October 30th, 2018 at 7:17 PM ^
Destroy Penn State!
Beat EVERYONE!
October 30th, 2018 at 8:16 PM ^
All there is to it. Just keep winning and this will all work out. Like I said earlier, the obvious, 12-1 Michigan won’t be left out. We’re in the drivers seat, let’s finish this thru. See you all Saturday, I’ll be in section 10. Go Blue!
October 30th, 2018 at 8:34 PM ^
Playing ND literally had no benefit for us.
October 30th, 2018 at 8:36 PM ^
Eh...it’s considered a “good loss.”
EDIT: Helps the strength of schedule.
October 30th, 2018 at 8:40 PM ^
It didn’t hurt either. If we had one loss in our first 8, we picked the right one.
October 30th, 2018 at 8:45 PM ^
I don't know if that's true. With as good as Michigan looked in the 2nd half, particularly on defense, @ ND, I think it means something significant.
October 30th, 2018 at 8:51 PM ^
This is the most unaware thing I have ever heard.
October 30th, 2018 at 10:07 PM ^
The alternative is a likely win over 2-7 Arkansas currently last in the SEC W. About as close to a zero sum as it gets. Further, the team appears to be pointing to the ND loss as a time they made some changes and are building. The formula forward is easy, win out.
October 30th, 2018 at 10:44 PM ^
The ND game did give us a chance to take stock of where we really were and how much we needed to improve, especially on offense. Without that week one slap in the face, who knows, maybe we wouldn't have made the same improvements.
October 30th, 2018 at 10:49 PM ^
I think you meant losing to ND had no benefit for us in the polls. Which, like, duh.
There were a ton of benefits from playing ND.
1) First and foremost, the players got to play a big time game and the fans got to watch a big time game on Labor Day weekend. Coaches, players, (rational) fans, everyone involved with a program would rather play big time games in iconic stadiums than play some no name school.
2) One could argue that exposed our weaknesses early in essentially a no lose situation and likely got Warriner more involved in the run game so he could install the arc block read option and other plays that have helped us handily beat the last two opponents in big games.
Well worth it to play that game, give ourselves a chance to notch a big win, with little downside to losing.
October 30th, 2018 at 11:33 PM ^
Considering that they are undefeated, playing at ND was a no lose scenarios. Win and it’s a huge win, lose and you sort of get a pass. Beating a shitty SEC team would’ve been at best a push vs losing on the road to an undefeated ND in the opening game of the season
October 31st, 2018 at 9:28 AM ^
Not to mention, that loss put UofM in the revenge mindset rather than the "don't lose your undefeatedness" stress zone. And than there's the fact that no team has won the CFP undefeated.
Matter of fact if UofM was still undefeated right now, I think they would have a hard time winning all of the last 4. I strangely feel much better about having that loss already and about being ranked 5th right now, as opposed to undefeated and #2.
October 31st, 2018 at 10:30 AM ^
Yeah - I think it put a chip on their shoulder and got them sick of all the talk about losing to rivals. I don't so much consider it the first game of this season as much as the last game of last season. THey've been a new team since then and I bet ND wouldn't want to play them now.
Kick Penn State's ass.
October 30th, 2018 at 11:09 PM ^
It was supposed to be Arkansas and we would be unbeaten with an sec ooc win.
October 31st, 2018 at 6:16 AM ^
We would have lost to Northwestern had we not lost to ND (since we are just making assertions here without evidence).
October 31st, 2018 at 5:08 AM ^
This is such a short sighted view point because we lost. If we had beaten Nd but lost to say northwestern that Nd win would be the reason we would get in over a loss Oklahoma for example. Hell even with a loss the boost to the strength of schedule might be the difference.
yes it’s better to play Akron instead and go undefeated but if you do schedule Akron instead you better go undefeated or else you get ranked like Washington state did without much chance at the playoffs
October 31st, 2018 at 12:02 PM ^
Eh, the committee has shown that they are forgiving of losses to good teams. A win over what would be a 2-7 Arkansas team isn't a resume boost.
October 31st, 2018 at 12:10 PM ^
Interesting point. If we win out and finish 12-1 and still wind up 5th behind a couple of SEC teams, that will be a tough fact to come to grips with. That said, there's a LOT of football to play between now and when that improbable scenario occurs.
