Over it and moving on: Big Ten Divisional Tiebreakers

Submitted by westwardwolverine on October 18th, 2015 at 8:44 AM

Its over. We lost on a 1/500 fluke according to ESPN (and really given the disparity between our special teams and their special teams, it was probably more like 1/1000). Doesn't change the trajectory of this team in any way in my mind other than a playoff shot is probably out the door. Oh and now we have to read stupid infographics after Harbaugh retires 14-1 against Sparty about how the new coach will be the first in seven to beat MSU in his first attempt. Sucks, but what can you do?

So moving on: We should win every game going into Ohio State and quite frankly, I think we beat them. Assuming the Buckeyes beat MSU the week before that (and I cannot fathom a world where they don't) and we beat OSU the next week, the three teams should all be 7-1 to end the year. Who wins the division? Are we out because we have a worse overall record? Is it the highest ranked team in some poll? Do we need to hope for Sparty to blow a game (unfortunately it looks like @Nebraska and home to PSU are the only other chances for a loss on their schedule) so that our head to head win vs. OSU gets us in?

I know I could google this, but I wanted to get the conversation turned towards the future.

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Brick in The Wave

October 18th, 2015 at 10:33 AM ^

Here is what is gonna happen MSU gets beat by both PSU and Nebraska then beats OSU and we win out.

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UMForLife

October 18th, 2015 at 10:51 AM ^

While I don't see that happening, I like the way you are thinking.

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Realus

October 18th, 2015 at 12:42 PM ^

Great plan. Don't it's going to happen but I definitely like the plan.

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WolverineInCincy

October 18th, 2015 at 10:40 AM ^

Anyone thinking Michigan wins out is nuts. We will lose to both penn st and Ohio st. 8-4 maybe 9-4 with a bowl win. Has anyone watched our QB play?? This guy plays scared and we can't stretch the field on anyone. 8-4 for mediocre Michigan

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Sideline

October 18th, 2015 at 11:00 AM ^

Penn State is going to get eaten up by our D-line. Special Teams alone will win us that game. I'm not worried about a single game moving forward. That final play of the MSU game will stick in these kids' heads and we will murder this schedule.

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1 percent

October 18th, 2015 at 11:08 AM ^

I hope so. Harbaugh is too motivated and too good of a coach to let this happen but something like that can be soul crushing. Depends on the leaders on the team. Luckily we have some great ones.

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DHughes5218

October 18th, 2015 at 11:37 AM ^

You're not worried about osu? Unfortunately I think they figured out that Barrett is better than Jones and are starting to roll. I like where your head is at, but I just can't get there right now.

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Perkis-Size Me

October 18th, 2015 at 11:43 AM ^

How does playing OSU not concern you? You don't think that a combo of Barrett, Miller, Elliott, Marshall and Jones isn't going to provide some major problems for our defense?

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CompleteLunacy

October 18th, 2015 at 11:32 AM ^

That completed 62% of his passes and no interceptions. He made a few nice downfield throws in 3rd and long situations...tho he did miss Chesson in the 4th quarter. But Plays scared? Please. He played well enough to win, with this defense. That's all we can ask for really, isn't it?

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Perkis-Size Me

October 18th, 2015 at 11:39 AM ^

Come on, man. Rudock is no world beater, sure, but he played about as good of football yesterday as could be expected minus that overthrow with Chesson. No turnovers, made smart decisions with the ball, and converted quite a few 3rd and long situations.

No one will ever mistake him for Andrew Luck, but he made enough plays for Michigan to win yesterday.

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Drbogue

October 18th, 2015 at 1:09 PM ^

If you think we will have a 300+ passing game week in and week out with Harbaugh's offense, you haven't paid any attention to his offense over his career

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westwardwolverine

October 18th, 2015 at 1:15 PM ^

What on earth makes you think this?

We didn't even play that well yesterday (dumb penalties galore), got screwed by the refs on a couple of occasions and still should have won the game after a routine punt (99.8% chance of victory before the snap). And this after our D went head to head with Cook/Burbridge and stuffed them on their potential game winning drive.

If not for a complete miracle, we are 6-1 and ranked in the top ten.

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Qmatic

October 18th, 2015 at 11:34 AM ^

Michigan St will lose to someone and OSU. If that's the case, we win the conference if we win out.

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Bobby Boucher

October 18th, 2015 at 11:50 AM ^

Sparty losing 2 games is a big possiblity, although unlikely considering we now know that God is now in the business of miracling Sparty into winning games. However, I don't see us beating OSU until our offense starts eliminating mistakes and executes.

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Princetonwolverine

October 18th, 2015 at 12:33 PM ^

Focus on one game at a time.

Beat Minnesota and become bowl eligible.

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Padog

October 18th, 2015 at 6:21 PM ^

Our looking ahead is not going to affect the team.

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Mgoblue2az

October 18th, 2015 at 12:42 PM ^

We need to talk more about the night peppers had. The man was everywhere.

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WolverineInCbus

October 18th, 2015 at 1:34 PM ^

I just want to talk In general about how great our special teams were. Yes, they made a mistake that cost us the game, but ignoring that and the muffed squib quick by jabrill and I will say in my 22 years of life I haven't seen a Michigan special teams unit perform that well. Every single punt or kickoff had the chance to go all the way. We started over half of our possessions in their territory because of our special teams. I was incredibly impressed and it's nice to have special teams be a legitimate strength. Blake is still an incredible weapon, I will remember his 80 yard punt for a long time

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Eye of the Tiger

October 18th, 2015 at 1:44 PM ^

Get to OSU with a 9-2 record, and then play lights out. We can't control what other teams do, but if we do that, then we'll know that there can potentially only be one East team left with fewer conference losses than us. A win there would then mean either a 3-way tie for the East or owning the tiebreaker for 2nd place (and a very good bowl game).

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tlo2485

October 18th, 2015 at 2:13 PM ^

if we all win out, osu beats sparty, we beat osu... we very well could all end up something like 4 5 6 in the rankings... we would likely be 4 or 5 .. probably 5... if we don't make indy, that puts us in the rose bowl, because the big ten champ will be playoffing.

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Padog

October 18th, 2015 at 6:20 PM ^

Exactly. We only dropped to 15. If OSU is still at number one and we finish 10-2, we would have beaten the number one team and we would most likely move ahead of Michigan State.

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Chalky White

October 18th, 2015 at 2:36 PM ^

I'm at my son's flag football game and up walks coach Carr. His son coaches in this league. The first thing he mentioned was beating Ohio State and still having a shot to win the conference. If he's still in, I'm still in.

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