2012 College Football Predictions: Michigan Wolverines BCS Odds, Schedule and Preview

2012 Michigan Wolverines College Football Expert Predictions, Picks, Vegas Odds and Schedule – Michigan College Football Preview: Brady Hoke had a pretty good first season as head coach of the Michigan Wolverines. After several lean years for a one-time national power, Hoke led the Wolverines to an 11-2 record and a Sugar Bowl victory last season. Perhaps even more importantly, Michigan snapped its losing streak against arch rival Ohio State. With so much success in the first year of Hoke’s tenure, it’s easy to understand why there is so much optimism among the Michigan fan base. The question is whether the success of Hoke and the Wolverines was a flash in the pan or a sign of things to come.

While the Wolverines are suddenly facing high expectations, they do have the most-dynamic weapon in college football at their disposal. Quarterback Denard Robinson has been just as crucial to Michigan’s revival as Hoke, and he enters this season as one of the top contenders for the Heisman Trophy. Robinson can burn defenses with his arm and his legs, and he scored 36 total touchdowns last season. He is a lock to top 1,000 yards on the ground, and playing in the same offensive system for the second year in a row should only improve his passing skills. Robinson is a team leader and a big play waiting to happen whenever he touches the ball. As long as he is healthy, the Wolverines have a fighting chance against any opponent.

The offense figures to be the strength of this team. Robinson is the centerpiece and rightfully so, but running back Fitzgerald Toussaint topped 1,000 yards last year, as well. That being said, the offensive line will be somewhat of a work in progress with just two starters back at their positions from last year. Fortunately, Robinson’s ability to make plays when the pocket collapses should help ease the transition and keep the Michigan offense among the best in the country.

Defense, on the other hand, could be an issue. While the Wolverines actually had the third-best defense in the Big Ten last year in terms of points allowed, the unit didn’t force many turnovers and didn’t exactly perform well against top competition. Michigan allowed 28 or more points against Notre Dame, Michigan State and Ohio State last season. Throw in the fact that the Wolverines. This year’s group loses most of its front line, including star nose tackle Mike Martin. The Wolverines could struggle to stop the run and control the line of scrimmage, which isn’t a good thing in the Big Ten.

The other concerning issue for Michigan is the schedule. The Wolverines open the season with a neutral site showdown with the defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide. Road games against Notre Dame, Nebraska and Ohio State are no picnic either, especially for a team that dealt with some road woes last season. Michigan went just 2-2 in true road games last year, including a bad loss to a mediocre Iowa team. If Hoke’s bunch is going to make a surprise run to the BCS title game, they will have to earn it.

In the end, it’s tough to see the Wolverines going after a national championship this season. As great as Robinson is, it is going to be next to impossible for Michigan to stay undefeated with a reshuffled offensive line and a completely rebuilt defensive line. Facing Alabama and the nation’s best offensive line is not what the Wolverines’ front line needs, and heading to Columbus to face an Ohio State team that has nothing to play for this year other than to be spoiler will make for a very difficult atmosphere. A Big Ten title and a BCS bowl are certainly within reach, but let’s save the national title talk for another year.

Prediction: 10-2, Big Ten Legends Division Champions

Preseason 2012 Michigan Wolverines NCAA Football Odds:
Odds to Win 2012 BCS Championship: +3000
Odds to Win 2012 Big Ten Champonship: +200
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2012 Michigan Wolverines College Football Schedule
Sat, Sep 1 (1) Alabama 8:00 pm —
Sat, Sep 8 Air Force 3:30 pm —
Sat, Sep 15 Massachusetts 3:30 pm —
Sat, Sep 22 at Notre Dame 7:30 pm —
Sat, Oct 6 at Purdue 4:00 pm —
Sat, Oct 13 Illinois 3:30 pm —
Sat, Oct 20 (11) Michigan State TBA —
Sat, Oct 27 at (24) Nebraska 8:00 pm —
Sat, Nov 3 at Minnesota TBA —
Sat, Nov 10 Northwestern TBA —
Sat, Nov 17 Iowa TBA —
Sat, Nov 24 at Ohio State 12:00 pm —

Check out NSAwins.com’s official 2012 Big Ten Football Predictions and Odds article.

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