December 1st, 2013 at 1:47 PM ^
And they have a new ESPN/SEC network to sell.
December 1st, 2013 at 5:32 PM ^
And if Missouri destroys Auburn they might leap OSU.
December 1st, 2013 at 1:11 PM ^
Florida St. and Ohio lose and we have to watch the SEC winner play Alabama. The thought already sickens me.
I also can't believe the lack of respect for Missouri in all this. Their only loss was in overtime, to South Carolina, with a true freshman at QB - Franklin didn't dress due to injury. Outside of the loss and last night's 7-point win, they pounded everyone. Don't be surprised to see Missouri win next week.
Auburn needed a miracle two weeks ago to beat a deflated Georgia team.
December 1st, 2013 at 1:46 PM ^
The idea of them getting to the title game scares me, and them winning it....out nightmare would officially be complete.
December 1st, 2013 at 5:34 PM ^
Never in my life time did I think I'd ever hear of the possiblity that Duke FOOTBALL might beat Florida State.
What is the world coming to?
December 1st, 2013 at 1:15 PM ^
The nightmare scenario is upon us. Need the meteor-destroys-the-stadium thing to happen. I can't bring myself to root for either team. Both fanbases are insufferable. We're trapped in the seventh circle of football hell with no way out...
December 1st, 2013 at 1:45 PM ^
I agree, there's no upside to the Big Ten Championship game.
- MSU wins -> 1st Rose Bowl in 25ish years
- OSU wins -> MNC game appearance and MSU still could make a BCS game
Maybe there's some 0.01% chance that OSU wins like 6-3 and Auburn crushes Mizzou so bad that Auburn jumps OSU, OSU goes to the Rose Bowl, and MSU is left out but that seems unlikely (though the SEC media hypetrain will be gunning for this outcome)
December 2nd, 2013 at 6:53 AM ^
Never underestimate the power of the SEC hypetrain. OSU getting jumped by the SEC champion is not such an unlikely scenario. Auburn winning convincingly and OSU winning meh definately leaves the door open for OSU falling back to 3rd in the polls and having Spartan fans going full billboard over being shut out of the BCS again.
December 1st, 2013 at 1:14 PM ^
The ultimate doomsday scenario would be if Michigan State upsets Ohio State in the B1G title game and Duke upsets Florida State in the ACC title game. I would be down to throw all of the one-loss coaches into the octagon and have them fight to the death for a spot in the NCG.
December 1st, 2013 at 1:15 PM ^
And Staee would get some serious love in that case.
December 1st, 2013 at 1:18 PM ^
No they wouldn't. Bama and Ok St. would be easily ahead of them.
December 1st, 2013 at 1:15 PM ^
Capacity Spartan Stadium: 75,005
Attendance for the final game for one of the great MSU Teams: 71,418.
Gotta love those fans.
December 1st, 2013 at 1:51 PM ^
...are we really in a position to knock anyone else's fans?
December 1st, 2013 at 3:42 PM ^
Anyone that sold out needs to keep the pie hole shut. Especially selling tickets to O$U. I understand travel issues, mainly with students, with the holiday. Next year I travel since The Game is on the road. Compromise..
December 1st, 2013 at 1:16 PM ^
Really scary thought here, is it possible that: Baylor loses to Texas, Oklahoma state loses to OU, Mizzou loses to Auburn by a shit ton, FSU gets blown out by Duke, and MSU blows out OSU, could MSU conceivably jump to #2 behind Auburn?
December 1st, 2013 at 1:20 PM ^
Duke blowing out FSU?? Stick to at the very least plausible scenairos. FSU is going to crush Duke. OK St. gets Ok at home.
December 1st, 2013 at 2:08 PM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 1:16 PM ^
Among 60 voters, the #2 vote for Ohio State was fairly uniform - 47 out of the 60 voters placed them second in the poll. The remaining votes were 3rd (9 votes), 4th (2 votes), 5th (1 vote) and a vote from one Drew Sharp, who placed Ohio State 8th on his ballot.
MSU had a fairly split opinion across ballots - 7 votes for 6th, 6 votes for 7th, 7 votes for 8th, 13 votes for 9th and 15 votes for 10th. Below that, a hodgepodge of votes going as low as 16th.
December 1st, 2013 at 1:45 PM ^
I think that most people, including recruits, already see OSU as an elite or near-elite program. A trip to the NCG will only confirm what most already believe. It's not good for us, but I don't think it changes much in terms of recruiting against OSU.
However, State beating OSU and winning the conference helps them a ton. Despite what they have done over the last few years, they don't get the national respect. Beating OSU and winning the Ten will move them from the middle of the pack and into the next tier. It will be talked about all over due to the BCS chaos. They will go to Rose Bowl as champs, as opposed to chumps if OSU beats them.
Separately, why does anybody think that FSU/NCAA is going to suspend Winston? I know that the clouds are gathering, but he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a trial that isn't going to happen soon. In contrast, the NCAA had Cam Newton and Pryor and Co. nailed, but let them play. I just don't see anyway that he misses the NCG.
