Blue By Ninety - In The Big House Ep. 13: Beat TCU!

Episode Date: December 30, 2022

Tyler and Brian discuss the game vs TCU, injuries, and give predictions.

Michigan fans welcome to in the big house with your host Tyler Sealy and BB's big house from game day recaps recruiting player evaluations and all the latest buzz around the program we've got you covered now here's Tyler and Brian

what's going on, guys? And welcome back to another episode of the In the Big House podcast. I'm Tyler here alongside Brian, getting ready for the Fiesta Bowl in Arizona. Brian, how are you doing tonight? I'm doing fantastic. So fired up. I wish that Saturday could get here as fast as it could. Oh, man, I wish as well.

You know, I was talking to somebody today about this, and, like, you know, this has a different feel to it. Like, the Ohio State games and the Michigan State games and the rivalry games and those games are, you know, different than a lot of the other regular in-conference or out-of-conference games. This doesn't feel like a bowl game. It doesn't quite feel like the Ohio State game, but it feels damn important, and it really is, isn't it? Yeah, I feel like it's the expectation. You think of some of these teams that have made the college football playoff, Notre Dame comes to mind, Oklahoma comes to mind, these teams that, you know, hadn't been there in a bit and came in there. I feel like the weight of the world's a little bit on the program. You know, that national perception.

I think the program is going to places it's been in quite some time. And I think the country respects the program to a pretty high degree. But to take that next step, to move into that real upper tier, I think, as fans, as a program, I think that's where that weight comes from, is you want to be able to quell every question. It was great to quell the questions that were, can Michigan ever get to India? And we do that a couple times. Will they ever beat Ohio State? We've done that a couple times.

Get to the College Club playoff. We've done that a couple times will ever be ohio state we've done that a couple times get to the college playoff we've done that a couple times now to take that next step i think that weight is what's at least for me what's what's there you know so it's different it definitely is different but like i said like it feels almost like a bowl game because it is a bowl game right but it feels a lot more important than that but it doesn't quite feel as important as an Ohio State game or as a Michigan State game. I feel like it should feel like that because it's for a chance to get to the national title game. Or no, I should say to get to the national title game. But it doesn't quite have that feeling.

I don't know if it's just me because i'm not in michigan i know you're not either but but like i i don't it doesn't feel like that you know what i mean i do i i feel like you know last year we played georgia and there's always been that running and i live in sec country so but even without that you there's always that running debate between the big 10 and the sec i think part of the reason you probably feel that way is because of the opponent. TCU is not – you know, TCU, they're great, but we don't have any skin in the game with the Big 12. There's not some rivalry between the Big Ten and the Big 12.

TCU and Michigan have never played before. I mean, there's not something there that, you know, is built up. And last year, though, it georgia georgia fans are really cocky and loud and dealing with all that in the build-up i think part of that is simply because it's the opponent you know now make no mistake i think it's cool that tcu got there i think a big 12 it's good i like i like seeing the acc and the Big 12 and the Pac-12 do well because, I mean, more good college football teams means more competition. So I do agree with you there.

Last year it was Georgia. It was in Miami. You know what I mean? It was just like the lights couldn't have been any brighter than they were unless it was like Alabama. But it still has that playoff feel to it. I'm not going to lie. It still has that playoff feel to it. I'm not going to lie. It still has a very important feel to it.

And make no mistake, this is going to be, you know, a game that we remember for a long time, win or lose. So, you know, this is the college football playoff as it is. We're getting expansion in two years. So this is the four-team playoff that, you know, is very important. So yeah, I think another thing that's a little bit different, Tyler, is that, you know, last year, this time last year, leading up to Georgia, I don't think many people gave Michigan much of a chance. I don't think Michigan fans expected to win that game, right? You add that with the fact that we had come off

the awful 2020. You know, we were all just so happy to be there. The fans, the program, the fact that it was in Miami, more of a party atmosphere. Now we've been there. We've done that. We're not battling all these past demons. And we're favored. We're heavy favorites. We're favorites like we were underdogs last year.

We've been there before. It's a business-like trip, like the team has said, in Arizona. So even though it's back to the first round of the college football playoffs like it was last year, there's a whole lot different this time around. Yeah, and, you know, before we get into it, we're going to talk about TCU first. But before we even get into that, I just – I remember last year, just even as a fan I felt this way. After the Big Ten title game and after beating Ohio State,

after getting to the Big Ten championship and winning the Big Ten championship, Georgia just felt like gravy at that point, right? It just felt like if you kept it close to Georgia or if there was a chance you could win, great. If you don't, then we still beat ohio state we still got to the big 10 championship but one where this year they or i should even say you know rewind back to last year um where andrelle anthony and donovan edwards and jj mccarthy and i think mike morris um they kind of stayed uh you know later and and waited for Georgia to celebrate on the field.

