Thoughts on Michigan's 33-28 loss to South Carolina

Well, it was a heck of a football game.

But, in the end, Michigan allowed too many big plays to the South Carolina offense and lost the Outback Bowl, 33-28.

After digesting the game for a few hours, I still stand by my initial feelings that this was Michigan’s game to lose, and the Wolverines did just that.

It became clear during the game that South Carolina was not able to really put a drive together on offense, and was living off the big play.

Seemingly all Michigan had to do was keep the South Carolina receivers in front of them to win, but the Wolverines couldn’t do it.

Offensively, I was pretty impressed with Michigan. I thought Devin Gardner struggled with his passing accuracy, but he made up for it with some big throws later in the game and he also had some really impressive runs that sustained drives.

Denard Robinson looked like a competent running back. It is one thing to run from the quarterback position, it is another thing to play the role of the running back. Robinson did that well. He took the handoffs well. He followed his blockers and made good reads on his running lanes. He was a consistent presence in the offense and didn’t do anything to really hurt the team.

Jeremy Gallon made some impressive catches during the day as well.

The offensive line wasn’t outstanding, but wasn’t awful. Obviously Jadeveon Clowney had some massive hits and a key fumble late in the game, but it is going to be a tall order to keep him from making a big play.

Michigan had 29 more plays than South Carolina and held the ball nearly 16 minutes longer than the Gamecocks, yet the Wolverines still lost.

The Michigan defense didn’t come through today. Three touchdowns of over 30 yards, a 64-yard run from Connor Shaw and even a punt return for a touchdown (not that that’s on the defense, but it is still a coverage unit). Those were the plays that Michigan had to prevent. It’s one thing to allow one or two, but five plays of that nature is not acceptable from this defense. Especially against an average offense in South Carolina, that had just 21 rushing yards outside of Shaw’s 64-yard scamper.

I will get into Michigan’s season in a few days, but this loss puts one last punch in the gut to the Wolverines’ disappointing season. You have to call it disappointing. Michigan wasn’t favored in this game, but it had a win there for the taking and lost. The Wolverines failed to beat any team of significance this season and will probably finish outside the top 20 in the rankings.

If Michigan is truly going to get back to being a national power, 8-5 seasons won’t cut it. I am not trying to rain on the Wolverines’ parade, because an 8-5 season isn’t that bad in the grand spectrum of college football. However, Michigan coaches, players and fans want to live by a high standard, so I am holding them to that standard.

Grade Michigan's 2012 season

Brady Hoke set a high standard for Michigan when he took the job, indicating that anything less than a Big Ten Championship is a disappointment.

While that is the right thing to say to the fan base, I can’t say I agree with the mindset.

Certainly Michigan is a team that should go into each season expecting to contend for the Big Ten title and be among the favorites to win it. But last season saw the Wolverines get 11 wins with no title. That is not a failure.

This season, Michigan again finds itself out of the running for the Big Ten title, but the season wasn’t a complete wash.

Unlike last year, I would say this season has been somewhat disappointing.

The Wolverines went 8-4, but three of their losses seemed like very winnable games.

Michigan could have beaten Notre Dame had it held on to the football.

It seemed that Michigan could have beaten Nebraska had Devin Gardner been prepared to backup an injured Denard Robinson. I wouldn’t say that the Wolverines definitely would have won that game, but the offense clearly would have been more productive than it was with Russell Bellomy at quarterback.

Against Ohio State, the game seemed to be Michigan’s for the taking, but a lack of adjustments on offense allowed the Buckeyes to squeak out a victory.

You can read more into Michigan’s season by the four losses than the eight wins. Truth is, Michigan failed to beat the good teams it faced this year. Of the eight wins, the best win seems to be against Northwestern (9-3), but it took a late miracle to get the win, and I don’t think many view the Wildcats as a nationally respected program.

Michigan did end the losing streak to Michigan State, which it needed to do, but the Spartans’ 6-6 record takes a little steam away from what that victory meant for the season outlook.

Overall, the offense wasn’t as explosive this season and the defense was just a shade worse than it was a year ago.

An 8-4 record is okay this year, but if Brady Hoke wants to live up to the standards he set when he took the job, things have to get better next year. The Big Ten was not that strong this season. There is no telling that it will be this weak again in the future.

Given the record and the quality of victories Michigan had, I give them a grade of a B-. I am hesitant to say C because Michigan still won eight games and could get a solid bowl victory. I don’t think the Wolverines deserved a B because of the lack of quality wins and the failure to make the Big Ten Championship Game.

What are your thoughts on Michigan’s season?

How would you grade Michigan's season

Final thoughts on Michigan/OSU, MSU/Minnesota

I expected there to be plenty to talk about following Saturday’s games, and there is. There were interesting developments for both Michigan and Michigan State in their regular season finales. Here are my thoughts on both team’s performances on Saturday.

Michigan 21, Ohio State 26

This is a game that looked to be Michigan’s for the taking at halftime, but an awful second half on offense kept the Wolverines from getting a big win in Columbus.

The fumbles are one thing. They happen. Denard Robinson and Devin Gardner could have tried to do a better job of protecting the ball, but ultimately, I thought it was the play calling that cost Michigan in this one.

Throughout the game, especially in the second half, I kept saying to myself: “Denard has to throw one of these times, right?”

But the clock kept ticking, and each time Robinson took the field, it was a run play. Not only was it a run play, it wasn’t a real creative run play.

