Just asking...

At what point does Lloyd Carr become a "bad big-game coach?"

His three biggest regular season rivals are Ohio State, Notre Dame and Michigan State (probably in that order).

Since the start of last season...

1) Michigan was a 12-point favorite at Notre Dame and lost 28-20 (in a game that wasn't really as close as the score indicates)

2) Michigan was an 11-point favorite at home against Michigan State and trailed 27-10 in the fourth quarter. They managed to pull it out in overtime thanks only to a one-man circus of improbability by Braylon Edwards, coupled with Drew Stanton turning into a china doll again.

3) Michigan was a 5-point favorite on the road against a 6-4 Ohio State team and got its ass handed to it, 37-21. Needed an Iowa win over Wisconsin to back into the Rose Bowl.

4) Michigan was a 7-point favorite at home against Notre Dame and imploded. Yes, there were injuries, but Steve Breaston is apparently in the witness protection program (at least on pass plays) and Kevin Grady has come down with a case of the fumblies. The defense still gave up 17 points against a team whose quarterback couldn't throw a downfield pass all day, and who buttoned it up to a ridiculous degree in the second half.

That's barely 1-for-4 in big rivalry games, when they probably should be 4-0. And Carr is now 1-3 against each of his two biggest rivals in their last four meetings.

A trip to East Lansing and a visit from the Buckeyes still await...