The Michigan Wolverines are a long shot for a playoff bid this season. Can they pull off a stunner?
Entering the 2017 season, there was a lot of turnover from the 2016 Michigan Wolverines. They needed to replace 18 starters across the board, with only one returning starter on defense. A run at the Big Ten championship looked to be a year away for coach Jim Harbaugh’s team.
The Wolverines kicked off the season against the Florida Gators in a neutral site game at A&T Stadium in Dallas. Michigan dominated defensively and completely shutdown the Gators in the second half to win 33-17.
Over the next three games, defense would be the name of the game for the Wolverines. They notched wins over Cincinnati, Air Force and Purdue in less convincing fashion. The defense though seemed like the real deal, but the offense had a long way to go.
Then came a rain soaked game in Ann Arbor against rival Michigan State. The Wolverines lost 14-10 while turning over the ball five times to the Spartans. The loss was followed by a close overtime victory at Indiana.
The Wolverines next traveled to Happy Valley where their number one defense was exposed in a blowout by Penn State. Michigan did get back in the win column against Rutgers with a change at quarterback.
With a 6-2 overall record and a 3-2 mark in the conference, is it possible for Michigan to land a spot in the playoff? Read on to find out the possibilities.