ES Preview: Michigan State vs Ugly Chickens

Michigan State Spartans (3-3/1-2) host the Iowa Hawkeyes (4-2/2-1)

Oct 19, 2024.  7:30 ET.

Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI.

Weather:  66, sunny. Gonna get down to 50 by end of game. 

Sagarin Ratings: Iowa #16, Big Green #77

http://sagarin.com/sports/cfsend.htm
Line Outta Vegas: Ugly Chickens by 6.5

ES has been out of pocket for the past two weeks, visiting the Great Northwest to take care of his ma.  Now, back to EL and watching Indiana destroy Nebraska as he writes this.  What the hell is going on?  Hopefully, both Illinois and Michigan State can add to the pain to Big Ten champion contenders. 

Well, Big Green TD Machine has had a week off to figure out Iowa, which kicked the shit out of Washington last week, 40-10.  If MSU puts up 41 points tonight, that would be a miracle.  As I have stated to many and another, MSU needs to get a QB coach whose sole job is to teach Aidan Chiles how to chill and set his feet when he passes.  Luckily, the Spartans get all their receivers back in this game (Nick Marsh, Jaron Glover, and Antonio Gates), giving Aidan Chiles some significant targets to spell time from a struggling running game.

This game will be won in the trenches, particularly in two areas:  turnovers (how much has Aidan Chiles learned?) and between Iowa’s OL with a good rushing game and MSU’s fairly stout DL.  Upset in the making is the way the ES reads this…

	Iowa	MSU
SOS rank	#20	#27
Pts PG	29.2	19.8
Pts Allowed PG	17.7	21
Rush Yds PG	222.8	120.2
Pass Yds PG	134.7	229.7
Rush Def PG	96.3	130.8
Pass Def PG	219.7	199
TO Margin	6	-6
3rd Dn Pct	45%	41%
3rd Dn Def Pct	35%	43%

Prognostications?

Big Bob:  MSU 27-24
Pontiac Keith: Iowa 30-10
J Man: Upset!!!!! Victory for MSU
Sloth: MSU 6, Chickenhawks 3

Cathy Sue: Whatever to who cares

ES:  MSU 17, Ugly Chickens 16

ES Preview: MSU Bubba Smith hosts PVAM Kenny Houston

Michigan State Spartans (2-0) host Prairie View A&M Panthers (1-1)
September 14, 2024.  3:30 pm.
Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI
TV: BTN

Weather: hot, 85 and sunny, no wind. 
Sagarin Ratings: MSU #74, Prairie View #234
Line Outta Vegas (via LSJ): MSU by 41 points with an O/U of 10-1/2.  So, the prediction would be MSU to win by at least 40-10. 

Who is the most famous Prairie View alumni?  I googled it, and remember Ken Houston, who played both for the Houston Oilers and (as I remember watching him) for the Washington Redskins.  He was one of the first lock-down corners as I remember, and he dominated the NFL for about a decade years (named to the Pro Bowl 12 times). 

Here's Kenny Houston, tackling Walter Payton.  PVAM don't have him today.

Not much about this game.  It's a B1G vs a HBCU in FCS.  The Big Green Touchdown Machine was originally scheduled to play Louisiana-Lafayette, but replaced it with PVAM for $500,000.  The Spartans better win.

MSU's plan?  Just stay healthy.  MSU travels to Boston College (#58 in Sagarin) next week, and BC really is an unknown, other than they can run the ball like crazy and beat a terrible Florida State team in Tallahassee.  So, stay healthy, win, and move on.  Maybe Adian Chiles can work on his footwork and we can just run the ball.  Lots of Gatorade in the heat today.

Prognostications:

Big Bob: MSU 34-17
Pontiac Keith: MSU 42-6
Uncle Denny: MSU 42-17
Australian Paul: 38-0 MSU. After the game, the opposing coach is found in the bathroom, curled up in the foetal position singing "you make me feel like a natural woman"
Doc: Win, but look like crap at times. Growing pains. MSU 31-16

ES sez:  MSU 38-10

WANTED: NCAA DIVISION 1-FBS COACHING STAFF

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL
Michigan State University is accepting applications for a new coaching staff for its NCAA Division I-FBS football team.  Specific opportunities include:  Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator, position coaches (Offensive Line Coach, Wide Receivers Coach, Quarterbacks Coach).  It is requested applicants review video from the previous four (4) years of Michigan State football and its coaching decisions prior to application for the position.

