The Ohio bandwagon

I dont think its necessarily any mad love for the Bobcats as much as it is the collective memory of us getting thoroughly curb-stomped by OSU last Saturday. 

It truely depends on which Michigan team shows up.  The last two games they were anything but stellar!

before TV and computer screens, arousing interest in the games. And making betting money circulate, both sides of the line. 

But he's no Scalabrine

Ohio has some familiarity w/ Michigan because of its OSU connections, Ohio beat G'Town in 2010, Michigan (as said above) just got hammered, all commentators (as others have noted) want to pick upsets.

I'm glad Ohio is being picked.  I like the idea of Michigan reading all week about how they're going to lose.

He actually was the starting Kicker for the football team in the late 2000's. He has been laying it on thick all week about how the basketball team knows how to spring the upset because they did it to Georgetown just a few years back.  I then told him how it seems the only teams Michigan has really had trouble with have a big or two that can take over a game. He then says, "Oh, we don't have one of those".  He hasn't said a word about the game since.

Ohio apparently is really good at defending against the 3 pt shot. That's the main thing I've heard them bring up.

Thanks to Coach Hoke, analysts and experts everywhere are confused as to which Ohio we are really playing.  Except Doug Gotleib, who is just an idiot.

I've been listening to the same crap about both Michigan and Syracuse.

You lose your last game and all of a sudden you suck, forget the whole season before it.

So now Vanderbilt, Florida State, and Ohio are now the second-coming of the 1993 Chicago Bulls.

The MSM is always searching for an underdog to hype.  For many of them, Ohio is that underdog.  Belmont seems to be the number one choice for many, though.  Hopefully, it backfires and Michigan comes out fired up and ready to take care of business.  

The more I think of it, the more I hope the media hypes Ohio until everyone on the Wolverines gets sick of it and plays it like a rivalry game until the score gets out of reach.  

that is picking every 4, 5, and 6 seed to lose.  It is their job to strum up interest in the games.  If you were to take a total of every analyst on the major sports websites who were putting out brackets, I'm pretty sure M is being picked in at least 80%.  I wouldn't read too much into this, it happens every year.  Let's go out and mop the floor with OHIO and then you'll see all those predicting a M loss to go, welp, there goes my upset pick. 

Because that's what it will be, an upset.

Well keep in mind most people haven't watched us all year. Our last two outings on National TV were OT against a bad Minny team, and getting jailsexed by TSIO. Combine that with the need to make upset picks to generate viewers, and we're a trendy pick

beat Memphis, MSU, and OSU and kept it close against Duke and Arkansas, we'll win convincingly. If we play like we did at Iowa or at home against Purdue, then a loss is a distinct possibility.

Don't you mean OHIO?

We won a lot of close games this year. No doubt that suggests to a lot of folks that we were lucky (and therefore are seeded too high) and/or played above our heads. A team like that doesn't have to have too much of an off night to lose to a lower seed. Not an unreasonable theory. But yes - let the guys spend all week hearing about everyone picking them to be upset. A little extra motivation.

These "experts" like to pick their upsets based on teams that performed well in the past.   So when you combine OHIO's win over Georgetown 2 years ago with our poor performance in the B1G Tournament people are looking at this game.

I expect us to make it to the sweet 16 and give UNC a run for their money.

We got slammed in the last week by Ohio S and that was in the spotlight of the tournament, and I think they wonder how we've done as well as we've done. People see our line up and think "underwhelming."
Finally, who knows if we'll bring our home game or away.

I've watched every Ohio tv game this year and every michigan game this year, so I feel I may have some perspective here. Admittedly, I am an Ohio grad so they have a soft spot in my heart when they make a run to the big dance.

I told myself before selection Sunday that I was going to bet (not necessarily take to win) Ohio in any first round matchup that came up. The one thing they have going for them is that they are absolutely fearless and will force the tempo whether Michigan wants it or not. I think the game comes down to limiting turnovers and knocking down some shots for Michigan. I believe Beilein is too good of a coach to not have a gameplan put together for such an overagressive defensive team.

That being said I totally expect this game to be close until the end unless Ohio is cold from the field. DJ Cooper is good (not Burke) but where he will hurt you is his streak shooting. If he's on, OU will be in the game and have a chance to win. I also expect Reggie Keely to draw fouls on Morgan which can invoke the Beilein "Two Foul Rule" which I feel should be tossed out the window in the tourney.

In the end, I'll take Michigan by 5 due to Burke and Beilein. Needless to say I will be skitzo during this game. Go Blue! (don't blow out my alma mater?)

Did you watch the Minnesota game?  We aren't super athletic, so we rely a lot on shooting.  If our shots aren't falling, we can lose to anyone.

Ohio is suppose to be one of the better in the country at defending the 3

they are all over the Bobcat's nuts, but every year there are quite a few upsets and that is what makes the Big Dance special. But that being said Coach Beilein is 5-0 in the first round of the BTT, and 0-5 in the second round, 2-0 in the NCAA first round, 0-2 in the next round, plus add in Maui we are 1-0 in the first round and 1-1 in the following games.See what I am getting at here? We are freaking pretty unbeatable in the first round under Beilein no matter where or when we play. And I may add that this is the year we get past the second round and go to the Sweet Sixteen IMO. Given the time Beilein has shown he will own a team who has not seen us before. In Beilein we trust.
 

I've been listening to people discuss why Michigan is vulnerable to a upset. The consensus is that they are small and not very deep. When Michigan faces a good perimeter defense they struggle to score. I'm not sure about Ohio's depth, but they are small as well. I think Michigan wins against the Bobcats.

comes from the fact that Clark Kellogg's son is on the Bobcats, so lots of analysts are giving them some run to make their colleague feel good. No harm done, only thing that matters is the scoreboard at the end of the game

Last year, a lot of so called experts picked Tennessee. How did that work out.

Beat Pickerington South!