Michigan getting 7 is a huge gift!

[brijames]

Michigan may very well lose this game but it will not be by more than 3pts. USC has not faced an offensive line like they will face today. UM has too many weapons on O to stop. They have 3 recievers who will be playing on Sunday's and of course Chris Perry.
They will thrive on being the underdogs in this one. How often is UM an underdog?
USC has all the pressure in this one. Not often your playing for a National Title.
Living in MI, I have seen this team play many, many times. The one thing about UM is they are as pride full program as there is in College FB. They will never be embarrased in a game. They will fight to the end as well as any team.
And these accolades are coming from an MSU fan who can't stand UM. But I respect there football program as much as any in the country.
I just can't see this being anything but a close fought game to the end, a 3 pt swing or less either way.

 

[Geek]

Oh, I believe Michigan can and will win. USC is a great team, but Michigan is just the type of team that can beat them. Good defense, solid running game, and they're hot. 7 is a gift, and the outright win can easily happen!!

GL

Geek

 

[REML]

I am playing only one bowl game this year and its Michigan. I will be very surprised if they don't win this game. College football is the only sport where who plays well at the end of the year has no bearing on anything. If this were college hoops, Michigan would be the team nobody wanted to play (and K St wouldn't be on anyone's dream list either!!). Normally, when the line is far off, I sit and overanalyze and try to see what I am missing. In this instance, I don't care, if I am, I am. Just when I look at the match-ups, Michigan is better. Of course, if not for poor coaching and horrific special teams, maybe Michigan would be playing Oklahoma or LSU???

 

[Soulman]

Michigan better than USC?? No way!! Sorry fellas, save your money... USC in a blowout... this is a 10 unit play for me!

 

[REML]

Thanks for the advice. I'll still waste my money on Michigan.

 

[BigPete]

Michigan ml for me

 

[tigerclicks]

BIG PETE & REML, the Big TEN Boat is about to depart...USC is blinded by the light of Pete Carrol and is "We should be playing in the BCS championship game."...
I believe they are better off not playing LSU..

Michigan will prove their worth today...ML +235 sounds like bank to me!

 

[theguru1]

Definitely value in Mich ML +235 wow!! I got MIch to cover, go blue. +7

 

[snowtime]

I hope that USC beats the #$@$ out of them after miracle Purdue comeback that killed their spotlight!!

 

[dottom]

USC in a blow out. Keep in mind in 2002 USC had the TOUGHEST BCS schedule and won 11 games. Everyone giving USC a hard time for weakish PAC-10 strength of schedule, but they will prove they are #1 by blowing out Michigan.

Those that think the game will be close but are till USC backers can tease USC/OVER.

 

[Soulman]

Reml... You took a bath bro... peace!!! Go Trojans!!!!

 

[KMAN]

The game came down to 2 plays really......

If Edwards' catches that wide open bomb on the first drive it's 7-0 Michigan, and if USC doesn't catch the ball off Edwards' foot

the game is 7-7 instead of 14-0 but I guess that's why you play the game.

The Michigan O-Coordinator should've been able to figure out in the first quarter that 7 step drops weren't going to work against USC, but he couldn't, and with Navarre locked on to one WR

that didn't help either.

USC is going to be tough the next couple of years with Williams, Leinhart, and Bush all Freshmen/Sophmores and with Pete Carroll as Defensive Coordinator/Head Coach USC is in good shape for years to come.

KMAN

 

[3peet]

The 28-14 win is missrepresents the actual domination USC had over Michigan on both sides of the ball. Navarre could've been in shotgun all day long or run no huddle to mix things up. The bottom line is the USC defense was so dominant Michigans offensive adjustments wouldn't have mattered. Navarre spent more time on his back than a $10 hooker.

As for as the offensive output by USC, this easily could've been a 49-14 thrashing had USC felt like it. USC scored at will on Michigan. The Wolverine had absolutely no clue what USC was going to from play after play.

This was an all out domination by USC. Even Michigan fans in the stands knew at the 21-7 point that a comeback wasn't possible. Any TD Michigan put up would've been answered in a Norm Chow surgical 4-5 play effort.

Forget out it folks this was an asswhoopin any way you look at it. ...and NO, more time on the clock would've have mattered.

 

[dottom]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by KMAN:
The game came down to 2 plays really......

If Edwards' catches that wide open bomb on the first drive it's 7-0 Michigan, and if USC doesn't catch the ball off Edwards' foot

the game is 7-7 instead of 14-0 but I guess that's why you play the game.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
This mis-represents the game through over-simplification. First of all, every game has plenty of "if only he'd caught that..." or "if only he didn't trip..." or "if only that deflection bounced up..." etc.

If Michigan was even close in this game then USC would have played differently. USC went more conservative after taking the 21-point lead. Michigan only gave up 6 passing TD's all year, and how many did USC have this game?

Regarding the INT off Edwards foot... I keep hearing "oh so lucky" etc... but you have to understand that Navarre was under pressure ALL GAME. Michigan has only given up 15 sacks all year and how many did USC have this game? Michigan was pinned deep in their territory due to USC domination. The combination of being pinned deep + QB pressure leads to mistakes. If it wasn't this INT it could've been something else. Also, who is to say if that ball fell incomplete and Michigan punted, that USC would not have marched 40-50 yards down the field and scored anyways?

My point is Michigan was clearly dominated. You cannot point to "just two plays" to oversimply the game because it does not do justice. Just look at the two stats I mentioned above (Michigan passing TD's given up and sacks allowed).

Also, every one loves to make fun of USC strength of schedule vs. the other top-4 teams... but who had the TOUGHEST BCS schedule in 2002? Yes, USC, and they went 11-2 winning their bowl. Look at the combined schedule and record for 2002 and this season, and tell me USC is not #1?

 

[brijames]

I agree that Michigan was completely dominated. There really was no point where you thought USC was not in control.
I don't ever remember a Michigan team so thouroughly dominated on both the O and D lines.
This USC team made a believer out of me that they are the best team in the country.
Now if we could only see them match up with the Ok-LSU winner we could have an undisputed champ.