Western Michigan Preview

Time: 7:30 EST 

Location: Big House 

Weather: 70 No Rain 

TV: NBC 

Line: Michigan -27.5

Anytime you see a MAC team vs. a Big Ten team you think it should be an easy win for the Big Ten.  Ask Rutgers how that went last night.   Western Michigan was a good football team last season and won the MAC Championship.  They play solid defense and run the ball.  Yes, this is a new year, but that foundation is set and a physical team will show up in the Big House to face the Wolverines.  

Michigan is also a brand new team, with a new staff and many new players.  I'm thankful this game is a the Big House and not Germany.  Warde got something right as he rides off into the sunset.  

Dear Coach Whitt:

First off I would like to introduce myself.  This is the Big House Blog.   Myself and thousands of BHB inmates love this program.  We care about this program and we wear our Maize an Blue with pride and respect.  We want to be proud of this program, on the field, in the classroom, and off the field.   We expect excellence in all areas as the University of Michigan are clearly the Leaders and Best.   At the core we are fans and football Saturday's are more important to us then you will ever know.  Please bring these young men's best to the stadium every week and will will bring the respect and energy that effort deserves.  

We also use this space to give you advice on the weekly opponent.   This week of course is Western Michigan.  This is your first game in the Big House as the Michigan Head Coach, same with your staff.   It would be easy to sit back and take that all in.  You will have roughly one minute to do that, after you run out of the tunnel prior to kickoff.   Enjoy the moment of Zen and then lets snap back to business. 

Night games are special at Michigan, for many years the team, the athletic department, fans, and the head coaches did not believe football should be played in the dark in Ann Arbor.  It took ESPN to fund the first set of lights on the Big House.  Michigan wanted to play at Noon or maybe 3:30 but never in Primetime.  Of course, TV has changed that and its now become more commonplace. 

Coach you have brought a calmness to Stadium and Main we haven't seen in many years.  Our football team has been full of championships and scandals.  Only one part of that sentence is Michigan Football.  We believe in you and your talented staff.   But let me be clear, playing tough football and falling short every year like you did at Utah, will not work here.  We expect championships and good clean football every week.   The bar here is very high and we expect your ready to exceed it.  

Western Michigan is no cupcake.  They won their conference last season and their Bowl Game.  They like to play a Utah or Michigan type of football in being physical and running the ball right at you.   They are coming to the Big House to not fool you but to play physical football.   This should match Michigan's style and expectation.  They are not driving East for a payday they are coming to Ann Arbor to win the game and embarrass you on your first game has head coach.  Do not sleep on these guys.  

For your team, all eyes will be on Bryce and hopefully a strong jump forward.  He is a talented young man that was given the keys to this offense on his 18th birthday and wasn't coached at all.   We expect a strong run game, great O-line play, and Bryce to hit his new WR's downfield.  Bryce doesn't have to be Tom Brady back there, he just has to play smart and clean.  As much of train wreck as last season was, they were one win away from making the playoffs.  

On the defense side of the ball, I'm looking for an improved pass rush and a secondary that can cover.  The LB's are the biggest question mark and everyone will be watching what we have at that position group.  Nothing will protect them more then good D-line play and a great pass rush.  

Special teams have been pretty bad in the games I've watched so far this season.  Every fans' expectation is that Michigan's special teams will be locked in from the first kick. 

Lastly, play clean, play aggressive, but most importantly play Michigan Football.

What I expect to see:

• Michigan rushes for 250 yards (100 for Marshall, 80 for Hiter, 50 for Bryce, 20 for backups)
• Bryce passes for 225 yards and 2 TD 
• Michigan defense dominates but gives up a late TD 

Michigan 31 WMU 10

Big Ten Week 1 Preview

Lots of Big Ten action prior to Saturday and even after.  How are the best Big Ten games of the week on a Sunday? It's finally here folks, let's get to it! 

Tonight:

UMass @ (-29.5) Rutgers:  UMass are no longer the fighting Don Brown's.  Maybe Don and Wink can start a podcast.  What a terrible game as UMass might be one of the worst college programs in the country. Relegate them to FCS  Rutgers 38 UMass 10

Eastern Illinois @ (-42.5) Minnesota:  Why does the Big Ten always roll out Rutgers and Minn on the first day of the regular season?  What is with that line?  I don't think there are many programs the Golden Gophers can beat by over 40 points.  Minn 40 Eastern Ill 13

UAB @ (-27.5) Illinois:  This is the closest matchup of Big Ten games on Thursday.  I really wish Dilfer was still the head coach.  He isn't.  Illinois 36 UAB 17

Friday: 

Indiana St @ (35.5) Purdue:  Larry Bird is not walking through that door.  ISU has already lost a game and it's not looking good for them in this one.  Purdue 42 ISU 3

Toledo @ (-9.5) MSU: Both Michigan teams might have bit off a Big MAC opponent more than they can chew.  The Rockets are no slouch and might make MSU uncomfortable for 3 quarters.  MSU 24 Toledo 17

Fresno St @ (-22.5) USC: Nobody showed up last weekend for USC, what is going to happen on a Friday night?  USC 31 FSU 20

