Michigan Football: Who Wolverines fans should root for this weekend

Since Michigan football is right in the heart of the race for the College Football Playoff, here is a guide to who you should root for this weekend.

When it comes to Michigan football, most fans are focused on one thing this weekend and that’s seeing the Wolverines beat Penn State. Yet, in the world of the College Football Playoff, there are lots of moving parts and many games that could end up affecting Michigan.

Of course, most believe that as long as Michigan football keeps winning, it will have nothing left to worry about when the College Football Playoff rolls around, however, there are still some scenarios that are worrisome for UM, such as Alabama finishing at 12-1, with a loss in the SEC Championship game.

So while it’s important for the Wolverines to take care of their own business, as a fan, here is a look at some of the other key games, with descriptions about how you should root for and why:

Alabama vs LSU

This is pretty simple. You want Alabama to win this game. Some might argue a loss by the Crimson Tide would be better, yet in my opinion, getting LSU eliminated from the picture is better for Michigan football. A loss to Alabama means the Tigers have no shot at making the playoff. At the same time, it makes Bama’s resume stronger, but hey, you can’t always get what you want.

Georgia vs Kentucky

In this one, you are going to want to pull for the Wildcats in what is the de-facto SEC East title game. One thing that worries me as a Michigan football fan is seeing Georgia run the table and beat Alabama to win the SEC again. If that happens, who is to say Bama won’t be the fourth-team in again, just like last season?

To avoid that, I’d rather see Kentucky knock out the Bulldogs. The Wildcats are a solid team, however, they can’t stand up toe-to-toe with the Crimson Tide quite like Georgia can. So it seems a Wildcats win is the best way to keep the SEC from getting two bids down the road.

Notre Dame vs Northwestern

This is one topic where I have changed my tune. A week ago, I was saying Michigan fans should cheer for Notre Dame to stay undefeated and preserve a good loss for the Wolverines. But now, I see things differently.

After Northwestern beat Wisconsin, the Wildcats, along with Iowa, became the two teams most likely to reach the Big Ten title game. If it is the Wildcats, then Michigan will want as strong an opponent as possible and upsetting the fourth-ranked team in the country would certainly improve the Wildcats resume.

On top of that, a one-loss Michigan team, with a Big Ten title in toe could have a very good argument against a one-loss Notre Dame squad that would be idle during championship week, so either way, cheer for Pat Fitzgerald and crew Saturday.

Nebraska vs Ohio State

I know, I know, Nebraska doesn’t seem like it has much chance of upsetting Ohio State, yet the Huskers are still a team you want to cheer for. On one hand, a loss by Ohio State could hurt Michigan’s chances of making the playoff, but at the same time, a win by the Huskers would mean UM could reach the Big Ten title game and win the East without even beating Ohio State.

If you didn’t know, as long as the Wolverines beat Indiana, Rutgers and Penn State, any loss by Ohio State prior to the Michigan game would give UM the division title.

Obviously, Michigan football fans want to see the Wolverines beat Ohio State, but how awesome would it be to have the division already clinched before The Game even starts? It seems unlikely, yet in college football, you just never know.