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We all know by this point in the season we really don't know much for certain.  If you compare week 3 rankings with final any year you see anomalies.

for sure. Georgia is pretty much the only team I'm sure about. they shouldn't even do team rankings til about week 6 imo. 

We all know by this point in the season we really don't know much for certain.  If you compare week 3 rankings with final any year you see anomalies.

I think we know enough about the top.  We know who will be in or nearly in the CFP.  Will a currently unranked team go 9-3 and reach the top 12ish?  Sure

This is the biggest question imo. I think Maryland has a decent offense so we’ll learn a lot about the defense. I also think Michigan’s offense is a well oiled Machine with JJ out there so I expect Michigan to put up a lot of points. The closeness of this one will be determined by the D. I expect Michigan to cover.

I do have some reservations about Michigan's offense.  The OL needs to get healthy and better.  RT Jones is a work in progress.  I also think they need a big RB like Haskins.  I haven't drank the Corum is a good inside runner KoolAid.  Maybe Edwards can do it once he's healed up?

I think that @ELA 's analysis is, as usual, spot on. I see this as the kind of game where Maryland really needs some combination of:

• An off-the-charts good game for themselves, and/or
• A just dreadfully awful game by Michigan, and/or
• A major advantage in turnover margin (I'm thinking +3 or so, like he said).

Honestly, I don't even think that any one of the above would be enough. They need two out of three.

I recall some "analysis" of this ilk last year where Michigan was a beast at every position.

That was after the "fore Harbaugh now" threads of course.

I recall some "analysis" of this ilk last year where Michigan was a beast at every position.

That was after the "fore Harbaugh now" threads of course.

YAWN.

Blake Corum is by far the most explosive RB they've had in decades and he ran for like 50 yards just shy of 1k yards while splitting carries and missing 3-4 games with a high ankle sprain. I've been watching Michigan football forever.....Donovan Edwards just might be the most talented RB they've ever had. Dude was OMERG 5 STARZZZ for a reason. Dude was just a true frosh last year and behind Haskins and Corum- two pretty damn good older players. He will be unleashed this year. They are A OK at RB.

Ronnie Bell is the best WR on their team. By far. They were without him the entire year last year. He's back. Their WR/TE depth behind him is excellent. Best it's been since Harbaugh has been in Michigan. LG Trevor Keegan was a RS Soph and first time starter last year. RG Zak Zinter was a RS Frosh and first time starter last year. Stands to reason those guys will only get better, NO? And they were pretty fkn good last year. Their new center Olu Oluwatimi was the runner up to the Rimmington Award and an All-American last year. Their center last year Varstardis was a solid college player- but nowhere in Oluwatimi's universe as an individual player. The interior of their OL is going to be better than it was a year ago. Can't remember the last time they had an interior OL that freaking experienced and talented. Been forever. Have to go back to the Lloyd Carr days.

Last but not least- the most important position on the field- the main man pulling the trigger- is going to be A LOT better than what they had last year. JJ McCarthy is just flat out different- that's why he beat Cade McNamara- a pretty decent starting SENIOR B1G level QB that just QB'd this program to a B1G 'chip and beat the Buckeyes last year. I've been watching Michigan football forever. Only QB you can compare JJ to on a talent level is Drew Henson. JJ is not quite Drew Henson level- but damn he is close.

In summation: their offense will be A OK as long as Harbaugh stays out of the way. It's the defense that I am worried about.

beast enuff to take down the Buck Nutz

well that's no fun