Big Ten Standings Update
With Iowa's loss today (3 conference losses), Northwestern now can lose next week to Iowa and still be in the driver's seat to win the west division (games against Minnesota and Illinois the final two weeks). Northwestern holds tiebreakers over Purdue and Wisconsin; both are hoping for Northwestern to lose at least two more times for a shot at the championship game.
Obviously, we all know the situation in the east division...while I'd like Ohio State to win out the next three games, it would take a lot of pressure off if MSU can knock them off in East Lansing next week. Early thoughts on the spread/score predictions for next week?
November 4th, 2018 at 12:43 AM ^
I definitely don't want the Buckeyes to win.
Ever.
Let them lose them all.
I only regret that they cannot both lose.
But after the last couple games, I think lil' bro actually takes them, 16-9.
Umich over Rutger 77-0, including a total Rutger.
November 4th, 2018 at 3:24 AM ^
Yeah but aren't you worried that if OSU loses, then they'll be "angry" when we play them in Columbus?
That's what they're saying will happen on 11 Warriors.
November 4th, 2018 at 4:32 AM ^
One thought in my mind was that if they had come into The Game 11-0, they would have felt less pressure to address their problems. That may be irrelevant if they cannot put away Nebraska even after Purdue plus a week off.
November 4th, 2018 at 7:41 AM ^
No. My only worry is that Michigan loses to Indiana and OSU and the B1G "championship" game is between MSU and "Purdue"...wouldn't that be special!!!
Therefore, I strongly OSU to eliminate MSU...and Michigan wins out-of course.
November 4th, 2018 at 7:55 AM ^
November 4th, 2018 at 8:21 AM ^
We’re beating teams at home by an average of 21 points this season, but Indiana is going to buck that trend?
Hold your nose and say “Go Green”...or “Go Meteor”.
November 4th, 2018 at 7:58 AM ^
I understand the rationale, but this season, I think if MSU surprises them then they won't get all riled up.
There will be a tough game - they have talent and it is the most storied rivalry game in relevant college football (my ivy friends keep claiming Harvard Yale is "The Game" - um, okay ...but back to real college football), but once there is nothing long term to play for - there will be a lot individual thinking - getting ready for Senior Bowl, pro-combines - who should and go. Bosa's leaving, sloppy tackling, passing so much Woody Hayes is spinning,
This year's team also is so much more focused - and not intimidated and whether OSU is "angry", won't make a difference.
It is a no lose situation - Spartans won't change their style - and if they gash OSU's defense regardless of the outcome, we'll benefit from seeing the tape. If their defense pounds OSU's OL, backs and QB, we'll be ok as well.
November 4th, 2018 at 8:53 AM ^
They get a special kind of crazy for the Michigan game down in Columbus; losing to us is...something else. I want the Spartans to beat them so that 1) The Buckeyes are out of contention for anything they really wanted and 2) We know that they haven't fixed any of their problems. They're going to THINK they're coming to play because it's 'The Game' and that's all they really have left to play for. We need to jump on them quick and snuff out any hope so they know that even that isn't going to happen. My biggest concern for the game is the officiating, who's going to be doing it. It better not be those clowns from 2016...
November 4th, 2018 at 8:18 AM ^
Just a theory, but I also think little brother is in need of a new chip since that finally backfired against us. Maybe the new disrespekt angle will come from them receiving their OSU beat down this year. Then they will start talking about how classless the buckeyes are (no one will disagree) so they can build that chip up again and avoid having to talk about Michigan. They want no part of that debate since this year because their usual talking points (the past doesn't matter, record vs Harbaugh, etc) can't stand up. Focusing their hate on OSU gives them breathing room again. Ah, it's been such a great year, so far!
November 4th, 2018 at 10:12 AM ^
I’m okay with them “being angry”. They had no rushing offense until they played Nebraska and now they think they are “good” again. They had Nebraska at home and barely won.
November 4th, 2018 at 12:43 AM ^
Prediction for Rutger:
Impending D-O-O-M for Rutger.
November 4th, 2018 at 1:08 AM ^
Commence Rivalry Week. Beat Rutger.
November 4th, 2018 at 12:44 AM ^
Sounds good. I love you
November 4th, 2018 at 4:42 AM ^
Are you read reading my texts to the wife?
