...at least by one metric. Which is the metric we should definitely use because it exonerates Michigan. And by "exonerates" I mean "doesn't really exonerate at all."In the aftermath of that whole Appalachian State thing -- I think Michigan might have lost or something -- many called the upset the greatest of all time. It may well be by certain definitions: Michigan is the only ranked team to ever drop a game to a I-AA foe and the first top 5 team to drop out of the top 25 entirely after an opening week loss. By any definition of the term "good," Appalachian State was not good. But the Apps were only a 22-23 point underdog, depending on who you listen to.
Syracuse, on the other hand...
The Orange was a 37-point underdog to the Cards, according to oddsmakers.This would appear to be the biggest spread overcome in the history of college football. Other contenders:
In 1998, an 0-5 Temple team beat 5-0 Virginia Tech 28-24 as a 36-point underdog. That game is usually cited as the biggest upset of the past 10 years, point-spread wise.So, all right! Michigan blowing it against Appalachian State isn't even within two touchdowns of the biggest upset ever! This makes me feel much, much better about everything! I am not lying about this in any way!
A 1985 game in which Oregon State beat Washington 21-20 is often considered the largest point-spread upset. Oregon State was anywhere from a 36 to a 38-point 'dog, depending on which line you use.
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Which begs the question:
If Michigan was a top 5 team, and App State is in D-1AA, why was the spread only 23 points? Shouldn't it have been much, much higher?
No, a better question would be why Syracuse was a 37 point underdog. Syracuse is bad, but Louisville's defense hasn't stopped anyone this year. What made Vegas think they would this time? You can have all the Brian Brohms in the world, but if you can't at least stop the opposing offense a few times, you're never going to blow teams out.
Actually, there was no point spread for the Michigan - App. State game. There's no way oddsmakers would give a line between a Top 5 team versus one from the 1-AA. And remember, Louisville had already lost one game coming into last week's contest.
Good call. I thought of that after I submitted my comment. Louisville's offense will be fine under Kragthorpe, but he needs to get a defense there quickly. No way they should be 30+ point underdogs to anybody right now (and that was evident before last Saturday).
Im so glad louisville is gettin what they deserve!! They need 2 loose to be put back in their places. And to App. State way to go. Michigan sux. GO BUCKS
I was in Vegas during the Michigan game and they told me that they didn't have a line for the Appalacian St. game because it was between a Championship Series and a Sub-Division Series team, and they don't take odds for Sub-Division games...
The biggest disparity between point spread and outcome? 1997, Texas -9 vs. UCLA...score: UCLA wins 66-3, a 72 point disparity. I challenge anyone to find one even close.
MICHIGAN SHOULD DEFINITELY WIN HIS ONE. DOES APP STS LOSS TO WOFFORD MAKE WOFFORD BETTER THAN MICH?
POINT SPREADS MEAN NOTHING IN THIS DAVID & GOLIATH MATCHUP!! IF ND DIDNT PLAY NAVY, THEY WOULDNT WIN A GAME THIS YEAR
App. State defeat of Michigan is like Buster Douglas beating Mike Tyson in their heavyweight fight in Tokyo. The other upsets are like the Jets beating the Colts in Super Bowl III.
I'm inclined to side with the Syracuse upset of Louisville as among the biggest ever.
I know the Cards have no defense, but that game, on paper, was an absolute rout. Syracuse came in with practically no offense at all! They ranked at the bottom, offensively, at least.
I would've bet the house, the car, the t.v. and my girlfriend on Louisville to beat Syracuse. Good thing I'm not a gambling man.
thanks,
eric
Brian:
Neither you, nor a vast majority of the readers, were alive when what was and probably still is the greatest upset in college football history took place in 1947. In a historic upset, Columbia beat Army 21-20 at sold-out Baker Field, dealing the vaunted Cadets their first loss since 1943.
1955 in the Land of Cornhuskers, the Territory of Hawaii (University of Hawaii) sent their football team to look for a Rainbow, their name at the time. Against a team that beat them 60-0 the previous year.
A Rainbow appeared above the Nabraska sky, and the biggest upset in the making when Hawai'i flew home with a 6-0 upset. The Kawabanga of all upsets in college history! Believe in the Bows! When one appears above Manoa skies, we will win, locally, but when one appears in September skies on the mainland
a magic will happened, for we are all the same, just flesh, bones and brains.