Eventually Ohio State figured out what everyone in the world had figured out, that if Robinson is taking the snap, it is a run. The Buckeyes could commit their entire defense to stopping the run, which it did. The Wolverines couldn’t convert third downs because they were essentially giving away what they were doing based on who took the snap.

I know Robinson broke the big 67-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, but he was unable to do anything in the second half because Ohio State adjusted to the way Michigan used him.

I had no problem with Robinson being on the field, but Michigan needed to have him on the field with Gardner to keep the Ohio State defense honest. Michigan showed those looks in the first half, but went away from them in the second half.

Michigan needed to have Robinson throw a short pass or two to not make it obvious what was coming when he was taking the snaps.

If Robinson was still not healthy enough to throw a slant or even a bubble screen, then why put him under center at all?

I expected the defense to play worse than it did. Ohio State still had nearly 400 yards, but I thought the Wolverines did a good job of containing Miller’s running ability and they also held strong in some tough spots when the offense turned the ball over.

I was surprised Brady Hoke decided to go for it on 4^th and 3 from the Michigan 48 to open the second half. It may have been a different game had it worked out, but I thought there was more risk than reward in that case. I don’t think it cost Michigan the game, but it certainly gave a big momentum swing to the Buckeyes to open the second half.

Saturday’s loss certainly puts a negative on the season perspective for the Wolverines. An 8-4 season is clearly not bad, but no Legends Division title and a loss to Ohio State has to be considered a disappointment, especially when the conference was so up for grabs this year.

Three of Michigan’s four losses this season seemed to be games they could have won with a few changes here or there. The Wolverines controlled their destiny for the most part and couldn’t find their way to a championship when it was there for the taking.

Michigan State 26, Minnesota 10

A win to go 6-6 doesn’t turn MSU’s season from awful to good, but the Spartans came out and put on one of their best performances of the season.

The defense was dominant again, allowing just 99 yards of offense from the Gophers. It doesn’t matter who you are playing, it is difficult to hold a team under 100 yards of offense.

Le’Veon Bell was once again a work horse, pounding out 265 yards on 36 carries.

Andrew Maxwell struggled with accuracy, going just 13 of 29 passing. That has to be concerning at this stage of the season. Maxwell has not taken many strides throughout the course of the season that would give MSU fans much confidence for next season.

But, getting back to the overall point on this game, Michigan State fans should be happy that their team didn’t quit. It would have been easy to.

The Spartans came in with high expectations this season and missed them all by a wide margin. Making a bowl isn’t something that players can often get up for when they had hopes for a conference championship.

I give credit to the Spartans for not wanting to end their season on Saturday. A bowl victory can still salvage a little something to build on for next season.

But, make no mistake, this season has still been a step back for the program.

Predictions for Michigan/OSU, MSU/Minnesota

Saturday marks the end of the regular season for both Michigan and Michigan State, with both teams playing very meaningful games. Here are my predictions for both contests.

Michigan at Ohio State

This game really feels like more than just an annual rivalry game. Ohio State is looking to get an undefeated season while Michigan is seeking a ninth win. Both coaches (Urban Meyer and Brady Hoke) are looking to make a statement against the other for the sake of the rivalry.

I expect this game to be similar to last year’s game, where it is an offensive showcase that could come down to the final possession. I think Ohio State will be able to move the ball on the Michigan defense thanks to the play-making ability of Braxton Miller. I think the Wolverines will also be able to find plenty of offense against an Ohio State defense that isn’t all that strong. I think Michigan will pull out all the stops on offense, incorporating Devin Gardner and Denard Robinson at multiple positions to keep the Buckeyes guessing.

Ultimately, I see the Buckeyes winning this one. This game means everything to Ohio State (no offense, Michigan fans). With no bowl game and no Big Ten Championship opportunity, this is the national title game for Ohio State. Meyer has built this game up to be everything for the fan base and the players, and it will take place in the Horseshoe. I think Michigan puts up a fight, but Ohio State finds a way to win in the closing moments.

Ohio State 34, Michigan 31

Michigan State at Minnesota

I know it’s easy to assume that MSU will just waltz in to Minnesota and win and become bowl eligible, but what have the Spartans done this year to prove that would be a given?

Mark Dantonio may have guaranteed victory in his weekly press conference, but the only guarantee I expect is that this game will come down to the final possession just like all other MSU games.

Minnesota has plenty to play for here, just like the Spartans. The Gophers are seeking their first 7-win season since 2008 and head coach Jerry Kill came under fire this week from former player, A.J. Walker. There will be plenty of Minnesota players that will look to rally around Kill and get him a big win to end the regular season.

I am still going to pick Michigan State, as the Spartans are more desperate for the win. A loss for MSU would make an awful season even worse. I don’t expect it to be pretty, but some way, the Spartans will find a way to win.

Michigan State 20, Minnesota 17

Devin and Denard - what could have been

Last Saturday saw another sizeable win for the Michigan football team, but it came in a little different style.

After missing the last two games with an injury to his elbow, Denard Robinson returned to the field against Iowa and was creatively used alongside backup quarterback Devin Gardner.

Robinson didn’t throw a pass in the game. He was instead used as a running back and a receiver.

Defenses still had to respect Robinson for his speed and his quickness while Gardner remained the quarterback. Gardner finished with 314 yards passing and three touchdowns while running for two more scores.

The Michigan offense totaled over 500 yards and looked as good as it has all season, but the real question is, why now?

Obviously the answer for Saturday was to get Robinson on the field for his final home game with Michigan.

