M Playing as AP No. 3; the Stats

Submitted by J.W. Wells Co. on

With Michigan moving up to No. 3 in the AP poll today, a nice little run (last four games) of playing as the No. 4 team comes to an end.

Since Bo started in 1969, Michigan has played 57 games as the AP No. 4, more than any other place in the rankings.  M's record playing as the AP No. 4 in that time is 46-9-2, for a winning percentage of .825.

Starting this Saturday, Michigan will add to its stats playing as the AP No. 3.  Since 1969 Michigan is 30-11-1 (.726) playing as the AP No. 3.  Michigan's last win as AP No. 3 was September 9, 2000, 38-7 over Rice.  Michigan's last loss as AP No. 3 was to Southern Cal in the Rose Bowl, 32-18, on January 1, 2007.

Also, since Illinois is unranked...

Since 1969, when Michigan is ranked in the AP poll, the Wolverines are 269-33-5 (.884) against unranked teams.

Isn't that special?

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snarling wolverine

October 16th, 2016 at 3:03 PM ^

.726 is a lower win percentage than I'd have guessed.  That's just a hair worse than our all-time win percentage, so we've slightly underperformed in this spot.

I like that .884 percentage against unranked opponents though.

 

Joined: 12/14/2011

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NittanyFan

October 16th, 2016 at 3:20 PM ^

by my records, U-M is 0-4 in their last 4 games as the AP Poll number 3.  Strange statistic:

January 2007 Rose Bowl vs USC.

2005 regular season vs Notre Dame.

2003 regular season at Oregon

2000 regular season at UCLA

game before that was the before-mentioned 2000 regular season game vs Rice.

 

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Blue_In_Texas

October 16th, 2016 at 4:16 PM ^

I like us at 3 or 4. If we take care of business we get in, and also I like being an underdog to Osu. Let them get all the shine. They will learn. They are in for a reckoning. (God willing we stay healthy)

Joined: 01/09/2016

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SpikeFan2016

October 16th, 2016 at 6:10 PM ^

Literally insane that Colorado is not ranked (they are #26 in both polls). They are 5-2, just blew out the team that was #26/most in the others receiving section this week, 4 of 5 wins were blow out wins and they lost to the #3 team in the nation on the road (but gave us the best fight we've seen all season) and a USC team on the road by only 4 points. Gosh I hope they can beat Stanford. If they can, they should win 3 in a row. 

 

Auburn, LSU, and Ole Miss are all trash and at least 2/3 should not be ranked. 

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uminks

October 16th, 2016 at 8:03 PM ^

Coaches poll keeping Clemson ahead of us? They almost lost to an un-ranked team at home. At least OSU pulled out a win against a top 10 team on the road.

I doubt OSU or Alabama will lose until we play OSU, so we will probably be 3 and hopefully the offense can improve every game. Odds are it will be #2 OSU vs # 3 Michigan in the game at the end of the season. i hope Harbaugh can find a way to beat OSU!

 

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The Fan in Fargo

October 16th, 2016 at 9:55 PM ^

You can beat them (little) fast basterads if you make them run inside. Contain their spread and bring the pain. All Barrett and Samuels know how to do is bounce it outside with their speed and moves. Take that part of their running game away and force them inside to Michigan's big boys inside and they'll crumble. If you think about what a person is used to do doing and then you take that away and force them to beat you another way which they aren't accustomed to doing, it's not going to be as effective. Especially if they aren't bruisers like Zeke. He was their trumping card last year. If Wisconsin didn't shit the bed in the second half, they would've held the sucknuts to under 20. Michigan has a better defense with better athletes to contain the bucs powder puff speed and make them beat you in the passing game. Which they won't be able to do because Barrett is going to get blitzed to all hell and their outside threats will be locked down. Michigan can hold the sucknuts to under 20 if they are fired up and on top of their game the whole time. If the defense can contain Samuels from his outside runs and force him inside to take some hits, he won't be as effective. It's not in his genetics. That leaves you with Barret. My prediction and recipe to handle that little bitch...

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PAPER BOI

October 16th, 2016 at 10:46 PM ^

I know they don't look like they are beatable, but they haven't beaten anyone who is that tough really. A USC team who was playing with their now back up, a ole miss team that they barely beat and is now 3-3, a Tennesse team that barely got by everyone they have played including app state (who Miami cruched on the road). I think the SEC is just weak this year, and their wins aren't as inplressive if you really look at them.

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