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Steve, Craig, and Tim welcome you to The Wolverine Den! For a preview of the next game, see below. For a look back (and to see the incriminating pictures), choose a game on the Last Week menu. If you plan on attending a tailgate at The Den for the first time, see the blog menu for Den Law and the house rules to many of the usual tailgate "activities". Click on Buy Gear for TWD shirt! For up to the minute gameday activities, follow us on Twitter! See you on Saturday.
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This Week at The Wolverine Den
Game Weather
Michigan at Virginia Tech
The 78th Allstate Sugar Bowl
January 3, 2012 - 7:30 pm CT
The University of Michigan Wolverines will make their 41st bowl appearance on January 3, 2012 in the Sugar Bowl. Michigan earned the at-large BSC bowl bid by finishing 10-2 on the season while playing 10 bowl-bound teams (most in the nation). Michigan tied with LSU and Oklahoma State in winning 8 games this year against teams headed to bowl games. This will be the Wolverines 2nd trip to the Sugar Bowl and their 5th BSC bowl game. The opponent is the Virginia Tech Hokies.
Va Tech were the winners of the ACC – Coastal Division and lost in the ACC championship game to Clemson. They are 11-2 on the season with both losses coming to Clemson. Statistically, VT is remarkably similar to Michigan. QB Logan Thomas is just a sophomore but is in the mold of recent VT quarterbacks (Michael Vick, Bryan Randle, Tyrod Thomas) that can run and pass. On the season, Thomas averaged 247 yards of Total Offense and had 29 TDs (19 passing and 10 rushing). David Wilson is the running back and he is one of the best in the country. Wilson was tops in the ACC and 7th nationally averaging 125 yards per game on the ground. The wide receivers are special. Senior Jarrett Boykin and Senior Danny Coale rank #1 and #2 as the leading career pass reception leaders in Va Tech history. Boykin has 180 career receptions (which would rank 2nd on Michigan’s all-time reception list) while Coale has 157 career receptions (5th). The Hokies are very balanced on offense, averaging 189 yards rushing and 227 yards passing.
Pre-game Menu
filet mignon
baked potatoes
salad
Defense is the biggest area of strength for Virginia Tech as they ranked 12th in the nation in Total Defense and 8th in scoring defense. Most of the playmakers on defense are sophomores so look for the Hokies to be national contenders for the next few years. The secondary is particularly strong with All-ACC performers Eddie Whitley and Jayron Hosley along with leading tacklers Kyle Fuller and Antone Exum. Tech intercepted 15 passes this season.
Michigan is looking to complete the come back this season with a BCS bowl victory. The key will be to stop the VT rushing offense. With a mobile QB and a top running back, the Hokies averaged 206 yards rushing in their 11 wins, but only 94 yards rushing in their two losses. Additionally, the Michigan offense needs to take advantage of their opportunities and field position. In the 2 Michigan losses in 2011, Michigan averaged only 15 points per game while in the 10 victories, the Wolverines averaged 38 points per game. Michigan has dominated the second half this year outscoring opponents 207-87. Making the right halftime adjustments will be a key to victory. It should be a great game!
Although Michigan and Virginia Tech have never met, Michigan is 18-3 against teams from the ACC.
The Wolverines are a 2 point favorite.
The Wolverine Den Trivia
How many Michigan bowl games have been attended by The Wolverine Den staff?
Steve's Prediction
31-20
Tim's Prediction
38-17
Craig's Prediction
31-20
Great Moments in Wolverines Bowl Game History
- 1902 Rose Bowl: Michigan had 527 yards rushing – led by Willie Heston’s 170 yards and Neil Snow’s 4 TDs – in the 49-0 win over Stanford in the first Rose Bowl game.
- 1978 Rose Bowl: Rick Leach to Curt Stephensen for a 76-yard TD pass – the longest in Michigan bowl hstory.
- 1980 Rose Bowl: Butch Woolfolk’s 182 yards rushing helping Michigan give Bo his first bowl win 23-6 over Washington.
- 1988 Hall of Fame Bowl: John Kolesar’s TD catch late in the 4th qtr and Jamie Morris’ 234 yards rushing led Michigan past Alabama 28-24.
- 1989 Rose Bowl: Leroy Hoard’s 142 yards and 2 TDs led to a 22-14 win over USC.
- 1991 Gator Bowl: Michigan had 715 total yards of offense – a single game team record – in the 35-3 win over Mississippi.
- 1993 Rose Bowl: Tyrone Wheatley had 235 yards rushing (on only 15 carries) in 38-31 win over Washington.
- 1998 Rose Bowl: Brian Griese to Tai Streets for 2 long TDs to help Michigan win the National Championship.
- 1999 Citrus Bowl: Ian Gold’s interception and return for a TD in the win 45-31 over Arkansas.
- 2000 Orange Bowl: Tom Brady to David Terrell ten times as Michigan overcomes Alabama to win in OT 35-34.
- 2003 Outback Bowl: Chris Perry had 193 yards (108 receiving, 85 rushing) and 4 touchdowns to lead Michigan over Florida 38-30.
- 2008 Capital One Bowl: Chad Henne threw for 373 yards and Michigan beat Heisman-winner Tim Tebow 41-35 in Lloyd Carr’s final game as coach.
A Brief Word from Brady
Big Ten Media Days
July 28, 2011
"This might sound arrogant, and if it is, it is. We're Michigan. We have a global education. We're the winningest program in the history of college football. We have a tremendous staff of guys. The lifeblood for all of us, no doubt, is the guys you bring in your program. We've really tried to focus on the guys that fit the mold of Michigan with the integrity and character that we want to have. We want guys who will play with a toughness, play with an accountability and on a team for each other. Those guys [recruiters] out on the road, they work it and they do a tremendous job. But first and foremost, it's Michigan."
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