November 4th, 2018 at 5:53 AM ^
he might be writing the texts to your wife.
November 4th, 2018 at 6:26 AM ^
Plot Twist: MeanJoe IS his wife
November 4th, 2018 at 7:52 AM ^
korean koala? dear leader and mean josephine, is that the real love connection here?
November 4th, 2018 at 7:57 AM ^
Koala just eat bush and leaves.
It’s not romantic.
November 4th, 2018 at 8:12 AM ^
It might work for the bush
November 4th, 2018 at 12:48 AM ^
“while I'd like Ohio State to win out the next three games”
You do realize one of those 3 games is against Michigan right? Frickin Judas.
November 4th, 2018 at 1:00 AM ^
Yeah...still thinking it's week 8. I meant the games until Michigan.
November 4th, 2018 at 12:50 AM ^
I'm beginning to think Ohio State loses at MSU. They really look bad. We need to beat them. The pressure is on us.
Iowa's collapse is a modest comfort to me. The unknown (and their defense) compelled me to wish avoiding them in the B1G title game (though if they went in with one loss they would be a quality win) and Purdue is flawed but scary. I would feel really good about playing Northwestern again, assuming modest levels of health on our time. I think their shot at us was in Evanston. I think a rematch would be a Michigan statement blowout.
The West looks baaaaad. And, unfortunately, some of the East looks bad, too. Our wins are losing a little luster. Or they would be if they weren't total drubbings.
November 4th, 2018 at 12:59 AM ^
I think there's a lot a "meh" in college football this year, in all conferences. There's a big dropoff once you get past 5 or 6 in the polls. The Big12 and PAC are all meh. The non-Michigan BigTen teams are meh. The non-Clemson ACC teams are meh. Then you have ND, Bama, Georgia, and I'll still include LSU in there despite losing tonight. When teams like Kentucky and Washington State are finding their way into the Top10, it's a down year in college football.
November 4th, 2018 at 1:14 AM ^
Even Clemson - well, ok, yes they look really good. They are scary. Probably. All I'm saying is, just looking at their schedule, their best win is home against Syracuse, and they easily could have lost that game. Arguably, the Orange choked it away as much as Clemson came back to win.
November 4th, 2018 at 6:44 AM ^
To be fair, though, Syracuse is looking fairly decent this year. Not a world beater, but lower top 25. Last two games against Notre Dame and Boston college will be telling.
November 4th, 2018 at 8:19 AM ^
I think you're right. Syracuse will give ND all it can handle, and I would not be surprised to see that be the game to crush Irish dreams of getting shredded in the CFP.
November 4th, 2018 at 1:06 AM ^
There's a good chance of seeing Northwestern again. They could lose to both Iowa and Minnesota and still be in the driver's seat for the division.
November 4th, 2018 at 7:55 AM ^
MSU hasn't actually been that bad. Before their Penn State game I thought that they were about to fall apart and finish 6-6 or 7-5.
MSU gets Ohio State at home too.
November 4th, 2018 at 12:50 AM ^
The middle of OSU's defense is just bad. I've now seen Minnesota, Purdue, and Nebraska all pound the ball down Ohio State's throat. I'm not sure they have an answer. Michigan State is going to give them all they can handle.
November 4th, 2018 at 1:04 AM ^
Cause they recruited a bunch of hyper athletic dudes to rush the passer not stuff the run
November 4th, 2018 at 1:06 AM ^
I guess for me the decisive battle is OSU's pass offense against MSU's pass defense. Red zone scoring will remain elusive for OSU, but if they can hit a couple big strikes, it'll keep them in the game.
November 4th, 2018 at 12:57 AM ^
I would've preferred to see a better record in the conf title game instead of more likely a 7-5 8-4 west winner but whatever
November 4th, 2018 at 1:18 AM ^
We're probably going to be #4 in the CFP rankings tomorrow. We don't need to worry about impressing the committee. We're in if we win out.
So . . . let OSU lose before playing us, and bring on a 7-5 Northwestern team in Indy.
November 4th, 2018 at 1:44 AM ^
Not necessarily. We may have to worry if bama loses to Georgia in sec title game...
November 4th, 2018 at 1:34 AM ^
Which isn't going to happen.