And they basically said in maybe not as many words, I never want to have this feeling again. And that's the business-like approach to this year. It started when that Orange Bowl ended. This whole mission to get to the playoff again and to win a playoff game and potentially to win a national title. It started last year in that orange bowl where, you know, it, it couldn't have been any, you couldn't have been any farther apart in that game. But, you know, I mean,

that's kind of where I'm at and I'm sure you agree with me. Oh, a hundred percent. Yeah. I think it's, it's a, it's a much different feel for sure. Yeah. Like I said, so business-like approach, um, hopefully that continues. I wouldn't imagine that it wouldn't. Um, and then, you know, in terms of like everything that was in Miami last year, in terms of like going to the beach and doing this and doing that and these photo shoots. There's none of that this year. It's a very businesslike approach, and hopefully the result follows with that.

So we're going to get into TCU. They're a 12-1 team. They weren't a Big 12 champion because they did lose in the Big 12 title game, 31-26 in overtime. Brian, what do you know about tcu just for starters i mean you know i actually did watch them quite a bit and you know studied what i could the last few days you know in preparations for this their team you know they're not they don't play a similar style to Michigan, but they are very similar. They're tough, gritty. Max Duggan is for real.

For anyone that hasn't seen him, he is for real. He can do it with his legs, with his arm. He's not – if you really look at his game-by-game stats, it wasn't like he was throwing the ball for 400 yards a week. He wasn't that. He's just a dynamic playmaker. They have a great running back. They're an opportunistic team.

One thing that I think is the most similar to Michigan is a lot of their games were really close to halftime. They were a second-half team. And so I think if we have a close game, and we'll get into the game predictions as of later, but if there's a close game at halftime, both teams come out of the locker room feeling pretty confident because they both had tough dogfights. So that advantage that Michigan's had all year,

I think their style of play favors the second half game, Michigan's that is, because of the grounded pound and how they wear you down. But they're a good team. They absolutely deserve to be here. As the year played out, they kind of kept creeping up the polls. And candidly, I just thought, well, this is the week they lose. This is the week they lose.

And I wasn't alone. Every ESPN talking head, every CBS talking head, everybody said, oh, yeah, they got picked against for the last five weeks of season, it seemed like. But, you know what, every week they found a way to win. And after the Big 12 title game where Kansas State played a hell of a game in that game. And I'll tell you what. I didn't watch a lot of TCU this year. My aunt actually works at TCU. So that's kind of one little thing that I can't pull for TCU, obviously, here.

And, you know, she usually pulls for Michigan, but she's like, not this time. You know, I can't help you this time. But the Texas game, it was one game that I did watch of TCU. And that game was one in the trenches. That was a gritty football game where they went into a really tough environment and make no mistake going to texas and winning it's not an easy thing whether you're tcu or any other team in the big 12 and they played a really good defensive style and shut down bijan robinson

pretty effectively if i remember correctly oh yeah absolutely um they they're legit they're they deserve to be there. I'm happy for them that they're there because they have the best resume. They're the most deserving team to be there. Absolutely. And Sonny Dykes, you know, his first year at TCU. Amazing. He's got to the playoff in his first year.

People had them picked sixth through eighth in the Big 12. Yeah, the Big 12 media poll had them seventh, I believe. Yeah. It's crazy. I mean, from what I know of TCU, they have some grit to them. Obviously, they were probably the best team in the Big 12 this year, and they're certainly deserving. I agree with you.

In terms of TCU, though, I mean, mean max duggan's a dog he really is he that game the kansas state game they were down and the big 12 title game they were down and max duggan basically did everything that he could to get that game tied and get that game to overtime i i remember there was one play i forget forget exactly what happened, but he got hit. I think he got a big first down, maybe like a 30-yard gain on running out of the pocket. And he slid down, and his heart was beating. You could just tell.

And he was beat up when they showed him on the sideline. He leaves it all out there. And I'll tell you what right now. I mean, people that think that this is going to be a blowout, I mean, not if Max Duggan has something to do with it. You know, we had pretty good success playing against O'Connell at Purdue, against C.J. Stroud at Ohio State. But they're both different.