Beat Penn State.
October 30th, 2018 at 9:48 PM ^
You have to win BIG..style points count, CRUSH Penn State by 40.
October 31st, 2018 at 11:14 AM ^
They really need to go for style points against PSU. Good thing they aren't a team you feel bad about crushing. They make it so easy to look at their sideline and go for 2 up by 27.
October 30th, 2018 at 10:51 PM ^
I have a scenario where that might not be true.
Think 11-1 Alabama.
October 31st, 2018 at 12:16 AM ^
11-1 Bama wouldn't do it. 12-1 Bama could though. That's the scenario to worry about (12-0 Bama loses to 11-1 UGA in the SEC title game).
October 30th, 2018 at 7:17 PM ^
4 after Saturday.
October 30th, 2018 at 7:48 PM ^
3 after Saturday.
October 30th, 2018 at 7:51 PM ^
2 after Saturday?
October 31st, 2018 at 7:57 AM ^
1 after Saturday.
October 31st, 2018 at 11:44 AM ^
Fuck it. Divide by zero after Saturday.
/I’ve always been here
October 30th, 2018 at 8:03 PM ^
If Bama wins. If LSU wins, it will be 1. LSU, 2. Clemson 3. ND, 4. Bama. By putting a one loss LSU in front of ND, that is now a “better loss” than ND. I’m telling you, the Committee is loving themselves some SEC. They will not be adverse to two SEC teams. With this initial ranking, we are huge NW fans this weekend. Need ND out of that mix.
October 30th, 2018 at 8:16 PM ^
Unfortunately you are probably right. We have to root for Alabama since the committee is almost certainly going to keep them in the top 4. If LSU has 2 losses then we probably control our own destiny.
October 30th, 2018 at 8:25 PM ^
I think this is right - we need undefeated Alabama (2 loss LSU and 2 loss UGA from SEC title game) and of course we need to get through our gauntlet with no additional losses. Absent that two 1-loss SEC teams will be a possibility I also think they rated OSU lower with the hopes that we lose to them and they can shaft a B1G champion. Plus they lost to Purdue by 29 - so there's that....
October 30th, 2018 at 8:39 PM ^
Assuming arguendo that one loss Alabama knows it will still get in the CFP... and that Alabama knows it can beat Georgia but is not sure if it can beat Michigan... wouldn't its best bet (again assuming the boys club), to lose a close game to Georgia in the SEC championship on purpose in order to keep us out?
I don't suggest this as an eventuality, but merely a likely outcome of what you suggest and what I don't believe is likely. Yes it might be possible for 2 sec teams to make it in, but it will all depend on what the other teams Pac-12, Big-12 and B1G do. If we get rocked by Illinois but beat OSU and win the B1G we aren't getting in, and yeah, maybe 2 SEC teams get in, but this 2 sec teams thing has been discussed ad nauseam.
October 30th, 2018 at 9:08 PM ^
I think Alabama is programmed to steamroll whoever and they wouldn't give a second thought to losing any game to help a fellow SEC team make it in. If the roles were reversed would a hypothetically undefeated Michigan lose to a 1-loss Wisconsin to help 2 B1G teams make it?
October 30th, 2018 at 9:24 PM ^
Yeah, I totally do not see us beating Illinois this year. Not happening. You can take that to the bank.
October 30th, 2018 at 8:48 PM ^
root for Kentucky this weekend also
October 30th, 2018 at 9:00 PM ^
That's what ive been saying all along. The doomsday scenario for us is a LSU win this Saturday and then both LSU and Alabama win out. In that reality i think we're outside looking in unless Clemson or ND falter.
Whoever said it is absolutely right. The committee set this up to TRY and get two SEC teams in if things break right for them.
October 30th, 2018 at 9:10 PM ^
Actually, not sure if we really benefit with a one loss ND either.
In the breakdown by committee chairman head/head match-ups were a significant factor deciding between teams. Just prior to common opponents.
I fear we may be on the outside if they have to decide between us and a one loss ND.