But, when you see what this offense is capable of with Gardner at quarterback and Robinson used as a running back/receiver, you have to scratch your head at why this wasn’t implemented earlier. Last season saw Gardner take some occasional snaps at quarterback with Robinson, but it wasn’t anything like what we saw on Saturday.

Could this combination have helped in games against Alabama, Notre Dame and Nebraska?

Digging up this kind of success this late in the season doesn’t do much good for Michigan outside of possibly beating Ohio State, but even a win over the Buckeyes won’t get them a Big Ten title unless Nebraska loses.

Is it fair to say that Brady Hoke and the Michigan coaching staff missed the boat here?

Coaches always say they have to put their best 11 on the field each week.

It is starting to appear that the Wolverines haven’t had their best lineup on the field most of the season.

What are your thoughts on how Michigan used Robinson/Gardner against Iowa

Predictions for Michigan/Iowa & MSU/Northwestern

Another Saturday of college football is upon us. Here are my predictions for the two games taking place.

Iowa at Michigan

I think this is a game Michigan can win with some ease. The Hawkeyes are a mess right now, having lost four straight. The Michigan defense shouldn’t break much of a sweat to keep the Iowa offense in check and the Wolverines should continue to build off their offensive performances of the last two weeks. Devin Gardner has played well thus far at quarterback and I expect that to continue. If Denard Robinson is given his shot to play in what is his final home game, I think he will come through with some big plays. Essentially, anything less than a comfortable win would be surprising to me. Michigan needs to carry some momentum into next week against Ohio State and Iowa is a perfect opponent for that to happen.

Michigan 31, Iowa 13

Northwestern at Michigan State

Despite MSU’s strength against the run defensively, I still expect Northwestern to be able to move the ball on the ground. The Wildcats have found a way to be competitive in every game this year and I don’t see that changing against the Spartans. For the MSU offense, I expect a solid showing, as the Wildcats are giving up nearly 400 yards per game. Le’Veon Bell will get his chance to shine, but I think it will be the MSU passing game that ultimately guides it to a victory. We have seen the Wildcats give up big plays in the secondary recently and Michigan State should look to attack them deep. I do think this game will be close and come down to the end, but I see the Spartans edging the Wildcats to become bowl eligible.

Michigan State 24, Northwestern 20

Gardner or Robinson?

Denard Robinson is a polarizing player.

Obviously Robinson is a tremendous athlete.

He has put up historic numbers as a member of the Michigan football team, but he hasn’t been able to win over the entire Wolverine fan base.

There is a significant part of the fan base that feels Robinson is what is keeping Michigan from truly taking a step forward at the national level.

Their point has been emphasized over the last two games with the play of Devin Gardner.

Gardner, who also has the capability to run or pass, has shown much better passing abilities than Robinson.

Over the last two weeks, Gardner is 28 of 47 passing for 520 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions. He has also rushed for 68 yards and three scores.

In Robinson’s starts this year, he has thrown for over 210 yards in just one game. He has nine passing touchdowns with nine interceptions.

What he lacks in passing, he makes up for in rushing, as he has rushed for 946 yards and six touchdowns.

Saturday’s game with Iowa marks the final home game for seniors, including Robinson.

On Monday, during his weekly press conference, Brady Hoke indicated that Robinson is still day-to-day with his elbow injury that has lingered on into its third week.

When asked if senior day will impact his decision to get Robinson in the game against the Hawkeyes, Hoke indicated that Robinson’s health is the only thing that will impact whether he plays or not.

I would suspect that Michigan can beat Iowa with Robinson or Gardner under center. The real question is about Ohio State.

Will the Wolverines need a consistent passing effort to win in Columbus? If so, do Michigan fans trust that Robinson can be the player to provide that effort?

Robinson did go 14 of 17 passing for 167 yards and three scores against the Buckeyes last year, but I suspect that Ohio State’s defense will be stronger this year with Urban Meyer as coach and the added emphasis on beating Michigan this year since the Buckeyes can’t compete in postseason play.

That is just my opinion.

What is your opinion? Give me your vote as to who you think should be Michigan’s quarterback going forward.

If both are healthy, who should be Michigan's current QB

Final thoughts on Michigan's win over Northwestern

Northwestern is a name doesn’t bring out a lot of fear in college football fans, but the Wildcats have been a pretty good team this year and I had a feeling that Saturday’s game would be a tight one.

I predicted Michigan winning 31-24, so I am happy with that as my predictions have been way off lately.

I certainly didn’t see the game coming down to a miracle at the end of regulation, but that seems to be something Northwestern lets happen.

The thing that was lost in the finish was the importance of Roy Roundtree finding a way to make that amazing catch. Sure, there was a penalty on the play, but in college pass interference is just a 15-yard penalty. Had Roundtree not made the juggling catch, the ball would have been put at the Northwestern 47 with eight seconds left. It would have been very tough for Michigan to get enough yards while stopping the clock to get a lengthy field goal.

Roundtree’s catch was clutch and he and Jeremy Gallon made some great plays during the game. That catch by Roundtree could go on to define the season if Michigan is able to get to a possible 10 wins (including a bowl victory).

The defense struggled on Saturday, but they aren’t the first to do so against Northwestern. Colter made some great plays for the Wildcats. It’s okay to expect the Wolverines to do better, but they are still going to have some down performances during the season.

As high as the win was for Michigan fans, I am sure they have to be disappointed about Nebraska’s win over Penn State.

