A couple of viewpoints after this weekend...

[Reality Man]

I don't see UW losing to Colorado. I think Washington is a better version of Colorado. It's always possible they lose but UW is a much more complete team. I see a 35-24 win.

I could see Clemson lose. I think they are slightly overrated. I am not saying Clemson will lose but I do think they have a better shot going down and people are still letting them live off their performance from last year. Will have to look at Va Tech a little more but Clemson could easily have another 1-3 losses. Not a bad team but definitely beatable.


Here is another way of looking at this home vs. road performance issue. If you are going to play on a neutral site then shouldn't you discount home and away performances by let's say 10% each way. So when looking at UM they aren't nearly as good on the road than they are at home.

Against Wisconsin they are probably in a tight game but win. Against Iowa they probably win convincingly. game. OSU they win a tight game on a neutral field. Maybe that is how the committee is looking at the relative performances that because UM was so dominant at home and so close on the road that they can still play well on a neutral field. Makes sense.

I have looked at it from the perspective that UM can't close on the road but would they probably close on a neutral field? I would lean to No since it didn't seem like the crowd impacted the players but more their own coaching play calls. The committee might see it differently.

If they were further ahead in the 4th qtr because of the neutral field against Iowa/OSU then they probably would win because the staff wouldn't be able to F it up. Neutral field means Speight connects on some of those passes and the wr's make the catch so the running game/coaches don't become an issue. Neutral field means OSU doesn't have their home scrimmage refs at the game. .

Still love the coaches. It's a reasonable assumption to make that UM should be in the top 4. Sorry MNL. The question is who are the best 4 teams on a neutral field. The negative is that you could also say who are the best 4 teams under pressure and thus UM would get left out.



RM

 

[ArrowheadBlue]

RM, what is your job, you know paying job?

 

[michnittlion]

Still love the coaches. It's a reasonable assumption to make that UM should be in the top 4. Sorry MNL. The question is who are the best 4 teams on a neutral field. The negative is that you could also say who are the best 4 teams under pressure and thus UM would get left out.



RM

I don't really care who the committee takes. It's just 11 dudes' (and 1 chick) opinion anyway. But I do stand by my bet that 2 B1G teams don't get in, regardless of what happens this week.

On another subject --- I saw San Jose State fired their coach and is now considering Tim Drevno. They seem to be trying to corner the market on one-time U-M assistant coaches out there

 

[Reality Man]

RM, what is your job, you know paying job?

Are you inferring that I don't make money? I assure you I do.

Let's just say I am very efficient. I have gone into my career previously in a broad manner. Here is all I can say about it.

1. Make about 350.00 to 400.00 hr
2. Self employed
3. Don't work full time
4. In front of computer all day (12 hrs)
5. Type fast so I can post and write quickly. Got a 'A' in typing in high school


And there you go. Today was somewhat busy. Had to work about 4-5 hrs today.



RM

 

[Reality Man]

I don't really care who the committee takes. It's just 11 dudes' (and 1 chick) opinion anyway. But I do stand by my bet that 2 B1G teams don't get in, regardless of what happens this week.

On another subject --- I saw San Jose State fired their coach and is now considering Tim Drevno. They seem to be trying to corner the market on one-time U-M assistant coaches out there

I will have you a straight up bet that if Washington or Clemson loses then two Big Ten teams will make it. What would be the alternative?

I will give you 3-1 odds that if both Washington and Clemson lose then 2 big teams will make it.

I will pay by sending cash directly to you...no fancy internet money exchange. You can do it that way.


RM


By the way PSU won't get it over UM but I could see Wisconsin leap frog UM. Listen to the head guy and it sure sounded like UM is right behind Washington. If Wiscy blows out PSU which I think could be a possibility I would probably take Wiscy over UM assuming one of Wash/Clem lose.

No way 3 BT teams make it. Politically unfeasible. Two teams definitely could because the SEC is down, Pac 12 and Big 12 aren't as good as the Big Ten who is universally accepted as the best conference this year.

One more thing MNL...here is what you are missing. I think the nation wants someone to beat Alabama and knock them off their perch and both OSU and UM bring something different. Even though UM would struggle against Alabama offensively they probably have enough on defense to keep it competitive. My .02 cts.

 

[Roady]

Alabama is IN....and will be seed #1

Washington or Clemson must lose to affect the Wolverine's chance of getting in the play off, I think.

