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

TRIFECTA HITS AGAIN! MSU wins, UM gets its ass kicked, ND loses to the MAC

TRIFECTA IN FAVOR OF MICHIGAN STATE... AGAIN!!!!!

With MSU’s dramatic win over Maryland 27-24 (the ES predicted MSU would win 26-24), combined with the gutting of scUM by Texas, 31-12, and the disaster by the Right Wing Irish to lowly Northern Illinois at home 16-14… WE HIT THE TRIFECTA!!!

This is rare, for MSU to win on the same weekend that Michigan and Notre Dame lose.  It’s a great feeling. I hate those two football teams more than any other in college football, because they’ve had enough time winning. Share the wealth.  The statistics, plain Ws and Ls are below.

From 2015-2024, the Trifecta ooccured 4 times, including today (Sep 7, 2024).  (4 times over 120 weekends = 3.3% frequency).

• From 2007 - 2014, the Trifecta occurred 11 times (11 times over 88 weekends = 12.5% frequency).
• From 1968 – 2006, the Trifecta occurred 10 times (10 times over 443 weekends = 2.3% frequency).
• Seven times in the past 57 years has a weekend included either MSU defeating Michigan and ND losing, or MSU defeating ND and Michigan losing.
• Three times has the Trifecta occurred in back-to-back weekends: the first weekends of the 2007 season, from 11/7 to 11/14 in 2009 and the last two weekends (11/22-11/29) in 2014.
• There has not been a Trifecta three times in a row in the past 57 years. 

Below is a list of the few Trifectas since 2014, and you can link to a previous post from the ES back in 2014 which outlined all of this data back into ancient history.

Date	MSU	ND	MICH
9/7/24	W, 27-24 MD	L, 14-16 NIU	L, 12-31 TEX
9/21/19	W, 31-10 NW	L, 17-23 GA	L 14-35, WIS
11/25/17	W, 40-7 RUT	L, 20-38 STAN	L, 20-31 OHST
11/28/15	W, 55-16 PSU	L, 36-38 STAN	L, 13-42 OHST

Here’s the link to before 2015: https://enlightenedspartan.blogspot.com/2014/11/michigan-state-hits-rare-2-weekend.html

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

Business trip to San Diego. Gorgeous.

This was a business trip.  Let the pleasure begin.

Let me get some dispersions out first: Weather has been awful the last four days.  80 degrees and sunny the whole time.  Sweating.  Wearing shorts, drinking on patios.  Horrific. 

Go GREEN!  Indeed

Now for the fun: Wow.  What a performance.  What a day!  Started with ES in the Holiday Bowl Parade (uber cool).  High-fiving Spartans up and down PCH and downtown San Diego. 

Gotta get on the parade!  SPARTANS HAVE IT GOING ON!!!!

The game?  Complete, absolute perfection.  What can you say about the Holiday Bowl performance out of Michigan State?  You would have thought we were playing Davenport University - not Washington State.  ES is up and down all day in SD: "We got this."  Yup. 

Wore shorts and flip-flops to the game to watch a thorough dissection of a decent team.  Surgery.  We destroyed our opponent.  The Cougs had no answer for the Spartan offense.  None.  Brian Lewerke put on an absolute clinic.  Top shelf performance - throwing darts all over the field and running wild.  MVP performance? Absolutely.  73 yards on the ground.  213 in the air.  3 TDs.  Whaaaa???  You just had to witness it.  That first TD, Lewerke scrambling... and all of us in the crowd could see Cody White work from right to left in the end zone and yell "HE'S OPEN!!!!!"  And Lewerke just threw a strike.  It was beautiful.  Tears.

Game over, man. 

The ES has been hard on Dave Warner.  But, this time he worked.  Made that team from western Washington look like little school girls.  Beautiful. We pounded the ball early (and late).  That 16 play, 9:24 drive was gorgeous, ending with the aformentioned TD to Cody White.  Totally smoking hot. 

And... the game was over. Because we cut Lewerke loose and he started throwing the ball all over the place.  We established run, and then did pass.  It was a complete checkmate.  Genius. Not rocket science. Just smart.