An upset seemed to be brewing with the Nittany Lions up 20-6 at halftime, but Nebraska found a way to win. The Cornhuskers were the benefit of a big call on the McGloin “fumble” at the goal line, but that is how it works when you don’t control your own destiny.

Michigan has two games left and it appears that Denard Robinson’s injury may be more serious than the coaches either thought or let on. Devin Gardner has played well at quarterback, so well that some Michigan fans want him starting the rest of the season regardless of Robinson’s status.

I think Robinson deserves the right to be the quarterback if healthy, but certainly you have to keep Gardner prepared.

In fairness to Robinson, Gardner hasn’t faced impressive defensive units in his two games as a starter.

Michigan gets Iowa next week and I would think the coaches don’t want Robinson to face Ohio State without playing for three weeks, so I would expect to see him in action to some capacity if he is ultimately expected to play against the Buckeyes.

Michigan vs. Northwestern Prediction

I haven’t posted in a few days but I wanted to get up my prediction for Saturday’s lone game. Here is my take on what to expect for Michigan vs. Northwestern.

Northwestern at Michigan, Noon

No matter who is at quarterback, Michigan should be able to move the ball. Northwestern is allowing just under 400 yards per game on defense this season. This is a defense that Denard Robinson should be able to carve up with his legs or Devin Gardner should be able to carve up with his arm. Where Michigan will have to be sharp is on defense, as Northwestern is fourth in the Big Ten in scoring at 30.4 points per game. The Wildcats are very quick on the ground and Michigan will have to contain running back Venric Mark, who has posted over 1,000 rushing yards this year. I don’t see Michigan being able to really dominate this game. Northwestern has had its two losses come by a combined 12 points. Look for this game to be more of a shootout than a defensive battle. Ultimately, Michigan will make enough plays to win, but it will be a battle.

Michigan 31, Northwestern 24

Final thoughts from Week 10

It was an eventful day for football fans in the state of Michigan. Both Michigan and MSU had some interesting storylines come out of their games. Here are my final thoughts on the games.

Nebraska 28, Michigan State 24

I can’t tell you how upset I get when I hear about the refs “screwing” MSU on Saturday.

Was the pass interference call late in the game a bad one? I think so.

But, in no way can the whole game be blamed on that one call.

For one, Nebraska was still in field goal range to tie the game. Even without the penalty, the Cornhuskers were within reason to force overtime. Whose to say MSU would have won in OT?

Second, Michigan State had plenty of opportunities to close that game out and managed to not do it.

The most notable of those opportunities was on Darqueze Dennard’s interception of Taylor Martinez on the MSU 4-yard line that he returned for a touchdown. The score would have put the Spartans up 31-14 with 10:42 to play. Instead, the return was called back because of a personal foul hit by Johnny Adams on a Nebraska player.

Adams, who was completely out of the play at the time of the foul, lowered his shoulder into a Nebraska player and wiped him out. There was no need for the hit. It didn’t help Dennard or his team in any way. In fact, I’d argue the hit ultimately cost his team the game.

MSU’s offense sputtered from there and Nebraska came back on the next possession to score a touchdown and get back in the contest.

After the penalty, the MSU defense had multiple chances to close out the game, including a key fourth and short in Spartan territory, but they failed to make the stop.

Nebraska tallied 493 total yards in the win and Taylor Martinez rushed for 224 yards on his own.

The MSU defense failed to close out a game, which has been a problem in the past. The offense actually provided 24 points, which should have been enough to win this game.

After the game, I was disappointed to see the reaction of the players on Twitter. MSU has already had problems with players running their mouths on Twitter this season and tonight was no different. Here were a few choice cuts from running back Le’Veon Bell:

@L_Bell24: #ShoutOut to the refs...yall won the game tonight! Toughest team we played all year..”

@L_Bell24: We legitimately lost ONE game this year...and that was Notre Dame! The black & white team beat us 4 times

Bell removed the tweets afterward but the mindset of MSU blaming their losses on anyone but themselves is a disturbing trend this year and speaks to why the team is currently 5-5.

The Spartans need some accountability. Adams showed no accountability on the INT return and that led to a loss.

Bell is showing no accountability on Twitter and if the players carry this mindset the rest of the way, there will be more losses to come.

Michigan 35, Minnesota 13

Michigan had to feel like Saturday was a double victory.

The Wolverines not only won on the football field, but they won with the relief of knowing they have a quarterback they can turn to next season.

I’m sure Michigan fans were pretty nervous when they found out Denard Robinson wasn’t playing, and the first quarter didn’t do much to settle those nerves, but Devin Gardner settled in nicely and made some great plays with his arm and his feet to lead the offense to a victory.

His ability to buy some time on his 45-yard touchdown pass to Drew Dileo for Michigan’s first score seemed to spark the offense and give Gardner confidence the rest of the way.

He finished 12 of 18 passing for 234 yards while also rushing for 23 yards and a score. He doesn’t have the legs of Robinson, but he has a better arm and he looks like a player Michigan can turn to next season.

With a summer of focusing on being the starting quarterback, I think Gardner can be successful and keep Michigan from taking a step back next year.

I am sure Brady Hoke will put more emphasis on having Gardner ready to backup Robinson the rest of the way.

Predictions for Nebraska/MSU and Michigan/Minnesota

Let me start by saying my picks last week didn’t go so well (0-2). Perhaps it is best if I pick against your team. Either way, here is what I think will happen in today’s contests.

