2018 PREDICTIONS

• Best Case: 12-0
• Worst Case: 3-9
• Prediction: 10-2 (7-2)
• Link: https://bigtenandcounting.com/2018/08/29/2018-best-case-worst-case-prediction-michigan/
• In reality: 10-3 (8-1)

WHERE I WENT RIGHT

Picking Ohio State to beat them yet again.  I kid, I kid!  I said Michigan would be in championship contention if their line held up well enough to protect Shea Patterson – boy did they.  They also ran the ball much more effectively this year than last.  Really, Michigan’s season played out almost exactly like I expected it to…

WHERE I WENT WRONG

…Except for their defensive performance against Ohio State.  62 points allowed.  Losing the bowl game in blowout fashion put a major damper on the season but, come on, this club won 10 games in a row!  It is easy, and fun, to take shots at Harbaugh but they really were a solid club last year.

SEASON-DEFINING MOMENT

Down 24-19 at the half to Ohio State, Michigan was going toe-to-toe with their rivals.  A few series into the second half, OSU added a field goal.  At 27-19 in the third it was still anybody’s game.  Then the scoring exploded.  OSU housed a punt, 34-19.  Michigan tossed an interception and two plays later, 41-19.  Michigan responded, then OSU, then Michigan, then OSU until the score got to 55-32.  Another pick set up another score, 62-32.  Michigan scored once more for cosmetic effect and to get us to the 62-39 final.  Ohio State is the season for Michigan and that second half pretty much burned the entire season to the ground for large parts of the UM fan base.

MVP

Karan Higdon, RB – Talk about a work horse.  Higdon finished with 1,178 yards on 224 carries with 10 scores.  During the 10 game winning streak he hit the century mark eight times.  I know Patterson made key plays and the quarterback position is more important now days, but I just don’t see how he gets any respect in play-action calls without Higdon being as good as he was.

• Honorable Mention: Devin Bush, LB and Chase Winovich, DL – These guys were as great as advertised.  Unfortunately they split the vote on that stacked defense which let sleeper third candidate Hidgon nab top billing but both kids brought the hammer in 2018.