Bowl projections, 12/8/13 (updated)
Jason Kirk over at SB Nation projects Michigan vs. Kansas State in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl in Phoenix on December 28th.
Sports Illustrated suggests Michigan vs. Georgia in the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville on January 1st.
Thoughts? Both teams are probably better than Michigan, although Georgia won't have Aaron Murray (torn ACL).
EDIT: ESPN is also predicting that Michigan will be picked by the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl (LINK).
UPDATE: Michigan and Nebraska, Georgia, Texas A&M and LSU in the mix for the Gator Bowl (LINK)
December 8th, 2013 at 1:24 PM ^
/DG'd
December 8th, 2013 at 11:44 AM ^
Can't stand the disappointment anymore... too much pain, too much
December 8th, 2013 at 1:07 PM ^
December 8th, 2013 at 12:00 PM ^
December 8th, 2013 at 12:10 PM ^
most of its OL, has a senior QB, and a plethora of talent at the skill positions should not be dramatically better on offense. The defense returns most of its best players.
2014 should be a fine season. If not, the coaching staff is in trouble.
December 8th, 2013 at 5:10 PM ^
I've been patient through the 2013 season because unlike most I've thought that this year would be the start of a building phase. I also believe that in 2014 we'll see this team turnaround almost like a light switch has gone off. We may not win 11 games but I think we'll see an improved product on the field and there will be optimism about the future.
December 8th, 2013 at 11:03 AM ^
I'd still like to see Texas vs. UM in the BW3 bowl (if that's even a possibility now).
December 8th, 2013 at 11:05 AM ^
December 8th, 2013 at 11:22 AM ^
Who fears different opinions?
December 8th, 2013 at 11:24 AM ^
December 8th, 2013 at 11:28 AM ^
KSU all day every day
December 8th, 2013 at 11:35 AM ^
December 8th, 2013 at 11:34 AM ^
December 8th, 2013 at 11:36 AM ^
Seriously, it's appreciated.
December 8th, 2013 at 2:38 PM ^
December 8th, 2013 at 11:35 AM ^
Anybody complaining about coaches on this thread should be banned. Sorry, so tired of it.
December 8th, 2013 at 11:47 AM ^
December 8th, 2013 at 1:39 PM ^
December 8th, 2013 at 12:11 PM ^
It won't get quite that treatment unless it is a way over the top remark, but what I have tried to do off and on throughout the day - in the background - is delete such complaining in certain threads, especially when it not relevant to the intent of the thread. Repeat offenders may get thumped - I do keep a spreadsheet of names.
December 8th, 2013 at 12:27 PM ^
expressing facts and their opinios?
December 8th, 2013 at 12:35 PM ^
December 8th, 2013 at 11:37 AM ^
It doesn't even matter who we play in the bowl game, we need to know which version of our team will show up.
December 8th, 2013 at 11:38 AM ^
December 8th, 2013 at 11:50 AM ^
OSU will go to the Orange Bowl and play Clemson. granted, that's not set in stone, but let's be serious...if that's what ESPN wants, that's probably what will happen
EDIT: USA Today agrees: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/bowls/2013/12/08/bowl-projections-bcs-title-game-florida-state-auburn-ohio-state/3906673/
December 8th, 2013 at 12:14 PM ^
December 8th, 2013 at 12:41 PM ^
Damn, I was hoping to see Baylor light it up on them.
December 8th, 2013 at 12:57 PM ^
but osu will be playing Clemson it appears
December 8th, 2013 at 11:43 AM ^
I hate to say it, but I'd rather have a crap opponent whom I know Michigan will thump. I just feel like the program is in a fragile place right now (recruiting, overall psyche) and does not need another massive setback or even a "moral victory" ala Ohio State. It needs a win, even if it's in a yawner bowl. Look what that did for Sparty this year.
December 8th, 2013 at 11:51 AM ^
beating a crap team does nothing...we need a big name, even if the team isn't any good.
We need to play Texas or Georgia and beat them by 17+ to feel good this offseason.
December 8th, 2013 at 1:43 PM ^
I agree with you 100%. A win over Georgia does quite a bit going into the offseason.