Michigan at Minnesota

I think this game will be tougher than many expect. Minnesota has a lot to play for, as it needs one more win to get to bowl eligibility, and it is coming off an impressive win over Purdue at home last week. I think Denard Robinson is coming into this game with that elbow injury still lingering a little bit. I could see it impacting the way he plays and making him more tentative, which will cause the offense to struggle at times. Even with that happening, the Michigan defense should still be able to limit Minnesota’s offense and keep the Wolverines in the game. From there, Robinson will make enough plays down the stretch to get Michigan a win on the road.

Michigan 23, Minnesota 17

Nebraska at Michigan State

Michigan State is a hard team to figure out. Sometimes they look good, sometimes they look bad. Regardless of how they look, the Spartans manage to keep all games close. I see this one being no different. For MSU to win, the offense will have to come through late. I see the MSU defense causing problems for Taylor Martinez all game long. Really, the first team to 17 points probably wins this game. The Cornhuskers don’t have that great of a defense, especially on the road. I think the Spartans will build off the strong finish they had at Wisconsin and show improvement on offense. That improvement combined with another strong defensive outing will give MSU a win over Nebraska, and make Michigan fans happy.

Michigan State 20, Nebraska 16

Keys to victory for Michigan/MSU against Minnesota/Nebraska

Michigan and Michigan State hit the field in 24 hours for a pair of Big Ten games. Here are my keys to victory for both teams on Saturday.

Michigan at Minnesota, Noon

- Be smart with Denard – It is fully expected for Denard Robinson to play on Saturday, but he may not be 100 percent. If the Wolverines are going to have a shot at the Big Ten title, they need Robinson to play the rest of the season. Against a team like Minnesota, Michigan should be able to move the ball on the ground with players like Fitzgerald Toussaint. The Golden Gophers have the third-worst rushing defense in the Big Ten, so Michigan should be able to exploit that with a healthy mix of ball carriers other than Robinson. I’m not saying don’t utilize Robinson, that would be silly, but keep his touches lower than normal and try to avoid piling up the hits on him.

- Stop the obvious players – Minnesota doesn’t have much in regards to big offensive stars. Running back Donnell Kirkwood is the top player, as he has 609 yards rushing with three scores this season. Michigan can live with Minnesota trying to win the game on his legs. I don’t see Minnesota being able to establish enough of a running game to be a one-dimensional offense. Where Michigan needs to avoid a letdown is in the passing game. Minnesota will take some chances, but their lone receiver with any stats of note is A.J. Barker, who has 30 receptions for 577 yards and seven touchdowns. The next closest receiver has just 13 catches for under 200 yards. If Minnesota is going to air it out, it will be to Barker. Michigan needs to stay close to him and focus a lot of coverage his way. If someone is going to beat the Wolverines on Saturday, make sure it is not him.

- Slow the game down early – Coming off their 44-28 win over Purdue last week, the Golden Gophers have some new life and will be looking to start Saturday’s game with a bang to get the crowd into it. Michigan needs to avoid getting caught up in that and play a smart, methodical pace on offense. Don’t come out of the gates looking for the 70-yard score. Steady drives down the field will take the crowd out of the game and keep the Minnesota offense from being on the field. Michigan can send its biggest message by controlling the line of scrimmage and dictating the pace of Saturday’s game.

Nebraska at Michigan State, 3:30 p.m.

- Pressure on Martinez – Michigan State knows what it’s like to meet up against mobile quarterback. They have had success against Denard Robinson but struggled against the likes of Braxton Miller. In this game, the Spartans need to have the same mentality they had against Robinson. They need to keep Martinez in the pocket and now allow him to get to the outside where he can make plays with his legs. If they can contain the pocket and apply pressure on the ends, it should lead to turnovers. Martinez is a better passer than Denard Robinson, but he still has his flaws and will makes mistakes if he tries to force throws under pressure.

- Line improvement – I am not sure if this is a realistic possibility, but the offensive line has to play better. The Spartans need to avoid penalties and missed assignments up front. If Michigan State can’t establish a steady run game with Le’Veon Bell, the offense will continue to struggle as they have most of the season. Nebraska has allowed the fourth-most rushing yards in the Big Ten, so their defensive line is not exactly a powerhouse. The Spartan linemen need to challenge themselves and win the battle up front to help the offense finally have a breakout performance.

- Make the plays that need to be made – Like most MSU games, this one will probably come down to a handful of plays late. Michigan State made the key plays last week at Wisconsin and a lot of that had to do with quarterback Andrew Maxwell and his receivers stepping up. The same needs to be done this week. Maxwell has to play with confidence and make the tough throws in a small window. The receivers need to make the tough catches and avoid the drops that hurt them early in the season. Perhaps last week’s finish will lead to an improved offense. We will find out soon enough.

What legacy will Denard Robinson leave at Michigan?

Back in August, I asked the question is Denard Robinson the most valuable player in college football?

Certainly Russell Bellomy’s play for the Wolverines in last Saturday’s loss to Nebraska made the argument look even stronger.

But the question now needs to be asked, just what will Robinson’s legacy with Michigan be?

Clearly he has the statistics to be remembered as an all-time great. But numbers are numbers.

What stands out for quarterbacks through history are team accomplishments.

That is what Michigan has been lacking under Robinson.

Until last season, Robinson didn’t have a win over Ohio State.

Until this season, Robinson didn’t have a win over Michigan State.

He still has yet to get Michigan a Big Ten Championship.

