Real Kato Blog: CFB 2024: Michigan Season Preview

I can't believe college football season is almost here again. Even more unbelievable: that I'm still blogging about it.

Yeah, college football season kicks off tomorrow. I don't think I'm going to spend the same energy writing about it as I have in the past, partly because I don't think anyone reads this anyway, and partly because there are so many better sources of info out there already. I guess it's still a way for me to keep tabs on the the games and keep my thoughts organized.

Michigan Preview

Michigan will follow up its national championship season with a new head coach and questions at some key positions. The big question, of course, is at quarterback. Will Michigan start Alex Orji in what will likely be an option-heavy run offense? Or will someone like Davis Warren be able to take the next step and lead the offense? Jack Tuttle is rumored to be nursing an injury. Jadyn Davis has shown promise in camp, but he's probably still got a lot to learn. My suspicion is that Michigan will rotate Orji and Warren in the first game to see who's more effective. Hopefully the offense won't tip the playcall based on the personnel.

The team will likely lean on the defense early, what with perhaps the best DT combo in the country in Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant. The linebackers are new but have shown promise. Michigan seems to be on a perennial hunt for a second cornerback. Will Johnson will be a star but someone else needs to step up.

Michigan has a brutal schedule, facing B1G newcomers USC, Washington, and Oregon, while also facing Texas in a big non-conference battle. Michigan avoids Penn State this year, but plays a loaded Ohio State team on the road. I feel like this will be a good-but-not-great year.

Aug 31: Fresno State: Probable Win
Sep 7: Texas: Toss-up
Sep 14: Arkansas State: Probable W
Sep 21: USC: Toss-up
Sep 28: Minnesota: Lean Win
Oct 5: @Washington: Toss-up
Oct 12: Bye
Oct 19: @Illinois: Lean Win
Oct 26: Michigan State: Lean Win
Nov 2: Oregon: Lean Loss
Nov 9: Indiana: Lean Win
Nov 16: Bye
Nov 23: Northwestern: Lean Win
Nov 30: Ohio State: Lean Loss

I just don't see Michigan getting through this gauntlet unscathed. The floor seems to be 7-5; the ceiling is optimistically 11-1. I think 8-4 is a reasonable expectation unless the QB situation works itself out.

The opening game against Fresno State should just be a tune-up. I'd expect Michigan to grind out a 27-3 victory in a run-heavy slog of a game.

Week 1 Games to Watch on TV

Sat Aug 24:
#10 Florida State @ Georgia Tech: 12:00 PM ESPN

Thu Aug 29:
Western Carolina @ #24 NC State: 7:00 PM ACCN
UNC @ Minnesota: 8:00 PM FOX

Fri Aug 30:
FAU @ Michigan State: 7:00 PM BTN
Western Michigan @ Wisconsin: 9:00 PM BTN
TCU @ Stanford: 10:30 PM ESPN

Sat Aug 31:
#14 Clemson @ #1 Georgia: 12:00 PM ABC
#8 Penn State @ WVU: 12:00 PM FOX
#19 Miami @ Florida: 3:30 PM ABC
#7 Notre Dame @ #20 Texas A&M: 7:30 PM ABC
Fresno State @ #9 Michigan: 7:30 PM NBC

Sun Sep 1:
#23 USC @ #13 LSU: 7:30 PM ABC

Mon Sep 2:
Boston College @ #10 Florida State: 7:30 PM ESPN

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Posted by Ken in: sports

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