What Team(s) do you want Michigan to play in a bowl? What teams do you want to avoid?

Submitted by Minus The Houma on

In the purely hypothetical realm where Michigan does not make the playoffs what team or teams would you like to see them match up against in a bowl? Why do you want to play them?

On the flip side, what teams do you, at this time, do you just not really want a piece of?

Ignore bowl tie ins and what not, use your judgement on the likely teams in the playoff.

For the exercise I am going to use the current CFP rankings as who will play in the playoff.

I feel like I'm not shooting high enough when thinking of teams to beat. I was liking the idea of creaming Florida again, but at this time they don't even seem like a worthy opponent. All the talking heads are giving USC the hot hand at the moment. I think they have to be my pick for who I would like to see Michigan play. This defense loves to feast on freshman QBs. Why not go after the current golden boy?

As for a team I don't want to play my mind keeps going to Wisconsin. Super unlikely matchup anyway, but for some reason I just don't like it. I know they have a questionable quarterback situation right now but I just don't want it. It's hard for me, outside of the top 4 the rest of the top 25 don't really put any fear into my heart. I guess we have come a long way.

What do you guys and girls have?

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mgoDAB

November 29th, 2016 at 9:35 PM ^

First choice: #1 Alabama v #4 Michigan (Yeah I'm breaking OP's rules, but that's what I want to see. Save OSU for the championship.)

Second choice: USC v Michigan in the Rose Bowl

Third choice: Florida State v Michigan in the Orange Bowl

Any other bowl game with any other opponent wouldn't be very interesting.

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Moonlight Graham

November 29th, 2016 at 9:46 PM ^

(we wouldn't somehow both end up there) but I wouldn't mind playing Washington in the Rose Bowl either. 

USC in the Rose or Florida State in the Orange would both be pretty great. Louisville in the Orange would be fine too. I VT beats Clemson, could be the Tigers too. All good options. Just obviously wouldn't care all that much for a rematch with Colorado in the Rose. 

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I dumped the Dope

November 30th, 2016 at 2:43 AM ^

To No Program!

Im not feeling as optimistic about the cfp.  My gut doesn't see Colorado downing UW right now.  If only we hadn't lost to effing Iowa.  We'd be a 1 loss team vs #2....

...but....I really like the idea of USC though.  Peppers v Adoree Jackson.  We can cover JohnJuJuSmithSchuster like a blanket.  Darnold hasn't seen a pash rush like this yet.  Should be exciting!

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HarleyMarlboro

November 29th, 2016 at 9:37 PM ^

I think it's obvious:  Bama in round one, and OSU in round 2.

But realistically, I think it's something like the Orange Bowl for us, and I've seen a few predictions saying FSU.  I'd be okay with that.

There is literally no team I would want to avoid.  I honestly feel we can match up with literally anyone, especially with a month for Speight to heal up even more.

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Ty Butterfield

November 29th, 2016 at 9:38 PM ^

USC and Bama. I don't think it would be a total embarrassment like Staee, but Bama is basically an NFL team.

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ppudge

November 29th, 2016 at 9:49 PM ^

If we don't get a rematch with OSU in the playoff, then I'd love to be in the Rose Bowl vs USC, just for tradition purposes. If we head to the Orange, I think a game against FSU would be fun.

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Mongo

November 29th, 2016 at 9:49 PM ^

#1 ... Alabama in round 1 of the CFP #2 ... OSU in the CFP finals #3 ... FSU in the Orange Bowl if #1 and #2 don't happen

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Har Bro

November 29th, 2016 at 10:59 PM ^

If anyone is going to take down Bama it is Harbaugh with 3 weeks to prepare. OSU in final would right all wrongs in the universe. If we don't make the playoffs it would be great for recruiting to beat FSU in Miami.

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doggdetroit

November 29th, 2016 at 9:49 PM ^

Assuming the current CFP holds, I would prefer to play either Louisville or Florida State (and I would prefer FSU) in the Orange Bowl. Both are very winnable games but each would offer a challenge that would result in an entertaining game. Louisville and its Heisman winner, FSU and its talent laden roster. The FSU game in particular would be very beneficial for future recruiting.

I would not want to face USC in the Rose Bowl. That's a team that probably should be in the CFP the way they are playing right now and that would be an effective road game. Michigan's two best teams prior to this season had awesome regular seasons and were among the best in the country but both met the same dastardly fate when they faced USC teams that probably should have been playing for the BCS title. Still think Michigan could win, it would just be the most difficult opponent out there. 

I also would not want a rematch with Colorado. Motivation or lack thereof is always a big part of bowl games and I question how motivated Michigan would be to play a Colorado team that they have already beaten after having come so close to getting into the CFP and playing for much larger stakes.

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Michology 101

November 30th, 2016 at 12:23 AM ^

It's still no where near the same. History shows that it's really tough to be defeat USC in a Rose Bowl game. They've been there more times than anybody and they've won it more times than anybody. They have a record of 24-9 in the Rose Bowl. Some of their weak teams have won the Rose Bowl and you definitely don't want to play them in that game when they have a good team that's red hot.