And those guys had success in the air. Both those guys had success in the air against C.J. Stroud, Ohio State. But they're both different. And those guys had success in the air. Both those guys had success in the air against Michigan. But neither one of those guys were a threat to leave the pocket at all. And I don't know if you've heard, but it sounds like during practices, R.J. Moten's safety has been practiced with the linebackers. And I have to think that's, you know, A, as a speedier guy to kind of spy on him, and B, hoping you win and maybe it creates a matchup of Bowers against Georgia in the next game. But I think it's interesting.

He offers something. I can't think of a dynamic playmaker that Michigan's faced all this year that compares to him. Yeah, no, definitely not. I mean, someone said Talia, you know, in terms of his legs is probably the closest thing that you've seen. I'm not saying that he's as good or even as close to as good. But I mean, in terms of somebody that you've seen that has that ability to get out of the pocket and, you know, create problems with their feet, I think Taliyah is probably the only one that they've seen, you know, that's effective at doing that.

And he gave Michigan problems. That game wasn't really decided until the end of the third quarter, maybe the beginning of the fourth. So, you know, those kind of quarterbacks are tough because, you know, there's the play action, there's the RPO, there's, you know, plus he's got a good arm too, and they've got some good receivers. So this is not going to be a cakewalk like some people seem to think it's going to be.

Oh, yeah, it's definitely not. I mean, I think, you know, Sonny Dyches is a really clever guy. Their offensive coordinator is Lincoln Riley's brother, and Garrett Riley is a sharp guy. Something Dyches said in their media day yesterday, that they'd have a few things up their sleeve. I have to assume that they have some things up their sleeve. I agree with that.

I'm sure they do. I'm sure Michigan will also have some things up their sleeve as well, kind of like they did in the Ohio State game. Kind of like they did in the Big Ten championship game, not this year, but last year, where Donovan Edwards, you know, threw the ball downfield. So I think that there's a chance that some of that comes out as well. In terms of TCU, though, on the other side of the ball, and I think this is the most important part of the game, you know, in terms of TCU, if they on the other side of the ball, and I think this is the most important part of the game, you know,

in terms of TCU, if they have a chance to win, they're going to have to slow down the running game. And like I said, they did slow down Bijan Robinson, who was probably the best running back in the country next to Corum, you know, kind of say what you will, or Chase Brown as well. But, you know, that's going to be the key to the game for TCU. Can they stop the run game? And Sonny Dykes said something.

He was on the herd with Colin Cowherd. I think it was late last week. And basically he said, we're going to make Michigan throw the ball against us. And I'm just thinking to myself, I'm like, you idiot. You idiot. Did you not learn from the tape of the Ohio State game yeah where the box was loaded and it was one-on-one all day long and JJ was just hitting guys wide open so I think you know uh Michigan's unique that why they don't you don't win back-to-back Joe Moore awards. That validates what we've seen.

Sometimes you, as fans, you see something and you let yourself believe that you're better at something than you actually are. Every fan thinks their quarterback's the greatest. Every fan thinks they're running back in line. But factually, Michigan has been named the best offensive line in the country two years in a row. So you can say you want to line up in the box and stack it and stop that run. That's what every team for the last two years has said they're going to do.

You know, Cade McNamara, the check down guy, J.J. Young, a young inexperienced guy. We're going to load up and stop Hassan Haskins and Blake Corbin. You know how many people have done it? None. Georgia. Georgia. Yeah, that's None. Georgia. Georgia. There's been one team in...

And Georgia had nine first and second round draft picks on that defense. I don't think TCU has that. Now, TCU has a very... When you watch them, they have three linebackers that run to the ball, that make a ton of tackles. They force a ton of turnovers. I think

that's something as we get into Thomas Morris, they forced a good amount of turnovers. You know, they put pressure on the quarterback. They, you know, Tom, LaDainian Tomlinson's nephew, I think it is, was a first team All-American defensive back and took the ball away a ton. You know, they create some problems, But saying you're going to stop the run is a whole lot different than actually doing it. And JJ has proven if you do use your resources too much there, he has got enough talent and his confidence is growing. I, you know, the reports on campus, he's had some of his best practices all year. As his confidence grows with those deep shots, pick your poison.

Because if you look at this season, early on in the year, we said it week in and week out here, the meat on the bones comment. He missed a lot of deep shots. Well, at Ohio State, he didn't really miss any. He didn't really miss many against Purdue either. And so as that confidence grows, come on, stack the box. Try to stop it. Let's see what happens.

