Teaching MSU a lesson

Umm.... the ES wuz wrong. We got our asses kicked today, 38-7 or whatever, by Iowa. Got taught a good lesson on how to play football. Jeez.

ES prediction: Michigan State vs Iowa

ES sez: Michigan State 19, Iowa 17.

Give it up for 4 Dan Conroy FGs in an otherwise evenly matched game...

#5 Michigan State at #18 Iowa
3:30 pm, ABC TV

re: on ESPN/College Game Day Friday night, Kirk Herbstreit said "everytime I pick the Spartans to lose they win. This time I pick Michigan State, and Kirk Cousins will come through again... but they better be careful."

Dantonio: Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime? Boise State in 2012 and beyond

Wow: Mark Dantonio and Mark Hollis are doing to Spartan football what Tom Izzo has done to Spartan basketball - play the big boys.

On the eve of the Michigan State vs Iowa game, the Biggest Football game in 44 years for Spartan fans, the MSU athletic department announced a three game series with Boise State: in EL in 2012, in Idaho in 2022, and back in EL in 2023.

In the last 18 months, Michigan State has announced home-and-home series with West Virginia (2014-15), Alabama (2016-17) and Miami-Fla. (2020-21) as well as the extension of its series with Notre Dame through the 2031 season, with two-year breaks in 2014-15, 2020-21 and 2026-27.

Predictions: MSU vs Iowa

Prove the pundits wrong? Yes, 'tis time. Noone is picking the #5 Spartans at the #18 Hawkeyes.

Rittenberg/ESPN: Iowa 27-24
CNF/Scout: Iowa 34-27
NBC Sports: Iowa 24-23
Forde/ESPN: Iowa
Jacobi/CBSSports.com: Iowa 20-17
Bleacher Report: Iowa 24-23
Hueguin/Rivals: Iowa 24-21

Shit, why bother playing? 'CAUSE IT IS OUR YEAR AND OUR TURN AND WE WILL KICK CHICKEN-LITTLE BUTT!

Michigan State at #5, Iowa favored by 6 over MSU

Your undefeated Spartans move to 8-0 overall, 5-0 in the Big Ten, and #5 in the polls -- its highest ranking in 44 years, two years longer than the ES has been alive. Four weeks left, and the games get bigger every week starting with this week, at #18 Iowa. Despite Michigan State's #5 ranking, the bookies in Vegas aren't buying it... and putting the Hawkeyes as early 6-point favorites.

In the BCS, MSU is also ranked #5 - but ranked as #3 in the computer rankings. Kirk Herbstreit and Rober Smith ranked MSU #6, while Craig James had MSU #3 "based on their body of work and four tough challenges."

Here is the latest poll, with Michigan State moving up three spots to #5 in both the AP and the USA Today polls.

AP Top 25
RK	TEAM	RECORD	PTS
1	Oregon (44)	7-0	1480
2	Boise State (11)	6-0	1419
3	Auburn (3)	8-0	1376
4	TCU (2)	8-0	1354
5	Michigan State	8-0	1175
6	Alabama	7-1	1173
7	Missouri	7-0	1121
8	Utah	7-0	1098
9	Wisconsin	7-1	1022
10	Ohio State	7-1	931
11	Oklahoma	6-1	861
12	LSU	7-1	831
13	Stanford	6-1	830
14	Nebraska	6-1	760
15	Arizona	6-1	691
16	Florida State	6-1	606
17	South Carolina	5-2	476
18	Iowa	5-2	468
19	Arkansas	5-2	435
20	Oklahoma State	6-1	336
21	Virginia Tech	6-2	270
22	Miami (FL)	5-2	229
23	Mississippi State	6-2	221
24	USC	5-2	172
25	Baylor	6-2	56

• Dropped from rankings: West Virginia 20, Texas 22

• Others receiving votes: Nevada 32, Hawaii 19, Michigan 9, Syracuse 8, West Virginia 8, San Diego State 7, East Carolina 7, Navy 5, Oregon State 5, Northwestern 4, Florida 2, Maryland 1, North Carolina State 1, Northern Illinois 1,

Meanwhile, and don't look now, but the Spartans are also ranked #2 in the preseason USA Today men's basketball poll.

