The Jive Turkey Bowl

Time: Noon 

Location: Big House 

Weather: 🌞 & 42

TV: ABC 

Line: Michigan -2

This season got canceled originally for a reason and even though both Penn State and Michigan wanted to play, they haven't shown that on the field this season.  Both teams have lost their best players to injuries or opting out.  They both even had a unexpected retirement due to a medical condition outside of football.  

To say this season is a disaster for Penn State and Michigan is an understatement.  Penn State has zero wins and Michigan has 2.  The good news for both is someone has to win this game and the bank keeps cashing those checks into Harbaugh's and Franklin's account. 

Why PSU?

I don't know, I've watched a few of their games and they look pretty good sometimes and pretty awful others.   I thought they had a decent game against Ohio State and played IU to the bell, but have looked pretty bad since then.  

They can't stop the run but haven't seen Michigan's offensive line yet.  They have to win at some point right?

Why Michigan?

In what Wolverines fans call a  back handed compliment, the Wolverines beat Rutgers in 3 OT's last weekend.  Lets be fair,  Rutgers is better and Michigan is a lot worse.   Done Brown continues his awful defensive scheme in Ann Arbor and should be looking for a house on the East Coast.  

Michigan did get a spark at QB when Cade McNamara came in, but we have also seen Joe look good week one and have a history with a guy named John O'Korn who came off the bench and looked like Tom Brady for a half and then never played well after that.  

Michigan's defense has a ton of walk-on's on it because of a ton of injuries.  At least those guys want to be on the field and playing hard. 

Wake up from your Thanksgiving comma and pick something already?

Here is another ancient analogy for you,  Creedence Clearwater Revival has a song called "Who'll Stop The Rain".   Which should be the theme of this game, except you replace rain with run.   Neither team wants to pass the ball because its been a disaster all year.   Both teams have gone through multiple QB's that have seen multiple losses.    When that happens coaches like Harbaugh and Franklin go back to what they know and that is running the ball. 

Former Detroit Lions President Matt Millen said on air last week, this is the worst run stopping defense he has ever seen in State College.  Matt played there in in the late 70's and was drafted in 80.   If Michigan can run the ball like they did against The Golden Gophers, they can win this game by a couple touchdowns, the issue is, they haven't been able to do that since then.  

Both teams will load the box and see who can get the most yards.  Michigan will try to pass more because that is built into Coach Gattis's DNA.  He would also would like a win over the staff he used to be on.  I don't know how much Penn State wants to be in Ann Arbor on Saturday, this is always a lazy week with Thanksgiving and an early start.  They close against Rutgers and MSU, which should be winnable for them.  

I like big games from Haskins out of the backfield and Evans in the slot.  If Cade can protect the ball, move the sticks, and score a few TD's, Michigan can win this game.  If they turn the ball over and Nordin is missing kicks we could see a replay of last week.

Michigan 31 PSU 20 

Preview Minnesota

Time: 7:30 EST 

Location: Minneapolis, MN

Weather: Cold, 20 with light snow

TV: ABC

Line: Michigan -3

Can't believe we are close to watching Michigan Football again.  I didn't expect it to happen in 2020 after New Years Day.  There have been 3 Michigan schedules this season, the trip to Washington is only trumped by a trip to Twin Cities to start the season.   I can't stand opening day road games (I need a support group for this aliment) and the only way to make it worse is to have a primetime kickoff.   The Big Ten Bingo again gives OSU a cake wake at home and sends Michigan into the frozen tundra against a ranked Gophers team that was 11-2 last season.   Let me say that again, the Golden Gophers were 11-2 last year.  

Why Minnesota?

We really don't know shi*t about either team.  We know Minnesota was pretty good last year and beat Auburn in a Florida Bowl game.   We know the Gophers have an accurate QB in Tanner Morgan and an NFL WR in Rashod "Jason" Bateman, who opted back in after heading for the NFL when the season got cancelled.   The Gophers secondary is anchored by former Wolverine Ben St-Juste, who left Ann Arbor under strange circumstances and has been playing well for the Gophers.  

We know Minnesota lost a ton on defense and also could be suffering some COVID loses to the roster but at this point we don't know who and if they're starters or not.  Their giant offensive lineman (that Michigan recruited for a minute) Faalele is rumored to have opted out.   I'm guessing someone would have noticed if a 6'9 400 pound man was practicing.  

