Week 12 Matchups

11-13-14
Week 12

Michigan:
Michigan and Northwestern was a brutal game to watch; it was super sloppy and ugly.  I wouldn't credit the two defenses because they are both below average teams this year (besides NW fluke win against Wisco).  The offenses are horrible and Gardner is frustrating.  Gardner can either be pretty decent or a horrible turnover machine, thus the 10-9 final score.  Hopefully the Wolverines and Gardner can bring their A game (or I'll take even their B game) off the bye week against Maryland.  To win, Michigan needs to limit the turnovers, obviously, and have a decent defense( they don't need a great showing, Maryland will not be to much of a threat, only averaging 228.5 passing yards and 125.7 rushing yards).  Hopefully Michigan's running game stays strong, I really like the direction it is taking.  Maryland has been a weird, mediocre team, they either look decent or get blown out.  I'm guessing this game will be pretty interesting to watch; two average teams playing and Michigan is looking for that elusive sixth win to become bowl eligible.  Lets be honest, this is Michigan's last chance to become bowl eligible, unless they play like they did against Ohio State last year, and actually get the two point conversion.  But hey, this should be a good game to watch, and we'll probably see the Wolverines in the Quick Lane bowl in Detroit, or maybe in Texas.  Who Knows?

Minnesota:
Minnesota had a superb win over Iowa.  Hopefully this is a turning point for Minnesota because week to week the fan, and probably the coaches do not know what team will show up.  Will it be the team that lost to Illinois, and just squeaked by a terrible Purdue team, or will it be the team that storms into the Big House to reclaim the Brown Jug and the team who decimates their border rival for a pig (Floyd).  Hopefully the team that ran over Iowa shows up against Ohio State, but sadly that might not be enough.  The Gophers will have to have a near perfect game, Mitch Leidner will have to stop overthrowing his receivers, and the receivers will have to start catching easy balls (these two things have plagued the passing game for the Gophers for the whole year).  But one constant is Maxx Williams, and frankly, he is a beast, and he will have to have one heck of a game if the Gophers want to win.  Additionally, the D-line will need to contain J.T. Barret, and force him to pass into our secondary which has been excellent this year (bar the screen pass which they cannot seem to stop...).  One huge advantage that the Gophers have is the weather, it is supposed to be in the 20's, and a chance of snow.  During this week it has been 50-60 degrees in that gosh-awful town of Columbus, so Mr. Barret might have a hard time adjusting to the frozen tundra that is TCF Bank Stadium (lol).  What the Gophers cannot afford is getting blown out in this game.  If they want to get to a decent bowl, they have to keep it close.  Hopefully they get the big W against the Suckeyes, but realistically I feel Ohio State will get the win 35-26

As Always,
Go Blue and Ski-U-Mah