NBCSports.com: MSU #6 in Big Ten

Another listing out today as we inch nearer to opening kickoff 2010. NBCSports.com has its top 25 and its Big Ten projections. This is tantamount to the SI cover jinx, and dooms Warren St. John's Crimson Tide, as no BCS champion has ever repeated; moreover, the last team to successfully defend its SEC title was Tennessee in 1997-98.

The ES cain't see MSU finishing below Purdue - good thing we meet this year, in Spartan Stadium on November 20.

1. Alabama

2. Ohio State

3. TCU

4. Oklahoma

5. Oregon

6. Miami

7. Boise State

8. Nebraska

9. Florida

10. Wisconsin

11. Texas

12. Virginia Tech

13. Iowa

14. Pittsburgh

15. North Carolina

16. Arkansas

17. Florida State

18. USC

19. West Virginia

20. Auburn

21. Utah

22. Penn State

23. Notre Dame

24. Georgia Tech

25. LSU

Big Ten

BIG TEN CONFERENCE
1. Ohio State*
2. Wisconsin*
3. Iowa*
4. Penn State*
5. Purdue*
6. Michigan State*
7. Michigan*
8. Northwestern*
9. Illinois
10. Minnesota
11. Indiana

* indicates bowl-eligibility

Sporting News ranks MSU #50

Sporting News has Michigan State at #50. It claims: "Here's the Big Ten sleeper, America. Ohio State is off the schedule, and nonconference play includes three home games and a date in Detroit with Florida Atlantic. Nine wins are in play for the Spartans."

SN ranks the top 100 teams, and here is how MSU's opponents are perceived, compared to Sagarin at the end of 2009:

2010 Opp........ ’10 SN...'09 Sagarin
Western Mich..NR*.......125
Florida Atl........NR*.......114
Notre Dame......29..........48
N. Colorado.......NR*......177
Wisconsin..........8............23
at Michigan.......71...........81
Illinois...............94...........94
at N'western....40...........61
at Iowa.............13............9
Minnesota........98............64
Purdue..............39............75
at Penn State...32............10

*NR = not ranked in the Sporting News top 100.

Sagarin sez: MSU 73.4

The ES went through the final 2009 Sagarin Ratings for our 2010 opponents, and found our average Sagarin opponent has a 73.4 rating; our 2010 opponents tallied 78 wins against 70 losses a year ago.

2010 Opponent	'09 Sagarin	'09 W	'09 L
Western Michigan	125	5	7
Florida Atlantic	114	5	7
Notre Dame	48	6	6
Northern Colorado	177	3	8
Wisconsin	23	10	3
at Michigan	81	5	7
Illinois	94	3	9
at Northwestern	61	8	5
at Iowa	9	11	2
Minnesota	64	6	7
Purdue	75	5	7
at Penn State	10	11	2
	73.4	78	70

Michigan State Spartan Football 2010 Previews Galore

OK, there will be some significant changes coming to this website prior to opening kickoff of 2010. ES has had some major life changes, all of which are in the realm of higher education and college sports. More to come later...

But for now, here are some season previews below on our Michigan State Spartans, if you haven't seen them already. I have the Phil Steele issue (5th) and the Sporting News (7th) -- both are ho-hum yawners, as they don't provide any excitement on the potential for us to move up the ladder board. Everyone says the same thing with concerns: replacing Swenson at PK, our offensive line and most especially defensive backfield. Everyone thinks we'll throw for about 6,000 yards this year, and that our running game will be better but not great, and our defense up front will be stout, especially with Jones, Gordon, and Norman plugging the holes.

• The Quad (NY Times) (#51)
• College Football Blog
• Orlando Sentinel (#69)
• Irish Sports Daily
• Sports Chat Place
• Bet Firms (6th)
• Sport Book Lists
• Capper's Picks (7-6)
• Online Sports Handicapping
• Bleacher Report (8-4) or here
• Ezine articles (6th)
• Go articles (6th)

Scout.com ranks Kirk Cousins as third best QB in the Big Ten.