So...the Orange Bowl, huh?

Submitted by I Like Burgers on

So Michigan ain't making the playoff.  How do we feel about playing Florida State in the Orange Bowl?  Or Clemson on the off chance they lose to Va. Tech?

Winchester Wolverine

December 3rd, 2016 at 12:32 AM ^

Okay in all seriousness, the door hasn't been shut. As long as there is reasonable doubt, which there is, how can anyone blindly dissmiss the possibility?

There's still a chance. Expert-level pissing by the OP though. All the sorry asses can bitch behind the closed door after Clemson wins. Until then, stfu. You know what, just shut up regardless. 2 years ago we were begging at just a shot at greatness. We were begging for an OUNCE of hope. We have Harbaugh. So enough of this "divine unfortunate curse" shit. Christ, people.

1201 S. Main St.

December 3rd, 2016 at 9:54 AM ^

It hasn't been shut but c'mon man, it's looking extrememly slim Michigan gets in, and no one is "blindly dismissing" anything.  Even if Clemson loses, there is a change PSU or Wisc jump Michigan so we simply don't know what will happen.  You are the one who seems to be blindly dismissing all the other teams' chances of making the playoff, if Clemson wins.  We can complain about the OSU refs or the committee but the fact is, Michigan beats Iowa, they're in.  It sucks, but it's probably the truth.  No one said anything some bullshit "divine unfortunate curse" that you brought up.  If people can't see how far this program came in 2 years, and be thrilled, that's on them.  They had a great year, beat MSU, and given the score of The Game last year, this year's game showed just how far they have come.  I don't think anyone expected Michigan to be this good this fast, and they're only going to get better.  So, Michigan probably wont make the playoff, but that is OK.  I see absolutely no problem with someone expecting Michigan to make the Orange Bowl and asking about a possible opponent.  

Winchester Wolverine

December 3rd, 2016 at 6:51 PM ^

I never once said that I had a problem with people speculating on the bowl we go to if the cards fall that way. But deeming this season as a complete failure is a little dramatic, which people are doing.

I'm also not a dip shit, I know if Clemson wins, we have no chance. I didn't dismiss other teams if they end up winning.

And a ton of people on here believe we're cursed. They bring it up anytime something goes wrong. Which happens a lot... I'll admit that.

Sam1863

December 3rd, 2016 at 3:40 PM ^

In all seriousness, I'm not ready for it to be over yet, either. And by that, I mean the entire season.

Remember a month or so ago? All those consecutive victories? I really enjoyed picking up Sunday's paper, opening the sports section, and seeing the bottom of the page that showed UM's record. It was "W ... W ... W ... W ..." And every week when there was another "W," my hopes got a little higher. I found myself thinking, "Holy crap! This could REALLY happen! That freak genius in the khakis is really doing this! This could really be our year!"

And then Iowa. And two weeks later ... crap.

I know, I know ... as far as consolation prizes go, the Orange Bowl is a pretty damn good one. A hundred teams would trade places with us in a second. (Hell, two years ago, WE would have been one of those teams!) And I'd really love to watch us put the same kind of beating on FSU that we gave to Florida last year.

But after it's all over, and we look back on 2016, I'm gonna think one thing:

Damn it. We were so close. So. Very. Close.

Heywood_Jablome

December 3rd, 2016 at 12:58 AM ^

Unfortunately, Colorado losing like this makes one of our top 10 wins go away.  Will be much easier to justify a B10 champ over us now, especially if it's PSU.

This was the one domino that couldn't fall. 

Gucci Mane

December 3rd, 2016 at 1:30 AM ^

Especially if it's PSU ? What ? I really hope va tech wins because I will enjoy seeing the reaction of the minority of posters here who seem to think the big ten champ wil jump us. It's not happening I promise. It would take a 20+ point win to even consider it.

Heywood_Jablome

December 3rd, 2016 at 1:36 AM ^

Committee has already shown they value conference titles when other metrics are close.