His poor performances tend to stick out more than his good ones because his poor performances have come with the most on the line.

That’s not to say Robinson’s lack of accomplishments are solely his fault. He dealt with a poor defense until Hoke’s arrival and hasn’t had a large dose of playmakers around him to work with.

Despite that, the quarterback is always the one that gets the most praise and the most criticism.

If Robinson is unable to lead the Wolverines to a conference title this year, just what will he be remembered for?

To many Michigan fans, I think he will be labeled a disappointment and over-hyped.

To some, they will always label him one of the greats in Michigan history.

The truth is probably somewhere in the middle.

But for Robinson to cement a positive legacy with Michigan, he needs to bring some Big Ten hardware back to Ann Arbor.

News and notes from Hoke's weekly press conference

Michigan coach Brady Hoke held his weekly press conference on Monday where he talked about the Wolverines’ loss to Nebraska. Here are some of the notes coming from what Hoke had to say.

- Michigan has Denard Robinson listed as its starting quarterback for Saturday’s game with Minnesota. Hoke said he should be fine and ready to go and he is expecting Robinson to practice all week.

- He said it was a nerve issue with Robinson and that his arm was tingly from the hit and that’s why he couldn’t play on Saturday. He was having trouble gripping the football. If Michigan played today Denard would be "close" to playing. They are looking into possibly adding some padding or protection for the arm.

- Hoke will give Devin Gardner more snaps during practice this week at quarterback just as a precaution. But the plan is still for Gardner to be at receiver this week. He said Gardner and Russell Bellomy will “compete” for the backup spot.

- When it came to Bellomy, Hoke said the team could have done a better job of picking up blitzes to help him out. He felt the experience Bellomy gained of playing in that environment on Saturday will help him greatly.

- Hoke said the team needs to do a better job from a football standpoint and that starts with him. He said the Wolverines need to play better in the red zone and they have to be able to run the ball in that area.

- Hoke called the Minnesota game important for many reasons. One, it is a division game. Two, to move past the loss. Three, because of the Little Brown Jug.

- Hoke said that Michigan has a lot to play for. They have four “guarantees” left.

- Hoke gave praise to Minnesota coach Jerry Kill. Said he respects him as a coach and even more as a man.

Final thoughts on Week 9 for Michigan, MSU

Nebraska 23, Michigan 9

Well, looks like Michigan State isn’t the only team having trouble on offense. Michigan found out what life might be like without Denard Robinson on Saturday, and it wasn’t pretty.

With Robinson on the sidelines with an elbow injury, freshman quarterback Russell Bellomy took over in the second half and was just 3 of 16 passing for 37 yards and three interceptions. Bellomy looked lost and the offense as a whole couldn’t get in any sort of sync with Robinson on the sidelines.

Robinson didn’t exactly light up the Nebraska defense when he played in the first half, but Michigan was in the game and showed signs of being able to move the ball down the field.

Nebraska’s defense isn’t exactly a juggernaut either. I fully expected the Wolverines to score more than six points in the first half with Robinson under center.

The Michigan defense played well enough against a good offense for Michigan to win, but the Wolverines’ just couldn’t find any magic on offense.

Despite the loss, the Wolverines can still win the Legends Division. Unfortunately for Michigan, they will have to root on the Spartans next week as MSU hosts the Cornhuskers.

Aside from Saturday’s loss, the performance of the offense without Robinson has to be concerning about the future of the program.

Just who is going to be the quarterback next season? If it is Bellomy, can he improve enough to make Michigan a contender? If it is Gardner, is he going to be able to transition back to the quarterback position and play at a high level? If it is a true freshman, will they be able to handle the pressure?

Those questions will loom over Michigan the rest of the season as the Wolverines still look to earn the Big Ten title.

Michigan State 16, Wisconsin 13, OT

In a year of disappointments, Michigan State had its high moment of the season thus far, picking up an unlikely overtime win at Wisconsin.

The MSU offense was a mess again, racking up just 270 yards, but the Spartan defense had arguably its best performance of the season, holding Wisconsin to 190 total yards.

Despite three and a half quarters of offensive ineptitude, Michigan State put together a pair of big scoring drives when it mattered most with Andrew Maxwell getting two touchdown passes in the process.

Maxwell looked off a lot on Saturday, but his game-winning pass to Bennie Fowler in overtime was a great throw and could be a play that sparks his progression as a college quarterback.

Maxwell needed the marquee throw and victory to give him confidence, and this win could be it.

Michigan State is clearly a team that is not going to light up the scoreboard and play with great finesse, but it is a team that is going to have a shot to win in the fourth quarter each week, largely due to its defense.

The difference between winning and losing will be up to the offense. They haven’t come through very often this season, but today they did.

We can talk about the offensive line issues, but those will be an issue all year. It is something that MSU is going to have to try to overcome.

Michigan State is not going to be a finished product this season. It is going to be ugly football, but the Spartans can hang their hat on not quitting and perhaps still have an 8-win season if they manage to make a few plays.

Predictions for Michigan/Nebraska and MSU/Wisconsin

Michigan and Michigan State each have big games today. Here are my picks for both contests.

Michigan at Nebraska

Nebraska is a very good team at home and not so strong on the road. Unfortunately for Michigan, the Wolverines have to face the Cornhuskers in Lincoln. If Michigan is to win this game, I see it having to grind out the victory in a relatively high-scoring contest. Michigan should be able to move the ball consistently on offense but I do see Nebraska picking up some big plays on the Wolverines’ defense. I don’t necessarily feel good about this pick, but I do feel Michigan will get the victory. I see Denard Robinson having a big day on the ground and hitting enough passes to keep the Wolverines ahead. I also feel that Brady Hoke is a better coach than Bo Pelini, which gives Michigan a slight edge, even on the road.