The defense was well prepared for crossing routes.  Very well prepared.  Stuffed the run.  Wazzu couldn't run shit - WSU lost their QB and 2 WRs before the game... but it didn't matter if they were playing.  100 times if we played them, we beat them 100 times.  MSU is just in a different league and prominence that WSU - and it showed.

Lewerke just went nuts.  Throwing beautiful passes all over the field.  Felton Davis dropped one ball on the day, but he was WIDE OPEN on several others.  The second TD, the Spartan Nation yelling "HE'S WIDE OPEN!!!" Lewerke didn't miss.  Hit Davis is a stride 49 yards right into the end zone.  The ES was crying in joy.  Just throwing darts. 

Just part of the domination.... 

FYI - ES just ran into a dude here (Louie) at the Waterfront Bar in San Diego - he went to scUM - congratulated us on our stomping. 

And then, Warner went back to LJ Scott.  Beautiful.  And LJ is running like Barry Sanders all over the place.  Beautiful. 

Victory!  An absolute ass-whipping. 

Went to the after party at the #barleymash here in downtown SD - bar just keep playing all MSU videos from the past year, place was jammed with Spartan crowd.  All night long. Very very cool.  The owner is a Spartan. 

Keep on a Rockin'-me baby... 

All in all.  What a day.  What the hell is next?  SD Alumni watch party for MSU-Cleveland State???  Woop woop.

Enlightened Preview from San Diego: MSU vs Wazzu

We gotta gut the pirate, Mike Leach

#16 Michigan State vs #18 Washington State

SDCCU Stadium (it's a credit union)

Holiday Bowl

6 pm PT.  ES is in San Diego. 

Weather:  right now it's perfect: 72 and sunny.  

Kick tomorrow: 60.
TV: FS1

Sagarin Ratings:  MSU #25, Washington State #27

Line:  Spartans favored by 1-1/2

Are you jealous?  You should be.  The ES is in San Diego for the game - with a shoutout to my buddy Smig who wuz gonna join me (who needs a ticket?) but got laid up in the hospital on Xmas eve. He's in rough shape - root for him!  

As expected, ES is distracted on his Cali vacation. Who wouldn't be? This is why we surf and turf, get a nice tan, watch girls in bikinis, and just in general fall asleep on the beach after a good night out at a tiki bar.   

But, read this about strength coach Ken Mannie and why MSU is such a tight-knit group - it's very cool.  Then, ES needs to hit the MSU San Diego alumni social at 3 pm today... it's at the barleymash.

Analysis?  Meh.  Well Washington State has a shootout offense, and Michigan State has a nice defense, particularly against the run with a poor WSU rush game.  Wazzu dismissed their top two wideouts, but who cares - they will be tossing that pigskin all over in good weather; their QB (Luke Falk) is all-time leading passer in Pac 12 history; and MSU is not good on crossing routes.  Yet, MSU has a pretty good defense in key situations and DBs - forcing 13 INTs - are on point when necessary.  Big surprise from was QB Brian Lewerke coming into form - with a solid wideout corps - a year early. He's a significant running threat (best in MSU history???) with a good parlay of backs in LJ Scott, Madre London, and Gerald Holmes.

The biggest concern, in all honesty, is Dave Warner - the MSU Offensive Coordinator.  He can be extremely sketchy - with John L Smith-like play calling stupidity at the worst times.  If he can keep the foot on the throat of Wazzu when driving... maintain attack mode... then MSU should win going away.

In the meantime, ES is gonna sip on some beer & tequila, get a sun tan, and figure out what the hell to do other than look at ships and such. But, it will be outside!  

Gotta meet Mike.  Or, rather his friends.  I need more of these people!

Predictions:

Debbie Does Texas:  MSU 32-31

Oakland Ronnie:  MSU 34-28

Big Joe and Phantom 309:  MSU 35-31

Aussie Paul:  MSU 45-0
RGM3:  28-17 MSU. 10 win season, bitches!

ES sez:  LJ Scott 38, Luke Falk 30

Enlightened Preview: Spartans at Buckeyes

Welcome to reality Oscar Meyer

#12 Michigan State at #13 Ohio State

Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH

November 11, 2017 - VETERANS DAY

11 CT - 12 ET

TV:  Fox

Sagarin Ratings: MSU #22, Ohio State #6

Line: Ohio State by 15-1/2

Comments:  Thank you Vegas for poster board material!  Even the Buckeye-faithful think the bookies are smoking crack.  Best bet in America.  Dantonio has his team on a roll... watch out. The end.

