Saturday, October 30, 2010

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.

Friday, October 29, 2010

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.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

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!

Sunday, October 24, 2010

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
RKTEAMRECORDPTS
1Oregon (44)7-01480
2Boise State (11)6-01419
3Auburn (3)8-01376
4TCU (2)8-01354
5Michigan State8-01175
6Alabama7-11173
7Missouri7-01121
8Utah7-01098
9Wisconsin7-11022
10Ohio State7-1931
11Oklahoma6-1861
12LSU7-1831
13Stanford6-1830
14Nebraska6-1760
15Arizona6-1691
16Florida State6-1606
17South Carolina5-2476
18Iowa5-2468
19Arkansas5-2435
20Oklahoma State6-1336
21Virginia Tech6-2270
22Miami (FL)5-2229
23Mississippi State6-2221
24USC5-2172
25Baylor6-256

  • 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.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

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











Friday, October 22, 2010

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.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

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...
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).

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

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...

TEAMB-10
ALL
#7 Michigan State3-07-0
#15 Iowa2-05-1
Purdue2-04-2
#13 Wisconsin2-16-1
#10 Ohio State2-16-1
Northwestern1-15-1
Michigan1-25-2
Illinois1-23-3
Indiana0-24-2
Penn State0-23-3
Minnesota0-31-6

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
RKTEAMAVGPVS RKPTS%RK PTS %AVG A&HRBCMKMJSPW %
1Oklahoma.9215NR42486.880031334.90441331111.980
2Oregon.8921NR12774.981911452.984489798211.710
3Boise State.8898NR22685.950421385.93907627767.780
4Auburn.8641NR52410.853151238.83933283542.900
5TCU.8573NR32516.890641300.88145756675.800
6LSU.8245NR62164.766061132.76752112483.940
7Michigan State.7628NR81964.695281037.703144124334.890
8Alabama.6654NR72092.740571085.73561210411162015.520
9Utah.6540NR91925.681491004.68071111612111210.600
10Ohio State.5726NR101761.623410936.634614161413211414.460
11Missouri.5491NR161196.423416640.43396505296.790
12Stanford.5374NR131455.515014689.4671101217101059.630
13Wisconsin.5335NR111646.582711867.587816181317191013.430
14Oklahoma State.5261NR151247.441415659.4468981089198.690
15Iowa.4824NR121511.534912785.53221719918171516.380
16Nebraska.4295NR141322.468013768.520720231623141619.300
17Florida State.4267NR171124.397917608.412213151515181112.470
18Arizona.3807NR181037.367118494.334915131816121318.440
19Texas.2214NR22397.140522256.173618171125151720.350
20West Virginia.1812NR19663.234719323.2190232522210022.090
21South Carolina.1555NR21576.203920284.1925242223024024.070
22Kansas State.1422NR25143.0506NR53.03591914014132121.340
23Arkansas.1302NR20579.205021274.1858280240000.000
24Mississippi State.1253NRNR129.045724133.090221201919222217.240
25Virginia Tech.0658NR23242.085723165.1119280250000.000

Sunday, October 17, 2010

#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.
6-0
1,385
3
3.
6-0
1,334
6
4.
TCU (1)
7-0
1,300
5
5.
Auburn (1)
7-0
1,238
7
6.
7-0
1,132
9
7.
6-1
1,085
8
8.
7-0
1,037
11
9.
Utah
6-0
1,004
10
10.
6-1
936
1
11.
Wisconsin
6-1
867
16
12.
5-1
785
14
13.
5-1
768
4
14.
5-1
689
15
15.
6-0
659
18
16.
6-0
640
19
17.
Florida State
6-1
608
17
18.
Arizona
5-1
494
20
19.
5-1
323
25
20.
4-2
284
12
21.
Arkansas
4-2
274
13
22.
Texas
4-2
256
NR
23.
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!

Saturday, October 16, 2010

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

Thursday, October 14, 2010

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.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

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.

Monday, October 11, 2010

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.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

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

Saturday, October 09, 2010

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!

Friday, October 08, 2010

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."

Thursday, October 07, 2010

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."

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

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