This is not one of those games where you're holding things back. This is one of those games where it's a statement game. You're going to go out there, and if you can run it up and you can win this game by a lot, by God damn, you're going to do that. So, I mean, I'm not saying that that's what's going to happen. We'll get into our predictions in a bit here. But, you know, that's kind of where we're at here. There's nothing to hold back.

I mean, what, you're going to hold it back for Georgia or Ohio State? Ohio State's seen it all pretty much, and I'm sure that they still have some stuff that they can dial up if they really need to go to it. Yeah, the matchup I'm excited about most I think is Quinton Johnson their two-time first team all big 12 wide receiver big tall guy you know they they have been comparing him to Calvin Johnson I think that's a little blasphemous but you know he's a big tall guy that makes jump plays and Will Johnson has been emerging and he's a 6-2 guy

you know seeing that I bet you we see a lot of that matchup yeah that you know winning that match but I think we win that matchup uh or break even on that matchup matchup we win now do you think do you think that's a situation where you have to lock him down or like would you play a safety over the top? Because I think similar to Ohio State, they do have a good vertical passing game that they can hit on big plays. But if you can keep that in front of you and you can play some bend-don't-break defense and make TCU kick field goals,

you know what they say about teams that kick field goals. They don't win. So in terms of where Michigan's at right now, I mean, you know, Duggan, I think it all still starts with stopping Kendrick Miller. I think Kendrick Miller is a huge part of their offense. And they're, like any offense, if you know that they have to throw, they're going to have issues against Michigan. So if you can stop the run, I mean know that they have to throw, they're going to have issues against Michigan. So if you can stop the run, I mean, that alleviates one thing to begin with. But then you have the caveat of Max Duggan who can escape out the back door for 20, 25 plays at a time.

Yep. Or 20, 25 yards at a time. But we're going to – enough talking about TCU. We're going to actually get into the game here. It's the CFP semifinal at the Verbo Fiesta Bowl. Got to get the Verbo in there. It's at 4 o'clock on ESPN on New Year's Eve. If you're living under a rock, you know that.

13-0 Michigan, 12-1 TCU. It is a seven-and- and a half point spread for michigan um they are the favorite in this game with a 58 and a half um over under i i you know it's to get into it here we'll start we'll start with the defense here so i think michigan's key to this game is stopping Kendra Miller. I know we kind of just talked about that, but I really kind of want to kind of hammer that home because that's where they start and go. I mean, you know, yes, I'm sure they can sit there

and throw the ball 56 times, but when the defense knows that you're going to do that, you're going to have problems. Yeah. So. What was he at? I'm just looking. He averaged – Duggan has averaged 28 pass attempts a game this year.

So, you know, that validates what you're saying. They like to run the ball. You know, I like that they can stay in base. You know, the fact that Mike Morris is back and appears to be healthy and has had a full couple weeks of practice, like he's been full go every practice, you know, that lets them stay in base. He's a good run stopper on that edge, but also provides pressure,

allows them to stay without having to get too exotic, uh, and getting pressure. And so, you know, a few more weeks of, of that interior working together, you know, it's, it's a tall task for TCU, I think. Okay. Yeah, I agree with that. Um, and you know in terms of guys being back, Schoonmaker seems to be back. Morris seems to be back. Donovan Edwards seems to be back. Everybody else that was banged up in the Big Ten title game seems to be back. I know Corum obviously is out.

We haven't talked. He did get surgery, so he most likely is out for the remainder of the season. And then it remains to be seen whether he will be declaring for the NFL draft or if he'll be coming back. But I've heard it's 50-50 at this point. I can't confirm or deny that, but that's from what I've heard. A.J. Henning is most likely going to be out, correct? Correct.

And then as all season long, I don't know why they haven't ruled him totally out for the season, but the guy Hill Green is obviously out as well. Yeah. He was coaching, I guess. Yeah, he's in Arizona. He's been suited up in coach's gear and been helping, so that's good. You know what?

He's back next year. That just goes back to the culture of where Michigan is at. There's some guys that have left already that aren't part of this anymore, and we're not going to get into who. I'm sure you guys know at this point, but that just speaks to the culture and Nakai Hill-Green just coming back basically as a grad assistant, even though he's still coming back to play next year. It's kind of a, a weird dynamic,

but where do you think the biggest problem is for Michigan in this game? You know, the layoff is always scary. You know, some teams handle that well and they've talked at great length about how it's a business trip and they know what it's like and what team doesn't say that, you know what I mean? What team doesn't? No team comes out public and says, you know what? We've just been partying and not really caring and not focusing on our opponent.

