Rival related rant
September 4th, 2014 at 2:04 PM ^
then you better hope for MSU to win. UM is so far behind in terms of rankings that I am not sure even if we run the table, we would make it to the playoff.
September 4th, 2014 at 2:09 PM ^
This. At the end of the year, one of the key factors in "tie-breakers" is going to be the consideration of strength of schedule. Beating the team who beat Oregon will look a lot better than beating the team that got slaughtered by Oregon.
You want to beat the best to be the best.
September 4th, 2014 at 3:13 PM ^
I am on the same page as the OP, but my question is much more basic than this. Logically, I understand that it is in Michigan's best interest for State to beat Oregon. But, since my cheering does not have a direct impact on any of the outcomes, I don't feel compelled to cheer for State.
September 4th, 2014 at 10:19 PM ^
September 4th, 2014 at 2:12 PM ^
I get what you are saying, but I dont think an undefeated Michigan team would be left out of the playoff.
September 4th, 2014 at 2:44 PM ^
how many teams in major conferences actually go undefeated each year anyway? In a scenario where Michigan goes undeated the only way they get left out is if FSU, bama, Oklahoma, and Oregon all go undefeated. Chances of that happening? I'll put that at 0%
September 4th, 2014 at 5:30 PM ^
....what you are saying is the you would eat lemon if all those teams go undefeated?
September 4th, 2014 at 5:49 PM ^
the corpse of an ebola victim if this happens.
the truth of the matter is that Michigan needs to win out to make the playoffs.
Even if MSU wins this game but loses 2-3 down the road, and we lose to MSU...we're not making the playoffs as a one loss team.
September 4th, 2014 at 6:01 PM ^
September 4th, 2014 at 8:03 PM ^
Nobody, accept for Desmond Howard, Kirk Herbstreit, and Gerry DiNardo believe Michigan is any good. If by some happenstance Michigan were to run the table, naysayers of the B1G would use that as proof of just how bad is the B1G.
September 4th, 2014 at 8:09 PM ^
September 4th, 2014 at 8:24 PM ^
although its usage in the sentence is incorrect.
September 5th, 2014 at 2:09 AM ^
September 4th, 2014 at 3:09 PM ^
September 4th, 2014 at 3:26 PM ^
But nobody was arguing that OSU should be out of the top 4. It's a different ballgame this year.
September 4th, 2014 at 2:14 PM ^
I agree with you that it's better for us if MSU wins, but if we run the table, we definitely get into the playoff, no matter what the schedule strength looks like. Can you think of the last time an undefeated BCS conference champ finished the regular season outside of the top 4? Hint: it's never happened, and almost certainly never will.
September 4th, 2014 at 6:53 PM ^
Not a direct response to LJ...
To be reading about running the table is a strong shift from the threads immediately following the evening scrimmage-like event under the lights in August.
I like the shift.
To Hell with notre dame.
September 4th, 2014 at 2:16 PM ^
an undefeated Michigan team being left out of the playoff no matter how many losses MSU has. To accomplish that we would have to beat ND, MSU, OSU, and whichever team comes out of the West. That should be plenty to get in. MSU being good is not good for Michigan, period. Recruiting, perception, all of it are all hurt by MSU performing well on a stage such as this.
September 4th, 2014 at 6:03 PM ^
September 5th, 2014 at 2:17 AM ^
September 4th, 2014 at 2:27 PM ^
I guess that's really it. I don't think, realistically, we're a play-off contender team. Yeah, sure, we can win every game, but it's very very unlikely that we do win all of them. Is it possible we win out and get shut out of the playoffs if MSU shits the bed in OOC play? Yeah, sure, but I'll take my chances.
On the other hand, MSU is on the verge of actually establishing themselves as a long term, nationally relevant team. Like, actually doing it instead of just talking about it for all those years. This hurts Michigan directly in recruiting, and it's another challenger in what is likely going to be a loaded Eastern Division for some time to come (PSU is going to recover pretty quickly). I want them back to their natural position in the pecking order as soon as possible. If it hurts Michigan in some tangential, 3rd degree of seperation way, in what is by all odds already an really really unlikely scenario... so be it.
September 4th, 2014 at 2:27 PM ^
Maybe if I wasn't typing on an iphone at work while angry I could have said this as eloquently as you...well done.
September 4th, 2014 at 6:56 PM ^
But what about a one loss Michigan team? I'm really torn on this whole scenario. I can't actively root for Sparty, just can't do it in any situation really. At the same time I recognize that it's better for our overall playoff chances if they win against Oregon, then lose to us. I think if we had one loss in that situation, we'd get into the playoffs.
September 4th, 2014 at 6:18 PM ^
September 4th, 2014 at 9:21 PM ^
If Michigan wins the Big Ten with one loss, an MSU win here would definitely help our chances, I would think. One-loss conference winners from the SEC and Pac 12 are in. If FSU is a one-loss ACC winner, we lose that matchup. Probably a one-loss Big 12 team would be in, if MSU loses the biggest B10 non-conference game of the year. If MSU wins, and we beat MSU, I thnk we win the head-to-head against the one-loss Big 12 team.
