With just five days until the Michigan football team visits No. 12 Notre Dame to kick off its season, it’s as good of a time as ever to throw predictions at the wall and see what sticks. Diehard fans think this is the year the 14th-ranked Wolverines find that indescribable success. Critics don’t see a reason for this season to be any different than last.
But one thing is certain — right now, your guess is as good as ours.
On Saturday night in South Bend, Ind., a litany of lingering questions will start to find answers. Some will be answered immediately. Who will start at the offensive tackle spots? At WILL? Who could step up to replace Tarik Black’s production? And some questions will be answered in due time (Read: can Shea Patterson live up to the hype?).
But for now, the thumb twiddling continues, no matter how certain you may be that Michigan’s defense will be better than the 2016 unit. So how will the Wolverines fare? The Daily football beat gives its best shot at deciphering their fate and what this college football season has in store on a national level:
Michigan regular season record (Big Ten):
Mark Calcagno: 9-3 (6-3)
Max Marcovitch: 10-2 (7-2)
Mike Persak: 10-2 (7-2)
Ethan Wolfe: 11-1 (8-1)
Big Ten Champions:
Calcagno: Wisconsin
Marcovitch: Ohio State
Persak: Wisconsin
Wolfe: Michigan
Offensive MVP:
Calcagno: Karan Higdon
Marcovitch: Shea Patterson
Persak: Shea Patterson
Wolfe: Shea Patterson
Defensive MVP:
Calcagno: Devin Bush
Marcovitch: Khaleke Hudson
Persak: Devin Bush
Wolfe: Rashan Gary
X-Factor not named Shea Patterson:
Calcagno: Whoever starts at left tackle
Marcovitch: Whoever starts at right tackle
Persak: Donovan Peoples-Jones
Wolfe: Chris Evans
Breakout player:
Calcagno: Aubrey Solomon
Marcovitch: Oliver Martin
Persak: Nico Collins
Wolfe: Zach Gentry
College Football Playoff predictions:
Calcagno: Alabama, Clemson, Wisconsin, Washington
Marcovitch: Georgia, Clemson, Ohio State, Auburn
Persak: Alabama, Wisconsin, Clemson, Washington
Wolfe: Alabama, Clemson, Michigan, Georgia
Heisman Trophy winner:
Calcagno: Will Grier, QB, West Virginia
Marcovitch: Bryce Love, RB, Stanford
Persak: Deondre Francois, QB, Florida State
Wolfe: Bryce Love, RB, Stanford