Predictions: 

Debbie Does Texas: MSU 34-21
Sloth:  MSU 12-10
Grand Valley Greg:  OSU 34 - MSU 17
Gobble Gobble Turkey: 17-9 MSU
Oakland Ronnie: 31-17 MSU
Big Joe and Phantom 309: MSU 35-OSU 31
RGM3: MSU 24 Osu 21. Michael Geiger 2.0. Book your hotel stay. We going to Indy
Aussie Paul:  MSU 36-0

ES sez:  Doubting is done.  Buckeyes be done.  Follow the lead of RGM3: we going to Indy.  Another last second TD - and PAT - wins.

Buckeye Masters 27,  Ohio State 26.  

Photologue: MSU v Penn State

Photologue from Saturday, starting with the game winner...

The winner.  Clock says :02.  Brilliant

Isn't she freezing?  Fox tailgate

Before the storm

Real fans - diehards return

Blurry is accurate

Just a great football game to watch.  Brutal

Yup, we were right on top of the action.  Very loud.  

Incredible effort by the Big Green.  On the way to victory.

Score and kickoff... Cold, wet, fun!!!!  LOUD!!!

Thank You Penn State

The Penn State offense at Michigan State

This is why you play the games.  Big Green up to #13

The ES has been to 1,000+ football games, but this was up there - top 10.  Screw the weather, enjoy the moment. That :49 drive was perfect.  Perfect.  The good Lord could not have scripted it better. Speaking of Him:

Thank you for lightning.

Thank you 400+ yards back-to-back, Mr. Lewerke.

Thank you for the cold, wet Novembers of mid-Michigan.

Thank you for ouzo.

Thank you for allowing our coach to dominate you.

Thank you for the Spartan Fight Song.

Thank you for witnessing complete control over a game.  Control.  This was a gift for you to learn how to coach a football game.  You are welcome.

Thank you coaching up 2-star recruits.

Thank you Michigan, Penn State, and Iowa.

Thank you for you and your dialed-in Vegas connections on a spank-down: NOT. 

The Pennsylvania State University: You are always invited.

Enlightened Preview: Spartans at Northwestern

#16 Michigan State (6-1, 4-0) at Northwestern (4-3, 2-2)

Oct 28, 2017 - 3:30 pm

Ryan Field

Sagarin Ratings: MSU #26, Northwestern #34

Line:  Spartans favored by 1-1/2

TV:  ESPN

The ES is in DC for some meetings, going to a Gallaudet University (school for the deaf) Division III football game today.  Then, woop it up with the Spartan faithful at Capitol Lounge. 

Predictions:

Debbie Does Texas: 21-17 MSU

Minny Jeremy:  18-5 MSU

Aussie Paul: 52-0

Doc: In 78 I was at the game in Dyche Stadium. I think MSU won 52-3. Eddie Smith to Kirk Gibson all day long. They give us trouble. Though it is the site of John Ls comeback. 26-22 Sparty. Wierd game. Hopefully Terry Handratty, I mean our QB won't slip & fall on the train platform.
Chef Tom: Was at Dyke in 83 when the Spartans provived the Cats with their 29th, record breaking, consecutive loss.
Big Joe and Phantom 309: 37-24 MSU
Reno Ron: Sparties 24 - Mini Ditkas 10
Keith the Shrimp: 28-13 green. More solid d.
Sluggo:  17-13 MSU

ES sez:  Rough, and tough, and ugly... but another win:  Sparty wins, 17-16

Valenti calls it like he sees it: Dantonio outcoached Harbaugh

Mike Valenti does it again.  Another beautiful, straight-talkin', high-fiving, wake-up-call, reality show about coach Dantonio owning Harbaugh and Jesus Harbaugh's inability to win the big game.  (revisit 2015).  A few good points:  Yes, coach D does more with less, and outcoached Harbaugh. MSU was ready, and is 8-2 of the last 10.  At this point in his career, Harbaugh has the same record as did Brady Hoke (24-7), who was fired.  The delusional narrative out of Ann Arbor.  Harbaugh is 1-4 against MSU & Ohio State.  And, he is being paid $9 million with a pair of $1 million assistants.

