Wolverines Have Not Yet Won Away from Home, Face Illini in Illinois

Let's get one thing straight: The Wolverines season is not over.

Yes, their hopes of turning their season around were crushed by their 35-10 blow out loss at home at the hands of a very good Penn State team. Yes, they have a three game losing conference losing streak. Yes, they have lost both of their road games this year. But that does not mean that this Michigan squad is out of the picture to run the table and get themselves into a decent bowl game.

Even if that does not happen, a single win of the next four games will make them bowl eligible. Michigan seems to forget how to take advantage of mistakes by other teams. More and more often we see Michigan turning the ball over (two turnovers against Michigan State, five against Iowa and four against Penn State most recently) and it is costing them on the score sheet and in the record column overall.

In order for Michigan to turn their season around, they must: Minimize the turnovers (11 turnovers in three games is unacceptable), take away the passing game, and Tate Forcier must regain his swagger and his health.

Everyone knows that a turnover can kill any momentum that you have going on a drive or in a game. Before Penn State, Michigan's two losses were by a combined eight points. One less turnover in each game (Tate Forcier's interception in the Michigan State game, and Denard Robinson's interception in the Iowa game) and we could be talking about a potentially 7-1 Michigan squad.

The world of what ifs is hard to talk about because we know in reality that Michigan lost both of those games by less than a six points each time.

Finally, where on Earth has Tate Forcier gone? After going 3-3 on the opening drive of the game, Forcier virtually vanished from the game going 10-27 after that for just 108 passing yards. Michigan must step it up offensively this weekend against Illinois.

Michigan hammered I-AA Delaware State two weeks ago 63-6 and this weekend is not much different. The Illini, 1-6, would have to win the rest of their games to become bowl eligible.

Michigan must crush the Illini this Saturday in Champagne, IL. Get the season back on track. Regardless of the fact that it isn't a quality win, Michigan must still get Forcier and the Offense back on track. After back to back big conference performances from Brandon Minor, Michigan must be firing on all cylinders this weekend against Illinois.

Michigan's season is not a disappointment, despite what you cynical Michigan fans may say. It is a rebuilding season where their Offense is young and talented, and their Defense is just mediocre. This can be expected from a young team.

Don't count the Big Blue out just yet, there's still a lot of football left to be played. Even though Tate Forcier has not played in cold weather situations very much, he has shown that he has magic in his feet, and magic in his throws. Look for a good rest of the season from this team