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Mongo

November 30th, 2016 at 9:54 AM ^

It always felt like a biased away game ... officiating stunk, basically USC home-field advantage, Bo's heart attack, the phantom TD by USC ... I was in the RB endzone that day and the whole USC-dominated stadium was laughing in glee at the call, I mean it was so obvious it was a joke. Whenever I was there it felt like playing OSU in Columbus. When we play in FLA, the crowd is more balanced and welcoming. In LA, you are always made to feel like some farm animal. No kidding, some homeless-looking surfer dude at the Rose Parade walked up to my uncle and just started pissing on him - I mean it was 7am and no drinking was going on yet. Anyway, I think the CFP committee has aligned this such that the B1G champ will go to the Rose Bowl and face either CU or USC. If Washington loses in the title game, then UM slides into the CFP and CU plays in the RB. If Washington wins they are in the CFP and the RB likely picks USC because they are the homers and beat CU in the regular season. CU goes to something like the Cotton Bowl as an at-large versus Western Michigan. UM goes to the Orange Bowl versus FSU. Go Buffs !!!

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Mongo

November 29th, 2016 at 9:52 PM ^

the Rose Bowl is going to suck this year, so we should opt for the Orange Bowl against a top southern team for recruiting purposes.

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Nobody Likes a…

November 29th, 2016 at 9:55 PM ^

I want ohio first. Just beat them badly, see them driven before us and hear the lamentation of their 'women'. I don't even want them to sniff the title game.

Then we beat bama and lane kiffins questionable play calling

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Perkis-Size Me

November 29th, 2016 at 10:00 PM ^

Give me OSU in the title game. Don't care if it's the final or the semi final. Another shot at those guys is all I want.

We get them on a neutral field, with our defense playing even angrier than it did last week....Barrett's would be decapitated by halftime.

We do that, I don't care if we lose the final to Bama or whoever the hell else the following week. I would give ANYTHING to get another shot at those guys.



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Real Tackles Wear 77

November 29th, 2016 at 10:05 PM ^

There is no team we should want to avoid. If a program wants to compete at a national championship level, which we do, it has to beat the best out there. If we do get into the playoff we'll play Alabama in Atlanta, and no one is going to give us a chance. But our guys won't be afraid.

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Mturner

November 29th, 2016 at 10:06 PM ^

In grad school at USC right now and it would be awesome to see them square off, with Michigan winning abviously. Would be a very fun game to watch although as USC has really turned the corner after a rough start.

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BluByYou

November 30th, 2016 at 12:58 PM ^

no other reason than to have an opportunity to beat a Pac 12 team after all the RB losses we suffered over the years.  Maybe USC, but that is of course another home game for them, not to mention ref issues which applies to all RB games we would play.

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GoBlueInIowa

November 29th, 2016 at 10:12 PM ^

I want a Bama

I do want to see this defense against Bama's O.

Not complete sure I want to see Bama's D against our o-line.

Now assuming no playoff, I like us to play a blue blood program - either FSU or USC. Like seeing traditional powers playing each other.

Do not want to play Florida. Played them last year and we play them in Sept.



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panderberg

November 29th, 2016 at 10:14 PM ^

I'd truly enjoy seeing those Pasadena mountains at sunset again. Starting to get un-hungover & looking forward to watching yet another major bowl game - what could be better? Either U$C or Washington or even Colorado would be fine opps, although tradition-wise I ofc would rather play the Trojans.

Hopefully the refs will be required to only award TDs if the ball actually gets into the end zone.

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Mr. Elbel

November 29th, 2016 at 10:20 PM ^

I'd love to finally beat USC In the Rose Bowl should the improbable not happen. would hate to face WMU, but other than them I'm not afraid of playing anyone. we can beat any team in the country, including bama.

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rwilb

November 29th, 2016 at 10:33 PM ^

The last thing I want to see is Bama. Our offensive line would be demolished by threat D line.

I think we are a couple years out before we could matchup in the trenches against the best team in CFB

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1VaBlue1

November 29th, 2016 at 10:37 PM ^

I want to avoid nobody!  I don't get the people wanting to avoid USC, or whoever else.  Give me the toughest matchup...

I think UM is the most well balanced team outside of Bama - the best defense, a top ten offense, and special special teams.  A game against Bama, with a month for Harbaugh to prepare an offensive game plan and Speight to heal up, seems like a tough out for Bama, even in Atlanta.

OSU would be a massacre.

Non-CFP opponents: USC - the hottest team outside looking in right now.  Would be an awesome matchup.  

Oklahoma - would love to see Don Brown shut down that offense.  No way OK's Big 12 defense stops the Harbaughffense, so I don't think it would be very entertaining for the nation to watch, but we would love it.

FSU - Just another spread team that Brown is familiar with.  He socked them pretty good last year with BC, a team that averaged 4 pts/game on offense...

Louisville - would be a blowout.  I think M's DL can handle the one player they have to worry about.

Washington - do they have an OL?  Would be a fun matchup in the Rose Bowl.

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jbrandimore

November 29th, 2016 at 10:44 PM ^

I want nothing whatsoever to do with USC. The ACC opponents are more bearable and playing in Florida would be more beneficial for recruiting to boot. If not the CFP, Orange Bowl!

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Michigan4Harbaugh

November 29th, 2016 at 10:45 PM ^

Avoid?? Avoid nobody!! Do you not listen to James Earl Jones before every home game?? We are the best university in the world! We bow to no man, or program. WE ARE MICHIGAN!!

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