It is "season preview" time for most major college football publications, and that means the hype train is chugging along. One team that is certainly in the cross hairs of that buzz is the Michigan Wolverines, and that has created some backlash in the form of "overrated" talk in certain corners of the sport.
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However, ESPN's 2016 preview has emerged for Jim Harbaugh's team, and while the entire thing is certainly worth reading, one expert's projection is sure to please Michigan Men everywhere. Jesse Temple, who covers the Big Ten and, more specifically, Wisconsin football, predicted a storybook year for the Wolverines:
Michigan doesn't play a game outside the Big House until Week 6 and is a favorite to win its first 11 games. Michigan breaks through in Harbaugh's second year and beats Ohio State in the regular season finale to finish 12-0 and reach the league championship game.
Temple was joined by Brian Bennett and Josh Moyer in forecasting a Big Ten title for Michigan, and that certainly appears to be within reason at this early juncture. The caveat, however, is that the Wolverines must face their three most difficult opponents (Michigan State, Iowa, Ohio State) away from Ann Arbor, and not every analyst is keen on a monumental season for Michigan.
In fact, ESPN's Austin Ward poured cold water on the proceedings:
The Harbaugh Hype is building. But with uncertainty at quarterback and a tough conference schedule that includes road trips to the other three Big Ten contenders, the Wolverines are probably a year away and looking at a 9-3 campaign.
Not everyone is on board just yet, but the Michigan Wolverines have a great deal of remaining talent. If Harbaugh and company can straighten out the quarterback situation during a breezy opening stretch of the schedule, the sky is the limit for the Maize and Blue in 2016.
