What Are Our Rooting Interests Tomorrow?
Aside from the obvious (rooting for Michigan to win), what losses by other teams would help to strengthen Michigan's CFB Playoff odds this weekend? I'm thinking:
- Texas over TCU
- Washington over Oregon
- Mizzou over Tennessee
- Arkansas over LSU
Anything I'm missing or mistaken on?
November 11th, 2022 at 2:28 PM ^
Maryland and Illinois. I know people want to see chaos in the west but a ranked Illinois is good. I doubt Maryland will get into the top 25 but improving standing is good.
November 11th, 2022 at 2:35 PM ^
I think once UM beats Illinois and they become a three loss team, it doesn't really matter if they are a four loss team by losing to Purdue. For that reason, I am cheering for Purdue and Wisconsin tomorrow to make it more likely that if Michigan does get to the B1G title game, it won't be a rematch.
November 11th, 2022 at 3:59 PM ^
All of this focus on how other teams' performances will affect our ratings smacks of abject pessimism. When we beat OSU and win the Big Ten title, we will go into the Final Four. By parsing our chances should we lose to OSU, we are devoting our energy to a negative result.
I see us being 13-0, and at that point we'll see who we play in the first round of the CFP.
November 11th, 2022 at 8:07 PM ^
It would be nice to avoid a first round matchup with Georgia in the playoff again… so I’m all for good SoS, to the extent that can change at this point.
November 11th, 2022 at 5:05 PM ^
I disagree that it doesn't matter if Illinois has three or four losses. In the case of the former, they're a top 25 team to the committee, they aren't with four regular season losses. So that certainly makes a difference in the perception of our schedule difficulty. It's a real shame Illinois didn't beat MSU for so many reasons, but them being a comfortably ranked team is one of them.
I think you want a rematch if it's against the best team in the West because it again boosts SoS. Besides, isn't there a good chance that if it's not Illinois, its...Iowa again anyway?
The general rule is not to root for a team you didn't play to beat a team you do play, and this makes rooting for Illinois pretty easy in this one, IMO.
November 12th, 2022 at 12:44 AM ^
We want Illinois to win, otherwise our game is do or die for them. If they win, they clinch for all intents and purposes, and can hopefully not treat our game that seriously.
November 11th, 2022 at 2:35 PM ^
Illinois I agree. Only issue with Maryland winning is that gives another loss to PSU which is our current best win. I don't think anyone respects the Maryland win all that much anyway so would probably be better for PSU to continue to look good.
November 11th, 2022 at 2:46 PM ^
Agree on this. We want a 10-2 PSU.
November 11th, 2022 at 4:17 PM ^
Also agreed -- although I will take a minute to note how stupid it is that this matters, since we beat both teams ... either way our strength of schedule should not get better or worse based on the result
November 11th, 2022 at 5:08 PM ^
You can't think of it as an aggregate over their overall teams values (3+3 = 2+4)
You have to think of it more like Yahtzee.
We have the win over mediocre team already covered on our score sheet, we don't need more wins over mediocre teams, there are way more slots for "wins over good teams" left on our score sheet that we can pencil in, we want PSU to fill one of those, especially since we have none if we remove PSU (atm).
November 12th, 2022 at 8:09 AM ^
Yep. PSU has no shame losing to the number 2 and 3 teams in the country. Even if the number 2 teams score didn’t indicate how close it was, as opposed the gargantuan ass kicking the number 3 team put on them.
November 11th, 2022 at 3:53 PM ^
Agree with that. I was lazy and didn't look up the schedule of Maryland.
November 11th, 2022 at 6:14 PM ^
I would like to see Maryland look good enough to provide at least as much of a challenge to OSU as Illinois does to us, so the Buckeyes don't have the additional advantage of being more rested.
November 11th, 2022 at 7:10 PM ^
Eh, I’d rather have a 10-2 PSU top ten win than see Maryland win again.
November 11th, 2022 at 2:28 PM ^
Ole Miss over Bama just to be sure even though they STILL might be just outside the top 10 and ESPN will somehow spin the narrative that it is a "good" loss for Bama
November 11th, 2022 at 2:44 PM ^
Better to have Bama beat Miss.both would have 2 losses.A 1 loss Michigan gets in over a 2 loss Miss.and a 2 loss Bama.A
November 11th, 2022 at 3:02 PM ^
I sure hope so, but IMO it definitely looks like the committee is really itching to punish Michigan for its OCC.
November 11th, 2022 at 3:55 PM ^
i didn't watch the whole playoff show or chart it out, but SEC teams they showed good winS, and other teams they only showed key win.
November 11th, 2022 at 5:43 PM ^
Committee has no credibility when they put Clemson over UM. Nothing to do with OOC. They are going to do what they want to do and will find a narrative that fits decision. Remember that year they left B1G conference champion out, even though it is on top of their criteria? It is what it is. They all sound like politicians, spinning everything.
November 11th, 2022 at 6:56 PM ^
But the B1G champions had 2 losses and one loss was by 45 points. Psu didn't deserve to get in.
November 11th, 2022 at 8:26 PM ^
Forget it, he's rolling.
November 11th, 2022 at 6:16 PM ^
Mississippi will likely get beaten in the SEC CCG, so they will have a second loss.