Aaron Bates for Heisman

Come on, let us all be real. The Heisman Trophy should go be awarded to the best player in America, no?

That would be Spartan quarterback Aaron Bates, who is now 2-for-2 for 50 yards, two fourth-down conversions, 1 TD, and a QB rating of 475.0. By the way, Bates is also the Spartan's starting punter, with a 45.1 average, including 7 kicks inside the 20 and 8 punts of over 50 yards each. But what has Bates as the Heisman candidate is not only his OT-game winning TD pass against Notre Dame, but today's 4th quarter, 4th-and-22 conversion on a throw to Bennie Fowler in the Michigan State 35-27 victory at Northwestern.

Give Mark Dantonio credit... many thought it may be coming, but still NW bit on the kick fake, Fowler turned open, and it led MSU to a touchdown -- and significant momentum change from a deficit to the eventual victory. Great call and BETTER execution on the fake.

MSU now sites 8-0 (4-0 Big Ten), alone undefeated in Big Ten play, and will likely move up in the national BCS standings with a loss by LSU, poor scheduling by Boise State and TCU, and potential impact of the Oklahoma-Mizzou game.

All of this, thanks, to Aaron Bates.

Team Totals	MSU	NU
FIRST DOWNS	24	22
Rushing	4	13
Passing	19	9
Penalty	1	0
NET YARDS RUSHING	105	170
Rushing Attempts	26	47
Average Per Rush	4.0	3.6
Rushing Touchdowns	2	3
Yards Gained Rushing	127	208
Yards Lost Rushing	22	38
NET YARDS PASSING	352	215
Completions-Attempts-Int	30-44-0	19-30-1
Average Per Attempt	8.0	7.2
Average Per Completion	11.7	11.3
Passing Touchdowns	3	0
TOTAL OFFENSE YARDS	457	385
Total offense plays	70	77
Average Gain Per Play	6.5	5.0
Fumbles: Number-Lost	2-1	2-1
Penalties: Number-Yards	4-30	6-66
PUNTS-YARDS	6-258	5-191
Average Yards Per Punt	43.0	38.2
Net Yards Per Punt	33.0	37.6
Inside 20	1	2
50+ Yards	1	1
Touchbacks	1	0
Fair catch	0	3
KICKOFFS-YARDS	6-374	6-366
Average Yards Per Kickoff	62.3	61.0
Net Yards Per Kickoff	41.8	42.7
Touchbacks	3	2
Punt returns: Number-Yards-TD	1-3-0	3-40-0
Average Per Return	3.0	13.3
Kickoff returns: Number-Yds-TD	3-70-0	3-63-0
Average Per Return	23.3	21.0
Interceptions: Number-Yds-TD	1-16-0	0-0-0
Fumble Returns: Number-Yds-TD	0-0-0	0-0-0
Miscellaneous Yards	0	0
Possession Time	30:44	29:16
1st Quarter	7:07	7:53
2nd Quarter	8:13	6:47
3rd Quarter	5:59	9:01
4th Quarter	9:25	5:35
Third-Down Conversions	5 of 14	8 of 16
Fourth-Down Conversions	2 of 2	0 of 1
Red-Zone Scores-Chances	3-4	5-6
Sacks By: Number-Yards	8-35	2-18
PAT Kicks	5-5	3-3
Field Goals	0-1	2-2

ES prediction: Michigan State over Northwestern, 37-17

Go Michigan State! Pits to Fitz.

WNUR picks MSU 27-24
Rittenberg/ESPN picks MSU 28-20
USA Today picks MSU 28-27
Betonline picks MSU by a TD

ES is more confident than any of these pundits. Michigan State has held five of seven oppts under 20 pts. Only Wisky and ND scored more than 20. The Big Green has scored more than 30 in six of its seven games. NW defense is not as good as Illinois and Wisky, and the Spartans gouged them for 26 and 34. At Ryan Field, there will be 20,000 Spartans - mitigating home field to some extent (yes, the ES has been to Ryan Field five times).

ES is thinking something closer to 37-17, a nice clean demolition by Cousins, Baker, Jones, and Dantonio. It shall be surgical.

