Game two, Hart is injured, and then Henne gets injured, while the impressive, talented Ducks waddle and quack roughshod over us. The season is in free-fall.
Games 3-10, Michigan recovers poise and wins 8 straight, despite missing either Hart or Henne for significant stretches in every game, and sometimes both of our best offensive players. It was a very good run, given the circumstances.
Wisconsin, neither of our stars play, we get beat up early, but still make a game of it, pulling to within two points in the fourth. Mallett proves he isn't ready for prime-time, once more, and we lose to a very geeked-up, very competent Wisconsin team. That's life in the Big Ten.
So, here we are, with a shot at the Big Ten championship, and the Rose Bowl. Personally, I couldn't ask for anything more, besides a healthy offense, and that doesn't appear to be in the cards this year.
One thing I do know, is that Hart will play on that sprained-ankle until it won't bear his weight anymore, and that Henne will try to throw with that separated-shoulder. If one or both can't go, or can't go for long, I hope their understudies choose this game to step up and create new legends, but that's asking a lot.
I still think Michigan is going to pull this game out, though. Maybe that's my unquenchable optimism, or the dumb fan in me, or both. It's going to be a battle, with ups and downs, but here's my prediction:
UM 28, OSU 24
Oh, and then we lose the Rose Bowl, but who gives a crap?