Even teams that mail it in say that. And I believe, I take them at the word that it's a business trip and they're focused. But that layoff coming out and what team responds to of responds to that layoff and put in the work and more prepared there. You know, I think the most vulnerable position is limiting the big plays. And when the big plays happen, don't let them demoralize. TCU is second in the country with plays over 60 yards this year. And so they're going to hit big plays. You know, that's going to happen.

It's don't let one big play turn into two and two turn into three. Take your medicine, put your chin strap on, and go back to what you do. And that's what scares me on the defensive side. On the offensive side, we've been pretty clean all year. Very limited turnovers, and turnovers oftentimes will decide these games. That's not a bold statement at all, but you know, when you've been as clean as Michigan has been most of the year that, you know, that's a way that you lose a game.

You're supposed to win your favorite to win. And so I think those are the two things. And then the last being special teams, we've been rock solid, all your special teams with Henning out, you know, Ronnie Bell's been real solid back there. The kick return game has kind of been, you know, Ronnie's had some nice returns in the punt return. Kick return's kind of just been, you know, nothing dynamic there.

But, you know, Jake Moody's been really, really good. Brad Robbins has been solid. He's been great the last few weeks. He's been solid. Being elite in special teams is going to be another critical part of the game. Offense, defense, special teams. Yeah, pretty simple stuff. That's where it's at.

And at this point, you know, in terms – I don't think there's going to be a lot of secrets in terms of what Michigan wants to do on the offensive side of the ball. They want to establish the run. They want to, you know, play action off of the run. And you know what? If they're not – if TCU's not going to stop the run, Michigan's not going to stop running the ball.

So if TCU can't stop the run, then, you know, they're going to do what they've done all season long. They're going to lean on that run game. I know they don't have Corum, but Donovan Edwards is as good, if not better. I know maybe saying that now is a little bit premature, but, I mean, certainly he's been – when Michigan's needed him, he's been there.

And, you know, go ahead. Well, I mean, I think personally I think that Corum's a much better running back than Donovan Edwards. Corum is the king of five, six yards to carry, five, six yards to carry. Prior to those big runs against Ohio State, and I love Donovan Edwards, but prior to that, he was averaging like 3.4 yards to carry before that. So you have to count the big plays. It's like that dumb statement Ohio State fans have been saying is,

if not for the five plays. Well, the five plays count, just like Donovan Edwards' long runs count. But Corum always kept – what made this team so special all year long is quorum kept them ahead of schedule five yards to carry six yards to carry six you know donald edwards been more three yards three yards three yards and two three yard carries is third and four versus two five yards carries and it's yeah half yard the one thing i'm really excited about that i think will help with the running game and the passing game is luke schoonmaker's back and you know i think he's one of the more dynamic guys in offense i think he's one of the best receivers on the team i think he's a really good run blocker colson loveland has emerged i think they can do some

things you know early on some of those early games schoonmaker and all were you know doing a lot of stuff and uh together the fact that you put lo games, Schoonmaker and Hall were, you know, doing a lot of stuff. And the fact that you put Loveland and Schoonmaker out there and run block for Edwards, make that a little easier, but also show some looks and make them both threats in the passing game, I'm real excited to see what they have there. Right. And I'm not sure TCU's seen what's about to come their way in terms of the offensive line and the intricacies of the run game that Michigan has. You know, I'm no X's and O's guy in terms of, like, the offensive line and the intricacies of the run game that Michigan has. You know, I'm no X's and O's guy in terms of, like, the offensive line, but I will say one thing.

Doug Skeen said that, you know, the offensive line is doing a lot of different things on different looks. And, you know, in terms of seeing that on TV, it's harder to see it on TV versus the actual game copy of the game. But their offensive line is the key to this game. I mean, really, their offensive and defensive lines are really the key to this game. And I know that kind of sounds like cliche, but the game is won and lost in the trenches. And you can't go anywhere if you're not going to win the battles in the trenches. I think like every other game, this game's going to be won in the trenches.

Yeah, zero disagreement there. I mean, Joe Moore, they've got to be proud to put that together. You know, the fact is our offensive line's been banged up a lot here. I mean, every week it was a different unit, different combination. Sounds like, you know, O-line one are all healthy and intact. So I know that Olu earlier last week was in a brace and was a little slowed down, but he said he's full go. What else would he say?

