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MSU ranked ahead of U-M in one poll, behind Wolverines in another
Michigan's TV ratings appealing to bowls
So where will Michigan, Michigan State go bowling?
Michigan's hopes of landing a berth in a BCS bowl received a giant boost this afternoon.

And that means Michigan State's chances of falling to the fourth Big Ten bowl dropped significantly.

The Wolverines jumped from 16th to 12th in the latest USA Today coaches poll. That poll counts for one-third of the BCS equation. The other thirds are the Harris media poll and a compilation of computer rankings.

To qualify for a BCS bowl, the Wolverines (10-2) need to finish in the top 14 of the BCS standings, which will be announced 8:15 tonight on ESPN.

Last week, the Wolverines were 16th in the BCS standings (16th in the USA Today poll, 16th in the Harris poll and 15th by the computers).

Michigan profited in the coaches poll by several teams' failures, especially Houston's. The Cougars fell from sixth to 17th by losing their first game, to Southern Mississippi.
Three other teams ahead of the Wolverines in the last poll fell behind after losses: Michigan State, from ninth to 13th; Oklahoma, from 11th to 19th; and Georgia, from 14th to 18th. Plus, no team behind the Wolverines moved ahead of them, despite victories. TCU and Baylor had impressive victories, but each moved up only two spots, from 17th to 15th for TCU and 18th to 16th for Baylor.

A noted BCS analyst, Jerry Palm of CBSSports.com, estimated today that Michigan would finish 12th in the computer rankings. He figures that Houston, Oklahoma, Georgia and Baylor fell will behind U-M from the last ranking and only Wisconsin will move ahead.

So which BCS bowl do the Wolverines figure to land? The Sugar Bowl, to be played Jan. 3 in New Orleans, could be the best bet. In the USA Today poll and Palm's projects, Alabama holds off Oklahoma State for the No. 2 in the BCS rankings. That means Alabama would play LSU in the BCS championship game, and an SEC team would be unavailable for the Sugar Bowl. That bowl would receive the first pick of at-large teams – the money pick to sell the most tickets and draw the highest TV ratings. Pundits think that's U-M's entry into the BCS bowl picture, helped by the fact the team has been generally bad the past three seasons.

If U-M, indeed, lands a BCS bowl, MSU's prospects improve for Jan. 2 bowl. In the Big Ten, Wisconsin will go to the Rose Bowl and then the Capital One Bowl (Jan. 2 in Orlando) has the next pick. With the Badgers and Wolverines out of the picture, the Cap One would choose between Nebraska (10-2) and MSU (10-3). MSU went to the Cap One last year and has been to Orlando three of the last four seasons. Nebraska, of course, is new to the Big Ten bowl sites.

The Outback Bowl (Jan. 2 in Tampa) selects next. The fourth pick among Big Ten-affiliated bowls goes to the Insight (Dec. 30 in Tempe, Ariz.). The Cap One and Outback pit Big Ten teams against SEC teams. The Insight pits the Big Ten against the Big 12.

MICHIGAN IN THE SUGAR BOWL !!!!!

GOOD LUCK UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA (YER GONNA NEED ALOT OF IT). Joe Tiller was right, this guy is SNAKE OIL SALESMENT LIKE RICH RODRIGUEZ WHO VIOLATED NCAA RULES AT HIS LAST TWO COACHING GIGS IS BEYOND ME...I DIDN'T REALIZE ARIZONA UNIVERSITY WAS SO HARD UP.

Rich Rodrigquez on why his defense was so bad (during a press conference) basically said, "Gee, I can't really keep track of what the defense is doing, it's hard enough just keeping the offense going.." - REALLY?! AREN'T YOU THE HEAD COACH RICH RODRIGUEZ?

I AM SOOOOOO GLAD YOU ARE

INFAMOUS RICH RODRIQUEZ QUOTATIONS - ENJOY ArizOna!

"If I still aspire to call plays and be involved in the offensive planning or special-teams planning, there is only so many hours in the day.
I want to know what we're doing defensively and have some input. I can give them two cents' worth. I hope it's worth more than that."

Chances are good that Michigan receives BCS bowl bid
2:15 PM, Dec. 4, 2011 | 15 Comment

Detroit Free Press Staff

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