Wisconsin vs Nebraska Game: The Michigan Perspective
With this big game coming up between to ranked Big Ten teams, probably the two expected to make it to the championship game, what are we thinking as Michigan fans?
Personally, I think I want Wisconsin to win. A Nebraska loss will be incredibly helpful in the long run as we try to win our division. Sure, it makes our division look worse, but I think making the championship game is much more important. Second of all, I think Wisconsin will win. Nebraska may put up a fight, but they are not ready for a Big Ten game like this, especially not in Camp Randall.
What do you guys think?
September 28th, 2011 at 3:57 PM ^
Not really a cheap shot. It helps Michigan to be able to clinch the division earlier rather than later, no matter how many games OSU has to win for that to happen.
Choosing between waiting for us to beat Nebraska to clinch the division or making OSU do our dirty work for us before we have to play them, I'd take OSU over Nebraska 100% of the time. If OSU comes into the title game at 11-1 as a top five team, all the better.
September 29th, 2011 at 10:36 AM ^
The "hope someone else beats them so we don't have to" menality. Doesn't sound like a winning one.
Root for who you want (or against who you don't like) because this early in the season you never know who you might need to win or lose. Sure, divisions make some things more of a sure thing (unlike, rooting for Northwestern to beat Nebraska, only to find out Northwestern is undefeated or something), but till you have lost, you don't "need" anyone to lose. Once that happens, you can start rooting.
I don't want to win because "Everyone else sucked". Better than not winning when everyone else sucked, but not as good as just winning.
September 28th, 2011 at 3:59 PM ^
Michigan only controls it's destiny if it wins out, wins out in the division with only 1 loss in the conference, or if one of its division opponents loses a game. For each loss that Michigan has, each other opponent has to have that many losses, and that's if Michigan beats all of them. If Michigan loses to any of them, then those teams need one more loss than Michigan. So, unless you expect Michigan to win at least 11 games without a loss in the division, they will need help from the cross-division teams to win the division.
September 28th, 2011 at 4:49 PM ^
You raise an interesting point regarding winning out in the division and having only 1 non-divisional conference loss. In some respects, the non-divisional conference games are worth only 1/2 a game in the standings -- you still play all your divisional foes and if you beat them you win the tie breakers even if you both have one loss (theirs in the division and your non-divisional conference).
September 28th, 2011 at 5:42 PM ^
It's a cheap shot to be compared to the douchebaggery that Dantonio has shown at the end of 2008 and 2010, when a Michigan win over OSU would have done much more for MSU's big ten title hopes than this game. Or calling Jim Tressel a "tragic hero" when his actions directly prevented MSU from playing in this past Rose Bowl.
Ultimately, my point is that you're right, but I am hoping that it is possible for Michigan to receive enough help from the East division such that I can still:
1) root against Ohio State most weeks, and
2) root for Wisconsin long enough for my bitter grudge against their team to subside after their intentional foul on Mike Martin (throwing Denard's shoe 20 yards after a play had ended also comes to mind).
At this early stage in the season, it's still possible (perhaps unlikely) that my rooting strategy will not detriment Michigan to the point where they can't win their division, especially since no Big Ten games have been played. Given how bad many Big Ten teams are, Michigan's chances get better.
On a related note, it'd be interesting to make a diary detailing a rooting guide for Michigan fans that accurately balances helping Michigan win their division, rooting against teams Michigan fans shouldn't like (rivals, Wisconsin, etc), and collecting Tears of Unfathomable Sadness from ensuing schadenfreude.
September 28th, 2011 at 3:32 PM ^
Neither OSU nor MSU will win their division, so root for whoever you wish.
September 28th, 2011 at 1:10 PM ^
Easy. A Nebraska loss helps Michigan in the race for the conference title game/division title. A Wisconsin loss doesn't. Ergo, we all root for the cheddar curtain.
September 28th, 2011 at 1:11 PM ^
For sure, we should be pulling for Wisco. It's a no brainer.
I said on the podcast and I truly believe this. But Brasker has enough flaws where they can be brought down to a 5-3 league record. But, a loss in Madtown is needed for that math to even begin to work
I've been saying for months that the West Division would be three teams tied at 5-3. MICH has a good a chance as any of them....but Brasker was the only team I thought that had a chance to roll out of bed and put a 7-1 or something up on the board
That said, I dont think they are much better, if at all, than anyone else in the division. A loss to Wisconsin makes this an even more wide open chase.....
