstoppable, defense is good enough. Double digit wins. Coach of the Year for the King.
Beilein gets big man Drew Feudy from Pomona, CA. Final Fours soon follow.

I made the mistake of reading this before I realized who wrote it. Mr. Rothstein's lack of insight about Michigan football is astonishing. How does one qualify to write for AnnArbor.com? Nobody says you have to blow sunshine, but some balanced sportswriting would be reasonable.

Well, those who predict 8-4 for Michigan football must be watching different teams than I've watched. Why did OSU win yesterday? Because their offensive line was dominant with a great fullback--interesting, 2 guys named Boren there--and because their defense did not let Oregon get into a comfort zone.

Once again, games are won with defense first, and good execution second. And did anyone catch Tressel's comments at the end of the game? In my opinion, he just GETS it--gets what it means to be coach at OSU, gets the UM-OSU rivalry, gets the significance of the B10 and its relationship to the Rose Bowl, gets what it means to be a big time college coach. That is what Michigan needs--somebody who GETS IT and somebody who doesn't tarnish the school's reputation.

Another interesting thing--did you all notice Auburn winning a new year's day bowl in his first year? DIdn't exactly have to destroy a program to get to a bowl game, now, did he? Those who claim that RR needed to destroy Michigan to make us better are nuts. And those who claim that LC left nothing in the tank must be the biggest LC fans in the world because if that's the case, then LC got more out of 'no talent' than any coach ever.

Final prediction: RR will NOT be coach at Michigan in December 2010.

portagelk,
OSU's antiquated style and Big Ten defense easily dominated the Ducks. Defense wins championships, ask the NY Giants when they played NE in the Super Bowl. That said, I think Michigan will go to a bowl next year because they have a very favorable schedule that should take them to 7-8 wins. The bottom line is, they still won't be very good and will be no closer to beating OSU who plays Big Ten football with Big Ten style athletes. We are on our way to becoming Purdue under Joe Tiller or Texas Tech under Mike Leach...fun to watch but never capable of beating the big boys.

Hey, did you see Tyrelle dismantle the Ducks? He was stiff arming 250 pound linebackers out of his way. Isn't that the size of UM's d-lineman? Looks like its going to be another OSU beat down in Columbus in 2010.

I agree with heartbreakM's comment.
Those who think we will win 8 games next year are dreaming.
The only aspect to RR not being the coach is the hope that Mary Sue Coleman hires the right AD. This will be a truly significant hire. If U of M gets the right AD, then he can mop up the disaster that Martin has created, if not, then we are in big trouble.

Back to the 8 wins predictions....explain where those 8 wins will come from? From what I see, my guess is realistically 6-6.

More to heartbreak M's point:
Jim Tressel is without question a man of class. Not only has he created a great football program, he's actually improved the entire IMAGE of that program and has positively advanced the cause of the institution. The football players on OSU interviewed by the media even SOUND intelligent, too. And they've dominated in almost every game save some of the larger games. I'd take that over what we have ANY DAY.
Instead, we get this bumble head blow hard who has dirtied our image, fractured the fan base, and placed us in little brother status AT BEST.
Forget all this nonsense about a new era of football, spread offense style, etc. Why can't we get someone like Tressel? His style, intelligence, and image REEK of Michigan; instead, our foe flourishes and delights in our misfortune.

Unless the moderator deletes this post, here are my thoughts and predictions.

Just wanted to point out Tressel has been touched by scandal both at Ohio State and Youngstown State. The difference between him and RR, he has been winning since the get go.

They should win their first six games. UM will be better on both sides of the ball. Based that on experience and less injuries to key players.

They can beat Purdue and Illinois on the back end of their schedule. Based on the same reasoning above.

Iowa, PSU, Wisky, OSU will be tough games, but I feel a healthy UM can put up a good fight and all are winnable.

UM will have had time to polish their previous fresh, sophs, and juniors. Another year in the system is what I'm saying.

Countem we have 7even home games. Look how they played in each of the games his season, factor in injuries and inexperience, then factor in another year in RR's system and time to have coached them up.

Yes we lost some very nice Senior players, but there are players that have improved and others that have been waiting for this opportunity next season. Pryor started as a freshmen, Barkley started this year so it is not outta the realm for some of the freshman studs we've recruited to step in and help.

I tend to look at things with the glass half full vision. I ask any of you to seriously look at UM next year without factoring in the "ncaa scandal" and why you may not "like" RR. Do you then still see things the same way? If so, then good luck to you next season. I'll stay positive and hope for the best. You will be proud of UM football again next year. That is my prediction. I'm feel UM has always been a great team with great tradition. Great people have been associted with the school. Man, it's just great to root for Blue!

And sugar plumbs dance in your heads.