An 11-2 PSU would almost certainly get in over a 10-2 UM, especially since one of our marquee wins (Colorado) is now devalued. 

We needed Colorado to win, not only because it would knock Washington out, but because it makes our win over them look that much better.  That's out the window now.

 

Gucci Mane

December 3rd, 2016 at 1:51 AM ^

Nope PSU at 11-2 would have little chance unless the blew out Wisconsin. You are just out of touch of what the playoff committee is thinking. Hopefully va tech wins so you can see the error of your ways.

Cali's Goin' Blue

December 3rd, 2016 at 6:11 AM ^

Why do you think that you know more about the playoff commitee than another poster when the committee has shown no consistency? No one knows what they will do IF clemson loses(20% chance per Bill Connelly). Stop acting like you know what will happen, you just sound like an over-confident blog poster(nothing new)

Mr. Yost

December 3rd, 2016 at 9:04 AM ^

This makes no sense Gucci.

The Playoff Committee has SAID and SHOWN that they value conference championships.

The B1G Champion, no matter who it is, will be a conference champion AND they'll have an extra win that we don't have.

This is exactly how the Big XII keeps getting left out. They don't have the opporunity for that extra win.

If PSU had 3 losses and was going for win #10...I'd be with you 100%. But the fact of the matter is they would be champs, they'd have an 11th win, AND they would've just beaten the #6 team in the country.

That counts for something. And the committee has said that.

...it's okay to be hopeful, but to act like someone is out of touch with the committee by listening to what the committee has SAID and going off what the committee has DONE is ignorant on your end.

...with all due respect. (that's intentional for the poster who doesn't get the with all due respect, joke).

And if Clemson wins and the CFB Committee puts us #6, please don't be that guy who says they did it to save face and had Clemson lost we would've been over the B1G Champ.

Mr. Yost

December 3rd, 2016 at 9:16 AM ^

This is true...I will say though that I we lost on the road and everyone seems to be giving OSU a win, but doesn't count it as a loss for Michigan if that makes sense.

PSU beat OSU at home in a night game. We didn't get those circumstances or we probably win too.

I just don't get what Gucci is talking about when he says "out of touch" or whatever he said.

That's bullshit. That extra, in this case 11th win has PROVEN to be huge in the eyes of the committee and the championship has PROVEN to be a tiebreaker.

Again, ask the Big XII.

2014. OSU jumps Baylor and TCU because they're conference champs and they got a 12th win...Baylor and TCU were stuck with 11 because they didn't get the extra game.

2015 work itself out because MSU and Iowa was a playoff game and the committee only had 4 teams to choose from.

The committee showed in 2014 what the priorities are...it's the SAME REASON the Big XII is now going to a championship game next year. So they have that extra game. So don't tell me I'm out of touch when I have fact behind my opinion is my point.

In reply to by ijohnb

gmoney41

December 3rd, 2016 at 12:55 PM ^

I totally agree with you.  It's very wishfull thinking to think Virginia Tech has a chance.  If they pull off the miracle, I think the comittee still sees us as the next best in, regardless of big ten championship.  With them not moving us down to 7 and saying the gap is razor thin between 4 and 5, tells me that the comittee is looking for any reason to include us.  People here are taking out the huge huge factor that the comittee does not want a repeat of last year, and including Wisconsin or PSU will do just that.  The only way we get jumped will be with a Clemson WIN, because then, our ranking does not matter.  It's all going to be a moot point because Clemson will cruise today.

Muttley

December 3rd, 2016 at 1:01 PM ^

because they suck.  And Oklahoma played in the CFP last year.  Plus, the CFP committee obviously got it it right in 2014 by selecting eventual champion and 59 point CCG winner OSU over Baylor & TCU.

Further, the championship thing could work the other way.  What if VT wins tonight?  Then you've got a "champion" that indisputably does not belong in the CFP.

