College Football

[RockyMountainWingGal 108]

What a weird year.

- Red Wings earn best regular season record, lose in playoffs.

- Pistons earn best regular season record, lose in playoffs.

- Tigers earn AL championship, lose Series.

- Wolverines win out but lose to OSU.

Been nothing but falling just short of the goal, all year. Thank God for the consistency of the Lions. They just suck.

Yes but imagine living somewhere where all of your teams suck all of the time, Philly? I really thought either the Tigers or Michigan would come through - oh well.

Not sure about rematch either. I think it's important for Michigan to win big in their bowl game - then they will surely wind up #2, assuming OSU wins. There is no good way for a rematch to play out: IF Michigan were to beat OSU in Arizona, that would mean each team was 12-1, with the loss to one another. I think OSU would at least share the NC in that scenario. Worst case is two losses to OSU in one season, something I don't think I would risk! Rose Bowl worries me because of our dismal record there. USC worries me too, because we suck against them. I'd like to play Cal maybe in the Rose.......Rutgers losing 3-20 as we speak.

Edited November 19, 2006 by RockyMountainWingGal

[mannysBETTER3434 1]

What a dissapointing lose. I really fell for Carr right now. OSU is the better team hands down. U-M blew some critical chances, but so did OSU. To bad our 2nd half D didn't show up in the 1st half.

The only good news I got out of this day was that I am going to the Rose Bowl if we get tickets. The hotels/travel is all set up.

I see right now Rugters is getting killed, and USC is losing. ND better not go to the title!

[BlakChamber 8]

So much for seeing Rutgers in Arizona.

OSU/Florida? Assuming Florida wins out

[gowingsgo 3]

OSU earned it. Tressell had a damn good game plan. Spreading UM out 4 and 5 wide all game took them out of their strength and then they got hit with 2 huge TD runs.

Michigan damn near pulled this one out, but the late hit was a stupid, stupid foul and probably cost them their chance to pull off the come from behind win.

I hope their is a rematch. I dont think anyone else out there can bring it like these two did today.

[Sting 11 0]

Being and alumnus and fan of a Big Ten also-ran, I'm hoping for ultimate chaos in the BCS, so much so that the drumbeat for a playoff becomes self-sustaining and unstoppable. I'm pulling for extreme controversy.

The two possible events that would cause maximum controversy, the way I see it, are:

1.) Michigan wins a rematch with OSU in the BCS Title Game.

or,

2.) Notre Dame wins out and goes to the title game, disregarding the fact that Michigan demolished them earlier in the year.

What scenarios do you guys see as being apt to create the most chaos?

[betterREDthandead 58]

Being and alumnus and fan of a Big Ten also-ran, I'm hoping for ultimate chaos in the BCS, so much so that the drumbeat for a playoff becomes self-sustaining and unstoppable. I'm pulling for extreme controversy.

The two possible events that would cause maximum controversy, the way I see it, are:

1.) Michigan wins a rematch with OSU in the BCS Title Game.

or,

2.) Notre Dame wins out and goes to the title game, disregarding the fact that Michigan demolished them earlier in the year.

What scenarios do you guys see as being apt to create the most chaos?

Well, I'm rooting for the least chaos, so that we never see a playoff ever. Ever.

But the ultimate chaos has been averted with Rutgers losing to Cincinnati. The max-controversy scenario would have been for Rutgers to win out, and then win a BCS bowl against someone like Florida. Meanwhile, the title game is a Michigan-OSU rematch. Then Michigan wins, causing a one-loss team that didn't win its conference to win the title over an unbeaten team from another BCS conference. It could have happened, because the voters very often carry their biases over from the beginning of the year. Rutgers could easily have been penalized for its name alone.

I think the two most likely scenarios are for Michigan or Florida to head to Glendale. I think Florida would be the least controversial, so that's what I'm pulling for. Don't want a rematch.

[mannysBETTER3434 1]

If ND beats USC next weekend, and Flordia loses to Arkanasas are we playing for a rematch?? ND should not be in the title, because A) we smoked them, and B) They play 2 hard games all year.

[timothy1997 0]

here is the way I see it.

---USC has the best chances in that they just have to win one more game to clinch it.

--Florida beats FSU and then Arkansas....and USC stumbles, they should be in.

--Arkansas. People forget that this team beats LSU and Florida, they have every right to claim for a National Championship Game berth.

