(FYI - Tom Deinhart at BTN.com chimes in on MSU with his impressions, and they are all spot on with the ES' so far on offense and defense. Deinhart notes the great play from Bullough at RB, his senior brother at LB, and better results at WR).
When you read his unit projections, overall he predicts MSU
as the #5 scoring defense and #3 overall defense in the nation (Behind Alabama
and Florida State).
He likes the MSU schedule avoiding Wisc and Ohio State. And, he figures the wide receiving corps can’t
get any worse. Interestingly, he
predicts MSU coaching as third-best in the Big Ten, after Ohio State
(Urban Meyer) and Northwestern (Pat Fitzgerald).
Steele projects out best individual units every year. Don’t think I have ever seen MSU defense
ranked so high in so many categories: Defensive
Line (#35), Linebackers (#5), and Defensive Backs (#14). No mention on special
teams, quarterbacks, running backs, or receivers – we earned that. But, the O-Line has a #17 ranking. So, we have a great line to block for…
nobody???? Argh.
Steele ranks MSU tied for first in the Legends (with Nebraska and Michigan),
and his preseason rankings post MSU at #23 overall (one spot ahead of Michigan at #24). Other
Big Ten teams in his preseason are: Ohio
State (2), Nebraska
(16), Wisonsin (20), Northwestern (32), and Penn State
(34).
USA TODAY POLL
MSU is on the outside looking in at #28 ranking the national coaches' poll... PERFECT. And, looking at the USAT poll below finds really only three surprises: Boise State at #19, UCLA at #21, and Northwestern at #22. We beat Boise last year in East Lansing, and they return all their starters, but they weren't THAT good. Northwestern should be VERY GOOD this year, they beat us in East Lansing because of terrible coaching and the worst game of Maxwell's career, but just seeing them in the preseason top 25 at any time is a surprise. UCLA, just don't know much about them.
Quick thoughts: Oklahoma State is better than #14 but needs to prove it; Stanford is not as good as #4; Notre Dame at #11 - the Irish were lucky all over 2012 and got due payment playing ' Bama, and they won't have such luxury this year, especially after the Spartans win in South Bend in September. Michigan at #17 is overrated, much like Notre Dame - they have a better QB and a good coach, but have a tough schedule, plus the Spartans in East Lansing.
USA TODAY POLL
MSU is on the outside looking in at #28 ranking the national coaches' poll... PERFECT. And, looking at the USAT poll below finds really only three surprises: Boise State at #19, UCLA at #21, and Northwestern at #22. We beat Boise last year in East Lansing, and they return all their starters, but they weren't THAT good. Northwestern should be VERY GOOD this year, they beat us in East Lansing because of terrible coaching and the worst game of Maxwell's career, but just seeing them in the preseason top 25 at any time is a surprise. UCLA, just don't know much about them.
Quick thoughts: Oklahoma State is better than #14 but needs to prove it; Stanford is not as good as #4; Notre Dame at #11 - the Irish were lucky all over 2012 and got due payment playing ' Bama, and they won't have such luxury this year, especially after the Spartans win in South Bend in September. Michigan at #17 is overrated, much like Notre Dame - they have a better QB and a good coach, but have a tough schedule, plus the Spartans in East Lansing.
| USA Today Poll | |||
| RK | TEAM | RECORD | PTS |
| 1 | Alabama (58) | 0-0 | 1545 |
| 2 | Ohio State (3) | 0-0 | 1427 |
| 3 | Oregon | 0-0 | 1397 |
| 4 | Stanford | 0-0 | 1262 |
| 5 | Georgia | 0-0 | 1250 |
| 6 | Texas A&M (1) | 0-0 | 1215 |
| 7 | South Carolina | 0-0 | 1136 |
| 8 | Clemson | 0-0 | 1047 |
| 9 | Louisville | 0-0 | 1010 |
| 10 | Florida | 0-0 | 930 |
| 11 | Notre Dame | 0-0 | 872 |
| 12 | Florida State | 0-0 | 844 |
| 13 | LSU | 0-0 | 797 |
| 14 | Oklahoma State | 0-0 | 726 |
| 15 | Texas | 0-0 | 622 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | 0-0 | 620 |
| 17 | Michigan | 0-0 | 589 |
| 18 | Nebraska | 0-0 | 426 |
| 19 | Boise State | 0-0 | 420 |
| 20 | TCU | 0-0 | 400 |
| 21 | UCLA | 0-0 | 202 |
| 22 | Northwestern | 0-0 | 186 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | 0-0 | 172 |
| 24 | USC | 0-0 | 165 |
| 25 | Oregon State | 0-0 | 135 |
Others receiving votes:
Kansas State 113, Miami (FL) 101, Michigan State 89, Baylor 80,
Virginia Tech 65, Fresno State 62, Arizona State 51, Ole Miss 32,
Vanderbilt 29, Utah State 23, Brigham Young 20, North Carolina 19,
Northern Illinois 19, Tulsa 9, San Jose State 8, Ohio 8, Arizona 5,
Cincinnati 3, East Carolina 3, Mississippi State 3, Kent State 3,
Washington 3, UCF 2, Tennessee 1, Toledo 1, Rutgers 1, Arkansas 1,
Arkansas State 1
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