The Gophers want to run the ball but their best shot to beat the Wolverines is to light up the inexperienced secondary, as I'm sure Don Brown has a LB covering Bateman.    They will also have to take advantage of some Michigan offensive turnovers.   They probably lose a bit of the home field advantage in an empty stadium but it is still a night road game for the Wolverines.  

Key match-up: Bateman taking Don Brown to the Ozarks.  

Michigan 

Lets be real, we love the hype about the offense but I'm not buying it.   Michigan never looks good week one and even worse with a new QB.  Yes, I hope Joe has Brady's accuracy, Denard's speed, and Cam Newton's body/athleticism but we know he will be nervous and make mistakes when the game speeds up.   Speed in space isn't great in cold weather and Michigan will try to protect their young QB with a ton of quality RB's and a good Oline.   If Michigan can run the ball for first downs, they will let Joe throw a few deep balls.   Move the damn game to whatever is the Metro Dome now.  

This game will be ugly on both sides and Michigan has to win this game on defense.   Hutch and Paye needs to pressure Tan Morgan all night and hope he doesn't have time to find his WR's down field.  Stopping the run in the Big Ten is always an important strategy and really shouldn't even be mentioned.    I expect Dax to see a ton of Bateman, as Michigan CB's still are brand new to Big Ten football.  

Key match-up:  Michigan DE's not against Andre The Giant 

Well, we're waiting...............

Did I mention that I don't love opening the season on the road at night?  Michigan hasn't lost in Minnesota since 1977 and even Nick Sheridan (IU's OC) won a game there.   This is personal for PJ as he made a name for himself in Kalamazoo and would love to dust off the case for the Little Brown Jug.  I do like that Michigan has been practicing non-stop for 3 months and should be as ready as any Michigan team has been under Jimmy in 6 years opening day.   Michigan did play better in the second half against PSU on the road last season and maybe Jimmy figured something out.  I don't believe in moral victories, but Alabama seems to be wrecking teams this year and Michigan was ahead at the half in the Citrus.      

There is a lot of mystery around Minnesota and players not being available, so much that the Vegas line went from Michigan getting +2 to a -3 favorite.    Many people in the media think Minnesota is the 3rd best team in the Big Ten behind OSU and PSU.   I think the jury is still out on that and my biggest concern is the Wolverine secondary.  If Tan Man Morgan has time to pick apart Michigan's secondary, I won't have a good nights sleep.   I do think Michigan will have the talent advantage and both lines could dominate.  The Gophers might feel like Chris Evans has been killing them out of the backfield for like 10 years.  

Michigan 24 Minnesota 20

Wolverine Wednesday: Everyone Cheats and Nobody Cares Anymore

This is where we are at in big time college sports now and maybe all sports.  Major League Baseball which is struggling to keep pace with other big time sports in the US just found their former champions were cheating during the World Series.  

Lets quickly look at college football, it's known that Alabama has a "system" that funnels money to players and even the National Champion LSU Tigers had a recent scandal that nobody noticed.   A LSU Booster named John Paul Funes  pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $800,000 from a hospital charitable foundation.  How did he get caught?  He paid $180,000 of the foundation’s money to the father of Vadal Alexander, a former LSU offensive lineman.   Not to mention OBJ handing out $100's after the NC game (which I really don't have a problem with), is just another example that times have changed.  

How about the College Basketball Scandal with the FBI Wire Taps?  How has that effected Kansas coach Bill Self or Arizona's Sean Miller?  The answer is, it hasn't and nobody seems to care.  

MSU's Mark Dantonio brought a known sex offender to his team and the MSU athletics department seems happy to employ him because he won a Big Ten Championship and went to the College Playoffs.   They seemed to have learned nothing from one of biggest sexual assaults' scandals in history of college sports.   Mark's program is in a steep decline and there are more reasons to fire him then to keep him.  

OSU's star transfer QB Justin Fields, hasn't really seen the Ohio State campus as he is taking online classes and heads directly to the football facility.    This isn't breaking the rules but another example of the student fading from the term student-athlete.   OSU is running a professional football program and Michigan isn't.

Why do we wonder why Michigan isn't competing with these programs?  Michigan of course shot itself in the foot for many years with the RR and Hoke hires and then have been on a long re-build with Harbaugh.  No of us are happy how long its taking.    We also want Jimmy and the program to be above the rules.   He admitted last summer, "that its hard to beat the cheaters".  Yes, it is.