The more often Alabama and other recruiting rivals go down, the better.
November 11th, 2022 at 2:29 PM ^
everyone to lose but us cuz fuck em all
November 11th, 2022 at 2:35 PM ^
this is the correct answer.
November 11th, 2022 at 5:30 PM ^
this guy gets it.
November 11th, 2022 at 2:29 PM ^
Colorado over USC but that's really unlikely
November 11th, 2022 at 2:51 PM ^
I have Colorado and 34.5 points. The money line wasn't even an option.
November 11th, 2022 at 2:42 PM ^
I probably haven't done enough homework on the topic, but I've decided my non-Michigan rooting interests lie with Utah and whomever is playing Clemson.
November 11th, 2022 at 2:42 PM ^
Mississippi State over Georgia, I don't think it will happen but we wouldn't mind that either.
Also, as funny as Indiana over OSU would be, idk that we actually WANT it to happen from a CFP perspective. If OSU loses that one, we'd want them to drop to drop the following week to Maryland as well to guarantee our spot in the B1G championship regardless of the outcome of The Game. If we're both undefeated going into The Game there are arguments to be made for the loser of that game to make the CFP no matter what.
November 11th, 2022 at 4:12 PM ^
But still rooting for Indiana because OSU losing would be absolutely hilarious. And of course...
November 11th, 2022 at 2:43 PM ^
Let us not forget to include the eternal and forever other team to root for: this week it is Navy
Also, Louisville (though they are recruiting well and long term that is a bother).
November 11th, 2022 at 2:43 PM ^
Root for Georgia and Alabama to lose, any other 1 or 2 loss SEC team to lose (one can dream of a 0 SEC playoff)
It probably hurts our strength of schedule but I always root for Ohio State to lose. At the very least it would stop them from getting in if we gave them that 2nd loss.
November 11th, 2022 at 4:40 PM ^
Plus ruins their Rose Bowl bid. Fuck Ohio.
November 11th, 2022 at 2:47 PM ^
We do not want Ark over LSU. I could 100% see the committee giving 2 loss bama a spot to go along with 1 loss UGA if bama were to win the SEC championship...
But.... they could probably do the same thing with a 2 loss LSU.
November 11th, 2022 at 3:00 PM ^
They will 100% do the same with a 2-loss SEC champ LSU.
November 11th, 2022 at 4:06 PM ^
Alabama cannot win the SEC unless LSU loses *both* of their remaining conference games. So there isn't much of a chance of that happening
Also worth noting that it will be pretty cold (around 40 degrees) in both Fayetteville and Starkville. Not exactly the same as playing in Madison in late November, but it could be a factor for LSU and Georgia
November 11th, 2022 at 2:53 PM ^
Rational me agrees with your picks.
Irrational chaotic aspect wants to see Indiana upset Ohio State and most of all Iowa win so that it sets up the possibility that Iowa could win the BigTen West thereby ensuring the Ferentz reign in Iowa goes on.
November 11th, 2022 at 7:13 PM ^
Except I don't really want to play them again in the championship game.
November 11th, 2022 at 2:55 PM ^
I'm torn on TCU. If we win out and get the 2 seed, facing TCU as an undefeated 3 seed would be a pretty good matchup for us. On the other hand, if we want a chance to squeeze in with a loss to OSU, we need TCU to lose.
November 11th, 2022 at 5:20 PM ^
Not necessarily, but if TCU goes undefeated and we have 1 loss then we would need Tennessee to lose again and a 2 loss PAC-12 winner. We might even need another loss from the likes of Clemson and UNC. The committee might still favor a 1 loss conference champion no matter who it is. I don’t like our chances if it’s us or Tennessee.
Too many variables any way you look at it right now. Beat OSU.
November 11th, 2022 at 2:56 PM ^
I’ll be rooting for the Rutgers
November 11th, 2022 at 3:23 PM ^
Because fuck Sparty...
Right on!!!
November 11th, 2022 at 2:58 PM ^
A Texas win bolsters Alabama and in turn, LSU and Tennessee, which the committee craves. So I'd rather see TCU stomp them.
Definitely rooting for UW to suddenly get good at football and beat Oregon, which further helps to chip away ever so slightly the talk of how great the SEC is.
Mizzou over Tennesee will take a miracle, but would sure help a 1-loss Michigan/OSU to get in the CFP. And the same for an Arkansas win.
Now just imagine how much more likely it would be to see Alabama/LSU/Tennessee or even UGA to pick up another loss if they played 9 conference games.
November 11th, 2022 at 3:06 PM ^
Kudos on the Rutger mention. But not enough love for Indiana so far. Slipping.
November 11th, 2022 at 3:09 PM ^
My main rooting interests this weekend:
M football steamrolls Nebraska
M men's hoops pounds EM(oni)U
Zags stomp on Izzo
TB12 beats Pete Carroll in Germany
November 11th, 2022 at 7:35 PM ^
Gonzaga sucks
November 11th, 2022 at 9:02 PM ^
1 down. 3 to go
November 11th, 2022 at 3:16 PM ^
Root for me.
November 11th, 2022 at 6:20 PM ^
I'm rooting for you.
Now go get 'em, Tiger.