Michigan football Not good

In what was likely the "lock of the week", Notre Dame, playing at home, was only giving a point and a half to visiting Michigan. Of course the Irish covered.

I think that will be just the first of several Michigan losses this year. They have a tougher than usual schedule and show no signs of being anywhere near an elite team.

Let's check it out. After predictably getting dinked in South Bend, UM has their usual pre-conference patsies on the schedule. Next up ---

W. Michigan. If they don't throttle a MAC team, things are even worse than they appear.

Southern Methodist. They've been gawd-awful since receiving the "death penalty" for so many violations a while back. It's amazing they even HAVE a football team. And they're el-stinko.

So let's assume UM is 2-1 when they play Nebraska. A possible win for the Blue, but hardly automatic. I think they lose that game, even though it's at home.

Then off to Northwestern. The Wildcats haven't been to shabby in recent times, and playing at home -- I think they make Michigan 2-3 at that point.

Maryland. Sometimes mistaken for the Campfire Girls. UM gets a win.

#4 Wisconsin. A brute, with a road-grading offensive line. They'll pound UM all game long and should win handily. 3-4.

@ #11 Michigan State. The Spartans have had their number in recent years, are ranked higher, and will be playing at home. Make it 3-5.

Penn State. The Nittany Lions pounded the Wolverines last year at home, but this one will be in Ann Arbor. If QB Trace McSorley is still healthy, gimme PSU. 3-6 Jim Harbaugh's seat starts getting a tad warm.

Rutgers. OK, if the Maryland Terps were the Campfire Girls, call the Scarlet Knights Don Quixotes tilting at windmills riding Mopeds. 4-6.

Indiana. Should be another gimme. The Hoosiers are a basketball school, and haven't been much good at that lately either. 5-6. The heat dies down on Harbaugh until...

@ Ohio State. This one could get ugly, and not for the Buckeyes. Not a chance Michigan waltzes into the "horseshoe" and comes out victorious. They'll be lucky to stay within 20 points.

If this plays out as above, that would give Michigan a 5-7 record and hence, make them bowl ineligible. Ya gotta have 6 wins to even get to a garbage bowl.

And if THAT happens, dear Mr. Harbaugh is going to have some serious 'splainin' to do. He would have had four years to bring in and coach up all his own recruits, and this is the result? Did I mention serious heat?

It really shouldn't come as any great surprise. After all, Michigan didn't beat a single team with a winning record last year and, the usual hype aside, there's no reason to think they will in 2018 either.

Their opener against Notre Dame only reinforced the point.

To say UM is anywhere near national contender worthy would be like saying Tiger Woods, who hasn't won squat in five years, is going to storm back and recapture the dominance he had back in the George W. Bush White House years.

Possible you say?

Well, I say something else.

Preposterous. The competition in both cases has become much, much tougher, and it will continue to do so.