Michigan 34, Nebraska 27

MSU at Wisconsin

I think Michigan State can win this game, but I don’t think the Spartans will win this game. The Badgers aren’t the same team they were a year ago, but neither is MSU. I think the offensive struggles will continue, mainly due to the offensive line issues. Wisconsin won’t light up the scoreboard, but I do think the Badgers have started to gel enough to put some scoring drives together. It won’t take many points to beat the Spartans on Saturday and I expect Wisconsin to be motivated to pick up a win over MSU in the regular season after losing at Spartan Stadium the last two years.

Wisconsin 20, Michigan State 13 

Keys to victory for MSU/Michigan against Wisconsin/Nebraska

A pair of big games for Michigan and Michigan State are just a day away. Here are my keys to victory for each contest.

MSU at Wisconsin

Survive the early storm – Wisconsin will be very up for this game and look to make an early statement. The Badgers have started to find their groove on offense, having scored at least 31 points in their last three games against struggling defenses. The MSU defense will need to come out fast and contain Montee Ball. Offensively, MSU needs to be able to convert third downs and put a drive or two together to take the loud Madison crowd out of the game.

Turn The Tables – Most defenses have been stacking the box against MSU and forcing Andrew Maxwell to have to beat them. In this case, MSU needs to take the same approach against Wisconsin. The Badgers rank110th in the country in passing and have already went through two quarterbacks. I am not overly impressed with Joel Stave and think the Spartans would be wise to play one-one-one coverage against the Wisconsin receivers while putting all their focus on stopping Ball. Stave has five touchdowns to three interceptions and is completing 57 percent of his passes. He is bound to make some freshman mistakes if put under pressure.

Finish Drives – Michigan State seemed to make some positive strides in its passing game last week, but the Spartans once again settled for field goals instead of touchdowns deep in the red zone. This week, Michigan State needs to make the most of each opportunity. If Dion Sims is able to play, that should help in both the passing game and the run game. In order for Maxwell to take the next step as a starting quarterback, he has to make the big throws in the red zone.

Michigan at Nebraska

Get back to what works – Michigan struggled on offense last week and I know part of that had to do with the MSU defense, but I felt that the Wolverines played right into the Spartans’ hands. Michigan didn’t do much attacking outside the tackle box with Denard Robinson. It ran right into the MSU trap. For this game, Nebraska isn’t as talented on defense and Robinson should be able to find open space and rack up the yards. But, Michigan still needs to show some creativity and mix things up by getting Fitzgerald Toussaint, Vincent Smith and Thomas Rawls involved as well.

Take your chances with Martinez’ arm – Taylor Martinez has made strides as a passer this year, but Nebraska’s strength is its run game, including Martinez. Even if Rex Burkhead is out for the game, the Cornhuskers are more than capable of moving the ball on the ground. Like the Wolverines did against MSU, Michigan needs to stack the box and challenge Martinez to throw deep. Michigan may give up the occasional big play with that game plan, but I don’t see Martinez being able to consistently beat Michigan through the air.

Finish – Similar to MSU, Michigan needs to finish drives in this game. That hasn’t been much of a problem for the Wolverines this year, but Nebraska is a feisty team at home. If/when the Wolverines have a chance to put this game out of reach, it must do it because Nebraska can rally in a hurry. Just ask Wisconsin. Field goals won’t get the job done in this one.

The Little Brother Scale after Week 8

The Little Brother Scale is a trolling topic. I won’t argue that.

The term hits a nerve with both Michigan and Michigan State.

It bothers the Spartans for its meaning that their program is the little brother to Michigan.

It bothers the Wolverines for its meaning over recent years since Mike Hart uttered those words.

When I started the topic prior to the season, I expected both teams to have a strong year and keep the debate lively.

Michigan State hasn’t been able to live up to expectations.

Saturday’s game was hard fought and perhaps would have went the other way if it was played in East Lansing. But, in the end, Michigan snapped the streak and beat the Spartans, 12-10.

It is hard to hand the balance of power in the rivalry to the other team after just one win, especially a 2-point victory, but when you break it down, Michigan State has taken a step backwards this season no matter what it does the rest of the year.

Michigan has all its goals in place for this season. The Wolverines can win the Big Ten title this year and still beat Ohio State in the process. That would certainly send a message that it has regained control of the state and even the Big Ten as a whole.

The Wolverines are now leading my scale. They will lead the scale for the rest of the season as long as they don’t completely tank down the stretch.

What interests me now that Michigan is back on top is where this rivalry will go from here.

Mark Dantonio said he will be glad to see Denard Robinson go, but is that really true? Michigan State has been able to contain Robinson as well as anyone. Will a new Michigan quarterback with a new offensive scheme really make it easier for the Spartans?

Michigan will be a new team next season without Robinson and it yet to be known if the Spartans will be able to bounce back in Maxwell’s senior year, but MSU will lose key pieces on defense.

I expect Michigan to continue to be strong under Brady Hoke for his recruiting and solid coaching staff. Michigan State may not have the resources and depth to stay in the mix in the Big Ten year after year.

Only time will tell.

For now, Michigan can enjoy just being back in the driver’s seat.

