MSU playing this weekend to secure Michigan spot in the B1G Championship Game
Mentioned earlier in an update on B1G standings, but deserves a little more of a spotlight/discussion I think.
Assuming the Wolverines dispatch Rutgers and Indiana (In Brown Winovich We Trust), there is the delightful possibility that this weekend in East Landfill:
(1) OSU loses again and we all enjoy the ensuing meltdown in Columbus
and
(2) Sparty gets to enjoy handing us our ticket to the B1G Championship Game. Even when they win, they lose. Perhaps they can lock arms and walk across the field in the Big House to hand us the ticket.
I've seen comments about wanting OSU to win out to enhance the quality of our (inevitable) win over the Bucknuts. I can't see where that is at all necessary if we run the table and win the B1G. 12-1 definitely gets us into the playoff.
I also think that if OSU is NOT playing for a spot in the B1G CG, they will Bosa the remainder of the season and players will focus on not playing school and Urbz will realize he really needs to spend more time with the family.
November 5th, 2018 at 8:16 AM ^
I'm rooting for whatever gets Michigan to the B1G championship game. Plus, I'd have a hard time believing a 1 loss B1G champ who's only loss was the 1st game of the year on the road by 7 to an undefeated playoff team gets left out. That would be levels of unprecedented.
November 5th, 2018 at 8:19 AM ^
I’m still just wanting to beat Rutgers . Anything else at this point is looking way ahead. Michigan just needs to win. I doubt MSU beats Ohio St. We are going to have to earn a shot at the Big .
November 5th, 2018 at 9:13 AM ^
I see what you're saying, but we're fans. We're not the ones playing the game, so we can absolutely look ahead.
If you don't want to, that's certainly your prerogative. But our looking ahead has no impact on how the team plays Rutgers this Saturday. Or how they play against IU.
November 5th, 2018 at 9:20 AM ^
This is the constant debate on the blog and I think you said it perfectly. I personal like to speculate, and if others don't want to that is fine. I definitely hope the players and coaches are just taking it one game at a time.
November 5th, 2018 at 10:19 AM ^
I agree. I enjoy looking ahead too. So the people who don't want to look ahead can just not comment.
November 5th, 2018 at 9:39 AM ^
I agree with you, BUT I remember 1973 and how the Big Ten screwed Michigan out of a Rose Bowl appearance after the tie with Ohio State. Never trust the bureaucrats who decide these sorts of things in private, there are always hidden agendas.
November 5th, 2018 at 8:19 AM ^
It’d be great for our confidence, IMO, to have the East won going into Columbus. We’re the better team than OSU this year. Full stop. I think the only thing that could tilt that game back to OSU is any doubt in our mind of not getting it done in Columbus in nearly 20 years. If we’ve won the division already, I think it will be a huge weight off our chest and confidence boost.
All feelingsball though. Just win every game remaining and we are golden.
November 5th, 2018 at 9:31 AM ^
I think you may be right (though going in with the division won may have the opposite effect), but the worse OSU does, before the game and during it, the better our recruiting will be against them. I like the idea of The Game being winner take all, but, in practice, i want OSU to be damaged goods as far as possible, even to the extent of making The Game meaningless for the conference title.
November 5th, 2018 at 8:20 AM ^
Hey Gerald, I was in Ann Arbor for the game last weekend and checked our your presidential library - good stuff.
November 5th, 2018 at 8:21 AM ^
Anyone know the line for this game?
November 5th, 2018 at 8:39 AM ^
You could have found the answer yourself faster than asking the question here and awaiting a reply; however, I'm in a good mood today, which means I am willing to Google for you.
http://www.vegasinsider.com/college-football/odds/las-vegas/
November 5th, 2018 at 8:42 AM ^
I saw OSU -3.5
November 5th, 2018 at 8:21 AM ^
I don't think this matters. Michigan can just as easily shit the bed against an 8-3 OSU as a 10-1 OSU.
November 5th, 2018 at 8:23 AM ^
I will be rooting for MSU this weekend, but i do not take any wins for granted. Not even Rutgers and Indiana.
November 5th, 2018 at 8:26 AM ^
State is also playing for a possible spot in the Rose Bowl. If they win out and we win out, assuming we get in the playoff, the Rose Bowl will be selecting between State, OSU and possibly Northwestern.
November 5th, 2018 at 8:35 AM ^
Compared to how MSU looked after losing to NW, I'd say a trip to the Rose Bowl is pretty remarkable. This is not a compliment but rather an observation. I wanted to make that clear.
