To root for BIG teams or not, that is the question
- Thread starter RUich
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Is ESPN still negotiating the contract renewal? Every loss is likely magnified by them. Define "romps". If it means double digit losses, then only Michigan is expected to lose in a good game based on the betting lines. The B1G has only three ranked teams in the preseason polls, tied with the ACC and Big 12 and less than the SEC (8) and Pac-12 (6). The SEC and Pac-12 will each get a team in the playoffs unless one (or both) conference tanks. That means the B1G, ACC, B12, and Notre Dame are playing for the other two spots. Two of the projected top three teams in the B1G West are playing in those games listed (TCU at Minnesota, Wisconsin vs Alabama). You could also make a case that Nebraska has a tough game against BYU.
With that said, there are always at least 8 teams who enter the season ranked and finished unranked (last year was a typical year where 10 finished unranked: #3 Oklahoma, #9 South Carolina, #11 Stanford, #13 LSU, #17 Notre Dame, #20 Texas A&M, #22 Nebraska, #23 North Carolina, #24 Texas, and #25 Washington). People won't remember the preseason rankings by midseason, so losing to a preseason top 10 isn't the same as losing to a midseason top 10.
Hypothetical scenario.
It's the last week of the season. Rutgers has gone bananas and we're 10-1 with a loss to Michigan State. Yes, we even beat the Buckeyes, who turned around and beat the Spartans. Three way tie for 1st at 6-1 in the eastern division into the final weekend. Rutgers beats up on Maryland at noon, OSU loses a 3:30 tilt at Michigan, while Michigan State hosts Penn State at 8 PM EST. If the Nits pull off the upset, we go to the B1G title game.
Who are you rooting for?
If it CLEARLY benefits us, I would definitely root for TTFCV.
I'm all about Rutgers. Everything else is a distant 2nd.
Yes, of course root for the B1G except if you hate a program or 2. I enjoy watching B1G football and will continue rooting for the programs I enjoy. Nothing beats a harsh/cold weather game in late October, November. The track meets in the South are not for me.
My view is that until we are in a position to compete for a high national ranking, we are much better off if B1G teams lose so that relative to other respective B1G teams, we are the more attractive bowl candidate. There is no other issue at this point in our development.
I hate every division foe in the B1G east. Rutgers is the only college team I will ever pull for. As the old Texas A&M fan responded when asked who was his second favorite team..."whatever team Texas is playing this week".
The SEC or Pac-12 are no more likely than the Big Ten to get teams into the playoffs this year. In case you didn't notice, two of the ranked B1G teams check in at #1 and #5/6.
It's also exceptionally unlikely that all 5 conference champions plus Notre Dame finish undefeated or with 1-loss. Odds are that more than one of them will be arguing why their 2+ loss champion deserves to be in.
Well, this year, the only way we get into the playoff would to be undefeated. And even if PSU, MSU, Mich, OSU are not in the top 10, we would still make it because would have also beaten Wisc and Neb.
Since those schools mentioned have been dipping heavy into NJ- let them have a bad year or two.
Since those schools mentioned have been dipping heavy into NJ- let them have a bad year or two.
We have a playoff system now. Everyone controls their own fate through conference championship games. Just win. Death to all that oppose us.....
......unless it's already bowl season. [cheers] Then I wish (most) conference comrades the best.
......unless it's already bowl season. [cheers] Then I wish (most) conference comrades the best.
That School Up North. It's the Ohio State nickname for Michigan. (Meat-chicken)
That School Up North. Instead of referring to them as "Michigan", Woody Hayes always called them "That School Up North"
As a Hawkeye fan, I say always root for Iowa. After all, we need all the help we can get. Seriously though I root for "most" of the B1G in OOC. I find it hard to cheer for a couple of teams but that's just because of some fans/coaches or some such thing. It's always good for the conference for the conference to win. Better bowl games and more money!
Allow me to sum up my rooting interests:
1. ALWAYS root for Rutgers to win every game, for life.
2. Root for any team to win a specific game, if doing so directly benefits Rutgers B1G/National Championship eligibility and/or bowl standing.
3. Root for all B1G brethren to win all their OOC games, EXCEPT
4. Root for TTFP to lose all of their games (unless Situation 2 applies)
5. As a final bonus, root for Syracuse to be forever miserable in losing all their games and creeping closer to Canada [winking]
1. ALWAYS root for Rutgers to win every game, for life.
2. Root for any team to win a specific game, if doing so directly benefits Rutgers B1G/National Championship eligibility and/or bowl standing.
3. Root for all B1G brethren to win all their OOC games, EXCEPT
4. Root for TTFP to lose all of their games (unless Situation 2 applies)
5. As a final bonus, root for Syracuse to be forever miserable in losing all their games and creeping closer to Canada [winking]
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I sort of rooted for PSU against Boston College last year. I mean, come on, it's freakin Boston College.
