Michigan State with the statistical advantage over Notre Dame The Enlightened Spartan: Michigan State with the statistical advantage over Notre Dame

Monday, September 16, 2013

Michigan State with the statistical advantage over Notre Dame

OK, so the Big Green has popped into the coaches poll at #24, and is a 6-point dog at the hated #21 Irish on Saturday.  Before we get to the polls, let's look at where the Spartans and Irish stand statistically through the first three weeks.  A big thank you to scheduling a FCS school in Youngstown State to help pad the Spartan offensive stat category. 

OFFENSE:
Rushing:  MSU 44th (209.7 ypg), ND 92nd (125.0 ypg)
Passing: MSU 105th (160.0 ypg), ND 16th (326.0 ypg)
Total: MSU 84th (369.7 ypg), ND 50th (451.0 ypg)
Scoring: MSU 49th (34.0 ppg), ND 65th (29.7 ppg)
Third Downs: MSU 70th (39.6%), ND 19th (54.5%)

DEFENSE:
Rushing: MSU 4th (50.3 ypg), ND 26th (112.7 ypg)
Passing MSU 5th (126.7 ypg), ND 89th (259.3 ypg)
Total: MSU 1st (177.0 ypg), ND 56th (372.0 ypg)
Scoring: MSU 12th (12.0 ppg), ND 57th (23.7 ppg)
Third Downs: MSU 2nd (15.6%), ND 93rd (44.3%)

The ES certainly sees an advantage for the Spartan defense, but can the offense use the momentum - particularly from the passing game - to take advantage of an Irish defense ranked 89th in the country giving up yards through the air?  ND won't be able to run the ball against the Spartans, but will they pass the ball effectively enough?  The point being - the Spartan offense NEEDS to move the ball and give the defense a rest.  More on this throughout the week. 

I hate Notre Dame football.

USA TODAY COACHES POLL:
RKTEAMRECORDPTS
1Alabama (61)2-01549
2Oregon (1)3-01477
3Ohio State3-01398
4Clemson2-01331
5Stanford2-01314
6Louisville3-01128
7LSU3-01121
8Florida State2-01113
9Texas A&M2-11033
10Georgia1-11022
11Oklahoma State3-0908
12Oklahoma3-0839
13South Carolina2-1811
14Michigan3-0743
15UCLA2-0699
16Northwestern3-0582
17Miami (FL)2-0559
18Florida1-1398
19Baylor2-0375
20Washington2-0361
21Notre Dame2-1331
22Ole Miss3-0303
23Arizona State2-0176
24Michigan State3-0131
25Fresno State2-075
  • Dropped from rankings: Nebraska 15, Wisconsin 18, TCU 24
  • Others receiving votes: Nebraska 55, Wisconsin 53, Texas Tech 49, Georgia Tech 37, Arkansas 34, UCF 33, Arizona 29, Northern Illinois 26, Auburn 15, Virginia Tech 9, Brigham Young 8, USC 7, Kansas State 6, Boise State 5, Utah State 5, Rutgers 2