November 5th, 2018 at 9:49 AM ^
No, actually - it should be a compliment. Give credit where credit is due. If MSU makes it to the Rose Bowl after the massive amounts of injuries they've suffered, I will be impressed and so should you. Doesn't mean we have to suck them off but c'mon, man.
November 5th, 2018 at 12:49 PM ^
Northwestern would probably be out of the Rose Bowl picture if they don't win the Big 10 Championship, because they already have four losses.
The Rose Bowl would most likely be selecting from MSU, OSU and PSU.
November 5th, 2018 at 8:32 AM ^
OSU doesnt make it out of East Lansing without an L.
November 5th, 2018 at 8:34 AM ^
Did Rutgers and Indiana forfeit?
November 5th, 2018 at 8:40 AM ^
If they haven’t already, Rutger porobably should
November 5th, 2018 at 8:37 AM ^
Indiana isn’t a bad enough team for this level of confidence
November 5th, 2018 at 8:46 AM ^
Their 1-5 conference record says otherwise (and that lone win was by only seven over Rutgers).
Again, fans can say or do whatever they want. They can overlook teams and think about the future. It doesn't matter. What matters is the mental state of the team and coaching staff. I'd say from the results over the past eight games that they are exactly where they need to be.
November 5th, 2018 at 9:27 AM ^
Indiana played us tough in recent years, but they will be at least 20 point dogs in this game.
When is the last time Indiana beat UM at The Big House as 20 point dogs?
November 5th, 2018 at 8:39 AM ^
No, MSU won’t be playing to put Michigan in the championship game - even though that may be a side effect of a potential win over OSU.
I believe that MSU can go to the Rose Bowl with a ein over OSU as long as we can also beat the Buckeyes.
November 5th, 2018 at 8:40 AM ^
Normally, I'd want OSU to win. However, the meltdown in Columbus would be delightful. Having their fans throw in the towel, along with a segment of the team, would be incredible. Shoot, it might even make tickets to The Game more affordable. And if it helps cement Zach Harrison to Michigan, along with 2021 5 star DE prospect Jack Sawyer from Pickerington, OH, outside of Columbus, that's even better.
Lastly, while I dislike MSU, I don't have the irrational hatred of the Spartans that some Michigan fans feel. They are indeed little brother, and I won't hate my brother, annoying as he is on occasion.
November 5th, 2018 at 8:50 AM ^
Good point on the recruiting aspect although we may battle MSU to a lesser extent for recruits.
November 5th, 2018 at 8:42 AM ^
I find myself trying to focus on the now quite a bit at the moment - we can hope that MSU will goad the Buckeyes into the ugly version of football that they like to play and have more or less mastered, so there is that possibility. I am fairly certain we can take on Rutgers and Indiana, and then come what may in Columbus, it will definitely be interesting, to say the least.
November 5th, 2018 at 12:12 PM ^
It'd be a pity if the MSU thugs hurt Haskins.
Such a pity. *hint hint*
November 5th, 2018 at 8:43 AM ^
Prediction - OSU is going to absolutely annihilate MSU. Which will be fun to watch in its own regard, but the only way we win the B1G is beating them in Columbus.
November 5th, 2018 at 8:59 AM ^
I agree with this -we've seen OSU play down to competition too often, only to wake up and blowout teams afterwards. Losing to Purdue on the road happens (which is why the Purdue Harbor term has been around for a while). Almost losing to a 2-win Nebraska team at home, as a nearly 30 point favorite, will motivate them (and since one more loss locks them out of winning the East).
November 5th, 2018 at 9:38 AM ^
Yes. I really think OSU is going to roll MSU by three+ touchdowns. I hope MSU wins, but that just won't happen. I'll gladly eat crow (Wildling style) if the opposite happens.
November 5th, 2018 at 8:43 AM ^
If Sparty wins out there's a real chance they're a top 15 team. I'm not sure what would happen to OSU if they lose to Sparty and us but that would certainly make our win over Spart look a lot better. That would give us wins over PSU, MSU and OSU which would all be respectable wins from a national perspective.
November 5th, 2018 at 8:45 AM ^
Based on the statistics and the fact that the game is in East Landfill, Sparty has a great chance to win that game. The spread is Buckeyes -5.5.
Also, I’m in full agreement that I want the Buckeyes to lose. That would loosen things up a little in Columbus.
As for Michigan winning out and NOT making the playoffs? The only chance of that even being remotely possible is if Georgia wins the SEC.
November 5th, 2018 at 8:46 AM ^
Great post, love it!