--Notre Dame. They beat USC and the SEC ends in chaos, I think you have to give it to the Irish over Michigan. Notre Dame ended the year better than Michigan did. I also dont you award Michigan because they had their National Championship Game shot.

People can cry all they want for a playoff system but until the BCS's contract is due, this system is in place. I think the broadcasters made a good point yesterday in that if their was a playoff, michigan and ohio state would have rested all their starters similar to what NFL teams do in the last game of the season to avoid injuries entering the second season.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

I know a lot of Wolverine fans don't want to hear this, I don't like a game largely being decided by penalties/flags, but that helmet to helmet hit on Troy Smith was the right call to make. The refs will call it every time they see it and just because it was #1/#2 matchup doesn't make it different. I hate how the game result largely came to that but it has to be called.

I blew a gasket when Nebraska and Oklahoma each played for the National Championship in 2001 and 2003 when they didn't even win their conference titles. And, they both lost in the championship games, go figure. You'd be hard-pressed not to put USC in the title game against OSU if they beat Notre Dame and UCLA, or Florida if they can win at Florida State and the SEC Championship game against Arkansas., but if neither of those scenarios pan out, does Michigan get in the National Championship?

Think about it, there's no Louisville/Rutgers/West Virginia to worry about anymore, Michigan has pretty much taken care of business the whole season before losing to OSU, which is frustrating, yes, but nothing to be ashamed of in the grand scheme of things. USC and Florida already have 1 loss.

I'd take a 1 loss Michigan team in the title game over both USC and Florida if they both end up having 2 losses.

In other football action, I have to give a big to my alma mater for dominating in a game well under the radar. Nobody really watched it and understandably so, but TCU just thumped San Diego St 52-0. Their QB was 20-23, just under 300 yards passing, 5 TDs passing in only just over 2 quarters of work. I don't care who you play against, that's just damn good numbers in such a short amount of time. This after passing for under 100 yards last week, so an excellent rebound game. It wasn't too surprising that they won, but that they won so easily and with an insane passing attack that usually doesn't come with my school. My school usually tries to have a balanced offense, establishing a running game and opening up simple/short passes and play action calling. 8-2 now and hopefully closing in on a return to the Top 25 and a 2nd straight 10-win season.

Edited November 19, 2006 by SouthernWingsFan

[timothy1997 0]

changed my avatar for the new season too. GO GREEN!! GO WHITE!!

I will restate my season predictions picking the championship game and the 6 major conference champs.

ACC: Miami

BIG EAST: West Virgina

BIG 10: Ohio State

BIG 12: Texas

SEC: Auburn

PAC-10: USC

Ohio State defeats West Virgina in the National Championship game.

kinda cool to look back on early season predicts and see if you were right or wrong.

#1 Ohio State

#2 Florida

#3 LSU

#4 Notre Dame

#5 Texas

Don't be surprised if USC plays better than people expect. Its the system..not the players that make the team good.

Also Oklahoma will be back this year. 1-2 loss year from that team.

And I predict that Michigan will have a strong season. No Big Ten title but a solid Capital One Bowl berth. 3 loss season for the wolverines. Ohio State, Notre Dame and Michigan State.

Well, I did predict that Michigan would have a strong season. Just wrong on the number of losses.

[Hockeytown Red Wings 245]

That was an amazing experience....wow.

As for rematch? Please god no, I couldn't handle that again.

[eva unit zero 271]

USC winning out is the only scenario that should conceivably keep Michigan out of the title game.

Let's round out an evaluation of the top ten:

(1) OSU is undefeated and a unanimous #1 the past couple weeks.

(2) Michigan lost to (1) OSU in a close game.

(3) USC lost to (NR) Oregon State

(4) Florida lost to (11) Auburn

(5)Notre Dame and (9)Wisconsin lost to (2) Michigan.

(6) Rutgers lost to (NR) Cincinnatti

(7) Arkansas lost to (3) USC.

(8) West Virginia lost to (10) Louisville.

(10) Louisville lost to (6) Rutgers.

Right away, we must exclude ND and Wisconsin for losing to UM. Rutgers is out also, having lost to Cincinnatti, and with Rutgers out, you lose Louisville and following that WV as well.

So USC, Florida, or Arkansas are still left to consider. Arkansas lost to USC by a ridiculous margin, so they don't get in.

That leaves USC and Florida.