Kids go to class at U of M, Michigan doesn't pay players, and you need to be elite on the field and in the classroom.   If you are an 18 year old 5 star and Bama offers you a chance to compete for National Championships, $100K in your pocket (or your parents pocket), have a great shot at getting to the NFL, and very light college class schedule.   How many of you are turning that down at 18?  I wonder why Najee Harris didn't get on the flight to Detroit.

I'm not saying we go Lance Armstrong but if something doesn't change we need to be happy understanding with losing to the programs that are.

Indiana Preview

Time: 3:30
Location: Memorial Stadium
Weather:  40 - Heavy Thunderstorms
TV: ESPN
Stream: ESPN+
Line: Michigan -9.5

If you were going to try to define a trap game, this would be the example.  A team that Michigan has struggled against but hasn't lost to in over 30 years in between two rival games.   I had no idea that weather could be an issue as there is between 80%-90% rain between 1:00 - 4:00 with heavy thunderstorms at 4:00.   This sounds like there could be a long delay in this one or they even might push the start of the game if that forecasts is accurate.

Tale of the Tape
Passing Game = Indiana
Passing Defense = Michigan
Running Game = Michigan
Kickers = Indiana
Intangibles = Indiana
Talent = Michigan
Coaching = Michigan

This game is really Don Brown vs. Kalen DeBoer the new OC for Indiana.  Can Don's new zone defense stop IU's passing game?   The Hoosiers really don't run the ball, so Michigan needs to key off the pass but worry about surprise runs.   The Michigan defensive line will need to dominate a less than average offensive line.

Say this doesn't feel like a trap, more like an O Snap! if...…………………...

• Michigan's defense dominates and keeps IU under 14 points 
• Shea is picking apart the IU defense 
• Michigan RB's have over 200 yards on the ground 
• No turnovers 
• The weather ends up as a positive for Michigan 
• Michigan doesn't have the road sleepy's

Damn these trap games if...………...

• If IU gives OSU another game plan to beat the Michigan defense 
• If this game becomes a shoot out 
• It's clear Michigan is looking forward to a week from Saturday 
• Michigan's defense is giving up slants and long runs 
• Michigan is turning over the ball and trying to kick field goals 

I like Michigan's power run game if this becomes a ND rain game.  IU is going to try to dink and dunk the Michigan defense to move the ball down field.  They will not let their offensive line get beat with long WR routes that take a few seconds to get down field.   It's exactly how MSU tried to play the Wolverines last Saturday.   Michigan's defense will have to play that trap zone a ton.  

IU wants a shoot out so expect them to throw the kitchen sink at the Wolverines.   Michigan will have to put some points up to win and lets hope they can execute in the red zone to get TD's.  The weather could be a huge factor in this game.   Hanging on to the ball on both sides could be the difference as IU's defense is much better then it has been in the past.   The seniors will need to shine in this game as they are starting to realize their games at Michigan are running out.   Hudson on defense has a huge game and Shea makes plays on offense.  

Michigan 31 IU 20

Michigan Monday: Big Ten Pre-Season Predictions Were Mostly Wrong

I know many fans want to go to the playoff and have a shot at a National Championship.   I do as well, but I much prefer a Big Ten Championship and a trip to the Rose Bowl.  I thought Michigan had a decent shot this year, with OSU going through a coaching change.   I had a bunch of pre-season expectations that have been mostly wrong with a few that were right.

Pre-Season Predictions

Ryan Day is not Urban Meyer and Justin Fields would struggle early and get a little better as the year went on.    Prediction was Wrong!  Ohio State could be playing the best football I have seen out of them in a number of years.  Could make a case for the #1 team in the nation.   Big swing and a miss by me.

Michigan State would have a decent defense but will struggle on offense to score points.   Prediction was Right!  I was looking forward to watching the Wisconsin - MSU game on Saturday.  I got through a few minutes and knew the game was over.   MSU is in big trouble this year.  

Wisconsin would be very one-dimensional on offense and struggle to stop teams on defense.  Prediction was Wrong!  I might have been 50% correct here but I was way off on Wisconsin's defense and ability to stop Big Ten Teams.   Wisconsin travels to Columbus in two weeks and then we will see.   Their defense has given up a total of 29 points all year (14 to Michigan and 15 to NW).

