Michigan Football: Complete 2011 Schedule with Failproof Predictions
When it comes to Brady Hoke’s first season as Michigan’s football coach, consider him very lucky.
The Wolverines play their first five games at home, and other than non-league foe Notre Dame, they don’t have their first crucial test until Michigan State on October 15.
That’s when Hoke will officially be on the clock. Sure, it would be a disappointment to lose to either Notre Dame or Northwestern, but a win at Spartan Stadium would be of utmost importance to the program.
It would not only benefit Michigan’s recruiting effort within the state but would instantly legitimize Hoke’s presence in Ann Arbor and would reestablish Michigan State’s perception as “little brother.”
Michigan is also fortunate that hard-hitting Wisconsin is missing from this year’s schedule, especially since the similarly tough Nebraska Cornhuskers take their place.
The Big 10 has 12 teams for the first time this season and has been split into two divisions, the Legends and Leaders. Winners of each division then compete for the automatic Rose Bowl berth in the conference championship game, December 3 in Indianapolis.
Of course, the winner could be invited to the National Championship Game. It’s possible the runner-up could go to the Rose Bowl.
As usual, Michigan and Ohio State play in the final regular season game at the Big House on November 26.
Because the two teams are in opposite divisions, there’s always the likelihood of a rematch in the title game.
Below is the divisional alignment, followed by Michigan’s regular-season game scenarios:
Legends: Iowa, Michigan, Michigan St., Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern
Leaders: Indiana, Illinois, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Wisconsin
Big 10 Championship Game: Dec. 3, 2011—Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis.
Sept. 3, Western Michigan (MAC)
1 of 12
Where: Michigan Stadium
Western Michigan's 2010 Record: 6-6, 5-3
Last Meeting: 2009, Michigan 31-7
Overall Series: Michigan, 5-0-0
Western Michigan completed the 2010 season on a three-game winning streak. Junior quarterback Alex Carder tossed 30 touchdown passes and averaged 278 passing yards per game. The wave arrives by the second quarter as this one is no contest.
Michigan 34, Western Michigan 10.
Sept. 10, Notre Dame (Independent)
2 of 12
Where: Michigan Stadium
Notre Dame's 2010 Record: 8-5
Last Meeting: 2010, Michigan 28-24
Overall Series: Michigan, 22-15-1
Michigan won the last two meetings in the final seconds, with Tate Forcier leading the Wolverines in 2009 and Denard Robinson in 2010. Many in the Notre Dame camp felt the Irish should have won last year, before starting quarterback Dayne Crist suffered an eye injury.
Robinson and Crist return to compete in Michigan Stadium's first-ever night game. Both teams feature improving defenses.
Both teams turn the ball over twice, as a national television audience watches the leprechaun celebrate after a last-minute 36-yard field goal.
Notre Dame 20. Michigan 17
Sept. 17, Eastern Michigan (MAC)
3 of 12
Where: Michigan Stadium
Eastern Michigan's 2010 Record: 2-10, 2-6
Last Meeting: 2009, Michigan, 45-17
Overall Series: Michigan, 9-0-0
Ron English returns to coach the Eagles for a third season. It hasn't been easy for the coach, who served as Michigan's defensive coordinator in 2006 and 2007. The Eagles went 2-10 and 0-12 the last two seasons, so look for Michigan to take it easy on its crosstown rival.
Michigan 42, Eastern Michigan 6.
Sept. 24, San Diego State (Mountain West)
4 of 12
Where: Michigan Stadium
San Diego State's 2010 Record: 9-4, 5-3
Last Meeting: 2004, Michigan 24-21
Overall Series: Michigan 1-0-0
The advantage goes to Michigan. Brady Hoke is very familiar with the Aztecs, but SDSU aren't familiar enough with Denard Robinson.
San Diego State likewise has a pretty good quarterback in Ryan Lindley. At 6'4", 220 lbs., Lindley is a prototypical NFL signal caller. Lindley passed for 3,830 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2010.
Another advantage for Michigan is that the Wolverines will have previously faced Notre Dame's Dayne Crist, another excellent passer.
Michigan 28, San Diego State 20.
Oct. 1, Minnesota (Big 10, Legends)
5 of 12
Where: Michigan Stadium
Minnesota's 2010 Record: 3-9, 2-6
Last Meeting: 2008, Michigan 29-6
Overall Series: Michigan, 70-24-3
Michigan was victorious in the last three battles for "The Little Brown Jug," since Minnesota grabbed it in 2005. The Gophers will head into Ann Arbor with a first-year coach and a first-year quarterback.
Jerry Kill comes over from Northern Illinois as the new coach, while MarQueis Gray and Moses Alipate settle the quarterback issue.
Michigan 31, Minnesota 17.
Oct. 8, at Northwestern (Big 10, Legends)
6 of 12
Where: Ryan Field, Evanston, Illinois
Northwestern's 2010 Record: 7-6, 3-5
Last Meeting: 2008, Northwestern 21-14
Overall Series: Michigan, 52-15-2
Suburban Chicago has normally been kind to the Wolverines, but Michigan is in for a huge surprise.
Before he was injured last season, dual-threat QB Dan Persa combined for more than 3,000 total yards.
His favorite target, receiver Jeremy Ebert, returns after catching 62 passes in 2010.
Michigan misses an extra point and a field goal as a strong breeze comes in from Lake Michigan.
