ESPN Has Michigan in the Capital One Bowl after this past weekend
http://espn.go.com/college-football/bowls/projections?season=2012
The College Football analysists at ESPN has Michigan in the Capital One Bowl now after last weekend's loss to Nebraska and Nebraska in the Rose Bowl. I actually don't mind this bowl because of our recent history in it and surprisingly they have us pitted in a 2008 rematch against you guess it, the Florida Gators. Should Michigan not make the B10 championship but go on to win out and play in this bowl game I really would actually love a rematch with Florida and to beat the Gators yet again. But in all seriousness we want the Rose Bowl. Sadly it's going to mean Nebraska choking in one or two of their upcoming games. Two of the biggest that stand out for them are againt MSU this weekend in EL and against Iowa. If Nebraska can choke away either the MSU or Iowa game or both in best case scenario and we beat Minnesota, Iowa, Northwestern and Ohio St then it's obvious the B10 championship appearance goes to us. Even with a loss against Ohio St we would still go. Thoughts?
October 29th, 2012 at 5:40 PM ^
I'll be on my honeymoon in Florida during the Rose Bowl and Capital One Bowl anyway and my fiancee and I have already agreed that if Michigan plays in a bowl in Florida we're going. So for me, either Michigan goes to the Rose and I'll be happy or Michigan goes to the Capital One and I'll get to go (so I'll also be happy).
So I'm good either way. But yeah, we want to be champs.
October 29th, 2012 at 7:09 PM ^
October 29th, 2012 at 7:42 PM ^
The Capital One can take any team within two games of any other team in the conference (by overall record). So if the standings looked like:
- Nebraska (11-2) CCG, Rose
- Wisconsin (9-4) CCG, Loser
- Northwestern (8-4)
- Michigan (7-5)
- Michigan State (6-6)
the Capital One could take Wisconsin, Northwestern or Michigan, but not MSU. I remember hearing something about a CCG participant being guaranteed at least the Outback Bowl, but I can't find it with a quick search.
October 29th, 2012 at 8:33 PM ^
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_bids_to_college_bowl_games
Big Ten Conference The Big Ten Conference has eight bowl tie-ins.[5] #1 Bowl Championship Series. The winner of the Big Ten Championship Game gains an automatic berth to a BCS bowl game, preferentially the Rose Bowl. #2 The Capital One Bowl receives the second choice from the Big Ten, but must choose from remaining teams with the best overall record, or within one win of the best overall record. Starting in 2011, it may choose to take the runner up of the Big Ten Championship Game should its record be better than the league champion. #3 The Outback Bowl receives the third choice of Big Ten teams. #4 The Gator Bowl receives the fourth choice of Big Ten teams. #5 The Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl receives the fifth choice of Big Ten teams #6 The Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas receives the sixth choice of Big Ten teams. #7 The TicketCity Bowl receives the seventh choice from the Big Ten. #8 The Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl will take the eighth choice from the Big Ten; if no remaining teams are available, the bowl will choose a Sun Belt team.
October 29th, 2012 at 8:44 PM ^
for the Capital One. I wonder which is right...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Ten_Conference#Bowl_selection_procedur…
October 29th, 2012 at 8:53 PM ^
I was always under the impression it was 2 games as well.
That said, I bet we're within 1 game of whoever else is an option.
October 29th, 2012 at 10:45 PM ^
October 29th, 2012 at 10:57 PM ^
my reservation for Pasadena but Orlando isnt bad either.
October 29th, 2012 at 7:24 PM ^
I would say "lock that up", but clearly you are on top of it.
October 29th, 2012 at 5:40 PM ^
Penn State has a good chance to beat Nebraska IMO
October 29th, 2012 at 5:45 PM ^
they are a Leaders division team and 3 they are not B10 eligible. Nebraska has the tie breaker right now vs us but if they lose to MSU and Iowa and we go onto win out in Legends division play we will get the B10 championship appearance. Those are two of the biggest games we need Nebraska to lose.
October 29th, 2012 at 5:48 PM ^
I'm assuming Michigan wins out, and Nebraska loses to PSU. Nebraska would be 6-2 in the conference and we would be 7-1. Overall conference record is first, so we'd go to Indy.
Now, if you want to assume we lose to Ohio [more likely] then ideally Nebraska will drop one to PSU and one of MSU/Iowa [really, Nebraska just needs two losses somehow]. That puts them at 5-3 in the conference and us at 6-2, again, overall conference record is first so we'd go to Indy.
October 29th, 2012 at 5:50 PM ^
MSU and Iowa beats Nebraska. Those are two huge crucial Legends games.
October 29th, 2012 at 5:51 PM ^
You're definitely right, dropping games to MSU and Iowa gives us a lot of breathing room. I don't know how likely that is, but it's certainly possible. I sort of feel like Nebraska losing to MSU and PSU is more likely than Nebraska losing to Iowa, but given the state of the conference who knows?
October 29th, 2012 at 5:57 PM ^
the two tie breaking wins they would need to get in. We'd have MSU, Minnesota, NW and Iowa. Should they lose those games but win the rest of their divisional game they'll only have NW, Minn, Michigan. BOOM. B10 title appearance.
Should MSU knock off Nebraska this weekend that Iowa game against us in November will loom VERY large in who goes. They play the Hawkeyes at the end of the year. A win against them could be our ticket to Indy. It's amazing how huge that game is now.
October 29th, 2012 at 6:01 PM ^
There would have to be a 3 way tie in the division for it to come down to a tiebreaker (assuming it's Michigan, Nebraska and one other team). If Michigan and Nebraska are tied, Nebraska would have the head to head tiebreaker.