September 28th, 2011 at 1:22 PM ^
Can you believe that Nebraska's getting 9.5 points though? That line seems really high, especially given Wisco hasn't played anyone yet.
September 28th, 2011 at 1:20 PM ^
From Nebraska they've always been my #2. I feel obligated to root for them in every game but one game a year. GBR!!!! I think wisconsin is going to win though.
September 28th, 2011 at 2:32 PM ^
Me too. Born and raised a Husker, converted to Blue in adulthood. Once the bugeaters joined our conference, they bumped Wisconsin from my #2 spot in my Big Ten heart, down to #3. But I guess I gotta root against them and for Wiscy. Sigh.
September 28th, 2011 at 1:25 PM ^
Fact is, we can't rely on other teams to beat our division rivals. The only sure way of playing in the championship game is for Michigan to beat them all head-to-head.
Michigan has the potential - though it's far from a lock - to beat anyone on the schedule this year, if they keep improving. But it's only potential. It's going to take a lot of work, and more than a little luck to run the table.
I'm actually more worried about our away games at Northwestern, MSU and Iowa than I am about Nebraska and OSU. I see Northwestern as a trap game; MSU could have a good game at home, and we could come out flat; and Iowa is always trouble at Kinnick.
Nebraska has demonstrated plenty of inconsistency this year and last year. I don't see them magically becoming invincible. And OSU is also beatable. For both games, we're at home.
My feeling is that it's a lot more interesting this season if Nebraska lets some of the air out of Wisconsin's balloon with a win on the road. Then maybe OSU beats them at home.
Because I'd love a scenario where we get to the Championship game, OSU gets to the championship game, and once again, consistent with Tradition, everything's on the line between Michigan and OSU in this very first B1G Title game! It would be so cool.
Gotta add this edit: I really have always liked Nebraska, after UM.
September 28th, 2011 at 1:56 PM ^
Michigan could beat them all head-to-head, lose their 3 cross-division games and still not go to the championship game. So, this gives us some tolerance.
September 28th, 2011 at 1:29 PM ^
I never thought Nebraska was very good. the got beat in their bowl game by a crappy Washington team. Their offense struggles against physical teams, and their defense is way overrated.
September 28th, 2011 at 1:29 PM ^
We absolutely want Wisconsin to win. Any leg up in the Legends Division is good.
September 28th, 2011 at 1:29 PM ^
Who to root for?
1. Smug smiling face meathead that would run the score up on his grandma
2. Crazy Eyes McGee who would yell at his grandma on Thanksgiving for not holding the gravy bowl with both hands
September 28th, 2011 at 1:35 PM ^
Anyone who appreciates a good bowl of pasta is okay in my book.
September 28th, 2011 at 4:52 PM ^
Both of these guys should be nicer to their grandmas.
September 28th, 2011 at 6:13 PM ^
Does Bielema have hair plugs?
September 28th, 2011 at 1:37 PM ^
September 28th, 2011 at 1:42 PM ^
I hope you and your douche bag coach win.
September 28th, 2011 at 1:43 PM ^
I want Nebraska to win so we can get a mega matchup on November 19th of two 10-0 teams in the big house.
September 28th, 2011 at 2:04 PM ^
I just don't care. I guess the best game would be a close one, where both get beat up, where both have to pull out all the stops, so that we have good film on how they play a quality opponent. I think that how Wisconsin plays Taylor Martinez could help Mattison in planing for a championship game against Wisconsin.
I have to agree that I really don't want to see Nebraska come in and win their first year.
Having said that, I'd love for Michigan to have easy games all the way through Illinois, play Nebraska with both being undefeated, and beat Nebraska, springing surprise plays on them, and being ready for them completely. That would be more painful for Nebraska.
We can't lose. Either Nebraska or Wisconsin will lose a game.
I feel about the same about MSU & OSU. One of them will lose, and either way it is good.
Given games the next three weeks, here's what I want.
- Nebraska beats Wisconsin this Saturday.
- MSU beats OSU this Saturday.
- OSU beats Nebraska next Saturday.
