Michigan football overrated in preseason coaches' poll, writer says

Michigan cracked the Top 10 of the preseason Amway Coaches' Poll last week.

But are the Wolverines getting too much credit? At least one writer thinks so.

U-M checks in at No. 9, one of four Big Ten teams in the Top 10, and if it were up to Tom Fornelli at CBS Sports, there'd only be two Big Ten teams to hold that distinction.

He considers U-M among the five most overrated teams in the coaches' poll.

"Jim Harbaugh has recruited very well since showing up in Ann Arbor, and Michigan's roster will have talent, but the Wolverines have so much to replace from last year's team," Fornelli points out; U-M will have 18 new starters, including 11 on defense.

"Michigan loses eight players on defense that were named to an All-Big Ten team last year. Eight!" Fornelli continued. "There are only six starters back from last season's team total, so we're going to see a lot of people in new, larger roles this season, and it's hard to truly know how good this team will be before seeing it play a football game."

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The Wolverines open the season against No. 16 Florida in the Cowboys Classic in Arlington. They also have to face No. 6 Penn State and No. 10 Wisconsin on the road, as well as arch rival No. 2 Ohio State at home.

U-M does return quarterback Wilton Speight and running back Chris Evans on offense, and the freshman class features top talents such as Donovan Peoples-Jones and Tarik Black at wide receiver.

But with all the uncertainties around the roster, especially on defense, it's just too much to consider U-M a Top-10 team right now, Fornelli said.

"Michigan will likely be a top 15 team in college football this year. It could end up in the top 10 and compete for a Big Ten title, but it shouldn't start the season there now.

"And if it weren't for the fact it was Michigan, and its coach was Jim Harbaugh, it wouldn't be."

You can read more here.

Contact Brian Manzullo: bmanzullo@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrianManzullo.

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