But, you know, the very best version of Michigan's offensive line, all intact. I like that. Yeah, I agree. Like I said, I think the offensive line is the most important part, you know, to the offense anyways. And then in terms of the defense, you know, I mean, Mike Morris, Mozzie Smith, stopping the run is going to be key. We kind of touched on this a little bit, but, you know, is Quinton Johnson the guy that you lock down and you kind of let everybody else beat you, or? That's a great question. You know, Minter, for most of the year,

for at least the first half, he seemed to have played very base, you know, very, we're just going to play, you know, the old Bill Belichick, do your job. He didn't do much dynamic exotic stuff like, hey, everyone do their job. And so I think early on, they're going to trust DJ Turner and DeLon Green and Will Johnson to do their job there. And I'm sure they'll have safety help and I'm sure there'll be extra attention on his side of the field. But I think, you know, where they change that up is, you know, on third and obvious passing situations. And then depending on, you know, circumstances and situations in the second half. But I wouldn't be surprised to see them come out pretty base early on.

You know, what's unique and dynamic, I'm trying to think if we've played any of that, excuse me, is one thing that TCU does really well is they employ the H-back a lot. So they'll line up two guys in the backfield, that hybrid fullback tight end position. They have two or three guys that are all really effective at that. And that's something unique we haven't seen. And I think that's another reason why you're seeing R.J. Moten

at linebacker because they deploy that as well as Max Duggan does. A lot of his stuff is to those H-backs. I mean, he hits Quinton Johnson deep, but lot of his stuff is to those H-backs. I mean, he hits Quinton Johnson deep, but they have three guys that line up at that position that all make plays. And so that's going to be unique and different, how that spaces the field, what that does with your resources in the middle of the field. And so I think Michael Barrett and RJ Moten, two athletic former safeties in the box could be just the guys to play that. I think that

sets up well for us situationally and matchup wise because those guys have coverage skills that traditional linebackers don't. Yeah, this defense in general at stopping the run, I think, is a little bit better than last year's. And then, you know, that's another, you know, key to the defense. But in terms of Max Duggan, I mean, he's one of these guys that he's he's a pass first guy you know and he can run he's not going to run all the time but he certainly can put the team on his back if he needs to it so that's that's one thing that Michigan will have to worry about in terms of trying to beat TCU and try to take down TCU? Because, you know, I know they're favorites. It's only a touchdown.

You know, if it was a blowout or if it was what Alabama and Cincinnati was last year, I mean, what was the spread of that game? From the top of my head, I was going to say it's probably 17 and a half. That's a blowout spread. This isn't a blowout spread. This is a touchdown. This is a game that's late in the fourth quarter, maybe still in doubt. But I think at this point we're going to go into some predictions.

What are you thinking? You know, I'm so nervous. And if you remember, I was the one of us, the two of us, that picked against Michigan in the Ohio State game. I'm a nervous Nelly. But I feel like everything we just talked about, I think Michigan, number one, Michigan's been there. Number two, I believe Michigan's the better team on both sides of the ball. I think TCU's exceptionally well coached.

But, you know, the Michigan coaching staff has done an exceptional job. So I just can't talk myself into Michigan losing this game. As nervous as I am and as apprehensive as I am, I can't do it. And so if I'm going to predict them to win, I'm going to predict them to win in the style they've done all year. I've heard tons of people say it's going to be close. TCU fights back. I said earlier in our conversation that they've been a second-half team, but I think the way Michigan's style of play is is wearing you down,

pull away late. And so I think the difference in this game is either Michigan pulling away. I don't think it's a disclosed game at the end. I think Michigan's up 10, 15 points at the end, and either TCU scores a late garbage touchdown that doesn't really impact the end of the game, but it impacts the spread, or they turn it over late and Michigan makes it bigger. Either way, I like Michigan to win in both those scenarios comfortably.

The lot score could be four, it could be 15, 18, depending on those last few moments. But a formal prediction, I'm going Michigan 38, TCU 28. Yeah, I like that. Actually, I was talking to somebody today and kind of asked them their opinion, and they kind of said, you know, they think it's going to be a game in the fourth quarter, and then, you know, Michigan scores a touchdown, and then maybe TCU turns it over. Michigan turns that into a field goal.

It's a 10-point win. I kind of agree with that sentiment. I think Michigan is the better team on both sides of the ball, kind of like you said. Special teams is very important. And I think in terms of field position, Brad Robbins is keen on pinning TCU deep if we do have to punt the ball. I think big plays are still possible on offense for Michigan because Sonny Dykes did say that they are going to try and stop the run,

which, I mean, what else would he say? But, yeah, I mean, I kind of agree with you. I think it's a 38-28 game. I think maybe even 40-28, you know, if TCU can turn the ball over late in the game. I think it's still a game, you know, midway through the fourth quarter that, you know, maybe a three-point game and Michigan gets a touchdown at the end. It kind of puts it to a 10-point game. But that's really my predictions. I hate to steal your score, but you know what?

