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Michigan Football: Best and worst case scenario for Wolverines in 2018

By Connor Muldowney

ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 04: Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines looks up at the score board during a college football game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Michigan Stadium on November 4, 2017 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Wolverines defeated the Golden Gophers 33-10. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 04: Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines looks up at the score board during a college football game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Michigan Stadium on November 4, 2017 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Wolverines defeated the Golden Gophers 33-10. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images) /
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Michigan football has some question marks surrounding the team heading into 2018, but what are the best and worst-case scenarios?

Jim Harbaugh has been receiving plenty of criticism over the past few years from national pundits and fans from around the country.

“He hasn’t won anything yet” is the common phrase used to describe the head coach’s time at Michigan. The Wolverines are highly-ranked each year, but he has yet to prove he can finish higher than third in the Big Ten East.

Michigan may have the best team in his tenure heading into the 2018 season. He brings back almost every starter on both sides of the ball and the quarterback position is in much better hands with Ole Miss transfer Shea Patterson joining the program.

The defense will be one of the best in college football for the second straight year. Don Brown has plenty of pieces to play on an elite level.

There are still some question marks surrounding the team, so what are the best and worst-case scenarios fo the Wolverines this season?

Best-case scenario

Honestly, I’m not buying Michigan as a team that can go unbeaten in 2018, but the Wolverines could win anywhere from 8-11 games. For the best-case scenario, I’m going to say Michigan goes 11-1 with wins against Wisconsin, Northwestern, Michigan State, Penn State and Ohio State, going unbeaten in conference play but losing the season opener at Notre Dame.

Sept. 1: at Notre Dame — L
Sept. 8: vs. Western Michigan — W
Sept. 15: vs. SMU — W
Sept. 22: vs. Nebraska — W
Sept. 29: at Northwestern — W
Oct. 6: vs. Maryland — W
Oct. 13: vs. Wisconsin — W
Oct. 20: at Michigan State — W
Nov. 3: vs. Penn State — W
Nov. 10: at Rutgers — W
Nov. 17: vs. Indiana — W
Nov. 24: at Ohio State — W

No Michigan fan would be upset with an 11-1 season and an undefeated record in a brutal Big Ten conference schedule.

Worst-case scenario

Admittedly, the worst-case scenario could get ugly for the Wolverines. They have one of the toughest schedules in college football and if none of the truly big games go their way, they could finish behind Michigan State, Penn State and Ohio State in the Big Ten East for the second straight season. Two of those matchups happen to be on the road — not a recipe for success.

Sept. 1: at Notre Dame — L
Sept. 8: vs. Western Michigan — W
Sept. 15: vs. SMU — W
Sept. 22: vs. Nebraska — W
Sept. 29: at Northwestern — W
Oct. 6: vs. Maryland — W
Oct. 13: vs. Wisconsin — L
Oct. 20: at Michigan State — L
Nov. 3: vs. Penn State — W
Nov. 10: at Rutgers — W
Nov. 17: vs. Indiana — W
Nov. 24: at Ohio State — L

An 8-4 final record is the absolute worst-case scenario for this team with Wisconsin, Michigan State, Penn State, Notre Dame, Northwestern, Nebraska and Ohio State on the docket.

Next. Michigan: Game-by-game predictions for 2018. dark

Chances are Michigan finishes somewhere in the middle of those two are around 9-3 or 10-2 and a second or third-place finish in the division.

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