Just pointing out the obvious.

Enlightened Preview: scUMbags eating Korn

Here's your scUM trailer trash, eating maize, while listening to Korn. 
And who's the starting QB for scUM? O'Korn.  Cornrolls, eating corn, listening to Korn, rooting for O'Korn.  Is there a God to help us from this madness?  

Michigan State (3-1, 1-0) vs. #7 scUMbags (4-0, 1-0)

Sagarin Ratings: MSU #27, scUM #13

October 5, 2017.  7:30 ET/Fox

Michigan Stadium
Ann Arbor, MI

Weather: 76, cloudy, 18 mph wind SSW

TV:  Fox

Line: scUM favored by 10-1/2

It's great for the ES to be flat, dead wrong.  ES picked a tank job against Iowa, and was proven wrong... as we needed only one week to prepare, and with a stout defense, win 17-10 against the Ugly Chickens of Iowa, not the two weeks necessary to be drubbed by the Irish.

OK, here I am with Big Bob and Don Middlebrook at Reno's reliving shitty weather games in our lives.  Thinking of the rain and wind this weekend in Khakiville leads to weather remembrance (in no ranking order) before we get to the predictions:

• MSU hosting Florida Atlantic (2008).  Absolute pouring down rain, like the God opened up a firehose on Spartan Stadium.  It lasted ALL GAME LONG.  Bob and I were shivering, and it was 72 degrees outside.  There was no wind, the rain just came straight down, like a 4-hour shower.  QB from FAU tried to throw the ball, and the rain knocked it down.  Javon Ringer for MSU ran for 250+ yards, because there was nothing else to do. Hardest rainstorm I've ever experienced in my life.  
• MSU hosting Northwestern (1989).  The Big Green clobbered Northwestern, 76-14 in EL.  The snow just DID NOT STOP.  Late November. Big Bob recalls the sweepers on the field after every possession to mark each 5 yards.  The ES remembers the student section throwing snowballs at the back of the NW players, and the PA announcer stating "please do not throw snowballs, you are endangering the players" as play was stopped. 
• MSU at Illinois (2005).  Traveling to Illinois with ChiSpartan and Big Bob, when we arrived it was 98 degrees in late September.  And humid.  MSU roared out to a 61-7 lead in the middle of the third quarter, and Big Bob was yelling out "BELIEVE!!!!" (the Illinois phrase at the time) and the ES yelling "Get Zookified" (in reference to coach Ron Zook)!  But thousands of students at Illinois were wearing shirts that said "Ann Arbor is a Whore" and after the game dozens congratulated us, and begged us to beat scUM the next week.  
• MSU losing to ND (2006).  In the remnants of Hurricane Katrina, the ES & Co. watched the beginning of the downfall of John L Smith in the pouring rain.  It's pouring rain and 40+ mph wind... why run for 12 yards a carry when you can throw in a monsoon?!  The ultimate of stupidity.

Let's get to the game:

2017 scUM Homecoming Queen, a 3.95 GPA Nuclear Physics major

What does one think of when one considers Ann Arbor?  non-contiguous streets.  Hippie wanna-bees having pot-smoking festivals between splitting atoms.  Challenged drivers. Great bread, bad teeth, and bad hair.  Watching "Wolf of Wall Street" with grandpa and kids.  $40 parking on someone's lawn... without a refresher?  Bad seating.  Construction on non-contiguous streets.  Almost-greatness always.  Trailer residence in abundance - why attend there, when you can park there?

Furthermore, what does one do when you read the contract of the second wealthiest coach in the nation?  $4,000 khaki allowance. LOL.

'Enough.  MSU better offense vs UM great defense. UM average offense vs MSU good defense.  Seems even-steven to me.  Last to screw up, other team wins.

