Michigan No. 8 in ESPN.com preseason power rankings, 4 spots ahead of MSU, 6 in front of OSU
ESPN.com rates the Michigan football team at No. 8 in its initial power rankings.
Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com
A week after being ranked No. 8 in the initial USA Today Coaches' Poll, the Wolverines came in at No. 8 overall in ESPN.com's annual preseason power rankings.
Michigan is currently the highest-rated Big Ten squad on the list, four spots ahead of Michigan State and six in front of Ohio State. ESPN has yet to release its top six teams.
"The Wolverines will go as far as senior quarterback Denard Robinson's fleet feet and arm will take them on offense as he shoots for a second straight double-digit win season and potentially Pat White's NCAA quarterback rushing record," the site wrote. "Defensively, Michigan has its most talented secondary in years."
Not everyone at ESPN seems to agree with Michigan's top Big ten ranking, though. ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg, who co-authors the site's Big Ten blog, called Michigan State's No. 13 ranking in the initial coaches' poll a "joke" on Twitter last week.
He then explained how he and colleague Brian Bennett see the Spartans -- not the Wolverines -- as the top-rated Big Ten club heading into the 2012 season.
Michigan State came in at No. 12 in ESPN.com's overall power rankings, while Ohio State was No. 14. Wisconsin was No. 15.
Again, we'll ask your thoughts?
Is Michigan rated correctly? If not, where should they sit?
Comments
Joe Kidd
Fri, Aug 10, 2012 : 7:10 p.m.
Who cares? Too much emphasis on pre season polls that can be shot down in the first couple of weeks. Must be prepared by people who have nothing to do. Its like Billy Bob says, it is where you are at the end.
TheWay
Fri, Aug 10, 2012 : 9:05 p.m.
First off, nobody is putting any emphasis on any preseason poll. Particularly the "power rankings", which aren't even a real poll. Secondly, I think the point of this article is to highlight the national expectations that are once again surrounding the football team. After several years of not knowing what we can expect at the start of a seasons, we're finally at a point where we can safely say "hey, we're probably gonna be pretty good." That's the point. Do you understand, grandpa, or should I still get off your lawn?
BornInA2
Fri, Aug 10, 2012 : 2:48 a.m.
I'm holding my comments until we have an article discussing the comments in this article.
aarox
Fri, Aug 10, 2012 : 4:10 a.m.
could you tweet that please?
SEC Fan
Fri, Aug 10, 2012 : 12:11 a.m.
chuckle chuckle chuckle. So after week 1, let's have the conversation. If they can even compete on Sep 1 we can talk if they are #1 in the big 10. I expect, though, we'll not see the team come out of the woodshed....
BornInA2
Fri, Aug 10, 2012 : 2:47 a.m.
Not any room in the woodshed, dude. LSU is still in it.
Billy Bob Schwartz
Thu, Aug 9, 2012 : 8:53 p.m.
It's not where you are before the season, but where you are when the season ends. Go Blue!
jwsina2
Thu, Aug 9, 2012 : 7:08 p.m.
Go BLUE!!!
JustfortheRecord
Thu, Aug 9, 2012 : 6:48 p.m.
How the heck can anyone know what Michigan State is going to be like until their never-has-played-before quarterback shows what he's got?
garrisondyer
Thu, Aug 9, 2012 : 11:20 p.m.
Agreed. I can't wait for the actual season to start. Go Blue!