This is the best(news?) walmart fans have had since the Delaware State game. Might as well win the BCS.

What's a wal-mart fan?

All in for michigan, what a joke. Well you always have girls volleyball.

guess i got deleted. sorry to be negative about blu....keep dreaming homer

I hope I am wrong about this, but with that schedule 8-4 with that defense, sloppy overall play which is a Rich Rod M team hallmark... I dont see it. I see 5-7 or 6-6 at best. Yeah, the later may get them a bowl game...but at 6-6 in a bowl game with a weak defense and questionable offensive strategy...would that be progress? No.

Let's take a closer look at the 2010 schedule and some very possible if not probable outcomes. Based on what has transpired in the past 2 seasons under RR, no one can say that this would be impossible.

Game 1 - UConn. UConn has a solid, rising program and is currently up 10-0 vs. SC in the bowl game. This game is a tossup at best for Michigan. UConn comes in solid and outscores Michigan to win the game 35-31 and spoil the Stadium re-dedication and new AD's first day. Michigan 0-1

Game 2 Notre Dame. ND has some big losses due to graduation, but the addition of Kelly offsets those losses. The game is also at South Bend and ND still has a lot of talent. Kelly pulls the Irish magic and ND beats Michigan 33-26. Michigan 0-2 and alumni are very upset.

Game 3 UMass. Here, Michigan gets its offense rolling vs. a much lessor talented program. Michigan rolls 42-14. Michigan 1-2.

Game 4 Bowling Green. More fortunate scheduling here for Michigan. Michigan's offense again rolls vs. lessor opponent and wins 38-14. Michigan 2-2...

Game 5. IU. This game is on the road and will be a struggle. IU is building at least a decent program and returns some key players. Bill Lynch is also a solid coach. That said, Michigan squeeks this one out and wins a close battle, 25-24. Michigan 3-2 Koolaid drinkers start to come out of the closet again.

Game 6. Michigan State. Uh oh. This is the most important game to Dantonio every year, regardless of whatever else is happening with his team, who is in prison, suspended etc...it doesnt matter to Dantonio. He goes in to this game with fire in his nostrils as he 'gets' the rivalry. Rich Rod still doesnt, though he claims to all week in the pressers. Sparty has key returning players on offense and RR makes at least one dumb call that burns the team, such as a WR reverse inside their own 20 late in the game which is fumbled and Sparty recovers and kicks a field goal to win 23-20. Michigan 3-3...RR 0-3 vs. Sparty.

Game 7 Iowa. Another Uh Oh. Iowa has key returning players and is a much more physical and disciplined team, particularly on defense. This one is not close. Iowa rolls 38-20 in the Big House. Michigan 3-4...the rumblings are getting louder....

Game 8 Penn State.. Oh Boy...and this one is on the road as well. Michigan has 0 chance in this one. PSU rolls 31-17 in a wet, sloppy conditions in Happy Valley. Michigan 3-5... Rich Rod at a complete loss, lashes out at reporters in the post game presser.

Game 9 Illinois. Zook has totally owned Rich Rod in 2 dominating wins...however somehow Michigan rises up for this game and nips the Illini in a shootout 38-36. Tate Forcier texts his awesome stat line ESPN reporters after the game. Michigan 4-5.

Game 10 Purdue. This one is personal for Rich Rod. Not only does he have to finally get a win vs. Purdue, but he has a personal revenge vs. Danny Hope for the handshake diss last year. Although this game is on the road, Michigan's talent level wins this one... 28-20. Michigan 5-5. Koolaid drinkers stick their heads out of the closet to get a breath. Rich Rod on PTI and Rome all week talking about how "the program is going in the right direction, we just havent seen it in wins yet"

Game 11 Wisconsin. The hammer drops on Michigan in the Big House. John Clay runs wild vs. a smaller and lessor physical Michigan defensive front. Wisconsin has far too much for Michigan, which does fight valiantly but can not overcome. Wisconsin 40-31. Michigan 5-6.

Game 12... THE GAME. Undefeated OSU vs. 5-6 Michigan in the Shoe. Pryor in the Heisman mix and the Vest has them rolling again. This one is not close. OSU rolls 45-17 and Tressel takes the reins off of Pryor and he stiff arms Michigan safetys in long runs to the end zone. Michigan finishes at 5-7.

One week after the game, Rich Rod is dismissed by the new AD. He holds a tearful interview on ESPN in which he claims that forces consipired against him at Michigan and that he had no chance and did not deserve the treatment that he got at Michigan. The Michigan athletic dept. considers the dismissal "at cause" and refuses to pay the $4mil parting gift buyout to Rich Rod... This sparks a legal battle and massive spin campaign on the part of RR by his Brown and his crack financial team. In an effort to avoid further RR embarrassment, Michigan settles and pays RR a cool $2 mil to just go away.