Predictions:

• Big Bob: MSU wins 19-16, with a safety in hand.
• RGM3: Heart says MSU, Brain said UM... Heart wins out. 21-20 MSU
• Sloth: 23-7, Goodguys.
• Australian Paul: MSU 38 - IOWA 0
• Debbie Does Texas:  MSU 21-17
• Big Joe and Phantom 309: two teams with good defenses and lacking offensive identities means we're in for a low scoring game, 10-9 MSU
• Feather: 27-24 scUM
• Don Middlebrook: A big Spartan fan, but I think it's a 24-20 Spartan loss... but we look good and next year we take 'em.
• Lax Kaatz: Both teams give the ball away, but scum don't capitalize while MSU does. 20-17 good guys.
• Oakland Ronnie: MSU 18-13
• Carter:  scUM 31, MSU 17
• Keith the Midget-man:  MSU 19-17
• Kelly Butt:  MSU 17-10

ES sez:  surprise, surprise, surprise!  Coach D is the comeback king pulling a few gadget plays out of his hat at the right time in a defensive-minded game.  Spartan Nation 18, Homecoming Queen 16.

Enlightened Preview: Michigan State hosts Iowa

Michigan State (2-1, 0-0) vs. Ugly Chickens (3-1, 0-0)

Sagarin Ratings: MSU #37, Ugly Chickens #31

September 28, 2017.  4:00 ET

Spartan Stadium

East Lansing, MI

Weather:  61 and sunny

TV:  Fox

Line: MSU favored by 3

Yes, we are the whipping post for the nation.  Against the Irish, the ES wanted to projectile vomit after the first period.  There's nothing like laying an egg on national television.  That was wonderful. 

It was amusing seeing how Coach Dantonio took a page out of the ES’ playbook from TWO WEEKS AGO and finally encouraged LJ Scott to carry a football around campus all week.  It was, unfortunately, A WEEK LATE… Scott is so talented, he just can’t keep fumbling into the end zone.  

On the coaches show yesterday at Reno’s, with co-defensive coords Harlon Barnett and Mike Tressel, they were singing the praises of Dave Warner (what????) and that “we believe we could have beaten ND without all the mistakes.”  

The new helmet for the Spartans with the coaching staff in stained air

What were they smoking?  What was the final score????  38-18 Irish, right?  Was I in the same stadium?  And, the Spartans had two weeks to prepare for that drubbing?  

MSU O-Coordinator Dave Warner is a buffoon.  His quote after the game ““Change our approach? Maybe. Because what we are doing is not working… We are doing what we have been doing, for years and years around here. Protecting the football. It’s not taking place right now.”  Do something different?  DUH.  No shit, Sherlock. 

Hey, Dave: here’s another idea.  Practice and play the fundamentals instead of using all these reverse read-options.  It looks stupid, and it ain’t working.  If it didn’t work against the Friggin’ Irish, it sure won’t work against Iowa.   Warner has GOT TO BE FIRED.  

Interestingly, the bookies in Vegas are smoking the same thing as Barnett and Tressel - they have made the Big Green three point faves.  Excuse me while I put my mortgage, my car, and my kids college funds on an Iowa team that lost to Penn State on the last play of the game -- although statistically, the Ugly Chickens were thoroughly dominated, doubled up in total yards (579-273 PSU), possession (39:39 - 20:21 PSU), and tripled up in first downs (29-11 PSU).  

Still, that’s the easiest bet the ES has ever made.  

Predictions:

Sloth: 24-7, Chickenhawks.

Ham: Warner has to go. Michigan state won't be able to beat any proper competition with him running the offense. State will continue to be bad until he's gone.

Australian Paul: MSU 41- IOWA 0

Not-even-21-yet Greg: 31-24 Iowa

RGM3: We will NOT have a repeat of last year. MSU will come back with a performance Msu fans need to see. With that I have MSU 31 Iowa 17

Big Joe & Phantom 309: MSU 17- Iowa 14, it'll be a tough slog of a game and I don't anticipate any scoring until the second half
Everything's Big in Texas Deb:  MSU 28-24
G:  Sparty rights the ship, 24-17 MSU
Sluggo: Another shitty year for MSU. Head coach on the chopping block. Pun in there somewhere
Zzzzz-ech:  Iowa 37-20

ES sez:  Sorry, Spartan fans.  After witnessing the debacle against ND, this Spartan team just is not talented enough and is NOT getting any better.  Don’t see how the Big Green TD Machine can pull this one off.  Ugly Chickens 31, Dave Warner 17.