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Of course you root for them, except PSU and MD.
Those are local teams who we will recruit against year in and year out, and their success compared to ours will have some impact on that. I think particularly MD.
The others either dont recruit against us (basically everyone BUT Michigan and OSU) or are such big names, that the few players we do both recruit are not likely to be all that influenced by a given years results.
On the other hand, us beating good teams can only help us. And hell, even LOSING to good teams is better than losing to bad ones for perception.
You are all making too much out of these early games.
Yes, it would be good if the Big Ten fared well this weekend
but it is not tragic if they do not.
Big Ten teams started the 2014 season 1-10 in games against
out of conference Power 5 opponents
(We all know the team that supplied the only win)
And in those first three weeks they also had losses to Central Michigan,
Bowling Green, and Northern Illinois.
But the Big Ten finished strong
And the B1G East was 5-1 in the Bowls including tOSU beating Alabama
and Oregon to claim the NCAA Championship
Yes, it would be good if the Big Ten fared well this weekend
but it is not tragic if they do not.
Big Ten teams started the 2014 season 1-10 in games against
out of conference Power 5 opponents
(We all know the team that supplied the only win)
And in those first three weeks they also had losses to Central Michigan,
Bowling Green, and Northern Illinois.
But the Big Ten finished strong
And the B1G East was 5-1 in the Bowls including tOSU beating Alabama
and Oregon to claim the NCAA Championship
That may or may not be true but just the fact Michigan currently has 3 top 10 NJ recruits means I want them to lose.
I'm an always root for your conference unless it's TTFP guy.
Michigan has gone 46-42 (5-7/7-6/8-5/11-2/7-6/5-7/3-9) over the past 7 seasons and still can get pretty much who they want from not just NJ, but a whole bunch of states. Not sure losing to Utah changes that all that much.
Michigan has gone 46-42 (5-7/7-6/8-5/11-2/7-6/5-7/3-9) over the past 7 seasons and still can get pretty much who they want from not just NJ, but a whole bunch of states. Not sure losing to Utah changes that all that much.
Dude Randy is about as clean as they come. he is a lot of things, but dirty is last thing I would call him.
I say you pick one team you despise and that's it. I root for Rutgers!
Penn State is the lowest form of fan base, so toast to their failure every day.
THE DAY I ROOT FOR PENN STATE IS THE DAY THEY PLAY THE TALIBAN!
I have competing interests in who I root for. One is dictated by the conference in which we reside and wanting it to the best; the other is the quality of the fanbases within the conference and my experience with them, and whether I'd like them to be miserable or not. A third factor, which permeates all interests, is who we recruit against.
So here is what I want to see happen this weekend:
Michigan at Utah - Slightly pulling for Michigan. Would have been a heavier UM lean but Harbaugh has too much mojo in recruiting, and that would be offset by some key losses.
TCU at Minnesota - Totally pulling for Minny.
Stanford at Northwestern - Northwestern all the way
Alabama vs Wisconsin in Dallas - Alabama, due to Wisky's fans being the biggest dickheads I have ever encountered anywhere, ever.
Ohio State at Virginia Tech - tOSU; they anchor the conference, and an early loss would be terrible.
So here is what I want to see happen this weekend:
Michigan at Utah - Slightly pulling for Michigan. Would have been a heavier UM lean but Harbaugh has too much mojo in recruiting, and that would be offset by some key losses.
TCU at Minnesota - Totally pulling for Minny.
Stanford at Northwestern - Northwestern all the way
Alabama vs Wisconsin in Dallas - Alabama, due to Wisky's fans being the biggest dickheads I have ever encountered anywhere, ever.
Ohio State at Virginia Tech - tOSU; they anchor the conference, and an early loss would be terrible.
I got drunk enough at the 2010 ( I think ) usf game to bring us back. 3 scores in 9 minutes and at least some of that was on me
Rutgers benefits when their opponents win games against teams besides Rutgers, because, those wins improve Rutgers Strength Of Schedule,
Rutgers rankings, Rutgers TV ratings, Rutgers gate receipts and Rutgers bottom line in general, which leads to improved facilities for Rutgers and better recruiting for Rutgers.
Rutgers also benefits when B1G teams win games against non-B1G teams for the same reasons.
While Rutgers may recruit more often against other B1G programs than they do against non-B1G programs, Rutgers still benefits from B1G teams being undefeated in OOC play, because, there are 114 FBS programs outside the B1G that Rutgers gets an advantage over when the B1G is perceived as the best conference in college football.
Think B1G, B1G, B1G...
I root for B10 unless its the week we play them OR a loss helps our cause in the standings.
GO RU!
GO RU!
I want every team we play to be ranked as high as possible when we meet.
Anyone we beat we should root for, it only helps us with strength of schedule.
Anyone we beat we should root for, it only helps us with strength of schedule.
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