I've kind of been thinking about it for a bit. We haven't set the same score all year. So if you do set the same score, it's not like we have a pattern of that. Right, right. We don't have that pattern of me kind of stealing your score. But, like, you know, I mean, this is another situation where it could go either way. But I do think Michigan wins.

I think they win quite comfortably in the end. But I think, again, it's a game, and it's not going to be one of these games where it's 28-0 at halftime, Michigan winning the game. I just don't see that. I can tell you one thing for sure. Michigan wins. I'm going to be ecstatic like anyone that would spend time to listen to this. And I know you'll be, if they win,

I'm going to watch every second of that Georgia Ohio state game. If they, for some reason, want to lose, I don't know how much of that game I'll watch. Yeah. I kind of agree with you, especially considering we're having like a little get together here and, and, but the people that I, that I have coming over, a couple of them are Notre Dame fans so they um are going to be rooting against Ohio State as I will um but I mean regardless of the

situation we've kind of talked about this before but we're going to get into the the Georgia Ohio State game just a little bit um not that we're super familiar with Georgia, but we are very familiar with the Buckeyes. And, I mean, it's one of those games where that one could go either way. A pissed off Ohio State team, you know, you kind of said it earlier, like everyone's been telling them how bad they sucked the last month. You know, and the last time that we saw them play a game, Michigan boat raced them, won 45-23 in Columbus. You had JJ waving goodbye to the fans in Columbus, Ohio.

One of the best moments of my life in terms of sports. But, you know, here we are. USC loses, and it opens up the path for Ohio State to get in, and they're in. Yes. path for Ohio State to get in, and they're in. Yep. So, you know, 11-1 Ohio State team, a 13-0 Georgia team, a six-and-a-half spread. What do you think of this game? You know what? I think it's time to see if – I think we've had a lot of fun,

we being Michigan fans, have had a lot of fun with the notion that Ohio State and Orion Day is soft. I believe that they are. I believe that they are as well. Time to see if that's true. They've heard that a lot of fun with the notion that Ohio State or Ryan Day is soft. I believe that they are. I believe that they are as well. Time to see if that's true. They've heard that a lot. You know, we saw their, what do they call their pep rallies, the skull session.

We saw Brian Hartline before the Michigan game talk about how they heard it all year and they're tougher. We heard all their media all year, all season all year, say how they were tougher. And we played them again. We smashed them in the mouth. They didn't have an answer. And so they've heard it again now for a month straight.

And I think they have a lot of good athletes, very highly recruited. A lot of guys are drafted very high in the NFL. Can the coaches find the right remedy and sentiment to get them focused? And they have the horses. Georgia, man to man, you look, Ohio State's one of the few teams in the country that athletically matches up as well, if not better than Georgia.

And so I think Georgia is a different team than the one that Michigan lost to last year. I think they're not nearly as good, nearly as scary. I think they're vulnerable in their deep passing game. If you watch the Kentucky game, Tennessee, teams did some things over the middle deep on them, and that's where Ohio State played.

LSU did as well. LSU almost got themselves back into the game that morning. That's the game I was forgetting about, Tyler. Thank you. That's exactly the game I was forgetting about. Jayden Daniels ate them alive. No, it was Nussmeyer. Daniels got pulled in that game.

Oh, right, right, right right right yeah right right thank you um but uh right if nussmeyer can eat them alive and cj stroud certainly can't so there's not an outcome in that game that i'll be surprised about you know um like you said earlier i'll be rooting against ohio state you know and as i've mentioned to you offline a couple times living in sec country watching an SEC team lose is never a bad thing. But when it's got to be at the hands of Ohio State, that's a tough thing for me to root for. Yeah, I agree. I don't really hate Georgia. I don't really have anything specifically against Georgia other than the Orange Bowl last year. Michigan was just overmatched, as we know.

But the thing is, and a lot of people are talking about it, we haven't said this yet, but the game is in Atlanta. And Georgia and Atlanta is like playing Alabama and Atlanta. It's all Georgia fans, although I think this will be a little bit different because, you know, Ohio State fans, you know, we can say whatever the hell we want about them. But they do travel. They do care about their team. So there will be some Ohio State, but it'll be 90, I don't know, what, 75% Georgia fans. A lot of Bulldog fans in there for sure.

