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

MSU NOT favored by 5 over the Irish; Spartans move up to #15

Michigan State, after its defensive-minded, dominating annihilation of Florida Atlantic, 44-0, now travels to take on 0-2 Notre Dame, which decided to fold about :23 seconds too soon in its 35-31 loss at Michigan last Saturday.

The 2-0 Spartans, which moved up to #15 in both the USA Today and AP Polls, open as 5-pt favorites UNDERDOGS (SEE POST BELOW) over the Irish in South Bend.   Iowa is favored by 3 at home over Pittsburgh; Michigan by 29 at home over EMU; JoePa by 9.5 at Temple; Wisky by 16 vs Northern Illinois (in Chicago); Minny by 3 home over Miami (Ohio); Nebraska by 17.5 home over Washington;  Arizona State by 1.5 at Illinois; Northwestern by 7 at Army;  Purdue v SE Missouri State and Indiana vs SC State have no line...

As for the Big Green, it moved up to #15.  Here's the USA Today poll for good measure:

USA Today Poll
RK	TEAM	RECORD	PTS
1	Oklahoma (44)	1-0	1453
2	Alabama (8)	2-0	1410
3	LSU (7)	2-0	1372
4	Boise State	1-0	1214
5	Florida State	2-0	1211
6	Stanford	2-0	1165
7	Oklahoma State	2-0	1072
8	Wisconsin	2-0	1033
9	Texas A&M	1-0	1001
10	Nebraska	2-0	911
11	South Carolina	2-0	863
12	Virginia Tech	2-0	842
13	Arkansas	2-0	825
14	Oregon	1-1	754
15	Michigan State	2-0	639
16	Ohio State	2-0	566
17	Florida	2-0	498
18	Arizona State	2-0	353
19	Auburn	2-0	331
20	West Virginia	2-0	304
21	Texas	2-0	260
22	South Florida	2-0	230
23	TCU	1-1	211
24	Baylor	1-0	171
25	Mississippi State	1-1	125

Dropped from rankings: Missouri 19, Penn State 20
Others receiving votes: Michigan 97, UCF 49, Houston 43, Northwestern 31, Penn State 29, North Carolina 23, Tennessee 21, Missouri 21, Georgia Tech 9, Maryland 9, Clemson 8, Washington 7, California 6, San Diego State 3, Georgia 2, Iowa State 2, Brigham Young 1

Michigan State favored by "about 40" over Youngstown State; B1G Ten odds

Michigan State vs Youngstown State? No Line of course, because the Big Green decided to schedule DOWN, DOWN, DOWN.   So, the ES asks YOU (guess at right) by how many points will Michigan State defeat the Penguins. Considering the lines below (Wisky -35, OSU -32) over D1A mid-majors, the ES figures it probably is about a 35 to 45 point spread with the Spartans as Favorite.

Other Big Ten Squads?

Wisky is favored by 35 at home over UNLV; Illinois by 20 at home over Arkansas State; Purdue favored by 18 at home over Middle Tennessee; Boston College favored by 3 home vs Northwestern; Southern Cal favored by 21 at home over Minny; Ohio State favored by 32 at home over Akron; Michigan favored by 14 at home over WMU; Indiana favored by 6 1/2 at Ball State;

Not listed?  Iowa home vs. Tennessee Tech; Penn State home vs Indiana State; Nebraska home vs Chattanooga; 

FYI - Notre Dame favored by 10 1/2 at home over South Florida

And, current odds to win the 2012 BCS Title Game?  Michigan State is only a 40-1 bet.  Bet it!  What is B.S. is the oddsmakers have Notre Dame 20-1... uheam!

What the hell is the most interesting thing about YSU, other than Pengiuns can't survive there?  Um, Major Healey (aka "I Dream of Jeanie") was the grandfather of former YSU baseball shortstop Jackie Healey...

#7 Michigan State awaits BCS

Here comes the BCS and Michigan State's justifiable hopes for Orange/Sugar/Fiesta. AP Poll relaesed earlier this week has #4 Wisconsin, #6 Ohio State, #7 Michigan State -- and, #7 MSU beat #4 Wisconsin handily earlier this year... all three teams are 11-1. Shall the Spartans get its just due in its best year in 45 years, or will it get the shaft in favor of Ohio State in a down year?