Around the Horn: Spartans - Wildcat previews; Pick a BCS Bowl: Orange, Sugar, or Rose? MSU Schedules Convicts

Previews are trickling out for the Spartans' road game to Chicago to take on Northwestern...

• TheSpread.com preview
• ESPN official game preview
• Accuscore predicts a close game (MSU)
• Belmont sides with the home team (NU)
• CFN predicts a Spartan 34-26 victory, with the Spartans steamrolling the Cats on the ground (MSU)

Meanwhile, though it is early, ESPN is projecting a MSU Spartan New Year's Day trip to BCS land, to either the Orange Bowl vs Virginia Tech or a Rose Bowl vs TCU... meanwhile CBS Sports is projecting a [gulp] Sugar Bowl stint vs Alabama!

CBS Sports mid-season All-America teams includes three Spartans on the first team: LB Greg Jones, OL Joel Foreman, and PK Dan Conroy. And, Dennis Dodd calls the Spartans' this year's college football "cinderella" - can't argue with that.

SPARTANS VS CATHOLICS AND CONVICTS
Finally... bring on the Hurricanes. Nice job to AD Mark Hollis scheduling a home-and-home with the University of Miami in 2020 and 2021. The Spartans will kick off the two-game series with Miami on Sept. 26, 2020, in East Lansing, Mich., and make their first-ever appearance in the 74,916-seat Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., on Sept. 18, 2021. We've got the Convicts filling the two-year void in the schedule left by the Catholics (Notre Dame).

MSU equates to statistical balance

I do not think I have ever seen better statistical balance than below. You wonder why Mich State is #7 nationally. Read it and weep...

TEAM RANKINGS
120 teams ranked in Football Bowl Subdivision
11 teams ranked in the Big Ten Conference
Category	National Rank	Actual	National Leader	Actual	Conf Rank	Big Ten Conference Leader	Actual
Rushing Offense	26	206.14	Air Force	346.86	4	Michigan	281.57
Passing Offense	47	241.43	Hawaii	402.43	5	Indiana	319.33
Total Offense	23	447.57	Oregon	567.00	2	Michigan	532.00
Scoring Offense	25	34.43	Oregon	54.33	4	Ohio St.	39.57
Rushing Defense	22	111.71	Boise St.	59.33	3	Iowa	83.83
Pass Efficiency Defense	17	107.22	Nebraska	80.41	2	Ohio St.	98.37
Total Defense	28	325.00	Boise St.	210.17	6	Ohio St.	251.14
Scoring Defense	17	16.57	TCU	9.29	3	Iowa	13.17
Net Punting	28	38.70	Pittsburgh	44.83	3	Illinois	41.14
Punt Returns	10	15.27	Maryland	24.61	1	Michigan St.	15.27
Kickoff Returns	99	19.38	Utah	29.21	8	Penn St.	26.76
Turnover Margin	9	1.14	Army	1.57	3	Ohio St.	1.43
Pass Defense	65	213.29	Nebraska	117.00	7	Ohio St.	157.43
Passing Efficiency	10	164.16	Boise St.	188.11	3	Iowa	177.76
Sacks	T-85	1.43	Florida St.	4.29	6	Purdue	3.00
Tackles For Loss	102	4.43	Miami (FL)	9.50	10	Purdue	7.50
Sacks Allowed	T-66	2.00	Boise St.	.17	8	Michigan	.43
T=tied at this ranking

Michigan State sits atop the Big Ten

Just seeing this, brings a tear to mine eye...

TEAM	B-10	ALL
#7 Michigan State	3-0	7-0
#15 Iowa	2-0	5-1
Purdue	2-0	4-2
#13 Wisconsin	2-1	6-1
#10 Ohio State	2-1	6-1
Northwestern	1-1	5-1
Michigan	1-2	5-2
Illinois	1-2	3-3
Indiana	0-2	4-2
Penn State	0-2	3-3
Minnesota	0-3	1-6

Michigan State #7 in BCS - highest ever

At #7, Michigan State is now the highest it has ever been ranked in the BCS. They are favored by a TD at Northwestern... The Cats are holding out hope thanks to a bye week last week, trying to rectify their mistakes in a 20-17 Big Ten opening loss to... gulp... Purdon't.

