UMForLife

November 11th, 2015 at 1:41 AM ^

ND is basically in ACC. You think two teams from ACC is better than 1 from B1G or 1 from Pac-12? Heck, if LSU runs the table, why would you deny them. Or B12. Point is you are really not getting the top 4 teams because the committee has to apply some criteria. Unless you expand the playoff, the top 4 would still be a judgment call.

Bambi

November 10th, 2015 at 7:42 PM ^

A lot of people are saying that for us to make the playoff we need an undefeated Baylor, but I disagree. The fact that we are ranked ahead of a one loss TCU team even though they lost to an undefeated OKST and we only just beat Rutgers makes me think the committee does not respect the Big 12 at all.

In all honestly, I think we want all of the Big 12 contenders to lose a game the rest of the way, with Baylor losing first, then OKST, then Oklahoma to OKST in the last week. I think we'd be higher ranked than any of these teams with 1 or 2 losses assuming we win out.

I think we want Oklahoma to be the last team to lose again because they already have one loss, so they'll rise less than any other Big 12 team who wins out until the last week. Then even if OKST beats Oklahoma, OKST won't rise as much because Oklahoma is lower ranked, especially if OKST had just lost the week prior.

Also, if we win out, we'll beat an undefeated OSU and Iowa team. Those two wins will be huge for us to jump up spots, especially since the Big 12 doesn't have a title game, so while we beat Iowa their conference will be idle so there will be a great chance for us to jump any remaining teams they have ahead of us, if they have any.

TLDR; Root for Big 12 chaos because we can jump any one loss champion they have except Oklahoma.

Mr. Yost

November 10th, 2015 at 7:49 PM ^

You don't NEED an undefeated Baylor but that's what you want.

You concede that spot to the B1G.

Because that would mean they've done all the heavy lifting and knocked off everyone else.

If the Big 12 beats up on each other you end up with the #5 and #6 teams in the country just like last year.

If everyone beats everyone you're also looking at the results of the games...which makes it even more difficult. It's so much easier to just say Baylor beat everyone.

recklessaBrandon

November 10th, 2015 at 8:21 PM ^

I think we would jump a one loss Oklahoma. We are already close to them even though we haven't really beaten a top 20 opponent. If we beat an undefeated, number 2/3 OSU and and a number 4/5, undefeated Iowa we will pass a one less OU. No one else would the quality of wins that we would, one of our loses was a fluke and the other was forgivable, and our computer rankings/stats would easily be that of a top 4 team. 

BlueSky

November 10th, 2015 at 9:25 PM ^

I think ND/ PAC12 chaos is the best path for Michigan to the playoff. Stanford beats ND, UCLA beats Utah, Utah beats Stanford. They then all have 2 losses and lost late. I think M gets in over them with wins over top ten OSU and Iowa. Other three in playoff Bama, Clemson, Big XII (0 or 1 loss team).

LSAClassOf2000

November 10th, 2015 at 7:45 PM ^

Here's ESPN's summary page with the rankings as well as AP rank, strength of schedule, strength of record and so on.

Yet again, the highest ranked 2-loss team is not necessarily a bad spot to be in with three games left. If we can keep moving along and winning, it would be interesting to sneak into the Top 10 at the very least....if all goes well. 

gwkrlghl

November 10th, 2015 at 7:46 PM ^

A few fortunate (and likely) losses above us sees us around #10 going into the OSU game if we win out. Should OSU and Iowa both win out, back-to-back wins over those two probably gets us in

Ishgoblue

November 10th, 2015 at 7:52 PM ^

The OSU v MSU game has me quite worried. We're so optimistic that OSU is going to beat MSU. I'm not sure why, but I don't feel right about thinking that for this game. MSU is going to play this game with nothing to lose. An MSU win isn't too out of the question. I REALLY REALLY HOPE I'M WRONG AND AM TRYING TO SAY THEY HAVE A VERY GOOD CHANCE SO THAT I JINX THEM AND OSU WINS AND THEN WE BEAT OSU

I'm done. 

sixtyBLUEhundred

November 10th, 2015 at 7:58 PM ^

I think Carlos Hyde and the front 7 have a big day against state. Nebraska ran up the middle well, with cross getting 100 by himself. And Armstrong actually took some shots down the field with success when Sparty loaded the box and brought blitzes. I think we'll see more of that from osu, only more efficient. I think they won by two scores. My 2p

lilpenny1316

November 10th, 2015 at 7:59 PM ^

Tommy Armstrong Jr. picked them apart.  Plus, Sparty can't run the ball.  Connor Cook has shown me a lot, but even he can't go down there and win that game on his own.  Crowd noise + active defensive line says that he won't have time to pick apart OSU's defense.  The MSU kicking game is also a mess.  As long as JT stays from behind the wheel, OSU wins this thing by a couple scores.

Perkis-Size Me

November 10th, 2015 at 8:29 PM ^

If it was in EL I'd be concerned, but I think that's a game OSU wins by at least a TD.

I could see MSU winning, but Cook would have to play the game of his career. Not outside the realm of possibility, but I don't think he can do enough on his own to win that game.




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UMForLife

November 10th, 2015 at 8:05 PM ^

I agree with you. ND is not much different from the other B12 teams so far. They have one good win against Temple. They lost to Clemson and the game was not that close until the 4th quarter. Even if they beat Stanford, I am not sure they are that much better than B12 teams. I hope they get dropped soon for a B12 team.

recklessaBrandon

November 10th, 2015 at 8:15 PM ^

ND gets a pass for playing a relatively tough schedule, the Big 12 gets no pass because their (arguably) best team played the following OOC schedule: Central Michigan (very close game), Central Arkansas (they only won 38-6, fellow FCS school Samford beat them 45-16 the game before, we could play Derrick Green at wildcat QB and probably score 40), and UTSA. 

RJWolvie

November 10th, 2015 at 9:54 PM ^

Yes. I do. Stanford, LSU, Utah, to name 3 other 1-loss teams with tougher schedules. I'm not buying Temple or Navy as quality wins. Sniff test: those two ranked b/c nationally televised vs ND. About 8th seems more realistic to me. I would put 6-9 of CFP ahead of ND but Iowa behind. But that's why rankings are fun, I guess. Can argue 'em all night




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