ESPN Has Michigan in the Capital One Bowl after this past weekend

Submitted by WingsNWolverines on

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?

Volverine

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. 

justingoblue

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:

  1. Nebraska (11-2) CCG, Rose
  2. Wisconsin (9-4) CCG, Loser
  3. Northwestern (8-4)
  4. Michigan (7-5)
  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.

mgowill

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.

WingsNWolverines

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.

Soulfire21

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.

Soulfire21

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?

WingsNWolverines

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.

Logan88

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.

yzerman19

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.

Arizona Blue

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.

WolvinLA2

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.

Soulfire21

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.

smwilliams

October 29th, 2012 at 6:17 PM ^

As long as Denard doesn't miss any extended time we shouldn't lose our next 3 games. Worse case is 7-5 with a trip to an eh bowl played in December. Best case is 10-3 and the Rose.



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.

WolvinLA2

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).

bronxblue

October 29th, 2012 at 7:48 PM ^

Considering that Nebraska still had to play MSU and Iowa and had trouble putting away a team with an injured QB at home tells me the season is definitely not over.