Minnesota has an easy schedule and will look really good until late in the year.   Prediction was Right!  PJ Fleck is 6-0 and will have an easy road to 8-0 before they have to play PSU, Iowa, and Wisconsin.   A schedule with no Michigan, OSU, or MSU is just crazy.   The Golden Gophers will come back to earth when they play Penn State and will end the year with at least two loses and probably 3.  

Penn State and James Franklin were going to struggle without Moorehead, Barkley, and McSorley.  Prediction was Wrong!   Outside of the Pitt game, Penn State looks like what my expectation of what Michigan would look like.  Solid offense and a solid defense.   PSU didn't play great at Iowa but did do enough to win the game against an Iowa team that all of sudden has the turnover bug.  

Michigan's offense would finally get modernized.   That Josh Gattis would scheme an offense that made it easy for Shea Patterson to find open WR's.  The offense line would be the best we have seen in 10 years, and the RB's might struggle due to lack of experience.   The defense would take a small step back but would match-up well against Wisconsin, Iowa, MSU, and PSU.   Prediction was Wrong!   Further explanation is not needed. 

Here is the funny thing.  Many people would have predicted that Michigan would be 5-1 at this point in the year, with a tough loss at Wisconsin.   Yes, the Wolverines got embarrassed but a blow out is the same as a 1 point loss in the standings.  

Ohio State being 6-0 is not a surprise to anyone with their toughest game being MSU in Columbus so far.  

Same for Penn State, with their toughest game being their win in Iowa on Saturday.   Wisconsin doesn't seem to play road games and are 6-0, with their biggest test coming up in two weeks.  

If the year has gone pretty much the way you thought, what is all anxiety about?

Michigan fans have a crystal ball and if they could get themselves to bet against their favorite team would make a killing in Vegas.  Wolverine fans know that Michigan is going to struggle and probably lose by a decent number in Happy Valley, come back and play a talent ND team close, beat MSU, and lose to another uber-talented Ohio State team.  

You know what's stupid but accurate?  I would give Michigan a much better chance next week if the game was played at 12:00 or 3:30.   I'm also willing to bet that the ND @ Michigan will end up being back to back night games for the Wolverines.   Which seem to be the only program in the country that can't play at night.   

Michigan Thursday: Wolverine Ties To Illinois QB

Your first thought might be, "Yea Bob, we get it, Brandon Peters played at Michigan".  Which he did, I have a terrible memory of him sleep walking through an Outback Bowl.   Someone still owes me at least a $1000 for that awful experience!

That isn't the Illinois QB I'm talking about.  It's projected starter (as we expect Peters will be held out with the concussion he suffered last week) Sophomore QB Matt Robinson out of California.  

Your second thought might be, "Did we recruit him or something?"  No, Michigan didn't.

Let me give you some more background information.  Illinois current OC's is Rod Smith who was on Michigan's staff under RR and now pretty much runs Rich's offense.   At that time, Michigan had a DC named Greg Robinson, who failed miserably and motivated the defense with a stuffed gopher.  Illinois QB Matt Robinson is the nephew of Greg.

It seems Greg called up Rod and laid this quote on him during Matt's recruitment:  "He called and said, 'My nephew has re-opened his recruitment and you need to take a look at him. He reminds me of a kid we had at Michigan in Tate Forcier,'" Smith said.

As Matt's height was an issue for some bigger schools recruiting him.  He is listed at 6'1 but I'm pretty sure that is inflated a few inches.  “Everyone else worries about the 6-foot, Matt Robinson’s been 6-foot his whole life," Smith said. "He’s been making plays his whole life. It doesn’t bother him."  

So there you have it, more ties to Michigan and the legend of Rich Rod and Tate Forcier.  

This is the third game in a row that a former Wolverine has been on the opposite sideline.   Part of me hopes Brandon can play, another part of me hopes he just sits out and gets a 100% healthy. 

• If your wondering who to root for this weekend.   Wisconsin to beat MSU and Iowa to upset PSU as a home dog.   Iowa is a bit more important as MSU already has a loss in the Big Ten.  We don't have a dog in the race in the Nebraska at Minnesota but that could be an interesting game.  Martinez is questionable which could benefit the Golden Gophers.