Required qualifications include:

• Ability to take responsibility for substituting best talent with sub-par talent in key positions (e.g. RB, QB) on key plays (particularly 3rd & 4th Down)
• Understanding time management, particularly at the end of halves
• Not imitating the head basketball coach by using timeouts in football as they are in basketball
• Accepting responsibility for offensive production, despite injuries and officiating mistakes
• Need to not defend incompetent staff members' decisions and instead terminate incompetent staff, particularly on offense
• In a northern climate, ability to comprehend weather conditions (such as sub-zero temperatures and 50+ mph winds) and its impact on the passing game
• Understanding the needs for the football program over individual significant player desires, despite players' loyalty and desires
• Direct an offense which can score a minimum of 17 points per game on offense in each game

Desired qualifications include:

• Using at least 10+ years of experience to make split-second decisions without delay
• If demanding loyalty as a "foxhole individual," surrounding oneself with individuals who can shoot to kill (aka "score") beyond the want of loyalty  
• Recruiting talented athletes with a positive charisma and response to academic expectations

Benefits:

• Coaching young minds as Division I-FBS athletes at an internationally respected academic institution.
• Prioritizing athletes' education once admitted
• Minimum salary of $500,000 per year, with dozens of free tickets, free car and transportation, membership at country club of your choice, $5,000 worth of khakis, unlimited free athletics gear, competitive medical benefits, and compensation bonuses for B1G Championship and CFP qualifications. 

Starting date:  Immediately, in time for the beginning of the Big Ten season opener - September 21, 2019.

For more information, please contact the MSU Athletics Department at 517-355-1630.

ES Preview: MSU Spartans vs Arizona St Sun Devils

#17 MSU Spartans (2-0) vs Special People (2-0)

September 14, 2019.  4 pm ET.
Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI

Weather:  73 & sunny. Winds: 11 mph out of the West

Sagarin Ratings:  MSU #7 (yes #7!), ASU #58.  Following his logic, Sparty should win by 23.
Vegas Line: MSU by 14-1/2

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR FOOTBALL!  SUNNY, WARM SKIES THROUGHOUT THE GAME! 

Last year, former Philly Eagles player-turned ESPN broadcaster-turned ASU coach Herman Edwards got his signature win courtesy of the Michigan State Spartans in an epic fail offensive offense debacle by Big Green... it was a premonition of the 2018 season.

Enough of the history.  ES likes the special teams of MSU (Hartbarger, Coughlin) and the defense of MSU as big-time pluses.  It will be a defensive game, this time with the Big Green on top.  Coach D, who will have most wins in MSU history, leads his press conference with this gem of a quote by Duffy:

"When you are playing for a national championship, it's not a matter of life or death.  It's more important than that."

What are they saying about their team, and about Michigan State, over in sunny & hot Arizona:  read it from the (ASU) State Press, or the Arizona Republic

Prognostications:

• Arizona Republic (from six different writers, 1 picks Az State):  MSU 35-10, MSU 24-10, MSU 35-13, MSU 28-17, ASU 21-20, MSU 24-10
• CHock (in SFO): L, MSU 12 @ ASU 14
• Mary Cote (in Sacto - mom of ES' grade school friends): MSU 24 v AZ State 7. Made up the score but just want AX to lose so Cal can stay #1 in Pac 12. LOL.
• Cyn (in Pitt, at 'gate tomorrow): MSU wins!
• Poke (Grand Ledge): Michigan State 27 Arizona State 10. I am looking for revenge after traveling to the Valley of the Sun last year for the loss.
• Australia Paul (Queensland, Australia): MSU 21-20
• Chef Tom (Glen Arbor): MSU ugly
• RGM3 (Farm Hills):  MSU 33-11
• Gregger (GVSU): MSU 34-23
• Big Joe and Phantom 309 (metro Detroit):  MSU 35-30
• Big Bob (Kazoo): MSU will be twice as gooder as last week so they will win 102-34
• Keith (Pontiac): MSU 37-10
• Oakland Ronnie (E Lansing): MSU 20-6
• Brink (E Lansing): MSU 35-13
• Greg, the Pie Man (E Lansing): MSU 24-17
• Kat, the post-Brexit Queen of Scotland (now in Jackson):  MSU 24, ASU 10 ....
• ES sez: MSU 17, ASU 9

ES Preview: MSU Spartans host Tulsa Time

Michigan State Spartans (0-0, #18/20) vs Don Williams, The Gentle Giant (0-0)

Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI
August 30, 2019.  7 pm ET
TV:  Fox Sports 1
Weather: 72, partly cloudy, 8 mph wind WNW

Sagarin Ratings:  MSU #20,  Tulsa #111.  Projected margin of victory:  MSU by 25
Line outta Vegas:  MSU by 23 1/2

Never been to Tulsa.  The ES has been to Oklahoma - actually Norman, OK for an interview at the Univ of Oklahoma (ugly) where a tornado blast through the town, hitting the ES with hail on his 2012 visit.  Didn't care for the state then, and don't care today - especially today.

