Big Ten Week 9 Preview

This is more of an interesting weekend for the Big Ten then full on top tier match-ups.  Storylines to follow:

• Iowa and Wisconsin figure out who is the better 5-2 team
• Minnesota doesn't play well on the road and should get rolled by IU 
• Can NW make the trip across the country to win a football game?
• Can Ohio State beat USC with their back-up QB?

Like I said, more interesting then must see TV.

Wisconsin @ Iowa (-3.5):  The Big Ten has figured out the Hawkeyes after their win over Michigan.  Wisconsin has sort of been a surprise this year but is still 5-2.   Iowa 20 Wisconsin 13

Illinois (-2.5) @ Maryland:  The Terps are without a head coach and Illinois has been a disappointment this year.  Only watch this game if your paid to do so.  Illinois 13 Maryland 10 

Minnesota @ IU (-20.5):  Minnesota has trouble on the road and even though IU won last week, it wasn't pretty.  The Golden Gophers are going to feel that pain on Saturday: IU 36 Minn 14

Northwestern @ Oregon (-3.5):  The Ducks like Wolverines are struggling but their name seems to get them a few points in the line every week.  NW is the much better team but can they travel West?  Vegas doesn't think so.   Oregon 28 NW 21

Nevada @ UCLA(-22.5):  Strange late in the season non-conference game.  UCLA 41 Nevada 10 

Purdue @ Penn State (-9.5):   Pretty Pretty Bad game. PSU 31 Purdue 17 

OSU (-6.5) @ USC:  Can Lincoln Riley save his job?  Can OSU back-up QB not have the shakes? I like USC in this one if they show up.  USC 24 OSU 20 

Washington @ Nebraska (-7.5):  Nebraska plays well at home.  NEB 26 Wash 20 

Michigan @ Rutgers Mid-Week Injury Report:

Wolverine Wednesday: How Long Is The Bridge?

CBS Sports is reporting that Michigan could be in the head coaching market again this off season.   

Insiders believe that Coach Whitt was just a bridge hire and if the Wolverines go 6-6, they could elect to make a move after a new AD is hired.   

That leads me to this question?  How long is the bridge?

If the Regents are true leaders, they have a plan for this.  They knew a few things at the end of last season.  

1. Sherrone has to be fired 

2. We have to get out of the Warde business.  

It will have taken to the end of this year but both goals were completed.  But there seems to be some legitimate signs this was the plan all along.  

Coach Whitt is near retirement and was looking for a soft landing after Utah pushed him out.  He brought instant credibility to the role after Michigan had distratous off the field issues and NCAA penalties.  He has also acted like a leader that has no worries as his team sits near .500. 

Now, I don't believe Coach Whitt "mailed in" this season, but I also don't think he has any pressure to fire his terrible OC.  This is not his long-term gig.  

Michigan currently doesn't have a President or AD and Coach Whitt can do what he wants, because he has a contract and a short term strategy for retirement. 

Another sign is the two year prove it contract for Mike Boynton that Michigan offered after Dusty jumped ship to Dallas.  

Are there signs, this wasn't the plan?  The biggest one is that Michigan started their AD search just now and not back in August.  Hopefully the Regents have a short list already vetted.  

Either way, right now the Michigan athletic department has more bridges then Madison County. 

Michigan Tuesday: Run on Top In-State QB's

College Football has had a run on State of Michigan former High School QB's leading top teams.  Some were 5 Stars and others were under the radar.   I've been watching college football for a long time and never recall so much talent at QB position from the Great Lakes State. 

Oregon - Former 5 star QB Dante Moore picked UCLA out of HS and then transferred to Oregon.  Unfortunately, he took an illegal hit in September which resulted in a serious concussion.  He is out for the remainder of the year.

ND - CJ Carr will probably lead the Irish to the CFP this year.  This of course is Lloyd Carr's grandson. 

Michigan has two on its roster:  Bryce Underwood 5 star and current starter Tommy Carr who was a 3-star QB and heading to the MAC before he got the call to come to Ann Arbor.  Lloyd's other grandson of course. 

Ole Miss - Trinidad Chambliss, who might be the best out of all the Michigan QB's spent time at Ferris State before Lane Kiffin and staff picked him out of the transfer portal.   All the instate programs missed out on the talented QB out of Grand Rapids. 

-------

I'm starting to lean very strongly that Coach Whitt was a bad hire for the Wolverines.  He is acting like an out of touch CEO of the Michigan Football program.  

These remarks just rip at my soul:

-Now is not the time to panic 

-I'm not a micro manager 

-If I hear an offensive call I don't like, I stay quiet because it could be setting something up later in the game.

-I'm mainly a defensive guy 

-We are a few plays away from being 6-1 or 7-0

Coach, you and Coach Beck have failed us on the offensive side of the ball and your lack of leadership is illuminating brightly.  I'm now understanding why Utah pushed you out.  Did I mention Utah is ranked #6 in the country and 7-0.  Maybe that is what he meant when he said, we are a couple plays away from 7-0.  The "we" is Utah. 

• Yax went for 31 last night against Denver! 

• Michigan has started its search for it's next AD
• Couple questions?
• Why are you starting now?
• Would be great if we had someone already in place as your football team implodes and your basketball coach is on a two year prove it contract. 

• The lack of leadership at U of M right now is unbelievable.  

Photo from Coach Whitt's Monday's Press Conference

 

Michigan HC Kyle Whittingham says he's aware that programs across the country are making coordinator changes right now. But at Michigan, "right now, I don't think it's time to panic."

Michigan HC Kyle Whittingham says the season “hasn't been a complete disaster.”

“Two or three plays, and we're 6-1, and maybe even better. … But that's shoulda, woulda, coulda.”

Also said, "he isn't a micro manager"

Kyle Whittingham: 'Plain and simple, we're not getting it done from a coaching standpoint at this point in time.' (only truthful comment the entire conference)