The real reason I am back right now is BiSB. He reminded everyone at mgoblog that one individual with a laptop can create something fun and worth reading. I like to read Brian's forecasts on occasion only these days, and he can do it too; his is not up yet, which is just as well because that would cheating. Thankfully, they're still there and free.
Catching up on recruiting news for a change, MSU is experiencing lots of decommits but history suggests they had made some progress. Michigan has crept into the top 25. You cannot always tell because it goes in cycles regardless of the top ten. Michigan is stacked, and somehow, when they have a need, they manage to fill them, e.g., Okie and Oluwatimi. It would be disingenuous not to comment. The feeling is just going to build over the next five weeks.
Transfer comings and goings is the easy answer, but I don't know the whole story of what is going on in East Lansing. Jayden Reed is still there and is good; quick check, YPC down from 17.4 to 11.7. Their quarterback has never been a real threat and I think the same can be said of their running backs. Apparently State's secondary is the real weakspot and McCarthy and helpers have been good. Michigan would run in this game if they were top 10, and they are not.
Many of those who do this by spending a lot of time at it say take Michigan and the -22 points as a reasonable bet. They--and I--also say when you are better than another team at virtually every position, with depth, and the seasons have gone like they have so far, plus you are at home, you are going to win. No one cares how it will look. The vaunted Mel Tucker has no spell machine and it is not jinxed--Michigan's game is too solid.
Artists and bloggers steal.
So far this year Indiana is the best team Michigan has faced. (Penn State doesn't always show up.) Who knows or cares what is up with Nebraska. Rutgers may be better than in the past or even well coached. Illinois is obviously better but even Bert cannot spread himself across the entire roster. This is Michigan State's schedule for the rest of the year and a January bowl will not be calling either.
Michigan this season, it is fun and they are undefeated. They play the same teams as above--replace Penn State with Ohio State. It looks like it can continue to build. Michigan may or may not be a top five team, but they show no sign yet of not continuing to improve on who they are. On offense, relatively minor (in terms of affecting the team) injuries have not hurt them; the trio of McCarthy, Edwards, and led by Corum continue to gain experience, and the line and receiving corps is deep and experienced. Michigan's defense has exceeded expectations, and depth there too says that will continue. Kicking is top level.
The offseason was an embarrassment. But writing only about football and this (and last) season, Jim Harbaugh has hit his stride.
In this one the real story will be how Michigan State, led by Mel Tucker, handles it. He is in it for the big/long haul. Losing to Ohio State and Washington on the road is no sin, Minnesota and Maryland are decent too. Is Michigan State on the way up or down? This will be an example under adversity and a precursor of the rest of State's season. So far Tucker has had success in some brief stays... Can he build a team?
On the other side of the field, Michigan is 100% Harbaugh.
The score prediction has to be three or four of them. Michigan is going to win by about twenty. For anyone who keeps tabs on the recent history, there is the revenge factor too. Michigan Stadium will be hostile and very adversarial.
This is one of those that, if Tucker is smart, he will carry his post-game comments with him in his pocket.
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