Michigan Football @ The Half
With Michigan wrapping up the bye week and getting ready to play the second-half of the 2016 schedule, it seemed like a good time to take a look and how good the Wolverines have been so far this season, and look at how things lineup for the final 6 games.
First, here is how things shook out for the Wolverines in Games 1-6:
Michigan: 63 vs. Hawaii 3
Michigan 51 vs. UCF 14
Michigan 45 vs. Colorado 28
Michigan 49 vs. Penn State 10
Michigan 14 vs. Wisconsin 7
Michigan 78 vs. Rutgers 0
Michigan has scored exactly 300 points this season averaging a whopping 50 per game. That is 2nd in FBS behind only Louisville's 52.3 points per game. That is pretty incredible considering that Michigan is not in the Top-5 of either total passing or total rushing among FBS teams.
Michigan's QB Wilton Speight, who due in large part to the margin of victories, has only had to complete one-game, is completing 61% of this passes with 11 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions. Meanwhile, Michigan has 3 running backs who have rushed for at least 50 attempts this season with a combined total of 1,033 yards.
Defensively, Michigan boasts one of the nations best defenses. The Wolverines lead in total defense allowing only 212.8 yards per game. They are the leaders in passing yards allowed, scoring defense, and 3rd down conversion attempts.
When you are 2nd in the nation in scoring, and first in total defense, it means you are going to win A LOT of football games (Captain Obvious). Michigan has 6 games yet as they seek their first Big Ten championship since 2004 and a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Michigan will likely be favored in every remaining contest save the season finale against Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio. Michigan is currently a 28-point favorite for this weekend's contest against Illinois. The road games against Michigan State and Iowa, which looked daunting before the season began, now look very winnable. Michigan will likely be road favorites heading into both contests.
This week, Michigan moved up to No. 3 in the AP poll (while somehow still staying at No. 4 in the coaches poll proving once again that coaches do not watch the games and the existence of that poll is ridiculous). The spotlight on Michigan, to the extent it was not already bright, is going to get even brighter in the second-half of the season. Not only is Michigan in the hunt for championships, but Jabril Peppers is being strongly considered for the Heisman Trophy due in large part to his Woodsonesque defensive and offensive performances.
The "Harbaugh Effect," which many expected in Ann Arbor, has arrived even earlier than most could have predicted. To think that just 2 years ago Michigan was 2-4 at this same time is almost impossible to believe. It finally feels safe to say that the lofty expectations, which students and alums have always demanded, can finally be bestowed back upon the Michigan football program.
First, here is how things shook out for the Wolverines in Games 1-6:
Michigan: 63 vs. Hawaii 3
Michigan 51 vs. UCF 14
Michigan 45 vs. Colorado 28
Michigan 49 vs. Penn State 10
Michigan 14 vs. Wisconsin 7
Michigan 78 vs. Rutgers 0
Michigan has scored exactly 300 points this season averaging a whopping 50 per game. That is 2nd in FBS behind only Louisville's 52.3 points per game. That is pretty incredible considering that Michigan is not in the Top-5 of either total passing or total rushing among FBS teams.
Michigan's QB Wilton Speight, who due in large part to the margin of victories, has only had to complete one-game, is completing 61% of this passes with 11 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions. Meanwhile, Michigan has 3 running backs who have rushed for at least 50 attempts this season with a combined total of 1,033 yards.
Defensively, Michigan boasts one of the nations best defenses. The Wolverines lead in total defense allowing only 212.8 yards per game. They are the leaders in passing yards allowed, scoring defense, and 3rd down conversion attempts.
When you are 2nd in the nation in scoring, and first in total defense, it means you are going to win A LOT of football games (Captain Obvious). Michigan has 6 games yet as they seek their first Big Ten championship since 2004 and a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Michigan will likely be favored in every remaining contest save the season finale against Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio. Michigan is currently a 28-point favorite for this weekend's contest against Illinois. The road games against Michigan State and Iowa, which looked daunting before the season began, now look very winnable. Michigan will likely be road favorites heading into both contests.
This week, Michigan moved up to No. 3 in the AP poll (while somehow still staying at No. 4 in the coaches poll proving once again that coaches do not watch the games and the existence of that poll is ridiculous). The spotlight on Michigan, to the extent it was not already bright, is going to get even brighter in the second-half of the season. Not only is Michigan in the hunt for championships, but Jabril Peppers is being strongly considered for the Heisman Trophy due in large part to his Woodsonesque defensive and offensive performances.
The "Harbaugh Effect," which many expected in Ann Arbor, has arrived even earlier than most could have predicted. To think that just 2 years ago Michigan was 2-4 at this same time is almost impossible to believe. It finally feels safe to say that the lofty expectations, which students and alums have always demanded, can finally be bestowed back upon the Michigan football program.
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