Yeah. So, I mean, that's a hornet's nest for Ohio State to go into. It's supposed to be a neutral site game, and that's as far from a neutral site game as it gets. That's a whole other conversation for me. That's as tail as old as time. Big Ten teams going to California to play back, you know, West Coast teams going to Florida to play SEC and ACC teams. Big Ten teams are used to going to play back, you know, West Coast teams going to Florida to play SEC and ACC teams.

That's, you know, Big Ten teams are used to going to hostile environments. But, yeah, it's, you know, I hope that it's a great game. I hope that whoever wins plays Michigan the next week and we'll worry about the outcome then. But I think it's a great matchup. I think if Ohio State does lose, I think there's going to be more and more questions about what Ryan Day is doing.

He definitely is a great recruiter of talent. You know, he's definitely a guy that wins the games they're supposed to win. But, you know, this will be a win. Yeah, he has one big win at Ohio State, and it's that the playoff semifinal against Clemson in the 2020 year. So the lights have been brightest, and Ohio State has failed to deliver. So that's kind of where I look at that in this game.

I mean, everyone talks about how Georgia doesn you know, doesn't really have a quarterback. But Stetson Bennett's a hell of a quarterback, man. And Kenny McIntosh can run the ball, and they do have some good receivers. So TCU – or, sorry, Georgia is a good football team offensively and defensively. Yeah, they have some vulnerable spots. They don't have six guys that are going to the NFL on their defense, at least, you know, in this draft.

But I just really hope, honestly, just as a college football fan, and, you know, this season is winding down, I hope for once we actually get two games that are compelling, you know, maybe midway through the fourth quarter for both of them. Because most of the time we have one that's a blowout and then the other one is good through halftime and then turns out to be a blowout too. So it would be nice to see the – it would be a good game anyways.

That's a great call on you, although I will not complain if Michigan wins by 90. Oh, I agree. I wholeheartedly agree with that. Do you have any predictions for this game? You know, I think all my concerns – nothing will surprise me. I think it's a tough game to predict. I think that Ohio State's going to score.

I think Georgia's going to score. I think Georgia wins by five. We'll call it 48-6, 48-42 Georgia. I'm going to go the opposite route. I think Ohio State gets absolutely their teeth blown in in this game. I'm telling you, I really do think that this is a game where if Ohio State gets off to a rough start, Georgia just kind of gets it to snowball, maybe a couple picks, and then all of a sudden C.J. Stroud and these guys that maybe aren't as tough as the Georgia team, they start to wilt under pressure.

I think it's like a 25-point game. I really do, I think. Just given the fact that it's in Atlanta, given the fact that Georgia's been there, given the fact that they just have a been there um given the fact that that they just have a really good team and kirby smart's a really good coach let's not take that away either um they're they're a really tough football team and i think that georgia wins a really really uh excruciating game for buckeyes fans because i think two losses in a row what is good is certainly going to send

some ripple effects through Columbus. Yeah, I like that prediction. I like that. But I don't really have anything else. Do you have any final thoughts at this point? No, no, just excited. I mean, I can't get here soon enough. I'm so, I mean, it's, you know, a month waiting for a game.

You know, like we started, it feels a lot different than last year just because you anticipate success. I think, you know, we hadn't really it feels a lot different than last year, just because you anticipate success. I think, you know, we hadn't really talked beyond this, but I do think Michigan's good enough to win it all. And so that anxiety has been big time. And so we can't get to Saturday soon enough. So I'm just fired up and looking forward to the game and looking forward to talking to you about it afterwards.

Yeah. Looking forward to the game and looking forward to talking to you about it afterwards. Yeah, and I think before the Illinois game, we were talking on the podcast, and I said to you, Brian, I don't know if it was on air or off air, but I said I think that there's a good chance that Michigan doesn't lose a football game at all this year. And, I mean, we're getting close to that point. You know, they have TCU, but can they go? And we'll talk about it as time goes on here. But, you know, there is a chance that they can win it all for the first time, probably in my lifetime. I actually believe that, that there's a chance they can win it all.

So, but, yeah, I mean, really my final thoughts are just beat TCU, go blue. Beat TCU. Let's go. And everybody enjoy it because this isn't something that happens every single year, although we're starting to get to that point, right? But, you know, enjoy it. And everybody have a happy new year and go blue. Go blue.

Talk to you next year, buddy. All right. I think that went well.