The Tulsa Hurricanes waltz into town coming off a 3-9 season.  Let's do a little quiz:

1.  What conference is Tulsa in?  a) Sun Belt b) AAC c) Independent d) Conference USA e) Big 12.
2.  Did former Ohio State Coach John Cooper really win five consecutive conference championships as coach at Tulsa?  a) Duh b) Nope
3.  Tulsa is a girls' school.  It is, or it was.   a) True  b) False
4.  Which infamous songwriter has an archive at U Tulsa?  (hint: "to be stuck inside of Mobile with the Memphis blues again")

Answers at the bottom of the post.

Predictions for today's stint:

Tulsa World (newspaper): MSU 30-14
Sloth:  Sunny, warm, and drunk
Big Bob:  MSU 7-2.  MSU will win 7-2 with the defense scoring the only TD in the game. Rocky Balboa will be sacked in his own end zone, giving up 2 points in his only series in the game.
RGM3:  MSU 38-10
Oakland Ronnie:  MSU 42-10
GVSU Gregger:  MSU 34-17
Freep:  MSU 33-6
Wojo/Det News:  MSU 30-9
Sensoli: Dantonio is going to switch around his coaching staff again......42-14 MSU
Kat:  still sleeping...

ES sez:  MSU 30-6






Answers (ES tried to turn the font upside down, but that's out of his league in HTML):

1.  b) American Athletic Conference (AAC). Have not.
2.  a) Yes, he did.  Mr. Cooper is a member of the College FB Hall of Fame, he is.
3.  a) True. If you're from Tulsa, you don't smoke marijuana but you're proud to be an Okie from Muskogee.  From Wiki: The Presbyterian School for Girls (also known as "Minerva Home") was founded in Muskogee, Indian Territory, in 1882 to offer a primary education to young women of the Creek Nation.  The Tulsa Chamber of Commerce bought the school for $100k in 1907 with 20 acres of land to relocate it.

4.  Noble Prize winner for Literature, Bob Dylan.  See the archives.  Even so, still don't wanna go back to Oklahoma. 

ES Preview: Redbox Bowl

REDBOX BOWL 2018
Michigan State Spartans vs Oregon Ducks
MSU: (7-5 all, 5-4 B1G).  Nike: (8-4 all, 5-4 P12)
Sagarin Ratings: MSU #31, Oregon #33

Santa Clara, CA - Home of the 49ers
Dec 31, 2018.  3 pm ET.
TV: Fox

Line:  Nike is favored by 1-1/2

Best win:  MSU 21-17 over Penn State.  Oregon 30-27 OT vs Washington.
Worst loss:  MSU incompetent 6-9 at Nebraska.  ORE whipped 15-44 at Arizona.

Oregon has scored at least 30 points in 9 of its 12 games.  When losing, they've scored 15, 20, 25, and 31 points.  Yes, they score a ton.

MSU has given up LESS than 30 points in each game except one all year (the first game of the season).  The Spartan defense is world-class, better than that Michigan crap we saw in the Peach Bowl, and has kept MSU in games all year regardless of the ineptitude of the offense and OC Dave Warner.  That defense is great to watch, #1 across the board.

Yes, DEFENSE wins championships, and MSU has had a harder schedule than Oregon.  But, MSU's offense has been entirely mismanaged, bungled, and is inept at best.  In its losses, they've scored 13, 19, 7, 6, and 6.  Yes, they don't score.  MSU's offense is not well thought of by the Spartan Nation, after struggling until the 4th quarter to beat Rutgers in its last game.  (FYI, Rutgers is ranked 121st by Sagarin behind such national FCS powers as Dartmouth, Samford (not a typo), Colgate, UC Davis, and Kennesaw State).

The 14-10 win over Rutgers was the single-worst experience the ES has ever experienced in Spartan Stadium. Ugly, cold, rainy, and pathetic against a shit team.

Bottom line:  teams are supposed to get better as a season progresses - MSU has done exactly the opposite and become far worse.   That blame goes straight to coaching and to coach Dantonio. 

ES was so bored by the Spartans' effort in an empty, rainy, cold Spartan Stadium
in late November, he turned red-faced in honor of the Scarlet Knights,
with the sheriff and Dieter watching in laughter

Picks:

• Kat:  Oregon, 27-7
• Poke: MSU, 24-20
• Zech:  Dux soup 27, Spartans 17. If LJ and Lewerke are 100% and play that way, maybe State pulls the upset 20-19.
• Aussie Paul:  MSU, 45-0.
• Chef Tom: I hope we do better than Purdue, Notre Dame and Michigan. Should be a piece of cake.
• Big Bob:  Oregon, 42-7
• Sloth: 1-0, both teams suck so badly on offense, that they will have to go to penalty kicks.
• Big Joe and Phantom 309:  Ducking fucks 38-the shittans -4
• RGM3:  Oregon, 24-14
• Gregger:  Ducks, 34-27

ES sez:  Just no offense all year.  Prove it otherwise, coach D.  Regardless, you can score 100 points, WAKE UP AND FIRE WARNER.  Oregon will win, 31-17