LITTLE BROTHER SCALE: Michigan 16½, MSU 15½ 

Prediction for MSU vs. Michigan

I have had a pretty good feeling about my prediction for a week now.

The MSU loss to Iowa combined with the Michigan win over Purdue solidified my belief that Michigan puts an end to the losing streak to the Spartans today.

The problems for Michigan State aren't something I see being solved in a week. The key issue is with the offensive line. The injuries and lack of depth on the line has caused MSU to struggle to execute what it would like to on offense.

Le'Veon Bell is a great player, but he doesn't get the holes to really rack up the impressive numbers he is capable of.

The Michigan defense has been improving and I expect it to be able to contain the run.

The Spartans will have to win this game on the arm of Andrew Maxwell and/or the creativity of offensive coordinator Dan Roushar. I don’t believe either will happen.

Sure, the MSU defense should still pose a problem for Denard Robinson. But, the Spartan defense won’t be able to pitch a shutout.

If Michigan is smart, it will stick with the run, even if it doesn't succeed at first. Eventually some holes will open and Robinson will be able to break off a few big gains.

Michigan won’t put up the points it has in recent weeks, but it will be able to put up enough points to out-score the Spartan offense.

An inspired and physical outing for the Wolverines will end the four-game losing streak to the Spartans and keep them in line to compete for a Big Ten Championship.

Prediction: Michigan 24, Michigan State 7

Keys to victory for Michigan/MSU on Saturday

The time is almost here.

The game Michigan fans have been waiting for is one day away. It’s the Wolverines’ chance to end the streak. For the Spartans, it’s their chance to not only prolong the streak, but perhaps save their season.

Kickoff is set for 3:30 from Michigan Stadium in what will be a loud and electric environment. I will be covering the game for The Oakland Press if you want to voice your thoughts on the game, you can tweet me @ellisdrew.

Here is a look at the keys for each team to walk away with a victory on Saturday.

Michigan

Be stubborn – The Wolverines are a running football team. They are not a passing team. In previous years, Michigan State has been able to take the running aspect away from Michigan and force Denard Robinson to be a passer. If that happens again on Saturday, it could be another tough day for Michigan. The Wolverines have had a smart approach to the offense in recent games. It has been run, run, run, run, run and then pass. MSU still has the top rushing defense in the Big Ten, but Michigan has to stick with the run. If a drive needs to last seven minutes for a score, then let it go seven minutes. Even if the game plan doesn’t work early on, Michigan can’t give up on the run and try to air it out. This MSU defense has been susceptible to the big play and I expect Michigan to get a few big plays from Robinson throughout the game if they stick to what they do best.

Win on third down – That goes for the offense and the defense. The offense will need to sustain drives to win and the defense will help the offense by forcing MSU into three-and-outs. If the MSU defense is on the field the majority of the game, it will open up the big plays for the Michigan offense. Currently, the Spartans are converting just 37 percent of their third downs, which is the third-worst percentage in the Big Ten. Conversely, Michigan leads the conference with a 52 percent conversion rate. Third downs should be won by the Wolverines on Saturday.

Hidden yards – Michigan ranks third in the Big Ten in punt return average and fourth in kick return average. A big return on Saturday can go a long way in this game, as points could be at a premium with the way both defenses have played. Also, the Spartans have been notorious for making penalties this year. Michigan has to play with discipline and not retaliate to anything MSU might do after the play. Penalty yards could rack up quickly in this game and the Wolverines would be wise to let the Spartans make the mistakes. I don’t doubt that Michigan will be amped up for this game and want to take it to MSU, but the Wolverines need to win the game with their play, not their trash talk.

MSU

Don’t be stubborn – Unlike Michigan, I think the Spartans need to mix it up on offense. Le’Veon Bell is a great running back, but the offensive line for MSU is beat up and not opening up holes consistently enough for him to control this game. Despite that, the Spartans still feed him the ball 30 times a game and get stuck in a number of third-and-long situations. Offensive coordinator Dan Roushar needs to take chances in this contest. Really, what does MSU have to lose here? The Spartans have to win and get help in order to play for the Big Ten Championship and they come into this game as a 10-point underdog. If they don’t let it all hang out in this game, I question what they would be saving it for. Go with trick plays, jet sweeps, reverses or anything else you have in the playbook. MSU can’t win this game with a Bell-heavy offense.

Wake up William Gholston – I bought some milk this week at the local grocery store and there was a photo on the carton of William Gholston that said “Missing” under it. The junior defensive end has not had nearly the impact many were expecting this season, but Saturday would be a good day for him to change that. On the year, Gholston has just 28 tackles, 1 sack, 5 tackles for loss and 5 quarterback hurries. Gholston has to have a presence in this game. His speed and athleticism are a big reason why the Spartans were able to keep Denard Robinson in check last year. Certainly teams are keying in on him this year, but if he is the talent that many think he is, he has to overcome that and show up when his team needs him the most.

Play with discipline – MSU is averaging six penalties for just over 60 yards per game this season. In last year’s game with Michigan, the Spartans tallied 13 penalties for 124 yards. It is clear that the Spartans have a chip on their shoulder when it comes to trying to prove their superiority to Michigan on the football field, but the post-play penalties will not do them any good on Saturday. MSU was able to overcome the penalties last year, but I don’t see that being the case this time around. If the Spartans come out and play reckless, they will just be digging their own grave. With two losses in the Big Ten already, MSU needs to play as close to mistake-free football as it can.