- Michigan beats MSU in two and a half weeks.
In this scenario, in 3 weeks, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Ohio, and MSU all have at least one lost in the Big 10, and Michigan is still undefeated. That helps us, and creates more pressure on them.
As I said, I'm thinking like Hoke: my focus is on Michigan, and I want Michigan to win, period.
September 28th, 2011 at 3:10 PM ^
Then M is not only undefeated but has a 2 game lead on both Nebraska and MSU. We could afford to lose to Nebraska or lose 2 games as long as we beat Nebraska and most likely make the championship game (barring NW, Minn or Iowa having a better record which seems unlikely).
September 28th, 2011 at 3:19 PM ^
Wisconsins and OSU record has no bearing on us winning the big ten so them vs our division you want them to win.
so using your senerio:
Winc over Neb
OSU over MSU
OSU over Neb
Michigan over MSU
and i'll add a few more:
Ill over NW
UM over NW
Penn State over Iowa
NU over Iowa
if this crazy but not so crazy (all are likely if not atleast more than possible) happens we will be in the drivers seat for the legends and would need to f up hugely to miss indy
would pu everyone but Minn at 2 losses (Minn will figure out a way to lose anyways so not even worried about them, and barely worried about Iowa and NW)
September 28th, 2011 at 4:59 PM ^
I like it, but we would still have to only one loss (to Nebraska assuming that they end up with 2 losses against Wisc and OSU) or would have beat Nebraska and not lose more than 2 other conference games.
September 28th, 2011 at 1:48 PM ^
For Michigan's sake, Wisconsin needs to win this game. We need all of our fellow divisional teams to lose all their games against the other divisional teams, so that means we need Ohio to beat Sparty on Saturday. Before the divisions, I always rooted for Sparty to beat Ohio, but now I can't do that.
BUT...........regarding both games, whatever the outcomes are, they are win-win situations. An Ohio loss will make us LOL at them again and make it tougher to get to the conference title game and a Sparty loss makes us LOL at them also AND makes it a little easier for M to get to the conference title game (providing they keep winning of course). It's the same thing for the Wisconsin/Nebraska game.
September 28th, 2011 at 2:08 PM ^
Based on division alignment, we are all relegated to rooting for teams from the OTHER division to beat teams in our division.
This week, we root hard for:
Penn State
Illinois
Ohio
Wisconsin
and of course, Michigan.
September 28th, 2011 at 2:14 PM ^
Penn State plays Indiana. That game, beyond verging on unwatchable, has no bearing on our fate, since they're both in the Woody, er, Legends Division.
September 28th, 2011 at 2:17 PM ^
I failed to look at the date on Iowa's schedule. Root hard for Penn State next week vs. the Hawkeyes.
September 28th, 2011 at 2:22 PM ^
I know what you all are saying about how if Wisconsin wins it makes it easier for us to win our divisions, etc etc.
But, really, all I care about is Michigan winning. If we take care of our own business and win our games, everything else takes care of itself.
I guess I just don't like rooting for any other team...
September 28th, 2011 at 2:38 PM ^
I can enjoy watching a good game. I'd even rather watch a passionate game (think: UTL, UM-ND) between other schools more than a game between Michigan and Baby Seal U (Delaware, anyone?) But there are very few other teams I would actually root for.
Exceptions: I usually root for the Big 10 vs. almost anyone else, and against the SEC & USC vs. anyone else. So, I'd rather see even Ohio and MSU win in bowl games, but want to see them both beat up against other Big 10 teams.
September 28th, 2011 at 2:43 PM ^
This goes along with my point above, but if you assume that Michigan cannot win every game, Wisconsin winning gives Michigan a better chance at playing an additional game in which you can root for them.
September 28th, 2011 at 2:54 PM ^
You are right and I completely understand what you're saying. Wisconsin winning definitely helps us. But I still won't be able to actually get to the point where I actively root for them.
In other words, I know intellectually that I should want them to win, but I can't get my mind and body to synch up so that I actually do something about it.
What can I say, I'm a one-woman and one-team kind of guy...
September 28th, 2011 at 5:05 PM ^
I'm with you on that. I have a hard time rooting for a team that isn't Michigan, which makes it hard to watch other games. I guess the point is that you should at least be happy when you see the score and Wisconsin is winning or, if you are going to take interest in the game, then you should be interested in Wisconsin winning.
