Just watched the end of Mich vs USCe in Outback

[sportsart]

Exciting finish for USCe to beat Mich in Outback Bowl earlier this year.

I was trying to figure out how USCe, after they get wooped by us after the 2009 season, managed back to back 11 win seasons (2011, 2012) in the SEC and are top 5 in some preseason polls for this year.

I get that they "weren't up" for UConn but it just seems amazing they can make that jump, in the SEC, and in South Carolina.

Itching for football. Don't tell Neilsen I had ESPN on for 7 minutes.

 

[CTPride]

recruiting star power

 

[UC990411]

They have spurrier, we have PP

 

[MilliniumPrince]

Recruits and coaching. Simple but proven formula.

 

[traitor71]

Teams can change dramatically from year to year. Players get older, stronger, more experienced and no one in the world can accurately predict exactly which kids will make a leap to another level. And one game is never an indicator of where a program is headed.

 

[Husky68]

Teams can change dramatically from year to year. Players get older, stronger, more experienced and no one in the world can accurately predict exactly which kids will make a leap to another level. And one game is never an indicator of where a program is headed.

Unfortunately, Vandy vs. UConn was for us.

 

[Srqhusky]

Look what Syracuse did last year. From perreniel 3-4 win seasons to what I thought was the best team in the big east last year. Hoping we improve the same

 

[sportsart]

Add to this we beat ND and a few years later they're in the NC game.

Then we beat Louisville and they beat a 3rd ranked Florida team the same year.

I guess it says that if we get a Big 5 invite and a good HC there is no reason we can't be a top 10 team every now and then.

 

[Srqhusky]

Speaking of watching Michigan games. A few days ago btn had on Michigan vs northwestern so I figured I would spy on the enemy a little bit. Only watched a few quarters but they looked beatable. Nw did end up losing but they drove on their defense quite a bit.
We need to be able to pass on them. Hopefully better cohesion with second year qb and receiver will help

We need some basic college plays. Northwestern was succesful with little give and go and option plays

Michigan did go deep and have a talented qb but he was not seeing pressure like we were putting on teams last year. Hopefully our pass rush is as good

 

[whaler11]

Add to this we beat ND and a few years later they're in the NC game.

Then we beat Louisville and they beat a 3rd ranked Florida team the same year.

I guess it says that if we get a Big 5 invite and a good HC there is no reason we can't be a top 10 team every now and then.

ND improving may have had something to do with replacing Weis with Kelly.

Any school that can get and keep the right coach can win. That's the entire game.

 

[Afroabe224]

Speaking of watching Michigan games. A few days ago btn had on Michigan vs northwestern so I figured I would spy on the enemy a little bit. Only watched a few quarters but they looked beatable. Nw did end up losing but they drove on their defense quite a bit.
We need to be able to pass on them. Hopefully better cohesion with second year qb and receiver will help

We need some basic college plays. Northwestern was succesful with little give and go and option plays

Michigan did go deep and have a talented qb but he was not seeing pressure like we were putting on teams last year. Hopefully our pass rush is as good

As a fan of 2 college teams (1. UConn, 2. Michigan) I really don't see how UConn can hang with the Wolverines as much as I want them to in September...

Gardner is a better overall QB than Robinson was and with Gallon/Funchess as top targets they should be able to find success in the passing game that Denard could never produce consistently. The running game will also be solid with Toussaint coming back and Lewan holding the OL down.

I'm hoping that Weist has made serious progress with Witmer and co because there is no way we're complete the upset without putting at least 20 on the board!!

Here is my optimistic outlook for this season:
UConn 8-4
Michigan 10-2

 

[Srqhusky]

As a fan of 2 college teams (1. UConn, 2. Michigan) I really don't see how UConn can hang with the Wolverines as much as I want them to in September...

Gardner is a better overall QB than Robinson was and with Gallon/Funchess as top targets they should be able to find success in the passing game that Denard could never produce consistently. The running game will also be solid with Toussaint coming back and Lewan holding the OL down.

I'm hoping that Weist has made serious progress with Witmer and co because there is no way we're complete the upset without putting at least 20 on the board!!

Here is my optimistic outlook for this season:
UConn 8-4
Michigan 10-2

Agree that we r dogs and Gardner is a very talented qb. Far better than Robinson. However a few things.

We do better vs pro style teams than. Spread teams. I like our chances with the d against the style of offense they see in practice

Second we had a great pass rush last year an I hope it Carrys over. William did a great job getting in the backfield.

They have playmakers bottom line. They have guys that don't drop the 30-40 yard passes. They have guys that can turn 5 yard plays big. We have our work cut out but it can happen. We will be at least 14-17 point dogs.

 

[jbdphi]

Exciting finish for USCe to beat Mich in Outback Bowl earlier this year.

I was trying to figure out how USCe, after they get wooped by us after the 2009 season, managed back to back 11 win seasons (2011, 2012) in the SEC and are top 5 in some preseason polls for this year.

I get that they "weren't up" for UConn but it just seems amazing they can make that jump, in the SEC, and in South Carolina.

Itching for football. Don't tell Neilsen I had ESPN on for 7 minutes.

I think the year after we played them in the Pizza bowl is when they got Lattimore? Just his addition alone made a huge difference in how that team played in the SEC. You didn't have to put everything on the QB's shoulder and that's a good thing since Garcia always seemed a bit inconsistent in his ability to produce from that position.