October 29th, 2012 at 6:01 PM ^
I realize that Iowa looks bad, heck, Iowa IS bad, but they will be playing at home on Senior Day when they take on Nebraska. While I certainly wouldn't call Iowa a favorite in that game, I think there is a slight chance (call it 25%) that Iowa upsets Nebraska in Iowa City.
October 29th, 2012 at 5:55 PM ^
It doesn't matter whether Nebraska loses to a Leaders and Legends division foe, it's the same outcome. Nebraska loses any of their remaining games and Michigan wins out, Michigan goes to BTCG due to having a better overall conference record.
October 29th, 2012 at 6:58 PM ^
October 29th, 2012 at 9:09 PM ^
Chance against OSU at home at night and howd that go? And it is not necassary to put IMO after you just clearly stated your opinion. Its redundant, just my opinion...see?
October 29th, 2012 at 5:43 PM ^
I think you meant to write "Citrus Bowl."
October 29th, 2012 at 5:45 PM ^
October 29th, 2012 at 6:11 PM ^
As long as we don't stop Jeff Driscol we'd get two or three defensive touchdowns.
October 29th, 2012 at 9:11 PM ^
If B10 teams can bottle Denard, Florida would destroy him. Destroy Denard, destroy Michigan. And get with it, SEC teams would crap on UM all day. Our defense is great but not when they are on the field the whole game. Wise up
October 29th, 2012 at 5:48 PM ^
i'd be thrilled with an orlando bowl game. no /s. not as thrilled as i would with pasadena but orlando is a good bowl and we'd play someone we hate regardless of which sec team gets the invite. outside of our ultimate goal, this is not a bad consolation prize.
October 29th, 2012 at 9:12 PM ^
God you people are brain washed. To be an elite program the ultimate goal is the national championship.
October 29th, 2012 at 5:52 PM ^
Rose bowl or bust. Assuming Oregon goes to the national championship I like our chances against the pact-12 #2 (Oregon State or USC) vs. our chances against (Florida or Georgia). I mean seriously, I feel like I am on valium when I try and contemplate those prospects with a straight face.
October 29th, 2012 at 8:11 PM ^
October 29th, 2012 at 8:26 PM ^
Yeah - in fact I'd say it's pretty likely that we don't see a Pac-12 team if Oregon goes to the championship game. USC and Oregon State each have 2 losses, and neither of them have played Oregon yet. Also, neither of them have the schedule that would have them ranked high with 3 losses, so it's possible both are outside the top-14.
Considering the Big 12 #2 and SEC #2 are very likely to get bids plus ND, it will be a battle between Pac-12 #2, ACC #2 (Clemson) and a mid-major like Boise State for the last BCS bowl spot.
October 29th, 2012 at 9:07 PM ^
Oregon State only has one loss right now, but your point is still valid. They can easily drop games against Stanford and Oregon
October 29th, 2012 at 5:58 PM ^
Goblueram has Michigan in the Rose Bowl after getting their final regular season loss out of the way last weekend.
October 29th, 2012 at 5:58 PM ^
Fuck that. I want Michigan to play near my house. Yes, this is selfish, but I want it.
October 29th, 2012 at 6:02 PM ^
Do want as well. But the last two Rose Bowls I have been to were not good experiences.
October 29th, 2012 at 6:17 PM ^
Not a bad point. At least we wouldn't be playing SC this time (most likely).
October 29th, 2012 at 6:35 PM ^
October 29th, 2012 at 6:41 PM ^
I am assuming Oregon is in the national championship. That might not happen, but I still think it will. Of the four top teams, they have the best shot at staying undefeated.
October 29th, 2012 at 6:12 PM ^
October 29th, 2012 at 6:16 PM ^
I want to see UM win the conference championship game, then go to the Rose Bowl.
October 29th, 2012 at 6:15 PM ^
Everyone is just assuming we'll win the B1G-CG, nothing is a given with our offense, with our without Denard.
October 29th, 2012 at 6:18 PM ^
Is very lofty too.
As of now, a loss at Ohio looks very probable. Combine that with Iowa (who seems to beat us every year no matter what), a decent 7-2 Northwestern Squad, and Minnesota coming off their best outing all year, none of the games are really gimmies at this point. I like our chances to win the next 3, but really we've got to score some touchdowns.
October 29th, 2012 at 9:00 PM ^
If Denard stays healthy, there's no reason why we shouldn't win out fairly handily. Playing in the Horseshoe will be very difficult, but Our D > Their D
October 30th, 2012 at 12:37 AM ^
October 29th, 2012 at 6:17 PM ^
Take the middle and 9-3 with the Capital One Bowl. It seems like the most likely outcome.
No matter how you get there a 10 win season is a success even if we don't win the Big 10. Though we'd have to beat an SEC team in the Capital One.
October 29th, 2012 at 9:45 PM ^
October 29th, 2012 at 6:20 PM ^
Now, the way I would prefer it (if we are in the Citrus Bowl) is for Alabama and UF to be the SEC teams picked for the BCS games, LSU in the Cotton Bowl and us playing Georgia. Sure, Georgia's good, but I'd rather play them than any of the other SEC bigs (although we might do OK against South Carolina too).
October 29th, 2012 at 6:21 PM ^
I stopped reading ESPN a long time ago. The discussion boards are absurd and the B1G bloggers are useless.
October 29th, 2012 at 6:27 PM ^
October 29th, 2012 at 6:29 PM ^
I swear all they look at are final scores.
October 29th, 2012 at 6:39 PM ^
Even Lunardi thinks these are premature and of litte value oher than to fire up fan bases and generate page hits.
October 29th, 2012 at 7:48 PM ^