Recruiting wise, if we beat MSU, we don't need to worry that much about them, whether they win or lose against Oregon. If we lose to MSU, they gain as much leverage in recruiting if they've lost to Oregon as if they don't, because Sparty isn't a national recruiting power and our competition with them is local, where only the local results matter.
I can understand people wanting MSU to lose just because they dislike MSU. I cannot for the life of me fathom how such "fans" can argue that those of us with the best interests of our school at heart are "traitors" because we reason with our heads and not our stomachs. I have no disrespect for anyone that wants to see MSU lose. I assume they have their reasons, even if they cannot articulate them. I just wish that some of those people, (looking at you, OP), had the same courtesy.
September 4th, 2014 at 2:10 PM ^
Simply put, how can any Michigan fan root for MSU this weekend?
An MSU win elevates the perception of the Big Ten, which benefits every member of the conference. When Michigan beats MSU this year, it will look all the better.
I dont subscribe to the strength of conference perception argument.
I respect that, but the people who are deciding which teams play for a national championship do subscribe to the strength of conference argument.
Of course, I'm not "rooting for" MSU. I don't have MSU gear, I won't be cheering them on or singing their fight song or anything like that. I simply view it as a win-win. If MSU wins, that's good for the conference. If MSU loses, well, MSU loses.
September 4th, 2014 at 2:47 PM ^
September 4th, 2014 at 3:22 PM ^
but could have stated it with a bit more decorum.
September 4th, 2014 at 3:57 PM ^
September 4th, 2014 at 4:23 PM ^
Erin Moran??
September 4th, 2014 at 6:45 PM ^
wah wah wah
September 4th, 2014 at 5:33 PM ^
Maybe next time read my post? I'm not rooting for MSU, I'm choosing to approach it as a win-win situation.
September 4th, 2014 at 5:41 PM ^
September 4th, 2014 at 6:52 PM ^
It's like "with all due respect" - it negates any response. Magic!
September 4th, 2014 at 7:37 PM ^
September 4th, 2014 at 8:16 PM ^
September 4th, 2014 at 2:06 PM ^
I feel completely neutral watching this game, surprisingly. I can't really explain why.
September 4th, 2014 at 2:08 PM ^
This is how I am.
MSU Win: Yay Big Ten
MSU Loss: LOL MSU
September 4th, 2014 at 2:25 PM ^
That's how I've always looked at games like this. I don't really root for anybody in particular. I just take joy in the positives of each scenario. I generally lean toward LOL MSU, though.
September 4th, 2014 at 2:25 PM ^
That's how I've always looked at games like this. I don't really root for anybody in particular. I just take joy in the positives of each scenario. I generally lean toward LOL MSU, though.
September 4th, 2014 at 2:41 PM ^
Agree as well, except in the case where it's ohio, I'd like to see them lose every game. Otherwise go big ten teams, until you play Michigan.
September 4th, 2014 at 6:25 PM ^
I would agree with this.
However I marginally prefer "Yay Big Ten" compared to "LOL MSU"
I think the reason for this is if the Big Ten was suddenly smashing major teams from all the other conferences it might MIGHT stop the effin retard "SEC! SEC! SEC!" chants.
September 5th, 2014 at 11:28 AM ^
MSU loss: SPARTY NO LOL
MSU win: ....yay big ten, i guess...
September 4th, 2014 at 2:07 PM ^
MAYBE I WILL GET SLAUGHTERED FOR THIS, I DON'T KNOW, BUT SIMPLY PUT: HOW HAS BRIAN NOT EATED THE LEMON YET??? I DON'T SUBSCRIBE TO THE "STARTER-PERFORMANCE QUALITY-WAS-MORGAN' ARGUMENT. I DON'T ROOT FOR ANYONE TO EAT LEMONS, UNLESS IT'S THEIR FAULT FOR A POOR WAGER. I DON'T CARE ABOUT ACE EATING A LEMON, I CARE ABOUT BRIAN EATING IT. PLEASE TELL ME I'M NOT ALONE.
September 4th, 2014 at 2:08 PM ^
I have been preaching what the OP is saying for years. I NEVER root for MSU or OSU unless their actions directly affect Michigan. I also don't care about conference prestige. The only thing I care about is wins for Michigan. Our rivals being really good all the time is bad for Michigan recruiting-wise. I don't like seeing OSU and MSU win these great games and getting the attention. I want that to happen for Michigan.
September 4th, 2014 at 3:22 PM ^
I think you root for MSU, because we play them and beating an undefeated MSU team would get Michigan a lot more attention than beating an MSU team that Oregon already slaughtered. Now, if you assume we will lose to MSU, I understand how you root for them to lose to Oregon on general principles. So have faith that the Wolverines will beat an undefeated MSU and root for them to beat Oregon.
September 4th, 2014 at 2:08 PM ^