November 5th, 2018 at 8:47 AM ^
Are we sure that MSU won't throw this game deliberately, just to spite us?
November 6th, 2018 at 5:53 AM ^
I wouldn't be shocked by that.
November 5th, 2018 at 8:56 AM ^
For all the “don’t look ahead” types, and for all the “I want OSU at their best” types, an OSU loss gives Michigan a one game cushion in the B1G east - Michigan could take any one loss and still get to the championship game. Nothing wrong with that. Go Sparty.
November 5th, 2018 at 8:58 AM ^
If Clemson and ND wins out, and UGA beats Alabama, we will get jumped if we beat an OSU team that lost to Purdue and MSU. We are not a lock by any means. UGA will not jump us though if we have another ranked road win and it's a Top 10 road win @ OSU.
Either way, I'm focusing more on Clemson/BC and Bedlam this weekend. I want to see some more upsets in the other Power 5 conferences.
November 5th, 2018 at 9:16 AM ^
If things play out the way you've outlined, I would vote we pull a UCF and just call ourselves national champions anyway.
November 5th, 2018 at 8:58 AM ^
I mean, I’m all for Michigan beating Rutgers and having the opportunity to wrap up the division at home against Indiana next week. This would mean OSU losing this weekend to Sparty, and that’s what I’m hoping will happen.
But, living firmly in green and white territory, a 4th loss by State wouldn’t break my heart either.
Bottom line: Michigan has everything they want in front of them, just need to take care of business.
November 5th, 2018 at 9:00 AM ^
I'd rather root for the meteor.
November 5th, 2018 at 9:04 AM ^
While I'm not at all worried about Rutgers, let's remember Indiana is #chaosteam. Like Northwestern, they somehow always play us tough, hang around when they have no business doing so, and bring the game right down to the wire. We should be heavily favored in that game, and I know this year is different, but it wouldn't shock me if he had to sweat out at least part of it. When was the last time that game wasn't close?
As for MSU/OSU, I honestly don't care if OSU is 10-1 coming in or 8-3. I don't care about beating them at full strength. Just beat them any way that you can. When it comes to The Game, in recent years, the term "beggars can't be choosers" applies perfectly to Michigan.
It would be great if a spot in the BTCG was already locked up before we went to Columbus, but let's not pretend they wouldn't be foaming at the mouth for a chance to ruin our shot at the playoff. They'll have all the motivation they need to win that game even if they lose @ MSU next week. And I fully expect that whatever weaknesses are on display for OSU right now will be gone, or at least heavily mitigated, when we play them. We will get their best game. Make no mistake.
I am not saying we can't beat them, and if there was ever a year to beat them in Columbus, this would be the one to do it. But there a LOT of demons to exorcise in that game. Twenty year's worth, in fact.
November 5th, 2018 at 10:39 AM ^
Indeed. Only once since Lloyd Carr has the Indiana game been stress free and that's because it was 2014 and Indiana was on their third string QB. Also, Hoke was a dead coach walking.
As for the OSU game, I'm trying not to think of it until Thanksgiving weekend. Any time I have a ounce of hope in that game, I get my soul crushed. So I'm forcing myself not to think about that game until I have to.
November 5th, 2018 at 9:13 AM ^
Beat Rutger
November 5th, 2018 at 9:21 AM ^
both of them
November 5th, 2018 at 9:17 AM ^
A friend of mine is an OSU fan and he's entirely convinced that their game will be played in a monsoon and MSU will find a way to win on some fluke play because, "that's just what they do!" Even OSU fans hate Dantonio's ability to control the weather.
November 5th, 2018 at 9:37 AM ^
I went with my mom (osu grad) to the '16 msu/osu game where msu won in columbus in a freaking monsoon with msu's starting qb out. It was seriously insanity osu lost that game.
November 5th, 2018 at 9:19 AM ^
I don't give a rats ass who wins this game. Michigan is going to roll OSU, so it doesn't matter to me one bit. I do think it'll be a fairly close game, but believe OSU will win it. Or do I? I don't think MSU has enough offense to keep up in a score fest - although OSU's B12-like defense ... yeesh. If Lewerke can throw, maybe they can keep up?
Haskins will throw short - it's all he does, and MSU should be able to stomp that out. The question is how can MSU score? They can't run, and have no WRs.
I'm kind'a glad I don't care who wins this - picking this mess of a game is hard!
November 5th, 2018 at 9:20 AM ^
FFS..... We need to beat Rutgers and Indiana before we enter the toilet seat to face a team that has had their way with us for too long. Lets not assume anything..... Enjoy each game as it happens.