Michigan / Ohio State / Notre Dame

[Beaver-Stadium]

Two questions.

One:

If the last playoff spot was between a 11-1 Penn State and a 11-1 Notre Dame (with ND's loss being either @ USC unranked, @SYR unranked (yankee stadium), or @ NW 23-25/unranked.

Who do you think would get in ? With Stanford losing to Utah last night and with at least one more loss coming, I think that will diminish what was thought to be a very good win.

Both would have wins over Michigan, but PSU would have a MUCH better loss.

ND's best wins would be (team with at least 8 wins) 22-25 ranked VT, 19-25 ranked Stanford, 9-14 ranked MICH

ND's

DECENT / QUALITY WINS (TEAM WITH AT LEAST 7 WINS)

NW, SYR, USC

PSU' best wins would be (teams with at least 8 wins) 9-14 ranked MICH, 16-22 WISCONSIN, 23-25 IOWA( They have a good shot at 9-3 worst 8-4)

PSU's:

DECENT / QUALITY WINS (TEAM WITH AT LEAST 7 WINS):

MSU, MARYLAND, APP STATE, (IU ?, has a good shot at 7 wins, they have 5 now and would have to win 2 of 3 against MINN, MD, and PUR)


SECOND:

IF PENN STATE BEATS MICHIGAN, AND MICHIGAN WINS OUT AND BEATS OHIO STATE. THERE WOULD BE A THREE WAY TIE IN THE EAST.

With Michigan improving each week, I do not think they will lose to anyone else except (PSU and/or OSU)

What chance would you give Michigan to Beat OSU the last game of the year?

Based on tie breakers, it would come down to the best records of the teams each played in the division cross over:

PENN STATE:
WISCONSIN
IOWA
ILLINOIS

MICHIGAN:
NW
WISCONSIN
NEBRASKA

OSU:
NEB
PURDUE
MINN

This would be a very close call but would like PSU's chances since MICH/OSU would have to overcome NEB which might have 0/1 conference wins.

So if your Penn State you want to root FOR:
Wisconsin (EXCEPT when playing Michigan) , Iowa, and Illinois the rest of the way.

You want to root against:
Nebraska
Purdue
Minn
NW

 

[danvillenit]

PSU gets in over 11-1 ND.

 

[Big 0]

PSU gets in over 11-1 ND.

Nope, because the ND hype machine would put them in over Penn State.

 

[Beaver-Stadium]

Nope, because the ND hype machine would put them in over Penn State.

If they lost to say NW and then was able to beat FSU, SU, and USC. I think you would have a good argument. I think if they lost to SU or USC one of the last two weeks of the season, I would tend to disagree because there would not be enough time for the hype train to run if they lost later.

Just my two cents.

 

[danvillenit]

I agree ND is overhyped but there is no way the committee could justify it. PSU has a one point loss to a top 4 team and NDs loss would be to an unranked team.

 

[Safety Blitz]

Not being critical of others, but as an old fart with a feeble mind I don’t have enough spare brain cells to spend on “what if” games.
I’m going to enjoy the balance of the season as it plays out and see what happens —“enjoy” being the key word in that thought.

 

[fastlax16]

Depends how each looks down the stretch because this is a beauty contest. Root for Franklin to run up the score at every opportunity. Blowing out Wisconsin and Michigan would be helpful.

 

[BUFFALO LION]

Two questions.

One:

If the last playoff spot was between a 11-1 Penn State and a 11-1 Notre Dame (with ND's loss being either @ USC unranked, @SYR unranked (yankee stadium), or @ NW 23-25/unranked.

Who do you think would get in ? With Stanford losing to Utah last night and with at least one more loss coming, I think that will diminish what was thought to be a very good win.

Both would have wins over Michigan, but PSU would have a MUCH better loss.

ND's best wins would be (team with at least 8 wins) 22-25 ranked VT, 19-25 ranked Stanford, 9-14 ranked MICH

ND's

DECENT / QUALITY WINS (TEAM WITH AT LEAST 7 WINS)

NW, SYR, USC

PSU' best wins would be (teams with at least 8 wins) 9-14 ranked MICH, 16-22 WISCONSIN, 23-25 IOWA( They have a good shot at 9-3 worst 8-4)

PSU's:

DECENT / QUALITY WINS (TEAM WITH AT LEAST 7 WINS):

MSU, MARYLAND, APP STATE, (IU ?, has a good shot at 7 wins, they have 5 now and would have to win 2 of 3 against MINN, MD, and PUR)


SECOND:

IF PENN STATE BEATS MICHIGAN, AND MICHIGAN WINS OUT AND BEATS OHIO STATE. THERE WOULD BE A THREE WAY TIE IN THE EAST.

With Michigan improving each week, I do not think they will lose to anyone else except (PSU and/or OSU)

What chance would you give Michigan to Beat OSU the last game of the year?

Based on tie breakers, it would come down to the best records of the teams each played in the division cross over:

PENN STATE:
WISCONSIN
IOWA
ILLINOIS

MICHIGAN:
NW
WISCONSIN
NEBRASKA

OSU:
NEB
PURDUE
MINN

This would be a very close call but would like PSU's chances since MICH/OSU would have to overcome NEB which might have 0/1 conference wins.

So if your Penn State you want to root FOR:
Wisconsin (EXCEPT when playing Michigan) , Iowa, and Illinois the rest of the way.