Northwestern 35, Michigan 34.
Oct. 15, at Michigan State (Big 10, Legends)
7 of 12
Where: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing
Michigan State's 2010 Record: 11-2, 7-1, including a 49-7 loss to Alabama in the Capital One Bowl
Last Meeting: 2010, Michigan State, 34-17
Overall Series: Michigan, 67-31-5
The biggest concern in East Lansing will be Michigan State's defense. Among the Top 5 tacklers, Trenton Robinson is the only Spartan who returns.
Michigan's offense finally gets going on all cylinders. Stephen Hopkins notches his first 100 yard rushing performance, Kevin Koger snags eight passes and Denard Robinson throws for two touchdowns and rushes for three.
Meanwhile, Kirk Cousins has his worst day as a Spartan signal caller. Before a shocked Spartan Stadium crowd, he's sacked four times and intercepted twice. Michael Hart does several radio interviews.
Michigan 27, Michigan State 17.
Oct. 29, Purdue (Big 10, Leaders)
8 of 12
Where: Michigan Stadium
Opponent's 2010 Record: 4-8, 2-6
Last Meeting: 2010, Michigan, 27-16
Overall Series: Michigan 42-14-0
Michigan produces its second straight solid defensive effort. Mike Martin gets a pair of sacks and Troy Woolfolk grabs a pair of interceptions.
Purdue's defense misses Ryan Kerrigan, who was all over the field for Purdue last season.
Offensively, Robinson suffers a horrible day passing but Devin Gardner rescues him in the fourth quarter with a 22-yard touchdown run and a 11-yard screen pass to Vincent Smith.
Michigan 21, Purdue 7.
Nov. 5, at Iowa (Big 10, Legends)
9 of 12
Where: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City
Opponent's 2010 Record: 8-5, 4-4
Last Meeting: 2010, Iowa, 38-28
Overall Series: Michigan 40-12-4
Back in 1985, No. 1 Iowa defeated No. 2 Michigan, 12-10, with a field goal on the last play of the game. In 2011, neither team is thinking about lofty rankings. Michigan is trying to recover from the Rich Rodriguez era and Iowa is replacing quarterback Rick Stanzi and running back Adam Robinson.
In 2009 Denard Robinson came off the bench, but a late interception saved the win for Iowa. Last season, Tate Forcier tried to do the same thing but also fell short.
In the 2011 game, expect Iowa quarterback James Vanderberg to do just enough to pull out the victory.
Iowa 17, Michigan 14
Nov. 12, at Illinois (Big 10, Leaders)
10 of 12
Where: Memorial Stadium, Champaign
Illinois' 2010 Record: 7-6, 4-4
Last Meeting: 2010, Michigan, 67-65 (3OT)
Overall Series: Michigan 67-23-2
Who can forget last season's triple-overtime thriller at the Big House? After a successful two-point conversion pass from Tate Forcier to Junior Hemingway, the Wolverines stopped a two-point attempt by Illinois to preserve the win.
Illinois returns dual-threat quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase, running back Jason Ford and wide receiver A.J. Jenkins.
Look for Michigan's defense to keep this trio in check as Denard Robinson throws three touchdown passes and runs for another.
Michigan 28, Illinois 17
Nov. 19, Nebraska (Big 10, Legends)
11 of 12
Where: Michigan Stadium
Nebraska's 2010 Record: 10-4, 6-2, including a 19-7 loss to Washington in the Holiday Bowl
Last Meeting: 2005, Nebraska, 32-28 (Alamo Bowl)
Overall Series: Michigan 3-2-1
Nebraska, visiting the Big House for the first time since 1962, is the newest member of the Big 10. Nebraska ended 2010 on a sour note, losing to Washington in the Holiday Bowl, 19-7.
Coach Bo Pelini expects to start much-maligned quarterback Taylor Martinez at quarterback, but has been looking for more overall speed to compliment his stout offensive line.
The experts figure Nebraska would control both lines of scrimmage in the 2011 affair, but Michigan holds its own in the trenches.
In fact, Michigan scores the winning touchdown on a two-yard plunge by John McColgan, his second touchdown of the season.
Michigan 17, Nebraska 10
Nov. 26, Ohio State (Big 10, Leaders)
12 of 12
Where: Michigan Stadium
Ohio State's 2010 Record: 12-1 (7-1)
Last Meeting: 2010, Ohio State, 37-7
Overall Series: Michigan 57-44-6
Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel is expected to resign if Ohio State can't beat Michigan for the 10th time in 11 tries. Interim Coach Luke Fickell has the Buckeyes on a three-game winning streak while Brady Hoke's Wolverines are coming off a stunning upset over Nebraska.
Wolverine fans can see a repeat of the 1969 miracle if Michigan can get its offense on track. Ohio State's offense is sharp from the outset, at least on the opening drive. The Buckeyes drive 70 yards for a touchdown on their first possession, then head into the locker room after a field goal for a 10-0 lead.
Denard Robinson scores a late third quarter touchdown, then follows with a two-point conversion to make it 10-8 going into the final quarter. Both teams make feeble attempts to produce a late drive, but the defenses are not to be denied.
With 90 seconds remaining, Drew Dileo returns a Buckeye punt to the Ohio State 35 and the Wolverines think they might be in business.
Three plays later, Michigan gain but five yards and, with a 47-yarder staring him in the face, freshman kicker Matt Kile checks into the game.