Rich Rod and team spin away... and after another year off in 11, he, Barwis and his program resurface in place at an ACC school with warmer weather where he can live out his days Holding the Rope as the offensive-genius that he reportedly is.

Dont think this can happen? Ask Mike Leach, who was actually a winner at TT.

all the negative comments are well earned for this team, but the ones who seem to HATE the team now, don't come back when we are winning again. we don't need FAKERS .........stay away, enjoy your bashing now. but hey, youll still have your lions to bash...

Nice OrlandoMichFan! I live in the Orlando area. I try get to all the local alumni thrown games. The Cap One bowl game was fun when we beat the gators. Hopefully we are on the path to greatness this coming season.

All we need is just a couple 3-and-outs from our defense each game next year. With that, and an offense heretofore unseen, we roll into the Shoe next year with 9 or 10 wins.
I know people up high, and they are saying that the NCAA has just about completed its investigation, and the findings are going to be very innocuous.
Basketball game tomorrow:
Michigan 68
osu 60

tomhagen,
What you say about the Michigan schedule could very well come true next season. However, on the other side, some of those games you mentioned are swing games that could go either way. For example, UConn is a very winnable game because it is at home and RR has shown, if nothing else, his teams have done well early in the season while at UM (2-2 year one, 4-0 year two). Other winnable games are ND (first year coach and QB), MSU (at home and it is still MSU, after all), and even Iowa (at home, and although very solid, not unbeatable). That leaves 4 additional games that Michigan might win if they are truly improving, which they should with a veteran QB in Forcier and an O in it's third year in the system. Will they win all 4 of those games? Probably not, but even two of those will get them 7 wins. However, imo, the ones they MUST win in those winnable games are MSU and ND. We've got to start beating some rivals, especially rivals that are down. A good showing at OSU is also a must. So, while 5 wins is certainly a possibility, so are 7 or more. However, even that is midling by Michigan standards. We are not Texas Tech, Purdue, or West Virginia...we are Michigan. We are comparable to Oklahoma, Texas, OSU, Alabama, PSU, etc. We need to be on that level and be content with nothing less. Let's hope to see some progress in THAT direction by knocking off the lightweights (Pudue, Illinois), beating our rivals (MSU, ND), and giving the heavies (of which we used to be one - PSU, OSU) a run for their money. I don't think any Michigan fan should ask for less than that.

I can't stand reading some of this negative garbage, I'll bet two things. 1) nobody has ever strapped on a helmet in Division one football, because if you had you wouldn't be so nagative to begin with and the other 2) none of you were Michigan fans in the 59's or 60's when we went to 2 bowl games in 20 years. So let the doom and gloomers give up their tckets so the 15,000 people who want to cheer foe Michigan and are on the waiting list can!

By the way, I don't think that RR can be fired for "cause" simply for not winning enough games or getting blown out by OSU. Although those conditions would likely get him fired, it wouldn't be for "cause." "Cause" would be for something like NCAA violations, etc.

After watching Devin Gardner today in the UA game, I came away thinking we may see him early next season if necessary OR if he wins out the job. That guys is a freak athlete with a nice touch on his passes. Granted he ran / passed pretty split amounts he has a nice TD. Pretty exciting seeing the future.

Anyone who feels that UConn will be a push over / easy game...is crazy. They just destroyed an SEC team in South Carolina and are returning 4 starters on the OL vs. a rebuilding Michigan smaller defensive front. Randy Edsel is a heck of a coach and may be in the discussion for the replacement for Rich Rodriguez after he is dismissed.

Mike, Have to disagree about UM going to a bowl game. Might be a game over 500 but I doubt it. It is particularly galling to see stellar recruit, Mallett, starting at Arkansas and tearing it up. His departure was certainly RR's fault. Brilliant coaching forcing him to play his goofy spread. He'll probably be a Heisman nominee next year. Serves UM football right.

TomHagan, your analysis is well thought out. And objective. Too objective for me but you are probably right.

AZ you are right that several of the games that Tom chalks up as losses are tight. But at the same time, 3 of the wins that he claims (IU, Illinois, and Purdue) are tight as well, and two of them could reasonably be expected to be blowouts if things start going downhill early - unless RR can rebuild the character on our team (N.B. I don't think he has the character to do this as you know). And BG smells like a setup. They are much better than Toledo and they know it, we don't match their confidence. But we should still win this one.

So I hope AZ is right that we could have a good year and win 7 games. At the same time, if the breaks go the other way from TomHagan's 5-7, we could be 2-10. Like I said, I hope AZ is right.

