Should we be pulling for an osu win Saturday?
Question is in the title. If you believe psu and osu are roughly equivalent teams we should probably be hoping osu wins on Saturday. The reasoning basically follows that if you believe they are equal, beating osu at home is more likely than beating psu on the road and there isn’t really another loss for either team on the schedule. If osu wins Michigan can survive a loss to psu on the road and still win the big ten east, if psu wins Michigan would have to win on the road to avoid the tiebreaker loss to psu.
So to give Michigans season more flexibility in winning it all, an osu win would be better. But also rooting for osu is gross and I get if nobody does it out of principle.
October 18th, 2023 at 12:56 PM ^
This x100
October 18th, 2023 at 12:18 PM ^
rooting for the asteroid because the meteor gets too much attention
October 18th, 2023 at 12:19 PM ^
you shut your whore mouth.
October 18th, 2023 at 12:20 PM ^
As always when this question comes up in a game between any two of Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Penn State:
Giant. Meteor.
October 18th, 2023 at 12:39 PM ^
A giant meteor - that breaks into four pieces upon entering the atmosphere - and, with great (and accurate) momentum - strikes the four locations you noted.
October 18th, 2023 at 12:22 PM ^
I think this statement is incorrect
if osu wins Michigan can survive a loss to psu on the road and still win the big ten east
So as everyone has said, Michigan needs to win out to win the big ten east, because their west opponents are bad.
I think we want PSU to win. If PSU goes undefeated and makes the playoff then so be it. Even if PSU goes 12-0, Michigan goes 11-1, and OSU goes 10-2. I think that is much better than PSU, Michigan, and OSU all go 11-1. In the event of a loss, we'd rather OSU be completely eliminated and try to back in on the strength of a close road loss at PSU, assuming ACC, Pac12, and Big12 all devour themselves.
October 18th, 2023 at 12:28 PM ^
Nope.
To frame your rooting interests around the anticipation of a loss is pathetic. Be better. Think like a winner.
October 18th, 2023 at 12:55 PM ^
This x100
October 18th, 2023 at 12:30 PM ^
Broadly, the OSU program is way more of a threat to Michigan than the Penn State program. I will always pull for OSU's program to get chipped away at
October 18th, 2023 at 12:32 PM ^
I'm not too concerned about the outcome of that particular game because, in the bigger picture, we'll have to beat both PSU and OSU at some point. What really matters are the tiebreakers. If all three teams are tied at the end of the year, it will most likely come down to the fifth tiebreaker.
The records of the three (or more) teams will be compared based on the best cumulative conference winning percentage of non-divisional opponents.
We're pretty much screwed if that happens. We share two common opponents with Ohio State and Penn State has Iowa.
October 18th, 2023 at 12:37 PM ^
No. Next question....
October 18th, 2023 at 12:43 PM ^
Why? So a 1 loss OSU can back into a playoff spot again and Ryan Day can save face? Nope.
October 18th, 2023 at 12:47 PM ^
No; we should not support OSU.
October 18th, 2023 at 12:53 PM ^
Yes, probably pull for OSU to win for a few reasons:
1) playing at PSU will be hard, AND they probably would win the tiebreaker of common opponent record should PSU, OSU, UM all be 1-loss teams, given that Iowa seems to be rising to the top of the Big West trash heap
2) beating previously-unbeaten OSU at home would be delicious
3) in the case of us winning out, having PSU with 2 losses for their best team in a minute would also be delicious
October 18th, 2023 at 12:54 PM ^
Absolutely not. It's ridiculous to me that we have fans determining rooting interests on the idea of accommodating future, hypothetical losses.
1. Always root against OSU
2. Since we are going to beat both of them, you want PSU to be #1 when we beat them
3. Always root against OSU
Btw: I clicked on the OP just to neg anyone who said we should root for OSU. I just can't believe it. If OSU is playing, it's never even a meteor/asteroid/nuclear-flatulence situation. ALWAYS ROOT AGAINST OSU. Even lil' bro can beat em for all we care. No chivalrous "a good OSU is good for us" nonsense, either. 0–12 every year until they give up playing football. That's the rooting interest with regard to OSU football.
October 18th, 2023 at 1:00 PM ^
I'll be cheering for asteroid.
October 18th, 2023 at 1:02 PM ^
Somehow, I've worked it out in my mind to pull for OSU because it helps Michigan more. I know it's a small chance, but if PSU loses this weekend and somehow to Maryland, they'll have two losses and the game at PSU does not become a must win for us.
Also, OSU will have some doubt between the ears when they play us, regardless of this weekend. PSU will lose that doubt if they can knock off one of the "Big Two".
October 18th, 2023 at 1:08 PM ^
There are references to the Divisional Tiebreakers in the conference - and, one of those tiebreakers which may be engaged for a three way tie is the East Team's (Michigan, OSU, PSU) West Division's opponents' cumulative conference record.
Let's see how that looks - W/L reflect current West Division team's B1G conference record.
Michigan: Nebraska, Minnesota, and Purdue - combined conference record: 3-7
Ohio State: Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Purdue - combined conference record 4-6
Penn State: Illinois, Iowa, and Northwestern - combined conference record: 5-6
And, what is the remaining schedule for each of those West Division teams -with their current B1G conference record in parentheses.
Nebraska (1-2): Northwestern, Purdue, @ Michigan State, Maryland, @ Wisconsin, and Iowa.
