The Votes Are In: Tigers are Michigan's Favorite Team

So, it's time to vote. No, not in the presidential primary — what we want to know is, which professional sports team in Detroit is your favorite?

A recent survey of 560 Michigan voters questioned Feb. 10-12 shows the Tigers are the current favorite out of all four major professional sports franchises in Metro Detroit. 

The Tigers edged the Lions football team, 29 percent to 27 percent, despite being the least-favorite among respondents who identified themselves as African-American. 

The poll by Public Policy Polling of Raleigh, NC, has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percent. 

Meanwhile, Republicans questioned prefer the Tigers over the Lions by 36 percent to 27 percent, while Democrats pick the Lions over the Tigers, 32 percent to 24 percent.

Meanwhile, only 5 percent of African-American voters picked the Tigers as their favorite team, while 33 percent of white voters chose the Tigers. Overall, the Red Wings hockey team finished with 20 percent, while the cellar-dweller Pistons basketball team finished with 6 percent.

Among white poll takers, the Lions finished with 24 percent, the Red Wings with 22 percent and the Pistons with 3 percent. Among African-American voters, the Lions were tops at 54 percent, followed by the Pistons at 23 percent and Red Wings with 8 percent.

The Red Wings have reached the playoffs for 20 consecutive seasons, while the Tigers and Lions reached the playoffs in their respective leagues last season. It's been a while for the Pistons.

Conservatives chose Sparty, liberals like Michigan

Perhaps Republican presidential candidates should consider wearing green on primary day. According to the same poll, when asked if they’re a fan of Michigan State, the University of Michigan or neither school, "very conservative" respondents chose MSU athletics as their favorite by a 37 percent to U-M's 30 percent.

Overall, 37 percent of voters claim to be fans of the University of Michigan and 31 percent are Sparty supporters. Thirty-two percent don't care either way.

Of those voters, "very liberal" fans chose the Wolverines over MSU by 55 percent to 26 percent. White voters are closely split, going for Michigan over MSU 34 percent to 32 percent, but the Maize and Blue boasts a 53 percent to 22 percent advantage over MSU among African-American voters.

Fans of both schools are pretty happy with their football and basketball coaches. MSU basketball coach Tom Izzo boasts a strong 78 percent to 3 percent approval rating among Sparty fans, while football coach Mark Dantonio isn't far behind at 68 percent to 4 percent. 

Michigan football coach Brady Hoke got a 64 percent approval rating from Wolverines fans obviously happy over last season's Sugar Bowl win, while basketball coach John Beilein is at 39 percent approval.