MSU in the BCS:

		BCS		Harris Poll			USA Today			Computer Rankings
RK	TEAM	AVG	PVS	RK	PTS	%	RK	PTS	%	AVG	A&H	RB	CM	KM	JS	PW	%
1	Oklahoma	.9215	NR	4	2486	.8800	3	1334	.9044	1	3	3	1	1	1	1	.980
2	Oregon	.8921	NR	1	2774	.9819	1	1452	.9844	8	9	7	9	8	2	11	.710
3	Boise State	.8898	NR	2	2685	.9504	2	1385	.9390	7	6	2	7	7	6	7	.780
4	Auburn	.8641	NR	5	2410	.8531	5	1238	.8393	3	2	8	3	5	4	2	.900
5	TCU	.8573	NR	3	2516	.8906	4	1300	.8814	5	7	5	6	6	7	5	.800
6	LSU	.8245	NR	6	2164	.7660	6	1132	.7675	2	1	1	2	4	8	3	.940
7	Michigan State	.7628	NR	8	1964	.6952	8	1037	.7031	4	4	12	4	3	3	4	.890
8	Alabama	.6654	NR	7	2092	.7405	7	1085	.7356	12	10	4	11	16	20	15	.520
9	Utah	.6540	NR	9	1925	.6814	9	1004	.6807	11	11	6	12	11	12	10	.600
10	Ohio State	.5726	NR	10	1761	.6234	10	936	.6346	14	16	14	13	21	14	14	.460
11	Missouri	.5491	NR	16	1196	.4234	16	640	.4339	6	5	0	5	2	9	6	.790
12	Stanford	.5374	NR	13	1455	.5150	14	689	.4671	10	12	17	10	10	5	9	.630
13	Wisconsin	.5335	NR	11	1646	.5827	11	867	.5878	16	18	13	17	19	10	13	.430
14	Oklahoma State	.5261	NR	15	1247	.4414	15	659	.4468	9	8	10	8	9	19	8	.690
15	Iowa	.4824	NR	12	1511	.5349	12	785	.5322	17	19	9	18	17	15	16	.380
16	Nebraska	.4295	NR	14	1322	.4680	13	768	.5207	20	23	16	23	14	16	19	.300
17	Florida State	.4267	NR	17	1124	.3979	17	608	.4122	13	15	15	15	18	11	12	.470
18	Arizona	.3807	NR	18	1037	.3671	18	494	.3349	15	13	18	16	12	13	18	.440
19	Texas	.2214	NR	22	397	.1405	22	256	.1736	18	17	11	25	15	17	20	.350
20	West Virginia	.1812	NR	19	663	.2347	19	323	.2190	23	25	22	21	0	0	22	.090
21	South Carolina	.1555	NR	21	576	.2039	20	284	.1925	24	22	23	0	24	0	24	.070
22	Kansas State	.1422	NR	25	143	.0506	NR	53	.0359	19	14	0	14	13	21	21	.340
23	Arkansas	.1302	NR	20	579	.2050	21	274	.1858	28	0	24	0	0	0	0	.000
24	Mississippi State	.1253	NR	NR	129	.0457	24	133	.0902	21	20	19	19	22	22	17	.240
25	Virginia Tech	.0658	NR	23	242	.0857	23	165	.1119	28	0	25	0	0	0	0	.000

#7 Michigan State vs Northwestern

BCS #7 Michigan State is a TD (7-point) favorite at #26 Northwestern this weekend. The ES' brother will be at the game, rooting on the Spartoonies. NW has had two weeks to prepare...

FYI - Fuck Evanston. We will kick their sorry purple ass by at least 20 points.

MSU ranked #7 in BCS

Michigan State Football is ranked #7 in the country in the BCS, highest ranking in the Big Ten conference

Oh yeah, in case anyone is thinking anything else - yes, I hope Illinois gets Zookified and screw them and all they rode in on.

And, lest you think it wise to root for Ohio State? Nigh! As sez Adam Rittenberg, if the Spartoonies don't play them, root against them... unless we already beat them, then root for them. It worked this weekend, with an MSU win and rooting for Wisky (remember we beat their ASS already 34-24) over Ohio State.

Lovely. Go GREEN.