ES Preview: Spartans to Buck the Broncs or Play Patty-cake?

Time for some Kentucky Fried Horse on Saturday

Michigan State (1-0, 0-0) vs. Western Michigan (0-1, 0-0)

Sagarin Ratings: MSU #32, WMU #68

September 9, 2017.  3:30 ET

Spartan Stadium

East Lansing, MI

Weather:  65 sunny

TV:  Big Ten Network

Line:  MSU favored by 7-1/2

Depth Charts:  MSU, WMU

WEAR WHITE ON SATURDAY!!!!  The Spartan gridders will be sporting an all-white uniform, including a white helmet (first time with a white helmet at home since 1954???? In 1954, MSU was 3-6 overall, 1-5 Big Ten with victories over Indiana, Washington State, and Marquette.  Ahem!) 

Predictions:  

• Big Bob, WMU 31-28.  Did you see the wmu-usc game?  MSU will get its ass kicked if it can't stop fumbling.  WMU 31-MSU 28. Sorry to rain on yer parade but, remember, Bob Wills is still the king regardless of the outcome.


• Sloth, MSU.  I predict LJ Scott will fumble away 2 TD's.  Malik McDowell will show up on an ATV and limp around on the sidelines all game, same as he did last season.  The good news is that WMU is less than great on defense, our biggest defensive weakness is pass coverage and WMU is less than great in the passing game.  So long as we keep WMU to less than 150 yards rushing, State wins this game going away.  Otherwise, it will be a loooooooooong Saturday afternoon and it will feel like 1983 all over again.
  
• RGM3: 24-21 msu. Game winning fg
  
• Ronnie: 28-17 bog green

Chew 'em up, Cole!

• ES sez:  Did anyone see LJ Scott this week around campus?  Was he carrying pigskin to class?  Was he going to class?  
  
  Well, the ES met Cole Chewins (OL, 6-8, 284) today at the Mark Dantonio show at Reno’s East.  ES said, “Damn, you are tall!  Go get ‘em buddy.”  Good kid. Coach D said he came MSU at 232 pounds - so he added 52 pounds in 2 years!  Chewins said all he does in eat (he’s CHEWIN!) all day long, and in class, etc.  Hopefully, Lewerke doesn’t hit him in the back of the head with some passes.   More impressively?  He’s a Finance major.  Nice, the ES could use him come tax season...  
  
  Dantonio provided his usual coaching insight, blah blah blah, that you or I or any other person who watches football could say in their sleep:  “We will need to keep on our toes.  They have an athletic, mobile quarterback with dangerous running backs.”  As if the stats don’t lie with the Broncos’ performance vs Southern Cal.  The problem is what coach D also said, in response to a question from a caller: “one of our goals on defense is to create turnovers. When we win the turnover battle we are 52-9, when we don’t we are 25-25 in our 10 years here.”  Well, Big Green had a pick-six vs Bowling Green, but gave up three turnovers to lose the TO battle at -2.  This must change.  

Roly Poly... Average age & weight in attendance at the MD show at Reno's?  78 y/o and 295.

Problem with WMU is their defense gave up over 280 yards to 10 receivers from SC.  Now, the Spartans don’t have the depth at receiver as do da Trojans… but the Big Green better figure it out.  While MSU hit 10 receivers last week (as did SC), only five had more than one catch, and, the ES is noting several drops.  Derrell Stewart (impressive) and Felton Davis (acrobatic despite drops) seem to be the go-tos to take advantage of a weak WMU secondary.

Enuff said.  Methinks the Spartans, with Hartbarger, at worst can punt MSU into good field position on the day.  Stop fumbling!  Any field goal kicking?  Naah.  Move to 2-0 and next week bring on the Firkin Irish stumbling into EL with their bruises after a loss to UGA.

FINAL SCORE: Chewin' Finance Major 35, Dangerous Running Backs with No Secondary 28.

MSU vs Bowling Green

Michigan State (0-0) vs Bowling Green (0-0)
BGSU picked for 3rd in MAC East
MSU picked for 4th in B1G Ten East
75 degrees and sunny
MSU favored by 17

Sagarin Ratings:  Michigan State #33, Bowling Green #109

IT'S GAME DAY!!!!