October 30th, 2018 at 9:59 PM ^
I disagree. With a loss, Notre Dame would drop like a rock. Alabama, Clemson, LSU, Michigan, Georgia and Oklahoma can survive with a loss. Notre Dame is overrated.
October 30th, 2018 at 10:12 PM ^
Through the first 9 games opponent winning percentages are as follows:
1. LSU - 68%
2. UM - 62%
3. UGa - 61%
4. Clemson - 57%
5. ND - 52%
6. Bama - 49%
That might help explain why LSU is ahead of ND. There's a real chance that outside of UM, the only other 9-win team ND beats is Syracuse with Stanford being an outside shot. There's a chance the rest of ND's schedule doesn't make a bowl. 11-1 ND shouldn't be in the playoff.
October 30th, 2018 at 10:16 PM ^
ND will have a huge test this weekend at NW. That is the trap game of all trap games. I was scared shitless before our game against them and thanked the heavens we came out on top. I can easily see ND losing.
October 30th, 2018 at 10:23 PM ^
Especially after playing Navy. Those service academy games are always physical.
October 30th, 2018 at 9:11 PM ^
And in the event of a lsu bama TIE??
October 30th, 2018 at 9:22 PM ^
Should be max one team per conference. LSU and Bama in top 4 is a sad joke. Bama has looked good, but best team that either plays out of conference this year is Miami (FL), which is sitting at 5-3 right now with losses to Virginia and Boston College. Seriously ridiculous.
October 31st, 2018 at 12:28 AM ^
What if the two best teams in the country are in the same conference? That's why there's a possibility of two teams from the same conference for the playoff. It doesn't have to be 4 teams from different conference.
What if OSU and Michigan are undefeated and one lose in a close game (say 3 pt or less) the other win the B1G Title game and the rest of the schools already has 2 losses. Are you really going to leave one out because of that can't have two teams from the same conference rhetoric?
The committee are consistent with having the 4 best teams, not the 4 most deserving teams as part of their rankings.
October 31st, 2018 at 8:11 AM ^
Everyone who advocates that only conference champions should be in the CFP needs to think carefully about 2006. That argument cost Michigan a national championship. (There is no way in hell OSU wins the rematch).
October 31st, 2018 at 9:35 AM ^
Took the words right out of my mouth. No BIG championship game then. We lose to OSU by 3 at their place ranked 1-2....
October 30th, 2018 at 10:31 PM ^
There is a 0.0% chance an 11-1 "wild card" Alabama makes the CFP at the expense of a 12-1 UM that wins the B1G.
In the (brief) history of the CFP, a one loss "wild card" has never made it at the expense of a one loss P5 champ.
October 31st, 2018 at 3:05 AM ^
I do think that a loss to LSU would be more damaging Bama cause they will not will their division, play in the SEC championship game and obviously not be a league champ.
To me, the more dangerous scenario is for Bama to go undefeated and lose a close game to Georgia (or Kentucky.....WOW thats a crazy thought) in the SEC title game.
You can't assume that LSU would win out. How about this scenario, LSU wins this weekend but loses to Georgia in the SEC title game. There is no way the committee could justify taking Bama over a team they lost to (LSU) nor a conference champion (1 loss Michigan / Georgia / Oklahoma / WSU). And the same thing can be said for a 2 loss LSU.
Lots of crazy possibilities left to play out. Most importantly, Michigan needs to take care of their own business first. Win out and see what happens from there......
October 30th, 2018 at 8:41 PM ^
lol y’all trippin. The committee is just a bunch of people who have that job for no good reason. They have power simply because they do. Calm down with your conspiracies. If Uofm wins out they have a 95% chance to be in and if Uofm loses another game that chance is around 5%.
October 30th, 2018 at 8:53 PM ^
Bama will beat LSU by 3 tds
October 30th, 2018 at 9:01 PM ^
There is no possible way the committee is going to put a 1 loss Alabama in who didn’t even win its own division over any 1 loss Conference Champ. If we win out we’re in. Our only competition right now is Oklahoma and I don’t think they can pass us with that they have left on their schedule, especially if we beat a 10-2 Iowa in Indianapolis. Last year OSU and USC had two losses, it doesn’t look like that’s going to be the case this year. I don’t know why people make this so complicated.