December 1st, 2013 at 2:33 PM ^
Why would any Michigan fan root for osu to win a big ten title or national title?
December 2nd, 2013 at 12:23 AM ^
I am not sure how Florida courts function. I don't know where this case is in process. But if a Grand Jury or District Attorney is preparing to move forward with this case, FSU will have to cope with the loss f their star QB.
December 1st, 2013 at 1:47 PM ^
Well...the only plus side I see is that it looks probably that the streak of SEC titles ends this year, likely with Florida State emerging the victor (unless Duke pulls off the upset of the year)
December 1st, 2013 at 2:00 PM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 2:17 PM ^
What makes you think Ohio State's defense will do anything? Is it Shazier's elite ability to fill gaps 5 yards downfield from the L.O.S.?
December 1st, 2013 at 8:01 PM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 10:09 PM ^
Iowa and Wisconsin had no problem with Ohio State's defense. And neither of those teams are as productive through the air as MSU has been of late.
December 1st, 2013 at 2:23 PM ^
I foresee a lot of hits. Do remember that OSU only scored 17 at MSU last year. MSU has become adept at defending the spread under Mork.
December 1st, 2013 at 2:08 PM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 2:16 PM ^
The games they won last year mean absolutely nothing.
December 1st, 2013 at 2:28 PM ^
That is completely true, but they are undefeated this year. That should mean something regardless of how they got there. Other teams may have compelling cases, but OSU has handled all of their business so far. With a showcase game against an excellent MSU defense in the B1G title game an OSU win should probably put them in the BCS championship.
December 1st, 2013 at 3:22 PM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 4:21 PM ^
Plenty of teams have easy schedules and don't go undefeated. OSU can't control the fact that their marquee out of conference game was against a Cal team that just underwent a coaching transition and is not very good. Likewise they can't control the fact that the B1G has been pretty putrid for a few years. All they can control is how they play on Saturdays and they won all of those games. Are they the 2nd best team in America? Probably not. They are, however, one of the three teams in FBS left undefeated. If Michigan were undefeated and possibly looking at getting left out we'd be livid.
December 1st, 2013 at 9:55 PM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 11:15 PM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 10:16 PM ^
I rarely post here or even use my account, but had to respond to this one. First of all, of course they control their OOC schedule. They scheduled a historically mediocre Cal program and 3 cupcakes. That's fine, I suppose, so long as you dominate your schedule (e.g. Florida State). Notice that no one is arguing that FSU shouldn't be in the MNC despite playing in the ACC.
Ohio State has played a horrendous schedule; their toughest opponent was 9-3 #21 Wisconsin at home and the second toughest was probably Iowa at home. Despite this awful schedule, they've found themselves locked in several dog fights this year. A botched snap from losing to 1-7 Northwestern, a game vs 3-5 Michigan that they virtually tied in regulation but won on a 50/50 two point conversion.
When only two teams are given a chance to play for a MNC, you need to be able to look beyond who has the most "W"s on their schedule. This is why Northern Illinois, Fresno State and teams from weaker conferences don't get NC bids when they're undefeated. If Ohio State dominated their weak schedule, I'd say your comment that "all they can control is how they play on Saturdays" has some validity, but they've actually looked pretty bad more than a few times.
Do you honestly think there aren't 10 or so other teams who would go undefeated with their schedule? Heck, even MSU went undefeated with a similar schedule except for the fact that they played a mediocre ND team on the road, which gives you a sense of how easy it is for any above average team to go undefeated in this conference right now.
December 1st, 2013 at 2:38 PM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 2:36 PM ^
It gives added impetus for Michigan to get better quickly.Nothing like competition to make a team raise it's play.
The ball is in UM's court.
December 1st, 2013 at 2:36 PM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 3:20 PM ^
Ohio only beat MSU (very solid) and whom else? Cal? Penn St?
December 1st, 2013 at 5:47 PM ^
Beating Arkansas is impressive? They were 0-8 in thle SEC and lost to Rutgers. Yes, that Rutgers.
I suggest you look at Missouri's record if they beat Auburn. Their only loss was in the 2nd OT to 10-2 South Carolina.
December 2nd, 2013 at 12:27 AM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 3:27 PM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 4:44 PM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 5:06 PM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 5:33 PM ^
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December 2nd, 2013 at 7:24 AM ^
December 2nd, 2013 at 7:49 AM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 7:34 PM ^
You may be a swell guy, but any civility from your fan base is totally self serving (stick together B1G so Ohio doesn't get by passed in the polls) and because you have owned the last decade in a crappy conference. During the Cooper era, with roles reversed, the Ohio fanbase was highly insane with hatred for UM and I loved it. And the rivalry is NOT in full swing until UM WINS some games and ruins your precious season. Your fanbase is so paraniod, spoiled and delusional, I wish nothing but nothing but bad things for all Ohio sports teams and throw in the Indians, Cadavaliers, Blue Jackets, Browns and Bengals. Go Auburn!!