Check out the reader comments from our little chUMp buddies. Most are still so stuck in the past, they don't get how the division set up impacts their season...
Personally - I think U-Mass is their most important game.
One writer thinks Michigan's most
important game of 2012 is vs. MSU;
what say you?
The second year of Brady Hoke's Michigan football era opens with a primetime matchup against defending national champion Alabama.
From there, the Wolverines travel to Notre Dame for a night game and will eventually head to Columbus for their first look at Urban Meyer's Ohio State Buckeyes.
Current results
But Michigan's most important game in 2012?
Well, according to one ESPN.com writer, that would be vs. Michigan State.
"I know there are going to be a lot of Wolverines fans who disagree with this and insist that the Ohio State game is the most important one on the schedule,"ESPN's Brian Bennett writes. "But it's also true that the Maize and Blue haven't won a Big Ten title since 2004, which is an eternity in Ann Arbor.
"Michigan State, the defending division champ, is one of the main obstacles in that path and just so happens to have beaten Michigan in each of the past four years."
Bennett argues that if Michigan drops its fifth straight game against the Spartans, then finding a way to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship Game would be extremely difficult.
The Wolverines host the Spartans on Oct. 20, and will hope to bring The Paul Bunyan Trophy back to Ann Arbor for the first time since 2007.
"The Wolverines players definitely don't want to hear about a five-game losing streak to their in-state rivals," Bennett wrote. "Which is why, for this year at least, I see the Michigan State game as even more important than The Game."
When he was hired at Michigan in January 2011, Hoke, and his fists, were adamant that the Ohio State game would always be "the most important game on that schedule."
What do you think?
What's the most important game for Michigan in 2012? Ohio State? Michigan State? Alabama? Other?
Nick Baumgardner covers Michigan sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2514, by email at nickbaumgardner@annarbor.com
Craig Lounsbury
If we have 2-3 losses going in to MSU then ya that game gets really important. Stop the losing streak, grab some sort of dignity back...blah...blah...blah.
But for me right now the most important game is the next one. And if we are 9-0 going in to Northwestern that game will be more important than either MSU was or Alabama was.
SalineBob
Eric Anderson
say it plain
*But*, I think this claim from ESPN is true in the universe of college football per se, and the more general one of *Michigan*-state -school vibes.
UM has to show some return to its roots, as it were, with an ability to win a big-10 championship again, and it so happens that MSU has been doing pretty well in that department!
And though my affiliations are with UM, I'm sorta happy to see MSU lay some claim to superiority in some regard, even if merely in sports lol, given the elitist status of UM these days as the state university with the bigger (biggest?! possibly!) ego about its importance and preeminence in the world...
Blue1st
GO BLUE!!
ESprout
Sidenote - Kudos to UofM for scheduling a tough opponent to open the season.
Dwayne
Not to mention, the Spartans could easily be 3-4 coming into that game, which would definitely impact the significance of it.
azwolverine
Liger
Terry Star21
MgoBlueForTiM.....every game, Michigan's the Threat !
braggslaw
It is intra-divisional and will be pivotal in deciding who plays in The B1G championship game.
If fans don't recognize the importance they are in denial.
ChelseaBob
Win or lose, I love that we are playing that game.
But I can't wait to go down to that stinky old horseshoe and watch our boys kick the bucks around.
BornInA2
Win the Big Ten. Beat tsio.
Hail.
58-44-6
Alabama Crimson Tide 49
Michigan State Spartans 7
Jaime
Hailmary
I think what bothers me the most about the 4 losses is that I always felt like Mich. is not supposed to lose to Mich. state.
Drew Montag
Andrew
The OSU
Bennett's point about MSU is valid concerning Big Ten championship implications.
BUT HERE'S THE BOTTOM LINE: OSU/UM transcends college FB and all of sports. The Ohio State game is #1.
MRunner73
Two big reasons why MSU is among the important win list; break the losing treak and beat a team in your own division. It will great to shut up Dantonio with a Meeechigan win. A win will be a big confidence builder to Michigan to continue the gauntlet, with at NE and eventually, at ohio.
There is no most important game for me to single out IMHO this year.
Teemac
Steve McQueen
For any real Michigan fan or alum, the most important game of the year is always Ohio.
klick12
The most important game on the schedule? Thats the Bucks. Always has been, always will be. It's THE game. That simple.
The most critical game? Yes, this year that would be MSU. Time to end the winning streak and MSU is likely a must win game for UM to get to the championship game. Ironically, of the difficult games on the schedule, this is actually the one I am least worried about. I just dont see MSU. or anyone for that matter, beating UM in Ann Arbor this year. Not going to happen.
The biggest impact game? Has to be Alabama. Win that game and you're an instant contender for the national title. The team has confidence and momentum. That will be two nationally ranked teams gong head to head at a neutral site. First game of the season no less. C'mon! Anyone who thinks UM does'nt have a good chance at winning this game does'nt know college football.
Michele Dziubinski
burton163
All that being said, I am dismayed by how many are already conceding the game against Bama. They may be the preseason No. 1 and heavily favored against UM, but anything can happen in the first game of the season. New players learn their roles and assignments and adjust to live action against players other than their own teammates and there are always rookie mistakes and a steep learning curve regardless of the quality of the athletes. Appalachian State, anyone?.
Being a practical guy, I wouldn't bet on my beloved Wolverines in that game, but I wouldn't bet against 'em either.
I could see us finding a way to win that game then dropping 2 out of the next four. It's college football. Anything can and will happen. That's why they play the games.
annarboral
The1Cool
joggin
joggin