MSU #8 in USA Today coaches poll.

BCS is out at 8 pm tonight... but top 10 is a strong indicator... MSU moves up to #8 in the USA Today coaches poll:

Rank	Team (first-place votes)	Record	Points	Last week's ranking
1.	Oregon (42)	6-0	1,452	2
2.	Boise State (11)	6-0	1,385	3
3.	Oklahoma (4)	6-0	1,334	6
4.	TCU (1)	7-0	1,300	5
5.	Auburn (1)	7-0	1,238	7
6.	LSU	7-0	1,132	9
7.	Alabama	6-1	1,085	8
8.	Michigan State	7-0	1,037	11
9.	Utah	6-0	1,004	10
10.	Ohio State	6-1	936	1
11.	Wisconsin	6-1	867	16
12.	Iowa	5-1	785	14
13.	Nebraska	5-1	768	4
14.	Stanford	5-1	689	15
15.	Oklahoma State	6-0	659	18
16.	Missouri	6-0	640	19
17.	Florida State	6-1	608	17
18.	Arizona	5-1	494	20
19.	West Virginia	5-1	323	25
20.	South Carolina	4-2	284	12
21.	Arkansas	4-2	274	13
22.	Texas	4-2	256	NR
23.	Virginia Tech	5-2	165	NR
24.	Mississippi State	5-2	133	NR
25.	Miami (Fla.)	4-2	127	NR
Dropped out
No. 21 Nevada (6-1, lost to Hawaii 27-21), No. 22 Florida (4-3, lost to then-unranked Mississippi State 10-7), No. 23 Air Force (5-2, lost to San Diego State 27-25), No. 24 Michigan (5-2, lost to then-No. 14 Iowa 38-28).
Others receiving votes
Northwestern (5-1) 60; Kansas State (5-1) 53; Nevada (6-1) 28; Michigan (5-2) 23; Hawaii (5-2) 9; North Carolina (5-2) 8; Georgia Tech (5-2) 6; Air Force (5-2) 5; East Carolina (4-2) 4; Baylor (5-2) 3; Navy (4-2) 1.

MSU thumps Illinois, 26-6, behind stout defense. PHOTOSTREAM

Well, the ES wasn't that far off. What a DOMINATING performance, particularly defensively in the second half. Jerel Worthy, William Gholston, and Tyler Hoover played very well along the D-line; Greg Jones, Marcus Hyde, and Eric Gordon were SWARMING from their LB spots; and, the DBs played EXCEPTIONAL FOOTBALL... with 3 picks and forcing a fumble. New DB Darqueze Dennard played fantastic for suspended Chris Rucker.

Outstanding football game. See photos below. Actor Gerard Butler was in the house (star of movie "300") and just loved it -- leading the crowd in chants of 'What is your profession? Hooo - hooo - hooo". Just amazing.

We are 7-0 for the first time IN MY LIFETIME. BCS comes out at 8:15 pm tonight, and the ES predicts MSU at #8. Big Ten championship HERE WE COME!

We kicked Illini ass. MSU should rank #7-8 in BCS

OK, so it may not have been the most complete effort of the season, but in the second half Michigan State dominated Illinois, leading to a 2o-point victory, 26-6. MSU defense was all over the place and dominated the Illini offense all game long, not giving up the end zone. The Spartan offense struggled early, especially against the toughest defense we've faced all year -- by far. Illinois banged hard. But, we're just... better. And it showed as we pulled out drive after long drive in the second half to take control.

Michigan State is good, DAMN GOOD. Best team I have seen in my lifetime of 42 years. I have never been alive when MSU is 7-0 and we are now... and we are acting like it. With this team, we will go along way. Best defense in the Big Ten, most consistent offense in the Big Ten, and the best kickers in the Big Ten. yes, right now, MSU is playing the best of any team in the conference.

Michigan State for the national title! Ha!

BCS rankings come out on Sunday. We kicked Wisconsin's ass. Wisky just beat #1 Ohio State. There are a few other upsets (South Carolina, Arkansas lose), so we should be easy a #7-#8 ranking in the first BCS.... GO GREEN!

