Week 1 is over. Before any reflections, here's the current standings:
1st(tied): Mar/Dan (5-4)
1st(tied): Mitch (5-4)
3rd: Sue/Garry (4-5)
4th: Alexx/Pete (3-6)
5th: Madison/Chuck (2-7)
Tough start for Madison/Chuck, the pick'em veterans. But it is only one week, and it is the first week, so they have plenty of time to improve. Which is a perfect segue into the perservering thoughts I have on our beloved Wolverines after Week 1. Be patient. Yes, beating rivals and highly ranked teams on the road is fun. If you do so, people will say things like: "Harbaugh and Shea Patterson are for real! Michigan is headed to the playoff!". If you don't win in South Bend, people will say things like: "I don't believe in my team anymore". The short answer is that neither take is accurate. Michigan's performance in this game will likely not represent their season. Let us see if they improve as time goes on. I accurately predicted we would lose this game, and I expect us to lose 1 more this season. It would actually be best if our only loss from the rest of the schedule comes at home to Wisconsin, but it is more likely that it comes from a visit to East Lansing or Columbus. A 10-2 Michigan team, with only 1 loss in the Big Ten, is likely Big Ten East Champion. If the 1 loss is to Wisconsin, we are Big Ten East champs and have another shot at the Badgers for the Big Ten title. Win that game and the Wolverines are likely headed to the playoffs. Maybe even in another rematch, this time against the Irish.
Do I think that 11-2 Big Ten Champions and a playoff birth is the most likely result? No. Is it still possible? Yes. My point here is that all may feel like it is lost after our week 1 loss. The sky is not falling. Everything we wanted to achieve this season is still possible. Undefeated seasons are an awesome experience, but they are exceedingly rare. We have not yet had a college football playoff champion who went the entire season undefeated. We want a team that can bounce back from adversity, not a team that never faces it. Pray not for an easy life but for the strength to endure a difficult one. On Febuary 7th, 2018, John Beilein and the Michigan Men's basketball team was 19-7, not even sure if it was going to make the NCAA tournament. They won 14 straight games, the Big Ten Playoff, and a trip to the National Championship game. We lost to Villanova, but I will argue to the end of my days that season was a consummate success. I don't see how the football team can't have a similar story.
I've sent the invitation for Week 2 picks. Good luck.
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