Picks:  Keith 32-10

ES Sez: A healthy dose of LJ Scott, a splash of Elwerke, and breaking in our receivers lead to a closer that expected MSU win, 28-24.

Fire Tom Anastos. Immediately.

UPDATE (1/15): After this past weekend, MSU has now lost 9 in a row, is 4-15-1, and outscored 43-18 over that period. 

Rarely does the ES post about the Spartan ice hockey team, but now is the time.  Sorry, this is an ugly post, but my Green & White pride demands it.

TOM ANASTOS SHOULD BE FIRED.  NOW.

This evening, at the $20 million restored Munn Ice Arena, MSU got whipped again, 5-2, against mighty Penn State.  Sorry, coach, the restoration was NOT a "game changer" with you in charge. MSU is now 4-13-1 overall, has not won in its last 7 games, being outscored 33-13 in that period of time. Can we reach our 10-23-4 record from a year ago?  The ES doubts it.

My, my how the mighty have fallen.  Let's share some comments from the master to prove the point.

The ES with Ron Mason, Dec 2015

In mid-Dec. 2015, the ES went to Reno's and it just so happened to be the Tom Anastos show.  The ES bellied up to the back bar instead of listening to Anastos' drivel...  guess who popped into the seat next to him?  The late, great Ron Mason - greatest collegiate hockey coach of all-time. Here's where the conversation went:

ES: "Howdy, coach! Welcome back to town! We miss you."
RM: "Thanks so much. It's good to be back, although it's a little cold."
ES: "No shit. Aren't you down in Florida these days?  What're ya doing?"
RM: "Yeah, I'm off West Palm Beach.  I've got a fishing boat and go deep-sea fishing every day."
ES: "What do you catch?"
RM: "Maybe some swordfish, [some other fish I can't remember].  I couldn't do it when I was working, but I do it every day now."
ES: "Awesome. Take advantage of retirement. What do you think of our hockey team these days?"
RM: "It's sad and unfortunate.  To see that program I helped build up to be one of the best year-in-year out, and now that legacy is ruined. I'm glad to be fishing."
ES: "I couldn't agree more.  I miss your teams. You been to Munn since they redid it?"
RM: "It's great.  Too bad we don't have a hockey team good enough to deserve it.  We don't even fill the place any more."
ES: "I know. When you were coaching, I had to scalp tickets to get in.  Maybe we should just talk about fishing?"

etc, etc.

Uhhhhh, yeah.  Ron Mason is turning in his grave right now seeing how this hockey team is stinking it up.  I have had several conversations with a few other Spartan hockey alumni who believe the same thing.

*ES at the MSU/Minny game
on the glass, Dec. 9

Let's just consider the home games this season:

Oct. 21. Denver. L, 1-2. Attendance: 5,419
Oct. 22. Denver. L, 1-3. Attendance: 3,003
Oct. 28. Princeton, W, 6-2. Attendance: 3,079
Nov. 4. Michigan Tech. W, 3-2 OT. Attendance: 3,339
Nov. 5. Michigan Tech. L, 1-5. Attendance: 4,038
Nov. 10. Ferris State. L, 1-4. Attendance: 3,169
* Dec. 9. Minnesota. L, 2-4. Attendance: 5,869
Dec. 10. Minnesota. L, 2-4. Attendance: 5,420
Dec. 18. Northeastern. L, 2-6. Attendance: 3,536
TOTAL: 2-7. Score: 19-32. Average Attendance: 4,097

Of 6,450 capacity at Munn, the Spartan hockey team is averaging 63.5%... or, with an average ticket price of $15 (between $10 and $22), that's a loss of an average of $35,295 per game.  Under Mason, the Big Green Hockey Machine was sold out for 323 games in a row (from 1985 to 2004).

And, in the Pairwise rankings, Michigan State is ranked #50 out of 60, behind #49 Arizona State, #48 Colgate, #47 Sacred Heart, #45 Mercyhurst, #44 Bentley, and our mighty #35 U.S. Military Academy (Army).  Thank the Lord we are ranked ahead of #55 Alabama-Huntsville (for now).