Thus far, we've have 8 strong champions who clearly deserved to be the first pick from their conference.  But the language of the CFP doesn't tie its hands in the event that two or more weakling "champions" emerge.

Gucci Mane

December 3rd, 2016 at 4:28 PM ^

They set up Michigan at #5 so if Washington or Clemson lost tMichigan is in. That was not an accident. I said before the rankings if Michigan was above PSU and Wisconsin that would mean the committee views them as clearly better. In the past they said championships matter becuase they were making an excuse to keep Big 12 out, this year (if clemson loses) they will say Michigan made it due to head to head.

Cali's Goin' Blue

December 3rd, 2016 at 6:07 AM ^

People need to stop getting over-emotional on this blog. I underastand being mad about knowing Michigan is one of the top 4 teams in the country and not getting in is a tough pill to swallow. But this guy is pointing out an FACT that any reasonable college fan will agree with. Colorado will no longer be a top 10 team, taking away one of our top 10 wins, especially considering Washington beat them by more than we did. Can we just be reasonable and realistic on this blog? The fact that most posters and commenters are typically reasonable is what makes this blog special. Stop acting like irretional fans

I Love Lamp

December 3rd, 2016 at 11:23 AM ^

The committee is begging for an opportunity to put us in. Harbaugh vs Saban, the viewers, the money, the interest that game would bring would move the needle over pretty much every other matchup on a national level. If Michigan was dead and valued the B1G champ so much, they could've easily justified putting us at 7 and saying "tough luck, enjoy a NY6 bowl." Championships matter, but so do head-to-head matchups, and we TCB against both Wisconsin and Penn St.

We will see I guess. Won't matter if Clemson wins tonight, and we can't blame anyone else. Just have to hope for a window to open and get a second life.

Muttley

December 3rd, 2016 at 1:11 PM ^

and I think (except for this year ;) spreading the spots over four leagues is a good thing.

Remember 2014? OSU was part of the "dead" B1G.  And the SEC West was an NFL-lite division.

Wellll, the Top 5 SEC West teams ALL lost their bowls and the B1G rep won the whole thing.

There just isn't enough inter-conference evidence from the top teams to really know.  So in general, if a reasonable argument can be made that the best team from a conference is a Top 4 team, it belongs in the CFP over a second pick from another league.

The saying "Just pick the best 4 teams" is garbage.  That's like saying "Buy low, sell high".  Easy to say.  Hard to do.

CompleteLunacy

December 3rd, 2016 at 1:36 PM ^

Then this whole hope of Michigan getting in is extremely misguided. There's no way in hell the committee would ever accept 3 teams from one conference - quite frankly I wouldn't want them to (even if it hurts Michigan). So in the event that either Clemson or Washington lost, the only question the committee has to answer when it comes to Michigan is "should we Michigan or the Big Ten champ in there?" If the answer is "Big Ten champ", then it wouldn't matter if both Clemson and Washington lost. They'd find another team like OU or Colorado to put over us rather than risk the terrible optics of three of four teams being from one conference.(Of course it's moot now that Colorado lost)

SeattleWolverine

December 3rd, 2016 at 2:54 PM ^

Sett aside all of the playoff scenario talk since that horse has been beat to death and you are left with hoping for VTech to win.

 

Unfortunately, VTech managed to avoid the 3 good teams in the ACC: Louisville, Clemson and FSU during conference play, yet they were still was a 3 loss team. With a 3-0 record in close games with 2nd order wins of 8.2 and 27th in S&P+. Everything in their profile suggests they aren't that good and are about to get beat down. #CollegeFootball but it's hard to have much faith in them.

Stringer Bell

December 2nd, 2016 at 11:58 PM ^

Don't really care.  The Orange Bowl against a mediocre Florida State team just doesn't do it for me.  Maybe we'll get lucky and we'll get a Rose Bowl matchup against USC or something, now that would be a game worth watching.  Otherwise, a disappointing end to the season.