Game 19: #13 Michigan at #4 Stanford

If you missed the introduction post about the Playoff, no problem! Read it here: http://short-sideoption.blogspot.com/2012/02/ok-cowboy-cardinal-and-duck-fans-this.html

Michigan at Stanford is the next game in the virtual playoffs, but before that; here are today’s reality bites:

SEC commissioner Mike Slive talked yesterday about what he supports in a playoff format.  He supports the higher seed home field semi final games; but isn’t buying the ‘conference champions only’ idea that has been circulating lately, read more about it here:  . http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2012/03/slive_currently_opposes_only_c.html

Iowa’s hire of Brian Ferentz as OL coach has come under fire recently due to the Universities hiring of relatives policy (Brian being the son of head coach Kirk Ferentz), read more about it here:  http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/ncaa/03/07/iowa-ferentz-son.ap/index.html?sct=cf_t2_a8

Temple is all set to join the Big East for football in 2012 and all other sports for 2013, their settlement with leaving the MAC was $6 Million.  Read more here:  . http://espn.go.com/new-york/story/_/id/7656299/temple-football-play-big-east-2012-season

Brett McMurphy reported yesterday that Syracuse and Pittsburgh will be joining the ACC a year early in 2013 instead of 2014, read more here:  http://brett-mcmurphy.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/29532522/35133476

Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald is against the movement to up the bowl qualification standards to 7 wins; Big Ten commissioner Jim Delaney is for it however.  Read more here:  http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/chi-fitz-dont-limit-bowls-to-7win-teams-20120306,0,2143041.story

Now on with the playoff…. 

Game 19:  #13 Michigan at #4 Stanford

December 31, 2011

Kickoff:  7:30 pm

Location: Palo Alto, California

Weather: 57 degrees, partly cloudy, 1 mph wind

EA Sports Ratings:        Michigan, Overall: A-, Offense: A-, Defense: B+

                                        Stanford, Overall: A-, Offense: A+, Defense: B+

This would be an interesting game just because Stanford is now what Michigan is trying to regain; a powerful physical football team that wins games by grinding them out.  Andrew Luck vs Denard Robinson would be a good matchup to keep an eye on as well.  Michigan has plenty of vertical speed but can the stop Stanford’s power?  Stanford has plenty of power but do they have enough vertical speed to stretch Michigan’s resurging defense without Chris Owusu?         

1^st Quarter:

            -After each team trades a few punts, Stanford scores first with a 1 yard TD pass

from Andrew Luck to Griff Whalen.                                                                                     (7-0 Stan)

            -Stanford’s defense holds Michigan’s offense to a 3 and out, then scores again

 with a 24 yard TD pass from Andrew Luck to Coby Fleener.                                           (14-0 Stan)

            -Michigan gets on the board late in the qtr with a 39 yard FG from Seth Broehuizen.       (14-3 Stan)

2^nd Quarter:

            -Michigan starts the 2^nd qtr with a drive, but Denard Robinson throws an interception

             leading to a 7 yard TD run from Stepfan Taylor.                                                                 (21-3 Stan)

            -The defenses battle back and forth before Stanford scores the final points of the half

             with a 48 yard FG from Eric Whitaker.                                                                                (24-3 Stan)

3^rd Quarter:

            -Stanford starts the 2^nd half with the ball and puts together a drive resulting in a

             Stepfan Taylor 2 yard TD run.                                                                                         (31-3 Stan)

            -Denard Robinson takes the next Michigan possession down the field and scores

             with a 17 yard TD pass to Kevin Koger.                                                                         (31-10 Stan)

            -After blocking a Stanford FG attempt, Michigan scores again with a 13 yard TD run

             by Denard Robinson.                                                                                                       (31-17 Stan)    

4^th Quarter:

            -Michigan continues the comeback starting the 4^th qtr with a 26 yard TD pass from

             Denard Robinson to Junior Hemmingway.                                                                     (31-24 Stan)

            -After forcing a Stanford punt, Michigan is intercepted on its final drive to end the game.   (31-24 Stan)

                       

Michigan Stats:

Passing:           Denard Robinson, 26/42, 332 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT

Rushing:           Vincent Smith, 20 att, 88 yards

Receiving:        Junior Hemmingway, 7 rec, 113 yards, 1 TD

                         Roy Roundtree, 5 rec, 52 yards

Defense:           2 Sacks, 1 FG blocked

Total Offense:   446 yards

Passing:            332 yards

Rushing:            114 yards

Stanford Stats

Passing:           Andrew Luck, 18/27, 242 yards, 2 TD

Rushing:           Stepfan Taylor, 37 att, 182 yards, 2 TD

Receiving:        Griff Whalen, 5 rec, 65 yards, 1 TD

                         Coby Fleener, 5 rec, 101 yards, 1 TD

Defense:           2 Sacks, 2 INTs

Total Offense:   449 yards

Passing:            242 yards

Rushing:            207 yards

Box Score

           

                                    1Q        2Q        3Q        4Q        T 

Michigan                        3          0       14          7          24

Stanford                       14       10         7           0          31

Next Game:  #17 Michigan State at #1 LSU

I will post a new game every weekday before noon.