USC has an underwhelming loss to unranked Oregon State, but they' also laid a drubbing on top-ten Arkansas. If they win out, they probably get in by virtue of being a one-loss USC team.

A close loss to OSU and dominating performances in every other game-including two other top-ten teams--is a better performance than any other one-loss team has had this season. USC winning out, with big wins, is the only way to keep Michigan out of the title game.

[gowingsgo 3]

If the system is setup for the two best teams to play for it all, then a rematch is in place.

[betterREDthandead 58]

A playoff would have absolutely RUINED yesterday's game, before it even started.

[hockeyfanatic 0]

here is the way I see it.

---USC has the best chances in that they just have to win one more game to clinch it.

--Florida beats FSU and then Arkansas....and USC stumbles, they should be in.

--Arkansas. People forget that this team beats LSU and Florida, they have every right to claim for a National Championship Game berth.

--Notre Dame. They beat USC and the SEC ends in chaos, I think you have to give it to the Irish over Michigan. Notre Dame ended the year better than Michigan did. I also dont you award Michigan because they had their National Championship Game shot.

People can cry all they want for a playoff system but until the BCS's contract is due, this system is in place. I think the broadcasters made a good point yesterday in that if their was a playoff, michigan and ohio state would have rested all their starters similar to what NFL teams do in the last game of the season to avoid injuries entering the second season.

If USC, Florida, and Arkansas all went down, I don't think you could keep Michigan out. As much as I don't want a rematch, it just wouldn't make sense sending Notre Dame over Michigan, who had a tougher schedule and destroyed them in South Bend. I really don't want this scenario to play out, because regardless of the team that is sent, there will be controsoversy. Best case scenario: USC beats Notre Dame and goes to the championship.

[Lou_Siffer 1]

USC winning out is the only scenario that should conceivably keep Michigan out of the title game.

Let's round out an evaluation of the top ten:

(1) OSU is undefeated and a unanimous #1 the past couple weeks.

(2) Michigan lost to (1) OSU in a close game.

(3) USC lost to (NR) Oregon State

(4) Florida lost to (11) Auburn

(5)Notre Dame and (9)Wisconsin lost to (2) Michigan.

(6) Rutgers lost to (NR) Cincinnatti

(7) Arkansas lost to (3) USC.

(8) West Virginia lost to (10) Louisville.

(10) Louisville lost to (6) Rutgers.

Right away, we must exclude ND and Wisconsin for losing to UM. Rutgers is out also, having lost to Cincinnatti, and with Rutgers out, you lose Louisville and following that WV as well.

So USC, Florida, or Arkansas are still left to consider. Arkansas lost to USC by a ridiculous margin, so they don't get in.

That leaves USC and Florida.

USC has an underwhelming loss to unranked Oregon State, but they' also laid a drubbing on top-ten Arkansas. If they win out, they probably get in by virtue of being a one-loss USC team.

A close loss to OSU and dominating performances in every other game-including two other top-ten teams--is a better performance than any other one-loss team has had this season. USC winning out, with big wins, is the only way to keep Michigan out of the title game.

I agree with excluding Notre Dame, but not Arkansas. If they win out, they are more deserving than Michigan since they actually won their conference. That loss to USC was their first game of the year too, and theyve gotten better and better since. A 1 loss USC is also more deserving than Michigan if they win out...no question in my mind. So what if Michigan lost to a tougher team, hey who knows, maybe Michigan would lose at Oregon State too! We'll never know, however, the one fact we DO know is that Michigan had their chance....and LOST. No rematch, its just stupid. Another team deserves their chance now.

[Hockeytown Red Wings 245]

Yesterday was one of the best days of my life. Just an incredible atmosphere and a classic game. I thought Michigan played outstanding and if you told me we turned the ball over 3 times to Michigan's 0, I would've thought we lost.

I will have to watch the broadcast of the game to really say anything about it because the entire time my head was spinning and just screaming.

On an extremely positive not, I didnt see any disrespect or violence between Buckeye and Wolverine fans. I'm sure something happened somewhere but it seemed to be one of the most respectful clashes in awhile. There was a Michigan fan next to me and he was a good guy, we'd occasionally talk back and forth during the game, usually when he'd get upset I'd assure him that Michigan still had 3 or 4 dumb plays or penalties before they had caught with our dumb plays for the day.

As for a rematch, I think Michigan is definitely the second best team in the country, but at the same time, what was the point of this game if Michigan can lose and play us again to win it all. So, I dont know, they probably deserve it, but I dont want to play them again. I was a wreck all game and I dont think I could go through it again.

