semi-OT: How do you handle filling out picks or brackets where Michigan is involved?
As I was putting Michigan's win at the top of my confidence list in the mgoblog bowl pick-em on espn.com it occured to me that I always pick Michigan to win with the utmost confidence. I have never filled out a March Madness bracket with Michigan in the field but not the eventual national champ. I have also never filled out a bowl prediciton with Michigan losing, or not my highest confidence pick. Have you ever picked MIchigan to lose in a contest, and if so, how do you sleep at night?
December 17th, 2010 at 11:56 AM ^
I'm with you, I'm bit of a homer when it comes to UM. I know for some games they have a greater chance to lose than to win (for example tOSU this year), but I have confidence that anything can happen and therefore pick Michigan.
December 17th, 2010 at 3:10 PM ^
I pick Michigan everytime and give them all my confidence points and hope that im right.
December 17th, 2010 at 10:45 PM ^
I pick Michigan.... always. Don't put money on it, though.
December 17th, 2010 at 11:56 AM ^
I never pick against Michigan. Rather lose a bet than have Michigan lose and me win. Simple as that.
And I only sleep with myself at night when my wife is tired or grumpy.
December 17th, 2010 at 11:57 AM ^
I handle them rationally usually due to money being involved.
I also pick U of M to win the bowl games and I always pick the basketball team to at least the sweet 16.
December 17th, 2010 at 11:57 AM ^
i pick them often to lose in contests like this. I care about Michigan enough that if they win (which I obviously hope to God they do every time), I do not give two shits about the confidence pool I'm in. Same goes for wagering a few bucks on the games too. A Michigan victory is much more valuable than a little cash.
December 17th, 2010 at 11:57 AM ^
For example two years ago my March Madness bracket had them beating Clemson but losing to Oklahoma
December 17th, 2010 at 11:58 AM ^
One where I go all homer and pick Michigan to win it all, and another with picks based on more "accurate" means to win the bracket pool.
December 17th, 2010 at 12:20 PM ^
This. The two-bracket method is always the way to go.
December 17th, 2010 at 2:52 PM ^
but sooner or later your first bracket will find out about your second bracket and then it goes downhill.
December 17th, 2010 at 11:59 AM ^
For the 1st time ever, I picked against Michigan, and had FLA to win the Capital One Bowl, with a confidence of ~10. I lost out on 1st by 8 points. Karma is a bitch
December 17th, 2010 at 1:18 PM ^
December 17th, 2010 at 11:59 AM ^
Is there money involved? I love Michigan, but I am a greedy bastard.
December 17th, 2010 at 12:07 PM ^
I'm a homer. I've only picked against Michigan in a bowl twice. Once against Tennessee because they were so obviously better, and against Florida in Lloyd's last game.
December 17th, 2010 at 12:08 PM ^
Were you happy to lose the second one?
December 17th, 2010 at 12:09 PM ^
For the bowl pick ems, I always pick Michigan to win but I like to think I'm being rational with the confidence I put in it but I'm probably over confident on them (but with Denard, it's hard not to be excited)
December 17th, 2010 at 12:09 PM ^
REVERSE JINX FTW
December 17th, 2010 at 4:42 PM ^
When I was younger I never bet against Michigan, life was great. But now in my 30's I have lived enough to know that god hates me, and would never allow me to enjoy a Michigan win and win a bet. For the last 15 years I bet against UofM football all the time. I never pick them in pools. I look at it as an investment in my happiness. If it costs me a 20 spot to be able to enjoy my weekend, screw it. Honestly it is the best 20 I could ever spend.
December 17th, 2010 at 12:12 PM ^
I was never a basketball fan, but when I was at UofM in 1989, I was convinced to fill out a bracket. Heck, I had no idea, put Michigan in as National Champion and added Illinois and pretty much went scratch. Won $3000 from the frat brothers that year!
Never let anything get in the way of you being all in for Michigan.
December 17th, 2010 at 12:22 PM ^
I will usually give them one upset, but I don't let Michigan homerism ruin my entire bracket. If they lose, I'm already mad enough, so I like to hedge by saying "well, at least I'll get a few points in my bracket."
As for the Bowl pick-em, I will always pick Michigan, but I'll put them where I think they should go with confidence. There's no reason why I should put them highest when there are other matchups that are more obviously higher confidence.
December 17th, 2010 at 12:41 PM ^
The point is to win. If Michigan doesnt have it, dont pick them. With this D, I dont see why you would put anything but a small number on them to win in a confidence pool. There are more sure things out there to put your big points on. But, to each his own.
I've never had problem betting against Michigan if the situation warrants it.
How do I sleep at night? Like a baby. With a breast in my mouth. It's all good.
December 17th, 2010 at 12:42 PM ^
Michigan victory highest confidence
Followed by Alabama.
December 17th, 2010 at 1:03 PM ^
Is separating what you hope for from what you expect really so hard?
December 17th, 2010 at 1:03 PM ^
every time, even if they aren't in the tourney.
Also state and tuos lose in the first round every year....Thank you George Mason....
December 17th, 2010 at 1:04 PM ^
I always pick Michigan because I don't like feeling divided about the outcome of a Michigan game. And I'd rather lose the bet and see Michigan win, anyway.
December 17th, 2010 at 1:37 PM ^
I just pick UM until it just seems implaussible - like with the March Madness tournament two years ago, I picked them to get to the Sweet 16 but at that point I would have been content. While being a fan means you are a little fanatitical, if you just act with abject homerism you weaken legitimate arguments you can make for your team.
December 17th, 2010 at 1:55 PM ^
I always pick Michigan to do just a little bit better than I think they will.
So, if I think that the basketball team can win one game, I'll likely put them in the Sweet Sixteen. If I think they're good enough for the Sweet Sixteen, I'll put them in the Final Four, etc. For football, I'll pretty much always pick them to win and also place them a couple of spots higher than if I weren't a fan.
December 17th, 2010 at 2:23 PM ^
I had them winning the 2008 NC (I dont like Blake Griffin) I'm still saying they had a shot. Yeah im biased.
December 17th, 2010 at 2:28 PM ^
I always have Michigan winning the championship when they make the tournament. Someday I will look like a genius when they actually win it.
December 17th, 2010 at 2:31 PM ^
Irrational side: Always in the win column
Rational side: Confidence varies wildly
December 17th, 2010 at 6:25 PM ^
I wil either pick michigan or not bet the game. I can never bet against michigan.
December 17th, 2010 at 7:21 PM ^
I usually try not to let my homerism affect my picks and this year was not an exception. If Michigan wins, I will be more than happy, if Miss St. wins, I'll have a good pool. Obviously Michigan winning would be preferable, but I do think Miss St. will win.