You want to root against:
Nebraska
Purdue
Minn
NW

Michigan's loss to Notre Dame killed us in so many ways. Our only hope is to win out and win the Big Ten Championship Game. Even if we do, we still have to hope for either West Virginia or Notre Dame to lose. Both will trump us if both are undefeated (assuming both Clemson and the SEC Champ go undefeated).

Even if West Virginia loses and Notre Dame wins out, we'll have to hope that the Committee selects a 1 loss Penn State over a 1 loss Big 12 Champ or 1 loss SEC runner up.

Bottom line is SOMEONE has to beat Notre Dame, and we have to win the Big Ten for us to even have a snowball's chance. Right now, if Michigan beats Ohio State, and West Virginia and Notre Dame win out, your final 4 will be:

1.) Alabama
2.) Clemson
3.) West Virginia
3.) Notre Dame

 

[Grass]

I just hope we are actually having this conversation at the end of the year.

 

[PennStateNate]

I agree ND is overhyped but there is no way the committee could justify it. PSU has a one point loss to a top 4 team and NDs loss would be to an unranked team.

You can also say Notre Dame right now beat 3 ranked teams and PSU best win was Illinois.

That said, ND is winning out. They are a lot better then everyone on their schedule.
PSU is winning out also.

 

[Beaver-Stadium]

In reference to West Virginia, you do realize they still have to play @
Iowa State
Texas
OK ST

Plus have to play
OU
TCU
Baylor

Plus a big 12 Champ Game.

Not to be a homer but I see NO way they get through that with just 1 loss. They didn't look good against Kansa this week.

 

[PineIslandLion]

Two questions.

One:

If the last playoff spot was between a 11-1 Penn State and a 11-1 Notre Dame (with ND's loss being either @ USC unranked, @SYR unranked (yankee stadium), or @ NW 23-25/unranked.

Who do you think would get in ? With Stanford losing to Utah last night and with at least one more loss coming, I think that will diminish what was thought to be a very good win.

Both would have wins over Michigan, but PSU would have a MUCH better loss.

ND's best wins would be (team with at least 8 wins) 22-25 ranked VT, 19-25 ranked Stanford, 9-14 ranked MICH

ND's

DECENT / QUALITY WINS (TEAM WITH AT LEAST 7 WINS)

NW, SYR, USC

PSU' best wins would be (teams with at least 8 wins) 9-14 ranked MICH, 16-22 WISCONSIN, 23-25 IOWA( They have a good shot at 9-3 worst 8-4)

PSU's:

DECENT / QUALITY WINS (TEAM WITH AT LEAST 7 WINS):

MSU, MARYLAND, APP STATE, (IU ?, has a good shot at 7 wins, they have 5 now and would have to win 2 of 3 against MINN, MD, and PUR)


SECOND:

IF PENN STATE BEATS MICHIGAN, AND MICHIGAN WINS OUT AND BEATS OHIO STATE. THERE WOULD BE A THREE WAY TIE IN THE EAST.

With Michigan improving each week, I do not think they will lose to anyone else except (PSU and/or OSU)

What chance would you give Michigan to Beat OSU the last game of the year?

Based on tie breakers, it would come down to the best records of the teams each played in the division cross over:

PENN STATE:
WISCONSIN
IOWA
ILLINOIS

MICHIGAN:
NW
WISCONSIN
NEBRASKA

OSU:
NEB
PURDUE
MINN

This would be a very close call but would like PSU's chances since MICH/OSU would have to overcome NEB which might have 0/1 conference wins.

So if your Penn State you want to root FOR:
Wisconsin (EXCEPT when playing Michigan) , Iowa, and Illinois the rest of the way.

You want to root against:
Nebraska
Purdue
Minn
NW

An 11-1 PSU would be a lock to get in over an 11-1 ND, IMO, considering the “quality” of our loss vs who ND’s loss would be to.

 

[WestSideLion]

I just hope we are actually having this conversation at the end of the year.

Agreed. Penn State is 4-1. There is A LOT being assumed in this thread.

 

[Woodpecker]

Notre Dame entitlement wins out. They get special consideration for everything. This would be just one more.

 

[psulongago]

PSU gets in over 11-1 ND.

Unfortunately no, ND gets in because they are ND, unfair, but that's the way it is.

 

[Beaver-Stadium]

Unfortunately no, ND gets in because they are ND, unfair, but that's the way it is.

I don't see this being the case like it used to because wouldn't the conferences indirectly push for their conference champion or a second team in their conference?

This is an area where not being in a conference very well could hurt.

Remember NBC has the TV contract with ND NOT ESPN or FOX.

 

[danvillenit]

There has been a lot of discussion about ND needing to be undefeated since they don’t have championship game. I don’t think the committee is biased towards ND like the national media. I would take a bet that a one loss ND does not get in

 

[BUFFALO LION]

In reference to West Virginia, you do realize they still have to play @
Iowa State
Texas
OK ST

Plus have to play
OU
TCU
Baylor

Plus a big 12 Champ Game.

Not to be a homer but I see NO way they get through that with just 1 loss. They didn't look good against Kansa this week.

Yep! Three of those teams have already been beaten by Big Ten teams (Texas, TCU, Iowa State), they get Oklahoma at home, Baylor sucks, and Oklahoma State got boot stomped by a team that West Virginia already beat (Texas Tech). Could very easily happen.

On the flip/positive side, it will be hard to beat Oklahoma two weeks in a row if WVU stays undefeated to the Championship Game. But if they somehow DO go undefeated up to the Championship Game, and LOSE, not only will that knock them out, but you can then kiss the rest of the Big 12 as a whole goodbye also. Their Champion will most likely then have at least two losses.