BYB Top 25 Countdown - #18 Michigan Wolverines

The following post is part of the BYB 2013 Preseason Top 25 Countdown. Continue to check in Monday-Friday each week as I count down the Top 25 teams in college football. I swear, even if I flake out and don’t do any other posts, I will continue the countdown.

These picks are a reflection of how I predict the college football season will shake out. I performed a complex formula and broke down each team’s schedule, predicting wins, losses and push games, you know, games that I’m to chicken shit to actually pick a winner. I then ranked the teams with the most predicted wins highest and the teams with the least predicted wins lowest.

This isn’t precise. For example, I have Texas at #23 with six wins, zero losses and six pushes. This means UT could finish 12-0, 6-6 or anything in between. While Texas is ranked low I think the Horns have a great chance at finishing the season ranked high.

The Top 25 is also influenced by other factors like strength of schedule and conference affiliation.  

Left Tackle Taylor Lewan

After finishing 11-2 and winning the Orange Bowl in his first season as Michigan head coach, Brady Hoke felt the sting of the sophomore slump with a 9-5 record and a loss to South Carolina in the Outback Bowl. In fact, Vincent Smith still might be feeling the pain.

As much of a climactic bad finish as that hit represented for Michigan last season, Taylor Lewan and the Michigan Wolverines are focused on not allowing the 2013 season to play out the same. 

Offensively Michigan will finally get to play a full season with coordinator Al Borges’ offensive scheme as scrambling quarterback Denard Robinson is gone and Devin Gardner returns in his stead. Gardner threw for 1,219 yards and 11 TDs in Borges’ pro style system after Robinson got injured and figures to be a all-conference contender in 2013.

Gardner will be helped by the return of running back Fitzgerald Toussaint, who has one of the best names in college football and receiver Jeremy Gallon. Receiver Amara Darboh and tight end Devin Funchess will see more opportunity for catches this season.

The offensive line is young but is led by tackle Taylor Lewan who should be another in the great line of Michigan tackles and will likely be a Top 10 pick in the NFL Draft.

The defense only returns three starters and lost top tackler Jake Ryan to an ACL tear in spring ball. The defense will look to be aggressive and need DT Quinton Washington to be strong against the run and end Frank Clark and Keith Heitzman to get after opposing passers.

I have the Wolverines at 7-0-5 with no predicted losses but five push games – at Penn State, at Michigan State, home against Nebraska, at Northwestern and the finale against Ohio State at the Big House. Finishing that slate undefeated is highly improbable.