ES prediction: Michigan State vs Illinois

MSU hosting Illinois for Homecoming
12 noon kickoff
Big Ten Network
58 degrees, sunny

ES sez: Michigan State 27, Illinois 17

Spartans are the NATIONAL STORY...

Pretty amazing stuff on our Spartooniees out there, at the midway of the season... um, outside of Chris L. Rucker's DUI this is what we have...

• Rittenberg/ESPN's Midseason report sez the Spartans: "look like a legit BCS bowl contender."
  
• Rittenberg picks a 26-20 Sparty win "in a trap game."
• CFN/Scout picks a 26-13 Spartan victory: "Illinois has to be perfect, and it won’t be."
• Rivals.com picks MSU as its most pleasant surprise so far of 2010.
• Meanwhile, Rivals lists both Joel Foreman and Greg Jones on its mid-season All-America team.
• Who's Hot? CFN/Scout has MSU as #2: "It’s beginning to look like one of those special seasons in East Lansing that occur once every generation."
• Zook wants to "spoil another homecoming" according to the Chicago Trib.
• The Boston Herald has an interesting aside on Brady wearing the Spartan t-shirt after losing his bet to Brian Hoyer. You want to see the shirt? Here.
  
• USA Today predicts MSU "has to be a little flat," yet has MSU 24-20 atop of Illinois.
• Seven of eight at USA Today pick a GREEN win over Illini.
• Bleacher Report releases the jinxing "u-word" in its commentary of MSU so far, #2 in its Big Ten Power Poll.
  

Matt Millen on kicking scUM butt

ES, watching the tape again, for the fifth time since Saturday, after Caper's barreling embarassing TD run....

Matt Millen: "They [MSU] are just throwing body punches. And soon the heads will fall. Right now that is just good power football. They are wearing down this [scUM] defense. They just have no regard for them. They are just pounding them."

POUNDING. YES. GRAVY. MMMM.....

Sigh. Cry. Tears of laughter and joy.

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 State Moves to #11; Pounding Michigan into Submission

Pound Green Pound! After the domination over Michigan yesterday, Michigan State has moved up the polls: #11 in the coaches poll and #13 in the media poll.

After watching a tape of the game now TWICE since yesterday, the best comment came from Matt Millen, after Larry Caper ran through and over two Wolverines into the end zone to put MSU up 31-10. "They are just pounding the ball," said Millen. "They are overpowering Michigan."

Yes, Michigan State pounded the Yellow Bellies into submission. Just an amazing performance, totally dominating and running the ball right down their throat. We made them look like sissies. Beautiful

ES Prediction for Michigan State - Michigan

MSU vs scUM
Kickoff: 3;30 pm, ET
TV: ABC

ES Prediction: MSU 38, Yellow Bellies 32

GO BIG GREEN

Destroy Michigan

Pound GREEN Pound!

Biggest Game of My Life? The Promised Land Awaits

Is this the weekend's stint vs Meechigan the biggest game in my 25 years since graduating from Michigan State? Absolutely. Sure, I went to the Rose Bowl in 1988 and saw the Lorenzo White 56-carry performance vs Indiana to clinch that game. But this is bigger. Why?

OK, it is against scUM, but more importantly, a win keeps in play to make it to THE PROMISED LAND. In year four of the Dantonio era, and here we are ranked #17, higher than the Yellow Bellies, and without Ohio State on the schedule. Besides that, after seeing the domination last week, one would argue this is the deepest, most balanced, and most talented Spartan team from top to bottom since the 1999 Citrus Bowl team under Nick Saban that finished 10-2... If we can't beat scUM, we don't belong in the race to the promised land anyway. So, it is THAT BIG and Michigan State hasn't come close to opening the pearly gates in my lifetime. Damn straight it is our turn. We need respect, but we have to earn it. Saturday is the start.

• More and more predictions going Sparty's way --
• USA Today (MSU 38-25): "this game boils down to the Michigan defense."
• Ferguson/Bleacher Report (MSU by 4): "this is going to be fun. Last turn with the ball wins it."
• Kansas City Star (MSU 28-21, MSU 28-24, MSU 42-38, scUM 31-28, scUM 27-24)..
• even half of the staff at Go Blue Wolverine are picking the Spartans (MSU 43-42, scUM 35-31, scUM 38-20, MSU 38-34). "Yoimeister -- MSU will pose the best balanced offensive threat to date- and will eat clock and keep the ball from the offense."
  