I'll take just a tad of issue with AZ's assertion that we are in the same category with "Oklahoma, Texas, OSU, Alabama, and PSU". Pains me to say it but its just not true. Now when we say "we are Meechigan" it means something very different than what we meant it to say. It is ringing hollow and this needs to stop! I am tired of teams looking forward to playing us and I'm tired of walking into work on Monday mornings to take the crap I used to give out.

At this point I would be happy to beat my smart-ass little brother and be the best team in the state again. That would be a step in the right direction. We need to regain a rivalry with Tressel but that realistically is a longer term goal and needs a coaching change practically speaking.

We will see our way through this. Go blue!!

Please understand that I would love nothing better than Michigan to go 9-3 and end up on New Years day or better....but that is not going to happen.

Im tired of the excuses, the blaming Lloyd for what is happenning now. This has nothing to do with Lloyd and everything to do with the current coach, who has shown many cracks in his character + has done absolutely nothing of value for the program in 2+ years at Michigan... anyone who can see progress? well... please let us know where it is... the program is down, very down by Michigan standards and its all on Rich Rod... this was a bad fit, bad hire, period.

If Michigan goes 8-4 as Mike Rothstein predicts, then I will be the first one to congratulate them.....however you need to call it as it is...this team is in a very bad state and has show 0 signs of being competitive in the Big Ten immediately....there needs to be a coaching and philosophy change for that to happen...there IS talent there...

2010 should be the final year that Carr's bare cupboard will be almost empty if not. RR won't play any of Carr's leftovers this year anyway so it won't matter. 2011 will be RR's year. All his recruits will be in place with experience. Until 2011 it's Carr's fault...

2011?????? Wow!
Its been on Rich Rod since day one. You must be joking if you are saying RR is given a free pass until 2011. What you are saying about 2011 needs to happen in 2010. Think about this, a lot of the players are now on year three with him. Surely he is good enough a coach to game plan with this current team. No???
I believe it will be a nice season in 2010. Ill support who ever coaches the wolverines, RR has had two seasons of experience in the big ten, its already time right now to start dominating in the big ten. I think more and more fans / followers will blow their gaskets if it is a poor season. Gotta hit that nine win minimal next year. Its all there for him to coach, so coach.

You can be a Michigan fan and not be happy with RR at the helm. He is neither likeable nor able to win. That is not a good combination for Michigan fans, if you look back at its history. He is a loser in both categories, and is a misfit for U-M. Since Mary Sue seems to get so many things so wrong, maybe the fans should vote for the next football coach. And for many other aspects of the U's future, while she is still around. Can't she be appointed to the Supreme Court, or become OSU's president instead? RR can be her personal assistant.

2010 prediction: "Tater" is Bill Martin

man in the mirror,
Funny that Carr never won less than 7 games AND whipped Florida with "his" recruits. If "his" recruits are so poor that RR can't even break .500 with them, then Lloyd Carr was a far better coach than even I gave him credit for...and certainly far better than RR.

Agree with what you're saying AZ. Those who are securely in RR's camp seem to be those who were the anti-Carr fans. And it is funny because they claim he could not get enough out of his talent, yet he had no talent left over in the transition. They are critical of his "boring old 3 yards and dust" offense, yet LC's teams consistently had more yards overall, particularly in the receiving game, than RR's offense. And they claim that LC's defenses couldn't defend, particularly against the spread, yet in the last 2 years, RR's record with the same players (and some of his own), they have turned in the worst statistical performances in Michigan's history.

Lot of doublespeak there. And that warning of "be careful of what you wish for" is sure ringing true.

The bottom line is that sitting around on Jan. 3 arguing about a season that begins in 9 months is rather pointless. Rodriguez will be back next year, so I would advise people like Tom Hagan and the 20 "incognito" MSU fans above to use their time more productively. There are two current absolutes regarding Michigan football. 1. The past two years were extremely disappointing, and 2. Rich Rodriguez will be fired after 2010 unless he produces a bowl game and serious visible progress. If the team does not live up to these expectations in 2010, I will be with you calling for the ouster of RR. However, at this point I don't really see the upside of predicting doom and gloom. If RR is fired after next year, we will be stuck with another 2-3 year rebuilding process. And Tom Hagen, I believe your prediction of UM losing to MSU is terribly wrong. After seeing them play in the game last night, I am going to say Michigan scores "at will" against the MSU defense and wins by at least 14 points. The MSU secondary could be the worst in Big10 modern history next year.

Why do you guys not want Rodriguez to suceed. I mean if he doesn't then fire him, but don't predict 6-6 and below just so we can get rid of him. michigan's offense will be loaded, and don't forget the Michigan defense recruits.

8 wins are UCONN, ND, UMASS, BG, IND, MSU, Purdue, and Illinois