Michigan vs Everybody

Coaches poll is out. Michigan plays #5,9,14,18,19, & 20. Think hard before you set those “Final Four or Fired” type expectations folks.

1. Clemson
2. Alabama
3. Georgia
4. Oklahoma
5. Ohio State
6. LSU
7. Michigan
8. Florida
9. Notre Dame
10. Texas
11. Texas A&M
12. Washington
13. Oregon
14. Penn State
15. Utah
16. Auburn
17. UCF
18. Wisconsin
19. Iowa
20. Michigan State
21. Washington State
22. Syracuse
23. Stanford
24. Iowa State
25. Northwestern

Weekend Roundup... More Polls, Less Sense Edition 8/19/2012

Here's what happened around the internets while you pondered if you should carry extra cash for  your scheduled layover in Minneapolis on the way to Dallas.:

• First up...injury news.  Both Ondre Pipkins and Roy Roundtree had issues this week.  Ondre was part of a scary scene at practice, being carted off with a neck injury.  He made it back to practice later that day, watching from the sideline...sans neck brace.  His return is TBD.  'Tree had his knee scoped, and is expected back for game 1.
• Wojo speaks about the "rivalry" renewed between Michigan and Michigan Agricultural College.  As with any post that involves these two teams, it's the comments section that will really make your day.​
• Bennett at the Big Ten Blog on ESPN runs the gambit of best case / worse case for Michigan's upcoming season.  It's Little Ceasar's Bowl vs. Ohio or the BCS Championship Game vs. USC with a Heisman for Denard.​
• Maize and Brew covers the best of the Big Ten for both Offense and Defense.​
• Holding the Rope has a glorious and comprehensive dissection of the Crimson Tide.​
• Where else would they be?  ESPN College Gameday will kickoff the season in Arlington for Michigan vs. Alabama.​
• And finally an AP poll roundup...  Maize and Blue Nation provides it.  Pollspeak gives you all the numbers.  ESPN gives the Big Ten perspective.  AnnArbor.com studies the mind of the madman that gave us a first place vote.​

Poll-ish

30 days before we play, and 4 days before we start practice...yet we have a poll.  Michigan clocks in at #8 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, and Alabama is #2.  This locks in the prime time showdown on September 1st as a battle between top 10 teams.​..and that's exactly what the "powers that be" wanted.  It's going to be a ridiculous spectacle.  It's going to be a huge Saturday night opening audience.  It's going to be a chance for Michigan to make a grand opening statement.

Three other Big Ten teams are in the top 25: Wisconsin (12), MSU (13), and Nebraska (16).  Ohio State is not eligible for this poll, nor is Penn State.  Which makes me wonder, what other Big Ten team is going to crack the top 25?  Nobody else even appears in the "others receiving votes" section, but I envision a couple finding themselves ranked as we hit mid-October:

The Hawkeyes (SB Nation Preview), despite having running back trouble like Rich Rod's Michigan teams had cornerback trouble, have Northern Illinois (at Soldier Field), Iowa State, Northern Iowa, Central Michigan, Minnesota, and a bye week before travelling to East Lansing on 10/13.  If they can find a way to get past the seemingly yearly hiccup that is Iowa State, they should be 5-0 in mid-October​, good enough for a ranking in the late teens to early 20's, depending on style points.

And I'm high on Northwestern (Chicago Now Preview) this year.  Transfer 6'5'' 220lb WR Kyle Prater got a pass from the NCAA so he could play this year, and he'll be getting balls from Kain Colter.  Kain played early in the season in place of the injured Dan Persa, and showed he has a Tebow-esque skill set.  Their season starts at Syracuse before returning home for Vandy, BC, South Dakota, and Indiana.  Then they travel to Penn State and Minnesota.  They could easily be 7-0 before hosting Nebraska on 10/20, at which point you'll be sick ​of hearing about Pat Fitzgerald and the Wildcats' cinderella story.

Yes, it's just a poll, and it's a preseason one at that.  But what the hell else do we have to talk about?   ​

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