Tune in on ESPN or Fox Sports (not sure which one, channel flip) at 8:15 pm to see the official BCS pairings...

AP Top 25
RK	TEAM	RECORD	PTS
1	Auburn (36)	13-0	1473
2	Oregon (23)	12-0	1462
3	TCU (1)	12-0	1379
4	Wisconsin	11-1	1289
5	Stanford	11-1	1283
6	Ohio State	11-1	1179
7	Michigan State	11-1	1101
8	Arkansas	10-2	1085
9	Oklahoma	11-2	976
10	Boise State	11-1	932
11	LSU	10-2	863
12	Virginia Tech	11-2	817
13	Nevada	12-1	759
14	Missouri	10-2	705
15	Alabama	9-3	628
16	Oklahoma State	10-2	622
17	Nebraska	10-3	608
18	Texas A&M	9-3	601
19	South Carolina	9-4	332
20	Utah	10-2	312
21	Mississippi State	8-4	288
22	West Virginia	9-3	283
23	Florida State	9-4	188
24	Hawaii	10-3	111
25	Connecticut	8-4	74

• Dropped from rankings: Northern Illinois 24

• Others receiving votes: UCF 63, Maryland 30, Tulsa 18, Navy 11, Miami (OH) 8, Northern Illinois 7, San Diego State 6, Pittsburgh 2, Fresno State 2, Iowa 1, North Carolina State 1, Air Force 1

#6 MSU M-HOOPS TRAVELS TO #7 SYRACUSE

Meanwhile, the #6 Spartan men's hoops team (6-2) travels to Madison Square Garden in New York to take on a #7 Syracuse team (8-0). Wait until the 'Cuse gets a load of the athleticism of the Spartans. Back to get our mojo, starting this week... Tuesday night at 9 pm on ESPN.

Michigan State by 24 over Minnesota

Regrouping this week... the Big Green Touchdown Machine is a home 24-pt favorite over the coach-less Minny Gophers on Saturday. A noon kickoff on the Big Ten Network. Wear your thermals, it will be 41 degrees, coming off a night with a forecast of potential snow showers, the first white flakes of the season. It will be nice for the ES to head out on Sunday to Louisiana to accomplish some dissertation data collection in 75-degree weather...

scUM is favored by 3 at home over Illinois...which is a joke. Illinois is the second-best team Michigan State has faced all year. Wait until Denard gets a load of that Illini interior smack-down defense.

Michigan State favored by 7 1/2 vs Illinois

And, the #11 Spartans are 7.5-pt favorites hosting Illinois at Homecoming; Purdue is favored by 5 hosting Minny; Nebraska is favored by 9.5 hosting Texas; Iowa is favored by 3 at Michigan; Ohio State is favored by 6 at Wisconsin; Indiana is favored by 14 at home over Arkansas State.

Michigan State is now #18 in the Jeff Sagarin ratings; Illinois is #31.

Michigan St favored by 5.5 at Minnesota

Your Michigan State Spartans are early 5.5-point favorites at Minnesota next week. Iowa is favored by 17.5 at home vs Indiana; Wisconsin is a 6.5-point home favorite over Purdue; scUM is favored by 8.5 at Illinois; and, Joe Pa is favored by 14 at Northwestern. Oh, and save the best for last: Ohio State favored by 40 over New Mexico State.

