Michigan Wolverines 2010 College Football Predictions – BCS Odds 2011: It brings great joy in college football to kick an old dog when its down. That's exactly what is going on among fans and pundits who happen to not like the University of Michigan football program. Rich Rodriguez is working tirelessly to restore the football Wolverines to their previous greatness experienced under Bo Schembechler and Lloyd Carr, but has had to work with less talent than either of those guys had when they took over.
There is reason to be optimistic among the Maize and Blue faithful. Rodriguez is starting his third year and has 18 returning starters back from the 5-7 season Michigan suffered in 2009. With this many starters returning Michigan can only get better.
One big reason for optimism at Michigan is the return of sophomore quarterback Tate Forcier. As a true freshman, Forcier showed plenty of leadership skills and should pick up where he left off last year. Forcier will have some familiar faces to throw to also in sophomore Roy Roundtree and juniors Junior Hemingway and Martavious Odoms. The Michigan passing attack was ninth in the BIG TEN in 2009 so improvement this year is vital.
Michigan’s defense was one of the worst in the league in 2009 so Rodriguez is changing the scheme to a 3-3-5. The scheme allows safeties to player nearer to the line therefore helping the linebackers. Time will tell if it improves overall play of the unit.
With one conference win, over Indiana, Michigan suffered the worst league finish in nearly a half century. After winning its first four games, Michigan lost seven of its last eight games with the only win over FCS Delaware State. The 2010 schedule looms more difficult with budding BIG EAST power Connecticut scheduled as the opener. Michigan will then travel to South Bend to take on Notre Dame in a heated rivalry game. The Wolverines should catch a break with UMass and Bowling Green coming to Ann Arbor Sept. 18 and 25th. October will be difficult for Michigan playing at Indiana on Oct. 3, followed by in state rival Michigan State (Oct. 9), Iowa (Oct 16), at Penn State (Oct 30). Michigan closes out its schedule in November with games at Penn State, Illinois at home, a trip to Purdue then Wisconsin at home before heading down to Columbus for a game with Ohio State.
Michigan will do better if its defense can come together and stop somebody. The offense looks pretty good will score some points. The best case scenario for the Wolverines is going 7-5 but repeating at 5-7 is more likely. How they look in their first two games will provide a measuring stick.
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