Oh yeah-yeah,sure I have been paying attention, Yer the National champs for crying out loud! So you think my prediction of us scoring 34 is a bit much? What say you JT...gimmie a score.
Last year's team and all, but...
In 2011, Michigan scored 34 or more points in seven games. They were:
Western Michigan: 34
Notre Dame: 35
Minnesota: 58
Northwestern: 42
Purdue: 36
Nebraska: 45
Ohio State: 40
Those teams were ranked, in total defense:
Western Michigan: 99
Notre Dame: 30
Minnesota: 77
Northwestern: 80
Purdue: 73
Nebraska: 37
Ohio State: 19
They were ranked, in scoring defense:
Western Michigan: 76
Notre Dame: 24
Minnesota: 93
Northwestern: 66
Purdue: 63
Nebraska: 42
Ohio State: 27
Michigan was ranked 26th in the country in scoring offense, averaging 33.31 ppt.
By way of comparison, Alabama was ranked 20th in the country in scoring offense, averaging 34.85 ppt. We did that playing five (six, counting LSU twice) teams ranked in the top 30 in total defense.
And oh yeah, our defense was #1 in every meaningful statistic that's kept.
Only three teams have scored 34 or more points on us since CNS arrived, two of them were in year one when he was trying to salvage what he inherited and lost six games. In the following four seasons, one team has scored 34 or more points, that's USC (35) in 2010.
Is it possible that Michigan scores 34?
Sure, it's possible.
But it's an infinitesimally small chance. I wouldn't hang my hopes on scoring 34 on Alabama - you better be ready to stop an offense that should be better than last year (when it averaged almost 35 ppg).
Roll Tide.