Bleeding Green. Seriously.

My HERO: SuperSpartan Major Hester (at right). The ES ain't got nothing on the Major, or the Doctor for that matter. These guys put their heart where their mouth is. Major's putting off heart surgery to watch the Big Green kick scUM's butt.

DAMN STRAIGHT -- GO GREEN KICK SOME WOLVERINE TAIL!

Weather: ummm... 76 degrees and sunny in Ann Arbor in mid-October? Wow. Go Green shove that sun right up that Wolverine ass.

More predictions: Now, Adam Jacobi comes out supporting the Yellow Bellies, 37-35: "Denard Robinson wins shootouts." Go Blue Wolverine (scUM 42-38) sez: "the Spartans will have a difficult time slowing Michigan's offense." Chase Titleman via the Bleacher Report says MSU 34-31.... ES will come out with his prediction tomorrow...

God, I hate Michigan. Sweet Jesus we need to beat their ass, and bad, just to get back into the world of football respectability, something I've rarely seen in my lifetime. For as much money and heartache I've poured into the Spartan program since the mid-70s, I've earned at least one outstanding year. Screw Michigan and their sorry-assed sob stories... it don't mean Jack Shit to us Spartans.

Oh, and by the way, John Heisman and his Trophy can blow me.

More predictions in favor of Michigan State over Michigan....

And the predictions continue to roll in....

In Favor of Michigan State:

• NBC Sports (MSU 32-21): "We’ve been impressed with the way offensive coordinator Don Treadwell has handled himself and the Spartan team"
• ESPN/Rittenberg (MSU 37-35): "Michigan's defensive ineptitude will finally cost it a game."
• Hammer and Rails (MSU 35-32): "What happens when Greg Jones levels Denard Robinson?"
• Detroit News/Henning (MSU 45-28): "...which team can reasonably play defense and score a batch of points, to boot."
• Lou Holtz (MSU): "I just think Michigan State's defense will prevail, because Michigan has really been very poor on defense."
  

In Favor of the Yellow Bellies:

• Doc Sports (scUM 35-34): "Michigan badly needs a big win for their troubled program and their coach"
• Freep/Samuelson (scUM): "If you’re making that pick, you’re making it because of Denard Robinson."

Everyone's talking Michigan State-Michigan. Even in Texas. Predictions!

So, my wife just got back from a trip to Dallas, Texas. She calls me on the phone from some bar on Monday, and everyone at the bar is talking about Michigan State-Michigan. Not about Texas, not about TCU, not about Oklahoma, not about scUM, but saying that "Man, Michigan State has a GOOD team." Sigh, we're getting there. Now to BEAT scUM Yellow Bellies to actually earn some respect. We are getting close, but we need, desire, pray, and cry to seal the deal. It's our turn. Let us go kick their friggin' ass!

Predictions are beginning to trickle out for the Michigan State - Michagan matchup, so far in Sparty's favor. Here is a start. More, plenty more to come. Lots of national build up to this one.

Picking Sparty:

• CFN/Scout (MSU 45-37) - "the Michigan State offensive balance, especially the power running game, will be enough to control the clock."
• Bleacher Report (MSU 38-28) - "Michigan State's hatred for Michigan far outstrips Michigan's hatred for the Spartans."
• Pat Forde/ESPN (MSU 35-34) - "Spartans have been the pluckiest team of the season so far"
• Sports Interaction (MSU) - "I expect plenty of time consuming drives by the Spartans"
• Dan Welin/Bleacher Report (MSU) - "the Spartans are battle tested."
• Locksmith Sports (MSU) - " I like the balance of the Michigan State offense and they do have some talented players on defense also."
• Whatifsports.com (MSU 38-37) - " Michigan will have to stop the Spartans on offense a few times"

Picking scUM:

• BetFirms (scUM 41-38): "even if Michigan wins this game it is going to be a close game throughout "
• RM Herald/Bleacher Report (scUM 31-27) - "they won't "Stop Denard!"

Says Joey Johnston of NBC.com, "The Michigan State-Michigan winner should be a top-10 level team."