Saturday:

N. Texas @ (-30.5) IU: Get out of here with that non-conference schedule IU 60 NTU 9

Ohio @ (-23.5) Nebraska:  I never complain about the Big 10 supporting MAC schools.  Nebraska 27 Ohio 13

Ball ST @ (-49.5) OSU: See above, I don't expect OSU will run the score up and win by 50.  OSU 48 Ball ST 7 

Marshall @ (-24.5) PSU: Randy Moss isn't walking through that door.  Fans will have plenty of time to  visit the Paterno Experience Museum.  Ok, that seems like a bad decision.  PSU 31 Marshall 20

N. Illinois @ (-31.5) Iowa:  Here is a fun fact, NIU is no longer in the MAC and now a Mt. West team.  That big head coach I think is also on the Rams staff.  NIU has been known to get an upset early in the season.  Can Iowa beat anyone by over 30 points? The pink locker rooms are the difference.   Iowa 37 NIU 14

Hampton @ (-45.5) Maryland:  This sounds like a Hotel not a football game.  Maryland 40 Hampton 3 (free breakfast included)

S.Dakota State @ (-13.5) Northwestern:  Be very careful here Northwestern.  They play tough football in the Dakota's.  This prediction is not very nice opening a new stadium.  SDSU 17 Northwestern 14

UCLA (-1.5) @ CAL:  Love the PAC 12 match-up.  Did you know UCLA is broke and just fired their AD?  That is a tough situation in a NIL environment.  CAL 28 UCLA 24

Sunday:

Wash St @ (-23.5) Wash:  Sunday Big Ten Football?  What is going on around here?  This is also the Apple Cup that used to be played on the last Saturday of the season.  Talk about another historic PAC 12 game.   Wash 24 WSU 20

Wisconsin @ (-20.5) ND:  Carr is the Heisman front runner before the season starts.  Wisconsin really needs a big win.  ND has been known to start a little sleepy.  This could reset the Badgers program with an upset.  Still Wisconsin hasn't been right for a few years. ND 30 Wisconsin 21

That is too many games to preview.  The Big Ten has way too many teams.  Let's send Rutgers and Maryland to the ACC, UCLA to the new PAC 10, and Nebraska to the Big 12. 

Wolverine Wednesday: A European Disaster

College Basketball teams take trips to Europe to experience new cultures and visits countries they have never been to before.  They also get a ton of extra practices and the ability to play together for the first time against some strong opponents.   That was the plan when Dusty put this trip together.  

Well the outcome was much different then the intent.  Dusty is in Dallas and Michigan played 3 physical basketball teams and came away with a devastating injury.  5-star Brandon McCoy tore his ACL just seconds into Game 3 when he slipped and fell on the way to the basket.   Brandon was clearly going to be a starter, back up ball handler, and defensive stopper.  Yes, he would contribute on offense as he worked on his outside shooting.   He was clearly going to be Michigan's X-factor next season.  Now, he will just get to watch.  

Michigan is in trouble at the back up point.  Can the Columbia transfer fill that role?  He did not play in Europe or can Roddy Gayle come back for another year?  There are more questions then answers for the Wolverines right now.  This is pretty bad news for Mike Boynton who is on a 2-year make it or break it contract and who will have a new boss soon as well.   ACL's now have cost Michigan 2 starters for next season's squad. LJ who is in Miami and now McCoy.  Maybe Dusty can send Rez back?

Tomorrow we get the first Big Ten Week 1 predictions.  I know many of you won't sleep tonight with gleeful anticipation for the post to drop! 😂

• There is starting to be some question around next year's Michigan @ Texas game.  Michigan has moved the EMU game into the spot when Michigan was expected to travel to Austin.   Canceling this game does make some sense for both sides.   Both teams are now playing an extra conference game and Michigan just played Texas in the Citrus Bowl, after hosting them two years ago.   Yes, its good for the game to have match-ups like this, but is the juice worth the squeeze if both teams want to make the playoffs? The game could also be re-scheduled for another year or another date that season. 

Michigan Tuesday: September Roddy?

Roddy Gayle Jr. is suing the NCAA like everyone else to be able to come back to Michigan Basketball for another year and play on this years team.  The team does have a scholarship open when LJ decided to recover from his ACL on South Beach.  

Best of luck to him getting the outcome that we want for his return.  Not sure how the new Big Ten rule about Pro contracts would work since Roddy played in the Summer League.    The LSU NFL players are in camp and preparing for a game against Clemson this weekend. 

I'm still worried about the McCoy injury update, whenever that comes out. 

Coach Whitt did his game week presser on Monday and came out with a few nuggets:

• He is still not planning on releasing a depth chart.  I thought that was a rule now.  

• He did mention on his radio show that Goodwin won the #3 WR spot, I expect we will see a ton of WR's this year.  

• Tommy Carr is the #2 QB right now 

• Andrew Babalola continues his health issues and will not be available on Saturday. 

• John Henry Daley is 100% recovered and a full go! 

• Nate Marshall hasn't gotten a ton of camp buzz, but Coach said he had a good camp and will be a big factor this season.   If you remember he was a borderline 5-star a year ago.