M at Wisconsin prediction based on Fat Bear Week

 It's the most important week of the year - Fat Bear Week!

 In my preseason prediction, I had M at 4-0 heading to Madison for their first loss. 

M has mostly exceeded even my rosy expectations. Offensively they've been good to great for 14 of 16 quarters. Defensively they have been consistent, if untested. 

Wisconsin has shot themselves in the foot in their two losses - turnovers have been their demise. Their defense will be a great test for M, and maybe more importantly the Michigan offensive coaching staff.

I expect a low scoring game. Optimism is my creed - A podcast told me this morning that M has never lost to Wisconsin 3 straight times. They must have meant 3 straight years as M lost 3 consecutive gamse to the Badgers in 1959, 1960 and 1962 - they did not play in 1961.

Like Grazer 128, M has transformed from the scrawny bear that gets sand kicked in its face to a salmon (pink is basically the Red and White of Wisconsin) killing machine.

M 17

W 13

 

M-Wisconsin Prediction 2021

 Michigan 23

Wisconsin 22

Anagram for Wisconsin Badgers:  Singer Disowns Cab

Crimson Tide swells to retain Trophy

Trophy-holder Alabama didn't have much trouble with Southern Miss, cruising to a 63-14 victory last Saturday. The Crimson Tide host another, more formidable foe from Mississippi this weekend when the Ole Miss Rebels come to Tuscaloosa.

• With their win Saturday, Alabama moved to 62-21 all-time in Trophy games
• This is Alabama's 11th time as holder of the Trophy
  
• Alabama has run off 9 wins since taking the Trophy from Auburn last fall 
  
• The only longer run for the Tide was a 10 game streak as Trophy-holder that was ended by Texas in the 1965 Orange Bowl
• 'Bama is 1-0 all-time against Ole Miss in Trophy games - their was win the the 1964 Sugar Bowl
  
• Ole Miss is 42-13-5 vying for the Trophy
  
• The Rebels have won the Trophy 4 times, most recently in 1967
• They are 0-5 in Trophy games since that loss
  
• Their longest streak was 19 games from November of 1958 through November of 1961 (included a tie to retain the trophy)
• They followed that with a 13 game run, starting with revenge against LSU in 1962 and going until the aforementioned Sugar Bowl loss to Alabama (2 ties included this time)
  

M vs. Rutgers prediction based on historical data

 

M is 227-64-1 in all games I have attended - all stats are for game I attended unless otherwise noted

M is 27-8 in the 4th game I have attended in a season
M is 137-44-1 in non-conference games 

M is 4-1 vs. Rutgers

M is 56-17 in 3:30 starts

M is 37-7 on their homecoming

M is 39-7 on either teams homecoming

M is 50-10 in games with Jim Harbaugh playing a leading role on the team (38-7 as head coach)

M is 27-3-1 when Juwan Howard is a player or coach of the M basketball team

M is 14-5 in the 4th start for their QB

M is 166-25-1 against unranked opponents

M is 13-0 when ranked #19

M is 6-1 vs. schools with Knights as part of their nickname 

M is 28-6 vs. schools with a color commonly included in their nickname

M is 92-32-1 vs. schools with human based nicknames

M is 147-45-1 vs. schools with mascots deemed heavier than a Wolverine

Michigan athletics are 4-0 in games I have attended in-person during a global pandemic

 

It's easy when you look at the numbers:

 

M 36

R 15

Michigan-Rutgers Prediction 2021

 Michigan 36

Rutgers 17

Anagram for Rutgers Scarlet Knights:  Grackle Thrusts Stinger

Michigan-Northern Illinois Prediction 2021

Michigan 41

Northern Illinois 17

 Anagram for Northern Illinois Huskies:  Oil Unit Shrinks Shoreline

M vs Northern Illinois prediction based on historical data

M is 226-64-1 in all games I have attended - all starts are for games I attended unless otherwise noted

M is 33-2 in the third game I have attended in a season
M is 89-20 in non-conference games 

