ES Game Day: MSU vs UM? It's like beating a dead horse with candy

Poor horsey looks like a prophecy of Devin Gardner or Shane Morris vs MSU

#5/#8 Michigan State Spartans vs. #70 Michigan Wolverines
October 25, 2014.  3:30 pm ET.
Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI
ABC-TV

Weather:  64 and sunny

Sagarin Ratings: MSU #11, scUM #70
Line: MSU favored by 17

Predictions & Previews:  

• TobBet.eu: Writer's Prediction:  "The Spartans Crush the Wolverines."
• Live2Sport:  MSU, 33-15
• CFN/Scout.com:  MSU, 31-13
• iSportsweb: White, MSU 38-13; Catania, Michigan 17-14; Johnson, MSU 32-16; Nazario, MSU 31-14; Lapthorne, MSU 28-24; Hoeppner, MSU 35-10; Squanda, MSU 38-17; Harns, MSU 44-14; Sargent, MSU 28-7; Draper, MSU 31-20; Lyons, MSU 42-14; worldofisaac, MSU 38-17; Coster, MSU 42-17; Moore, MSU 52-9 
• Freep:  Rexrode, MSU 27-17; Snyder, MSU 35-14; Albom, MSU 45-10; Sharp, MSU 31-10; Seidel, MSU 35-14; Windsor, MSU 29-16
• DetNews.com (vs spread): Charboneau, Changelis, Wojnowski, MSU; Niyo, Michigan
• BTN.com: Lesmerises, MSU 40-13; Yarina, MSU 44-13; Dienhart, MSU 44-9
• ESPN.com:  MSU 24-13
• CBSSports.com:  unanimous, MSU

ES sez:

Hell, if MITCH ALBOM is predicting a 5-touchdown win by the Spartans, then the nation must know the vast canyon of superiority that Michigan State has over that has-been program from Ann Arbor.  How embarrassing. Read my previous write-ups:  the Wolverines have NO CHANCE in this game.  The uglies from AA are completely outmatched physically and statistically.   The ES is glad they had two weeks to prepare, it won't matter.  

Shalique Calhoun is and will be a nightmare for Devin Gardner and Michigan.

This rivalry game is #1 most important on the Spartans' list of most hated teams, and we Big Green Machine will come to play on a beautiful October afternoon, with the prerequisite Dantonio trick plays up his sleeve.  The defense will be on fire, and ready to respond to the national pundits who are questioning that we may give up big-plays despite our No-Fly Zone.   We - the Ferocious Spartan Defense - will force that Michigan team into turnovers into which our ground running game will churn into long-drive, dominating TDs - thank you, Mr. Langford.  

ES Bottom line:  this game will be won in the trenches by the Spartans, big time, on both sides of the ball.  And, it will get ugly over time.   Thank God this beating will be on ABC.  The ES invites the world to watch this capital punishment with popcorn, candy, and a few frosty lagers.  

MSU 46, Michigan 9.  

Little Blue UM no match for 17-pt fave Big Green MSU

It is RIVALRY WEEK and as such it's amazing to see Michigan State favored by 17 points against the Ann Arborites.  It's the largest spread for MSU over scUM in my lifetime - and the reason is that Big Green is a Top-10 team, defending Rose Bowl Champions, and the Wolverines are not even in the same league.

The ES actually feels bad for Little Blue.  David Brandon, the scUM AD, is as clueless in marketing college athletics as he was successful as the CEO of Domino's Pizza,  backup QB Shane Morris is caught in a concussion controversy, coach Brady Hoke should be making decisions for Pillsbury crescent rolls instead of a football team, and injuries, injuries: leading rusher Derrick Green is out for the season; DL Jabrill Peppers is questionable; and, OL Sean Magnuson is also questionable... etc, etc.

Remember last year, QB Devin Gardner was planted like a petunia in Spartan Stadium in a 29-6 loss, being sacked eight times en route to -46 yards rushing. Gardner puked on his final play as he headed out of the game, smashed like your grandma's potatoes.

With scUM missing a starting OL and their leading RB gone for the season, and an anemic Michigan offense going against a fairly good Spartan defense... and, to boot, when MSU gets the ball, it is among the nation's leading scorers, giving up the fewest sacks, creating the most turnovers, and also leading the nation in Time of Possession....  Well, on paper this is a complete blow out.  MSU should be able to score at will, on long drives, and pound Michigan into a deep-six holiday that lasts until next season or longer.  Michigan can't move the ball and can't score.  Done deal.  Gardner won't survive.

Here are the basic stats:

Michigan Offense: #110 total yards, #82 sacks allowed, #44 TOP, #105 scoring
Michigan Turnover Margin: #124
Michigan Defense: #10 total yards, #41 team sacks, #29 scoring

MSU Offense:  #12 total yards, #1 in sacks allowed, #1 TOP, #3 scoring
MSU Turnover Margin:  #3
MSU Defense: #9 total yards,  #4 team sacks, #33 scoring

More later... but reads like Sayonara to me.

POLLS - PLAYOFF DUE OUT TUES OCT. 28

Michigan State is shooting up the coaches poll to #5, but is static in the AP media poll at #8.  Doesn't matter much, as the College Football Playoff poll will have its first stanza this upcoming Tuesday at 7:30 pm on ESPN - look for MSU to go up a notch or two with a pounding of hated Michigan.

USA Today Poll
RK	TEAM	RECORD	PTS
1	Mississippi State (36)	6-0	1520
2	Florida State (22)	7-0	1493
3	Ole Miss (4)	7-0	1447
4	Alabama	6-1	1293
5	Michigan State	6-1	1243
6	Auburn	5-1	1210
7	Oregon	6-1	1133
8	Notre Dame	6-1	1117
9	Georgia	6-1	1096
10	TCU	5-1	996
11	Kansas State	5-1	909
12	Ohio State	5-1	856
13	Baylor	6-1	853
14	Arizona State	5-1	654
15	Arizona	5-1	612
16	Nebraska	6-1	588
17	East Carolina	5-1	578
18	Oklahoma	5-2	482
19	Utah	5-1	371
20	Clemson	5-2	320
21	USC	5-2	258
22	Marshall	7-0	247
23	LSU	6-2	155
24	Minnesota	6-1	147
25	West Virginia	5-2	143

• Dropped from rankings: Oklahoma State 15, Stanford 20
• Others receiving votes: Oklahoma State 141, Duke 116, UCLA 107, Missouri 23, Colorado State 18, Wisconsin 17, Washington 5, Stanford 2