The OSU and ND games both being in the Outhouse is probably influencing those odds, but it's still surprising.

With regard to Michigan fan expectations, I don't recall them ever not being exceptionally high. Even during the depths of the Rich Rodriguez and Brady Hoke years, their fans were generally optimistic every year.

It's honestly somewhat admirable -- they've struggled just about as much as we have over the past two decades and haven't even experienced any of our highs (title game and playoff appearances), and yet really have never become jaded in the same way our fan base has.

have a higher standard and thus have fallen further and are more depressed about our state of affairs than Michigan fans are. Michigan fans are more focused on winning their conference, being in contention within their conference, etc.

We are just talking relative terms here. Both fans are not all that happy -- the ones 40 and older that remember when they played elite level football most years.