M is 23-1 vs schools from the MAC

M is 1-0 vs. Northern Illinois

M is 32-6-1 vs. schools from Illinois

M is 33-5 vs directional schools

M is 106-25-1 in noon or 12:30 starts

M is 49-10 in games with Jim Harbaugh playing a leading role on the team (37-7 as head coach)

M is 26-3-1 when Juwan Howard is a player or coach of the M basketball team

M is 20-5 in the second start for their QB

M is 165-25-1 against unranked opponents

M is 3-0 when ranked #25

M is 130-22 vs. schools with animal based nicknames 

M is 5-1 vs. schools with canine animal nicknames (5-0 vs. Huskies)

M is 1-0 vs. a second consecutive team with the same (or nearly the same) nickname

M is 146-45-1 vs. schools with mascots deemed heavier than a Wolverine

Michigan athletics are 3-0 in games I have attended in-person during a global pandemic

M is 2-0 when I get to be on the field prior to kickoff

It's easy when you look at the numbers:

M 44

NIU 8

2021 Trophy update

Alabama - took possession of the jiMpossible-sarcasMike trophy in November last year and haven't looked back. Mercer was no match this weekend - although I'm sure Saban has plenty of coaching of coaching points from the 48-14 vicotry.

Their closest match-up in that 7 game span was the 52-46 victory over Florida in the SEC Championship. Who does Alabama play this weekend - Florida...

We'll see if the Gators can match or improve on that effort in the Swamp.

Michigan-Washington Prediction 2021

 Michigan 28

Washington 18

Anagram for Washington Huskies:  A Highness Winks Out

M vs Washington prediction based on historical data

 

M is 225-64-1 in all games I have attended - all starts are for games I attended unless otherwise noted

M is 88-20 in non-conference games 

M is 10-5 vs schools from the Pac12 (or Pac10 previously)

M is 1-0 vs. Washington

M is 4-0 vs. schools from Washington

M is 3-0 when the opposition coach has the same first name as the Michigan coach

M is 14-5 in night games

M is 48-10 in games with Jim Harbaugh playing a leading role on the team (36-7 as head coach)

M is 25-3-1 when Juwan Howard is a player or coach of the M basketball team

M is 19-5 in the second start for their QB

M is 29-6 in the second attended game of their season

M is 164-25-1 against unranked opponents

M is 129-22 vs. schools with animal based nicknames

M is 145-45-1 vs. schools with mascots deemed heavier than a Wolverine

Michigan athletics are 2-0 in games I have attended in-person during a global pandemic

 

It's easy when you look at the numbers:

M 32 - Washington 22

M vs WMU prediction based on historical data

M is 224-64-1 in all games I have attended 

M is 36-6 in the first game I have attended in a season
M is 87-20 in non-conference games

M is 5-0 vs. Western Michigan

M is 30-10 vs. schools from Michigan

M is 105-25-1 in noon or 12:30 starts

M is 47-10 in games with Jim Harbaugh playing a leading role on the team

M is 24-3-1 when Juwan Howard is a player or coach of the M basketball team

M is 163-25-1 against unranked opponents

M is 128-22 vs. schools with animal based nicknames

M is 144-45-1 vs. schools with mascots deemed heavier than a Wolverine

Michigan athletics are 1-0 in games I have attended in-person during a global pandemic (M 76 - FSU 58 - Sweet 16 game in Indianapolis)

M 39 - WMU 20

M Season Presdiction 2021

I'm cautiously optimistic - 10-3

WMU - W

Washington - W

NIU - W

Rutgers - W

@ Wisconsin - L

@ Nebraska - W

Northwestern - W

@ MSU - W

Indiana - W

@ PSU - L

@ Maryland - W

OSU - L

 Las Vegas Bowl vs UCLA - W

Michigan-WMU Prediction 2021

 MIchigan 41

Western Michigan 27

Anagram For Western Michigan Broncos:  Mrs Rings A Nonwhite Bocci