Spartans whip Chips, move to #10 and lead a sucky BigTen The Enlightened Spartan: Spartans whip Chips, move to #10 and lead a sucky BigTen

Sunday, September 09, 2012

Spartans whip Chips, move to #10 and lead a sucky BigTen

Michigan State totally dominated Central Michigan on Saturday, 41-7. The ES was in Seattle visiting his dad for his 70th birthday, so he missed the game in person, but saw the first half on the tele.

That was enough. What a butt-kicking. The Spartan defense again shined, allowing just 245 total yards, 72 on the ground. And, so far this year, the Spartan defense has not allowed a TD - the Chips scored as the game was ending on an INT of backup Connor Cook. Holding any opponent's offense scoreless in their own stadium is damn impressive. Defensive stud Will Gholston had the only sack, but he broke up a pass and hit CMU's Radcliff a few times. The Spartans held CMU to a ridiculous 17-of-38 passing (45%). On offense, the first half was fine - good return game, defense holding CMU allowed for great field position. Andrew Maxwell, however, threw a few bad throws, including one right into the hands of CMU safety Lorenzo White (yes, he is the son of OUR MSU Lorenzo White). Junior, unlike his daddy, dropped it so it was not an INT but should have been. Maxwell still has some work to do -- but he threw some great passes in the second half (as seen on MSU's game video).

At this point, Michigan State's national ranking in defensive categories is sparkling.
  • Total Defense: 225.5 ypg (#8)
  • Rushing Defense: 54.5 ypg (#11)
  • Pass Defense: 171.0 ypg (#27)
  • Pass Efficiency Defense: 78.17 (#5)
  • Scoring Defense: 10.0 ppg (#12)
After a very embarrassing weekend for the Big Ten, Michigan State looks at this point to be really the only decent Big Ten team with bowl eligibility. Michigan State moved up to #10 in polls, and as we were saying last night over some vino and appetizers - that's about where we want to be... no need to get on the map any higher yet. Let's just take care of the G*ddam Catholics next week. Should be fun. At this point, only three Big Ten teams ranked - and the ES can't figure out the varmints at #17 after their annihilation to Alabama followed up by a squeaker against a poor, and undermanned, Air Force Academy.

AP Top 25
RKTEAMRECORDPTS
1Alabama (48)2-01486
2USC (8)2-01414
3LSU (4)2-01404
4Oregon2-01299
5Oklahoma2-01160
5Florida State2-01160
7Georgia2-01155
8South Carolina2-01025
9West Virginia1-01017
10Michigan State2-0995
11Clemson2-0868
12Ohio State2-0772
13Virginia Tech2-0734
14Texas2-0716
15Kansas State2-0714
16TCU1-0542
17Michigan1-1429
18Florida2-0427
19Louisville2-0316
20Notre Dame2-0310
21Stanford2-0260
22UCLA2-0250
23Tennessee2-0177
24Arizona2-0149
25Brigham Young2-0110
  • Dropped from rankings: Arkansas 8, Wisconsin 13, Nebraska 16, Oklahoma State 18
  • Others receiving votes: Boise State 106, Arkansas 79, Nebraska 79, OREGONST 77, Mississippi State 70, Baylor 54, Wisconsin 44, ULMONROE 23, Ohio 17, Georgia Tech 15, Oklahoma State 13, South Florida 12, ARIZONAST 10, IOWAST 5, NORTHWSTRN 5, UTAHST 1, North Carolina 1