Wisconsin, if conference champ and 12-1, might have a shot to pass OSU at 11-1 even given the head to head loss.

PSU with a conference win and two losses won't pass either Michigan nor Ohio State.

 

[GoBlue_since1985]

Alabama is IN....and will be seed #1

Washington or Clemson must lose to affect the Wolverine's chance of getting in the play off, I think.

Wisconsin, if conference champ and 12-1, might have a shot to pass OSU at 11-1 even given the head to head loss.

PSU with a conference win and two losses won't pass either Michigan nor Ohio State.

Wisci is a 2 lose team. Same record as UM.

 

[michnittlion]

I will have you a straight up bet that if Washington or Clemson loses then two Big Ten teams will make it. What would be the alternative?

I will give you 3-1 odds that if both Washington and Clemson lose then 2 big teams will make it.

I will pay by sending cash directly to you...no fancy internet money exchange. You can do it that way.

I'm not betting real American $$$ this time, those are being saved for a Bowl trip. I'll bet Rivals $$$ though! FYI, the currency exchange is 1 Rival $ = 0.000000000001 American penny.

For the record, my predictions, along with my predictions on Kirby Holcutt's "spinning explanations" when questioned on Sunday:

If Washington wins/Clemson loses ----- Alabama, OSU, Washington, Big XII Champ

If Washington loses/Clemson wins ----- Alabama, OSU, Clemson, Colorado

If Washington loses/Clemson loses ----- Alabama, OSU, Colorado, Big XII Champ

They'll "spin" Oklahoma as "Oklahoma went undefeated in conference play and has won 9 in a row, and we respect them as a conference champion, and honestly they'd be in had they played an easier OOC schedule --- the way they challenged themselves OOC, despite the 2 losses, is noteworthy."

They'll "spin" Oklahoma State as "Oklahoma State really only has 1 loss, the Central Michigan game was a referring mistake, they also beat Pittsburgh (who 2 other playoff contenders lost to) in OOC play, and we respect them as a conference champion, especially finishing the season with a road win at Oklahoma."

They'll "spin" Colorado as "Colorado may have lost head-to-head to Michigan but that was a road game and Liufau's injury played a significant role in that game. We were impressed with Colorado's just completed neutral-field victory over a top-tier team with their QB."

 

[jwanderson]

I'm not betting real American $$$ this time, those are being saved for a Bowl trip. I'll bet Rivals $$$ though! FYI, the currency exchange is 1 Rival $ = 0.000000000001 American penny.

For the record, my predictions, along with my predictions on Kirby Holcutt's "spinning explanations" when questioned on Sunday:

If Washington wins/Clemson loses ----- Alabama, OSU, Washington, Big XII Champ

If Washington loses/Clemson wins ----- Alabama, OSU, Clemson, Colorado

If Washington loses/Clemson loses ----- Alabama, OSU, Colorado, Big XII Champ

They'll "spin" Oklahoma as "Oklahoma went undefeated in conference play and has won 9 in a row, and we respect them as a conference champion, and honestly they'd be in had they played an easier OOC schedule --- the way they challenged themselves OOC, despite the 2 losses, is noteworthy."

They'll "spin" Oklahoma State as "Oklahoma State really only has 1 loss, the Central Michigan game was a referring mistake, they also beat Pittsburgh (who 2 other playoff contenders lost to) in OOC play, and we respect them as a conference champion, especially finishing the season with a road win at Oklahoma."

They'll "spin" Colorado as "Colorado may have lost head-to-head to Michigan but that was a road game and Liufau's injury played a significant role in that game. We were impressed with Colorado's just completed neutral-field victory over a top-tier team with their QB."

Maybe you're right but this injury thing? Where do you stop and how do you compare injuries? 2 of UM's best D players were out in the CO game, Charlton and Lewis, heck not just 2 of UM's best but those 2 are some of the best in the country. Mone was out. Lewis far better than Liufau and draft will show that. UM was winning when Liufau went out and one of those CO TDs was from their D. So should UM get higher scores for Speight being hurt against OSU? I doubt they did as it's not mentioned by any talking heads. Every team has injured players out every game. I Hear you and that looks like it might play into discussions. It's completely subjective however and you can't pick and choose who is critical and who is not. One thing is certain, if 3 and/or 4 lose OR both, the uproar will be significant as no one will agree on their "replacements" as so much of it will be subjective.