bowl

While a thread below considers what bowl opponent IS likely for UM, what bowl we SHOULD be going to?

Although some uncertainty remains, most people expect NU and NEB to go to the CapOne and Outback Bowls over UM.  The reason is that the B1G sends a team to the Capitol One (or Outback) if it has two more wins (or two fewer losses) than its competitor.*

WIth this rule, however, teams with far easier out-of-conference (OOC) games are much more likely to win the higher  bowl bids. And this year, unfortunately, UM had a much tougher schedule.  It played its toughest OOC games on the road vs. teams with an average Sagarin PREDICTOR rank  of #2, both on the road.  NEB and NU played vs. opponents with an average rank of about #43, including one home game.**

Partly as a result, UM has by far the highest Sagarin rank (UM #24, NEB #29, NU #38).   Indeed, even according  to the final BCS rankings, UM clearly would be ranked above NU (and probably NEB).  So, it should be going either to the CapOne or Outback bowl, right?

Maybe not.

Imagine what would happen If the B1G were unified once again, without the unfair divisions.  Then, if it still wanted a title game, perhaps it should be sending the 2 teams with the highest BCS ranks.  So, UM would have played NEB for the title.  Um would not have to play on the road, like the last game.  It would have to play not with its 3^rd string QB.  It would have Devin Gardner.  And it probably would have Denard Robinson  In fact, playing vs. a NEB team that just gave up 70 points to Wisc, Robinson would likely set the all-time NCAA QB rushing record in a big UM win.

But then, like now, UM would probably not going to the CapOne or Outback bowl. 

In this alternate universe where the B1G has rational rules, UM would be going to the Rose Bowl.

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*These are the only rules I could find on the web, as reported by Rittenberg in 2011.  So, I am assuming the rules have not changed.  http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/39509/reviewing-b1gs-bowl-selec...

**I report the Sagarin PREDICTOR rankings because these are the ones most likely to predict actual game outcomes.  Here are Sagarin PREDICTOR rank and rating, average Sagarin rank of the top 2 OOC opponents and B1G record for each team.

UM #24 82.05   TOP 2 OOC OPPONENTS; ROAD ND #1 AND ALA#3 (#1-2 BCS), B1G 6-2

NEB  #29 80.04  HOME ARKANSAS STATE #54, ROAD UCLA #19, B1G 7-2

NU #38 78.29  HOME VANDY #35 ROAD SYRACUSE #50, B1G 5-3

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/fbt12.htm

Jerry Palm released his 2012-2013 bowl projections that include Michigan (Big Ten Champ) facing Oregon (Pac-12 # 2, USC gets picked for the MNCG).

Obligatory statement about the utter ridiculousness of predicting bowl games before a single game of the season has been played?  Check.

The reason I bring this up (as opposed to other prognosticators) is that last year around this time, he had Michigan in a BCS bowl (the Fiesta) and most people were taken aback at his "silly" (but not so silly looking back on it) faith in Michigan.

And it's not just that he correctly predicted Michigan into a BCS bowl, he also predicted Michigan's losses to MSU and Iowa.

At the very least, it's nice to see us in the conversation for high-profile bowls, championships, etc.  You know, how it should be.

The athletic department has sent out an email detailing ticket information for the Sugar Bowl.

Students: up to 8 tickets can be purchased for $97 a piece on mgoblue.com/tickets starting Monday, December 5 at 8:30 am on a first-come first-served basis.

General Public:  $125 (Terrace), $145 (Plaza), $155 (Premium Terrace), $175 (Mezzanine Endzone) or $185 (Club) also on mgoblue.com/tickets

Deadline for ordering is Thursday, December 8th at 5pm. All information can be found here: http://www.mgoblue.com/tickets/fbl-bowl-tickets.html?hq_e=el&hq_m=234750&hq_l=2&hq_v=a58e077bf2

Edit: Here is the seating chart for the superdome. Appears that the blue area is either $125 or $155 depending on location. Red area $145. Yellow area endzone $145 or $175 sideline. That's at least my best guess, although it doesn't make that much sense.

Finishing up a close game in the D2 bracket. Delta State is down 3 with 2:22 to go. Went for it on 4th and goal from the one. False start pushes it back 5. So they go for the FG. It's blocked. Wait... DELAY OF GAME!  KO return goes to the offensive 45! Challenged! He fielded the ball on one knee, he's down, it's coming back to the defensive 30.

Coming up next BYU vs UTEP at the New Mexico Bowl. JCB has UTEP +12. Neither of these teams are very good, but I like the matchup to be closer than 12 as well. I'll take and the points, but I'll take BYU straight up. 

Bought my first bowl tickets today! Its the first bowl game Michigan has gone to where I live in the state in which they are playing. Very excited to make it to my first one, but I have a few questions maybe some of you MGoUsers can answer. By the way, stadium seats are $65 a pop.

1. I signed in with my MGoBlue user account (the one I used to buy student season tickets all 4 years of undergrad). Is there any preferential seating selection for repeat customers or customers with seniority (alumni, perhaps)?

2. Will I be placed in the Michigan group? I purchased Stadium level seats.

3. How many of you are making the trip? I hope there's an awesome showing by Michigan fans. I'd like a home crowd advantage.

Go Blue! Let's beat up on the SEC!

So having just read the article on m.go.licio.us on cold weather BCS bowl games, I'm glad to see there are still people out there willing to give the cold a shot when talking about bowl games.  I personally love snow football, and watching my team win in the snow is even better.

Patriots fans do this every year (among other teams), and the NFL has set a precedent with their recent decision on a New York Super Bowl for 2014.  I've heard many a student want to kill me when i wish for some snow late in the season, but I'm still hoping to see a full blown snow game before I graduate.

What's everyone's opinion on this? Pros/cons on this kind of game? Would it help solve the "is the SEC truly better outside of their warm comfort zone" debate?  I certainly think it would legitimize either how good they really are or how well they have been using that warmth to their advantage.