November 4th, 2018 at 1:45 AM ^
There is no possible way that the CFP puts a CCG loser and a CCG winner into the playoff at the same time.
Bama's only gotten in while not winning the conference because they didn't play in the CCG.
November 4th, 2018 at 6:17 AM ^
You underestimate SEC bias.
November 4th, 2018 at 7:42 AM ^
I disagree. If Alabama has impressive wins over Mississippi State and Auburn, and then loses a close SEC championship game to Georgia, the committee could keep them in ahead of Michigan as the final playoff participant, with Georgia, Clemson, and Notre Dame.
So Michigan isn't necessarily in if they win out. Alabama needs to keep winning.
November 4th, 2018 at 8:36 AM ^
I understand your point, but that sets up the possibility of a Bama-UGA championship game, or even CFP Round 1 game. No way the committee would do that after the two teams had just played.
November 4th, 2018 at 10:22 AM ^
I honestly think my own personal nightmare scenario involves osu losing to msu and then we lose in Columbus. Going to Indy but no playoffs and losing to that red dumpster again.
November 4th, 2018 at 7:43 AM ^
I think the committee would be crazy to not select Michigan if our only loss was week one against another top 4 team. Our schedule is stronger than almost anyone in the nation, our fan base is huge (don’t tell me money doesn’t play a factor), and we would have 12 consecutive wins. The SEC bias is big, but in no way would it be that big.
November 4th, 2018 at 7:56 AM ^
I disagree we don’t have to worry about impressing the committee. Let’s say MSU beats osu. Even if/when we beat osu that would mean our best win has 3 losses and would just be top 15 at best. Our last statement would be a 7-5 nw team.
Meanwhile ou could be playing a top 10 wvu team. Yeah if they beat them twice that would mean wvu had 3 losses too but only 2 losses in the regular season and 2 of 3 would be to ou as a mitigating factor. So ou could potentially have Moreno potential to make a statement at the end of the season.
November 4th, 2018 at 12:57 AM ^
November 4th, 2018 at 8:42 AM ^
MSU beating OSU is nothing but harmful to Michigan.
It makes beating a crappy OSU mean less and possibly losing to OSU hurts even more.
Literally the only "benefit" would be a consolation prize CCG game against a 4/5 loss opponent if we lose to OSU. Which, we still look like a joke because we still fucking lost to OSU.
We have to beat OSU for the positive perception and because of that we probably want OSU to win the next two.
Love getting thumbs downed for not being all, "hurr durr I haet ohio and they must loooose all the time"
November 4th, 2018 at 1:02 AM ^
I'd prefer to play a demoralized, strife-ridden OSU than a "battle-tested" team with a chance at the division title. So hopefully Sparty gets the W.
November 4th, 2018 at 1:21 AM ^
It's like the people writing in this thread have never watched the rivalry with OSU. They will be up for the game no matter how bad their season has been to that point. Beating us and keeping us out of the CFP would make their season. Some of my fondest memories of the rivalry are ruining their unbeaten season and costing them the Rose Bowl or a national title.
November 4th, 2018 at 6:58 AM ^
It’s like the people writing in this thread have never watched the rivalry with OSU.
Sigh. But anyway I have fond memories myself of the ‘93, ‘95, and ‘96 wins that spoiled OSU seasons. So my opinion is no less valid than yours. Hopefully in the future we can disagree without the gratuitous cheap shots.
Honestly what OSU does or doesn’t do against Michigan State probably won’t have any discernable effect on The Game. But you never know. That team quit against Purdue and seems to have some real issues with leadership right now. OSU is not accustomed to losing and until they prove otherwise, it’s fair to question whether they can handle anything more than mild adversity.
November 4th, 2018 at 9:20 AM ^
John Cooper is not our Head Coach. Neither is Frames Janklin. We'll be fine. Ohio State is simply not a good football team. They won't be able to block us. It will be double revenge tour for not only last year but especially the screw job of 2016. I think the players at OSU may actually start to turn on Urban a little bit if they lose to MSU next week. They'll come out all fired up to start The Game but eventually the match up disparity on the line of scrimmage will take over.
November 4th, 2018 at 4:33 PM ^
And I remember a couple of times when Michigan had wrapped up the Big Ten title before the game and got whomped in Columbus -- 1982 & 2004