The national polls are out. Here's the AP Poll:

AP Top 25
RK TEAM RECORD PTS
1 Florida (30) 7-0 1463
2 Alabama (23) 8-0 1448
3 Texas (7) 7-0 1407
4 USC 6-1 1217
5 Cincinnati 7-0 1211
6 Boise State 7-0 1177
7 Iowa 8-0 1148
8 TCU 7-0 1132
9 LSU 6-1 1040
10 Oregon 6-1 933
11 Georgia Tech 7-1 923
12 Penn State 7-1 843
13 Oklahoma State 6-1 768
14 Virginia Tech 5-2 734
15 Houston 6-1 601
16 Pittsburgh 7-1 551
17 Ohio State 6-2 508
18 Miami (FL) 5-2 501
19 Utah 6-1 400
20 West Virginia 6-1 323
21 South Carolina 6-2 270
22 Oklahoma 4-3 210
23 Arizona 5-2 164
24 Mississippi 5-2 142
25 Notre Dame 5-2 135

Dropped from rankings: Brigham Young 16, Texas Tech 21, Kansas 24
Others receiving votes: Brigham Young 80, CENTRL MICHIGAN 76, California 24, Texas Tech 18, Wisconsin 16, Navy 13, Kansas 12, Clemson 11, Rutgers 1

scUM favored by 1 over Michigan State

Early movements out of Leroy's Casino in Las Vegas point to scUM as a slim, 1-point favorite over your Same Old Spartans. Purdue is favored by 8 at home over Northwestern; Minnesota is favored by 3 at home over Wisconsin; JoePa is favored by 4 at Illinois: Ohio State is favored by 17.5 at Indiana; Iowa by 21.5 at home over Arkansas State.... and, Notre Dame is favored by 13.5 at home over Washington.

Your national AP poll this week:

RK	TEAM	RECORD	PTS
1	Florida (55)	4-0	1490
2	Texas (1)	4-0	1420
3	Alabama (4)	4-0	1400
4	LSU	4-0	1225
5	Boise State	4-0	1203
6	Virginia Tech	3-1	1190
7	USC	3-1	998
8	Oklahoma	2-1	979
9	Ohio State	3-1	957
10	Cincinnati	4-0	946
11	TCU	3-0	896
12	Houston	3-0	844
13	Iowa	4-0	788
14	Oklahoma State	3-1	591
15	Penn State	3-1	470
16	Oregon	3-1	462
17	Miami (FL)	2-1	452
18	Kansas	4-0	418
18	Georgia	3-1	418
20	Brigham Young	3-1	349
21	Mississippi	2-1	340
22	Michigan	4-0	271
23	Nebraska	3-1	256
24	California	3-1	206
25	Georgia Tech	3-1	185

Dropped from rankings: Florida State 18, North Carolina 22

Others receiving votes: Missouri 175, Auburn 171, South Carolina 154, South Florida 145, UCLA 41, Utah 25, Wisconsin 20, Notre Dame 7, Arizona State 4, Stanford 2, North Carolina 2,

ND favored by 11 over MSU

Notre Dame is favored by 11 over MSU; this has to be the widest point spread between the two in years; and, that's no surprise after MSU's collapse last week. Methinks the game will be closer, or else the wheels will fall off the Doctor's bus, with an MSU team a la the highly-touted 2002 team of Bobby Williams.

Northwestern is favored by 4 over Syracuse; Purdue by 14.5 over N. Illinois; Michigan by 23 over EMU; JoePa by 28 over Temple; Iowa by 6 over Arizona; Akron by 3 over Indiana; Ohio State by 21 at Toledo; and, Cal by 12 at Minnesota.

Oh, and here's your AP Top 25. Funny, CMU wins at MSU and doesn't even get an "also receiving votes":

1	Florida (56)	2-0	1491	1
2	Texas (1)	2-0	1404	2
3	USC (1)	2-0	1396	3
4	Alabama (2)	2-0	1328	4
5	Mississippi	1-0	1145	6
5	Penn State	2-0	1145	7
7	Brigham Young	2-0	1122	9
8	California	2-0	1058	10
9	LSU	2-0	951	11
10	Boise State	2-0	945	12
11	Ohio State	1-1	840	8
12	Oklahoma	1-1	835	13
13	Virginia Tech	1-1	749	14
14	Georgia Tech	2-0	683	15
15	TCU	1-0	609	16
16	Oklahoma State	1-1	445	5
17	Cincinnati	2-0	407	23
18	Utah	2-0	405	17
19	Nebraska	2-0	365	22
20	Miami (FL)	1-0	364	20
21	Houston	2-0	341	NR
22	Kansas	2-0	271	24
23	Georgia	1-1	260	21
24	North Carolina	2-0	250	19
25	Michigan	2-0	169	NR