Wisconsin (2-1): @ Illinois, Ohio State, @ Indiana, Northwestern, Nebraska, and @ Minnesota.
Minnesota (1-2): @ Iowa, Michigan State, Illinois, @ Purdue, @ Ohio State, and Wisconsin.
Purdue (1-3): Bye, @ Nebraska, @ Michigan, Minnesota, @ Northwestern, and Indiana.
Illinois (1-3): Wisconsin, Bye, @ Minnesota, Indiana, @ Iowa, and Northwestern.
Northwestern (1-2): @ Nebraska, Maryland, Iowa, @ Wisconsin, Purdue, and @ Illinois.
Iowa (3-1): Minnesota, Bye, Northwestern, Rutgers, Illinois, and @ Nebraska.
By the way - the total division B1G Conference records are: West: 10-14. East: 14-10.
October 18th, 2023 at 1:14 PM ^
This was completely covered in the other thread. No game result "helps" Michigan, since -- barring something unexpected -- Michigan must beat PSU and OSU to win the East. We have the worst of the cross-division opponents, record wise, so those two games are must-win for us.
As I said in the other thread, I am rooting for both teams to look awful, and hopefully exposing some clear weaknesses during the game.
October 18th, 2023 at 1:14 PM ^
I'd prefer that OSU loses so that when we beat them they are well and truly eliminated from any possible playoff discussion.
October 18th, 2023 at 1:25 PM ^
No. It doesn't matter. Michigan is virtually guaranteed to finish 3rd if they lose to either OSU or PSU because the tiebreaker would go to the combined record of our Big ten West opponents. Root for Wisky and Iowa to lose out and Nebraska to go undefeated. That's the only way we lose a game and still win the division.
October 18th, 2023 at 1:35 PM ^
I always go with Michigan and then chaos. I cannot bring myself to want OSU to win anything. That is a terrible lowering of barriers.
October 18th, 2023 at 1:41 PM ^
Rooting interest on which team we want to lose?
Both of 'em.
October 18th, 2023 at 1:48 PM ^
“No. No, man. Shit, no, man. I believe you'd get your ass kicked sayin' something like that, man.”
Lawrence in Office Space
October 18th, 2023 at 1:50 PM ^
Yes because it is more likely we beat OSU in AA than it is we beat PSU at their place. Simply put.
October 18th, 2023 at 1:55 PM ^
No. I want osu to lose every single game in every single sport from now to eternity.
October 18th, 2023 at 1:55 PM ^
Fuck no! Just like their matchup with Notre Dame, I’ll be rooting for a meteor.
October 18th, 2023 at 2:09 PM ^
I never pull for oHio.
October 18th, 2023 at 2:13 PM ^
I root for PSU. If we can't win the division I'd rather see PSU go to the playoffs.
October 18th, 2023 at 2:14 PM ^
Here's my two cents:
No.
October 18th, 2023 at 2:16 PM ^
I would like to see Ohio win to avoid PSU narrative that it is back which will bolster their recruiting.
October 18th, 2023 at 2:28 PM ^
I prefer michigan beating a 1 loss psu and then beating an undefeated osu, slightly more than beating an undefeated psu and then beating a 1 loss osu. But am super happy either way, of course. I am content that destiny picks.
October 18th, 2023 at 2:42 PM ^
I can never root for either of these teams. The best I can muster is indifference.
October 18th, 2023 at 2:49 PM ^
Not a chance in hell I’m pulling for OSU to win any game. OSU fans are insufferable pricks 24/7/365.
UM just needs to win its games, not rely on others.
October 18th, 2023 at 2:55 PM ^
Bottom line - James Franklin has proved year in and year out that he is a FRAUD.
October 18th, 2023 at 3:08 PM ^
Are you serious? I never whatever you just asked, and never will!!!! I never root for OSU in anything.
October 18th, 2023 at 3:15 PM ^
No. Never.
October 18th, 2023 at 3:40 PM ^
Hah. I phrased my answer exactly the same way before I saw yours. Thumbs up.
October 18th, 2023 at 3:18 PM ^
A 2-loss Ohio does not make the playoffs. Fuck them.
October 18th, 2023 at 3:37 PM ^
NO, a thousand times no!
October 18th, 2023 at 3:39 PM ^
The answer: No. Never.
October 18th, 2023 at 3:50 PM ^
HeeeEeelllLll No!
October 18th, 2023 at 4:36 PM ^
Intellectually, I get the argument and perhaps it makes sense.
But the extremely high chance of me choking on my own vomit and perishing makes it impossible for me to root for OSU for self-preservation. Sorry if that makes me a bad fan or something
October 18th, 2023 at 5:29 PM ^
Yes, and I also want the Yankees, Avs, Pens, Hawks, Jets, Bills and Pats to win also.
When Michigan State is not playing Michigan, I also want them to win.
I said it in the other thread, I'll say it here:
Michigan fans: "Why can't osu have RR/Hoke years?"
Q: Should we root for osu or _____
A: Some Michigan fans, "osu"
October 18th, 2023 at 7:19 PM ^
Personally I'll be rooting for tie with a lot of injuries.
October 18th, 2023 at 7:32 PM ^
I want to do it so we can knock them down farther, but I’m not sure I have it in me.
Also, I have a feeling this is penn state’s year. Osu looked dreadful against Notre dame and psu is better by a lot.