[mannysBETTER3434 1]

Call me arrogant, but U-M is the 2nd best team in the nation. Like I've said aton ND should not be in the title game because they have a cake walk schedule (besides U-M/USC), and got killed by U-M on their home turf. Arkansas shouldn't be in the title if they win out because they played a very weak non-conference schedule, and lost to USC by over 35 points. If you UF/USC wins out they should go to the title game. If they don't it should be U-M.

[BlakChamber 8]

All this talk of so and so plays a weak non-conference schedule is starting to get old. All teams do it. Besides ND, Michigan played Vandy, CMU, and Ball State. Real power houses right there. Is that really any better than Arkansas playing USC, Vandy, and a couple other cupcakes. ND's schedule isn't that weak.

I don't think the Irish should be in the national championship game personally. But I don't think you can really say that Michigan is head and shoulders above the rest of the one loss teams out there.

[Hockeytown Red Wings 245]

Well, on the basis of who is the best team of the rest, I definitely think it's Michigan.

[Lou_Siffer 1]

Hate to break it you some of you, but Michigan didnt exactly have a powerhouse schedule. The Big 10 is not strong this year...Iowa is bad, Penn St isnt good, and Wisconsin played NOBODY! The Badgers schedule is absolutely pathetic, I dont even call that a quality win for Michigan. The only meaningful win on for Michigan imo is Notre Dame and thats it. And the way you guys rip ND's schedule, is it really that huge a win then? You cant criticize ND but then tout Michigans win there as being huge...you cant have it both ways! Michigan has done nothing that illustrates they are any better than Florida, Arkansas, or USC.

[mannysBETTER3434 1]

I'm not saying U-M schedule is powerhouse, but if you compare it to ND's it is.

ND schedule- GT (hard game), U-M, MSU, Purdue, Stanford, UCLA, North Carolina, Navy, Army, Air Force, USC.

C'mon MSU, Ind, and Illonois would beat all those teams except GT, U-M, USC, and maybe UCLA

Michigan has done nothing that illustrates they are any better than Florida, Arkansas, or USC.

What has USC/ARK done to prove they are better then U-M? Nothing. I've said I'll give it Florida. They play a gruerling schedule, and only lost to Auburn.

[betterREDthandead 58]

Michigan has done nothing that illustrates they are any better than Florida, Arkansas, or USC.

Yes they have. Not lose to the crappy teams on our schedule. Arkansas's the only one on that list without a poor-quality loss. And even then, our loss is better than their loss.

[timothy1997 0]

Call me arrogant, but U-M is the 2nd best team in the nation. Like I've said aton ND should not be in the title game because they have a cake walk schedule (besides U-M/USC), and got killed by U-M on their home turf. Arkansas shouldn't be in the title if they win out because they played a very weak non-conference schedule, and lost to USC by over 35 points. If you UF/USC wins out they should go to the title game. If they don't it should be U-M.

How exactly is this a soft schedule. 4 teams in the top ten, 5 teams in the top 15. Plus Arkansas would have won the SEC championship.

Sat, Sep 2 (6) USC L 14-50 --

Sat, Sep 9 Utah State W 20-0 --

Sat, Sep 16 at Vanderbilt W 21-19 --

Sat, Sep 23 Alabama W 24-23 --

Sat, Oct 7 at (2) Auburn W 27-10 --

Sat, Oct 14 Southeast Missouri State W 63-7 --

Sat, Oct 21 Mississippi W 38-3 --

Sat, Oct 28 Louisiana-Monroe W 44-10 --

Sat, Nov 4 at South Carolina W 26-20 --

Sat, Nov 11 (13) Tennessee W 31-14 --

Sat, Nov 18 at Mississippi State W 28-14 --

Fri, Nov 24 (9) LSU 2:30 pm --

SEC Championship vs Florida.

[eva unit zero 271]

Polls are out, still waiting on computer rankings and new BCS.

Michigan stays at 2nd in AP, drops to third behind USC in Harris and USA Today--and barring a huge discrepancy in the computers, Michigan falls to third in overall BCS.

If Notre Dame beats USC, Michigan goes to Glendale and Wisconsin plays the Trojans in the Rose Bowl.

Man..Imagine if Wisconsin were to beat the Trojans?? We'd end up with three Big Ten teams in the final top five....