Dropped from rankings: Notre Dame 18, Missouri 25

Others receiving votes: Missouri 93, Pittsburgh 87, Oregon State 64, Texas Tech 54, UCLA 44, Notre Dame 40, West Virginia 30, Auburn 26, Iowa 23, Boston College 19, Baylor 15, Clemson 10, Oregon 5, Arizona 4, Arkansas 3, Colorado State 2, Florida State 1, Minnesota 1, South Florida 1

Michigan State favored by 15 over CMU

Out of Leroy's Casino in Las Vegas, the MSU Spartans are an early 15-point favorite over CMU in next week's game in Spartan Stadium. NOTE: Less than 1,000 tickets remain for the game - it will likely sell out this week, so get your tickets over at msuspartans.com.

Joe Pa is favored by 28 at home over Syracuse; Northwestern is favored by 18 at home over EMU; Iowa is favored by 7 at Iowa State; Wisconsin is favored by 9.5 at home over Fresno State; Minnesota is favored by 5 at home over Air Force; Indiana is favored by 1 at home over WMU... The Big Ten underdogs in week 2? Notre Dame is favored by 5 at scUM; Purdue is a 10 point underdog at Oregon. FYI - Illinois plays out of the Division, hosting FCS team Illinois State this week, and no line is posted.

National statistical comparison of Michigan State after week 1:

Category	MSU Rank	Actual	National Leader	Actual	Conf Rank	Big Ten Conference Leader	Actual
Rushing Offense	47	175.00	Air Force	474.00	4	Purdue	315.00
Passing Offense	17	318.00	Arkansas	447.00	3	Penn St.	379.00
Total Offense	25	493.00	Tennessee	657.00	3	Purdue	535.00
Scoring Offense	20	44.00	Air Force	72.00	3	Purdue	52.00
Rushing Defense	22	62.00	Arizona St.	-5.00	3	Penn St.	28.00
Pass Efficiency Defense	24	81.66	Arizona St.	22.64	1	Michigan St.	81.66
Total Defense	14	160.00	Arizona St.	37.00	1	Michigan St.	160.00
Scoring Defense	10	3.00	Boston College	.00	1	Michigan St.	3.00
Net Punting	2	51.50	La.-Lafayette	53.00	1	Michigan St.	51.50
Punt Returns	32	11.60	SMU	79.00	3	Purdue	30.00
Kickoff Returns	87	17.00	Florida	65.50	10	Minnesota	28.00
Turnover Margin	T-43	.00	Arizona St.	5.00	4	Michigan	2.00
Pass Defense	12	98.00	Eastern Mich.	8.00	1	Michigan St.	98.00
Passing Efficiency	21	177.76	Notre Dame	290.44	2	Northwestern	179.41
Sacks	T-17	3.00	California	6.00	3	Indiana	4.00
Tackles For Loss	71	4.00	Southern California	16.00	10	Penn St.	13.00
Sacks Allowed	T-1	.00	Pittsburgh	.00	1	Michigan	.00
T=tied at this ranking

Individually, Greg Jones is 5th nationally in tackles per game at 14; Kirk Cousins is 6th in passing efficiency at 207.48; Blair White is 7th in receiving yards per game at 162 ypg; Keith Nichol is 35th in passing efficiency at 149.67...

Spartans - Bobcats not listed; MSU 75-1 for BCS

The bookies in Vegas have opened up their lines for the debut of the 2009 college football season; alas, MSU isn't listed because we are playing out of the division. According to the Vegas Hilton, Ohio State is a 21.5 pt favorite over Navy, Michigan 12.5 over WMU, Joe Pa by 28 over Akron, Notre Dame by 14 over Nevada, Illinois by 7 over Mizzou, Minny by 6.5 at Syracuse, Wisky by 17 over Northern Illinois, Purdue by 13.5 over Toledo.

By the way, MSU is 75-1 to win the BCS title; Ohio State 12-1, Notre Dame and Joe Pa 30-1, scUM 150-1.