September 28th, 2011 at 2:40 PM ^
I was thinking I wanted Nebraska to win just because of the historically-cool factor that they bring to the B1G. Howeva, the divisional rival argument and the don't-want-them-to-come-into-the-conference-and-dominate argument are too solid to ignore. Go Badgers!
September 28th, 2011 at 2:51 PM ^
I still have lingering venom from 1997 when Neb swiped the crystal football from us and made us co-national champs after we were ranked #1in both polls and won our bowl game. So 14 years later I want them to lose their first game in our conference, then I REALLY want them to lose in their first game in the Big House. Then I'll put that demon to bed. First things first - Wisco whup some Husker ass this Saturday.
GO BLUE!
September 28th, 2011 at 3:08 PM ^
Seeing as how Nebraska has had about as much pain as we've had since then (probably more, since we've won more conference championships and played in more BCS bowls than them in that span), I'm over the '97 split championship. Though if I were a Penn State fan, I would want Nebraska to lose every single game between now and eternity.
September 28th, 2011 at 3:16 PM ^
Also, while this will be really unpopular and I am not a Nebraska fan, Nebraska did have a pretty good claim to being co-champions in 97. As much as I was pissed seeing the final poll after the Nebraska bowl game, they were undefeated, had played a difficult schedule and soundly beat a good team in their bowl (I think Tenn who won the BCS the next year). Under the old system, when two major teams were undefeated and both played tough schedules, etc., a split poll might have been the right answer.
That is why I think Penn State really got jobbed in 1994.
September 28th, 2011 at 3:29 PM ^
I don't disagree, but I think Nebraska getting jobbed in '97 would have been some nice payback for Penn State getting jobbed in '94 and Nebraska fans' smug insistence that Penn State didn't deserve a share of the title. Thinking back, I think Penn State fans might have been even more pissed off about the '97 outcome than us.
September 28th, 2011 at 10:35 PM ^
September 28th, 2011 at 3:01 PM ^
I don't care too much who wins, but speaking as a B1G fan in general, it's really a shame that Wisconsin and Nebraska were placed in different divisions. Seeing as how Barry Alvarez is a fomer Conrhusker and he built that program into a power basically from scratch, it isn't a stretch to say that Wisconsin football has Nebraska's DNA. They're natural rivals and they should play every year.
September 28th, 2011 at 3:06 PM ^
I would like to see Nebraska get blown out.
This would make me feel a lot more confident about winning our division.
Wisconsin appears to be the class of the Big Ten (yes, they had a weak schedule, but they were the only Big Ten team who did exactly what they were supposed to do in each game) and I think, while we would make it a better game this year, they are still a couple scores better than us. So if Nebraska goes down, say 38-14, I'll feel much better about our game in the Big House, as they'll appear to be part of the 5-6 flawed teams behind the Badgers, rather than in Wisconsin's class.
So here's to a Wisconsin blowout.
September 28th, 2011 at 3:48 PM ^
Wisconsin for two reasons:
1.) Anything to potentially shake the psyche of an upcoming opponent.
2.) If Nebraska is getting crushed, Bo Pelini may kill and eat someone on the field.
Go Badgers! (and Pelini rage-slaughter!)
September 28th, 2011 at 4:48 PM ^
I never seem to be able to get images to post properly, but here goes nothing.
ETA: Sigh. better try this, anyone else is welcome ro fix my image-posting impairment: http://flic.kr/p/ardMyT
Anyway, it's a "worst state ever" shirt Wisconsin is putting out now, apparently. Feels like a ripoff to me, but I can't claim to know the history of t-shirts. [Photo compliments of a high school classmate].
September 28th, 2011 at 8:21 PM ^
Wow. Even the same font on "WORST STATE EVER." That's poor.
September 29th, 2011 at 10:45 AM ^
They're both by Underground Printing.
I don't feel special anymore.
September 28th, 2011 at 4:53 PM ^
A loss for a division rival? I'm all for that.
September 28th, 2011 at 5:48 PM ^
I'll be pulling for Wisconsin here. It makes our chances of taking our division somewhat better, and it's hard to take the name "Cornhusker" seriously for some reason.