(1) Helps in recruiting vs. the SEC.
(2) Helps the Big 10 perception as a quality conference.
(3) Helps with the mood and program direction heading into the offseason.
December 8th, 2013 at 1:49 PM ^
I agree that would be great, but I worry what perceptions will be fed if Michigan LOSES to Georgia or Texas.
My concern with a loss of any kind is it makes clear the Ohio State game was a fluke. Even if it really was, a win masks the issue for a time, and possibly mitigates recruiting damage. I want the coaches to know what they have, but not at the expense of Jabrill Peppers and Malik McDowell, if the latter is even a hope anymore.
December 8th, 2013 at 2:03 PM ^
If we can't beat Georgia then this team has bigger issues than any of us want to acknowledge. Georgia is not Goliath here, but the media perception is that any SEC team is better than the Big 10. We can't start to believe that narrative or it is over for this staff and team.
December 8th, 2013 at 11:55 AM ^
Perhaps. But are you really saying the reason MSU has been so successful this season is because they won their bowl game last season, and if they had played against a better opponent and had lost they wouldn't have won the B1G this year?
December 8th, 2013 at 1:47 PM ^
No, I just think that victory gave them some positive momentum, "something to build from", to be really cliche, going into this season. If Connor Cook hadn't proven himself in that game, I wonder whether Dantonio would have given up on Maxwell so soon this season. Not that Maxwell didn't legitimately suck, but Cook's performance off the bench in the BWW Bowl last year let him now he did have a real alternative.
December 8th, 2013 at 11:47 AM ^
December 8th, 2013 at 11:55 AM ^
National Championship Game
FSU over Auburn: 35-34
Orange Bowl
OSU over Clemson: 42-28
Sugar Bowl
Bama over Oklahoma: 35-10
or
Bama over Oregon: 38-35
Fiesta Bowl
Baylor over UCF: 38-20
Rose Bowl
Stanford over MSU: 16-10
December 8th, 2013 at 12:10 PM ^
December 8th, 2013 at 12:40 PM ^
If I was a betting man, I'd pick Ohio to thump Clemson. I'd also pick State to control Stanford.
I also think FSU is also going to lose in the NC. As bad as it sounds, 40% of me was hoping Ohio would have played them in the NC. Whoever FSU plays will win. Another year of the SEC winning the NC makes me nauseous.
December 8th, 2013 at 12:48 PM ^
Yeah, I am not sure Clemson deserves a BCS game this year. Oregon and Oklahoma have better wins against quality opponents.
December 8th, 2013 at 12:54 PM ^
Their signature win was Georgia (8-4). Otherwise, they lost to any decent team they played.
December 8th, 2013 at 12:56 PM ^
December 8th, 2013 at 1:49 PM ^
FSU over Auburn
Oregon or Oklahoma over Alabama
OSU over Clemson
MSU over Stanford
Michigan over Georgia
The outcomes above would help the Big10 reputation and take some luster off of the SEC. Both of which will be needed if the Big 10 has a shot of getting a 1 loss team in the 4 team playoff. This will matter for Michigan in the next year or so as this team improves.
December 8th, 2013 at 2:07 PM ^
The National Championship Score is what it will be at half time right?
Taj Boyd and Sammy Watkins should do quite nicely plus ohio isn't going to show up for that game. Clemson should roll.
December 8th, 2013 at 11:49 AM ^
December 8th, 2013 at 11:50 AM ^
I looked it up and saw the Gator Bowl pays nearly twice as much as the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl. Please correct me if I'm wrong. But wouldn't it make sense to want to go to the Gator bowl? I heard rumblings this morning in WTKA that Michigan wants to go to the BW3 bowl. Perhaps there is something that I am missing in all this. . .
December 8th, 2013 at 11:56 AM ^
Wasn't Rich Rod fired after 3 years and a Gator Bowl appearance. Hoke would be 3 years and a Gator Bowl appearance.
December 8th, 2013 at 12:31 PM ^
thoughts?
December 8th, 2013 at 12:07 PM ^