Orel's Big Ten Preview: Michigan

With virtually all other publications/media outlets releasing their preseason football prognostications for the upcoming season (before athletes had a full summer of potential opportunities to get caught stealing/assaulting) it is now time for Kornheiser's Cartel to release Orel's Preseason Previews, or shortly put "OPP".
Why the Big Ten you ask? What other conference has this level of smashmouth, GRIND IT OUT football? What other conference has their own television network (Notre Dame DOES NOT count)? What other conference has 10 of the top 11 (exaggerated) stadium capacities in the nation (sorry Northwestern)? And finally, in the words of Barry Badrinath, what other conference can you watch and see an awe inspiring play and be obliged to yell out, "That's Big Ten Football!"?

It was easy to choose the school to kick-off our previews this year. Michigan kicked-off last season rather auspiciously with early season losses...followed by eight consecutive victories over teams, including NOTRE DAME. They hit a lull to end the season until they came up with one of the more impressive performances of any team of the season in the Capital One Bowl over Tim Tebow...err Florida.

Enough about the past, let's talk about this season!

Michigan returns 14 starters from a team that finished the season ranked, rightfully so, in the top-20 in the nation. They bring in who has to be the most dynamic freshman in the country in Terrell Pryor. He has the perfect tools that new coach Rich Rodriguez looks for in his quarterbacks. If by some fluke Pryor does not live up to the billing, sophomore Ryan Mallett, a former 5-star recruit, is there to pick up keys and go. No one can argue that this team is on its way to an unprecedented 43rd Big Ten Championship and possibly its 12th National Title.

Wait a second...the Wolverines DO NOT return their most important pieces from their vaunted offense last season and they sure as hell DO NOT return OR bring in the great Terrell Pryor or Ryan "the Human Croquet" Mallett?

Honestly, the Wolverines should be mediocre at besta although they have brought in another great recruiting class to continue their tradition of undeserved recruits (Rodriguez is a "snake oil salesman" after all). Their defense should keep games close, while their offense should run about as efficiently as Joe Pa on a treadmill.

There really is no excuse though. This program gets top-10 talent EVERY year. I don't care if you lose a few good players and one GREAT player (Mike Hart), there is no reason that they should not expect to contend for a Big Ten title every single year.
You have to remember, this is a program accustomed to never living up to its lofty rankings, so this year should be different from that aspect. There are no expectations whatsoever, unless you call being a fringe top-25 team expectations for this tradition rich football academy.

In closing, they just don't have the firepower to replace the human grinder Mike Hart. I'm predicting a transition year for Michigan this year. They are headed for another measly nine wins with a fifth-place finish in the Big Ten... Only to return to their position as Ohio State's little sister next season.

Who am I to talk though? I'm a Purdue fan...I idolize anyone that's THE Ohio State University's little sister. But more on that to come!

Orel's Big Ten Preseason Rankings:
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5. Michigan
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Come back tomorrow for our next installment!

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