Don't wait until the end of the season, Mr. Hollis.  This team is getting worse, not better.  Unfortunately, the Anastos hire did not work out - he should have stuck to pushing papers.  Why wait?  This marriage is over.

So, who would be interim coach?  Get a player to coach the team; or,  Kevin Miller, since he's in town.  Or, anyone named Miller.  Good God.

Sharpen that axe and let it fall.  It's time to start OVER.  Immediately. It's embarrassing.

#8 Michigan State hosts #11 Wisconsin: Cooking Up Badger Meat

Sagarin Ratings: MSU #28, Wisky #29

#8 MSU 2-0/0-0. #11 Wisky: 3-0
Saturday, September 24, 2016.
12:00 pm ET.
Mecca: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI

Line: MSU by 5 (vegasinsider.com)
TV: BTN
Weather: 64 degrees, partly cloudy, wind 8 mph ENE

Depth Chart - MSU - Wisky

Injuries - Wisky.  Out - PK  Rafael Gaglianone; LG Jon Dietzen; RB Bradrick Shaw; LB Chris Orr; CB Natrell Jamerson. Questionable - LG Micah Kapoi; RB Corey Clement; RB Taiwan Deal.

Injuries - MSU.  None.  

STRIPE THE STADIUM!!!  EVEN SECTIONS WEAR GREEN.  ODD SECTIONS WEAR WHITE.

Wow, check out that injury list for Wisconsin, particularly on offense.  This is rough for a unit that had to come back from a 17-13 deficit to squeak by that upstart team, 0-3 Georgia State, last week at home.  Bucky Badger is hurting at the right time to meet the Spartoonies... but, Wisky seems to always bring their lunchpail when playing the Big Green.

Why in the good lord did ABC or ESPN not pick up a #8 vs #11 matchup?  Very odd, because it screwed up SpartanNation's plans for 'gating.  Instead, with a Noon kick, the ES is just gonna skate over to the PB for some common sense and meet up with the gang prior to the game.  So long as it pairs up with a scUM loss to Penn State, it actually might work out just fine...

Let's cut to the chase.  The ES wuz with Ronnie and Rick at the Peanut Barrel on Thursday when CNN's Ultimate Tailgate showed up.  It was pretty cool hanging with former NFLer Coy Wire (Stanford Cardinal, Buffalo Bills) We were put on the tube rebel-rousing about the food, the beer, and left the producers with a rowdy "Go Green Go White!"  You can tune into CNN Headline News' Weekend Express between 7 am - Noon, prior to kickoff on Saturday to see the ES and the PB in action.  Thanks, Joe Bell!

There's Joe Bell (far left), proprietor of Peanut Barrel yucking it up
with Mr. Clean, a.k.a. Coy Wire and the Ultimate Tailgate Crew...
A great visit, thank you CNNHL! 

ES Thoughts?  MSU is healthy, and was incredibly impressive at times taking ND to the woodshed on the ground.  However, if there is a strength of the beer-drinkers and hell raisers, it is their interior defense which is giving up 82.3 ypg on the ground, and just 3.3 yards per carry.  Meanwhile, LJ Scott and Madre London ripped through the Irish last week for 198 yards on 35 carries. Through the air, Tyler O'Connor played the best game of his career, going 19-26 for 241 yards and a pair of TDs.  He looked sharp, and added another 46 yards on the ground.  RJ Shelton came alive as his go-to receiver with eight grabs, but Donnie Corley (4-88) looked insane as the youngster with great hands.  Looks like a stellar receiving corps that will test the Badger defense. Overall, the Badgers are allowing just 261 yards per game.

Da Badgers benched their shitty experienced QB to start a redshirt freshman, Alex Horney-brook, who led the Big Ten West stalwart back from the jaws of defeat to UGA State.  That spells trouble for UW, in addition to all their injuries against a strong Spartan defense.  If we can keep the foot on the jugular, MSU should be able to press Bucky into some turnovers and keep them at bay much of the game.

Don't expect a lot of points in this game. Nearly everyone in human history is picking the Spartans to win this one... except for Brock (see below), who is busy drinking IPAs across the Upper Peninsula.

ES sez:  MSU 20, Wisky 17

Skooz (from PB), MSU 33-17; RGMIII, MSU 24-21;  Brock, WIS 50-0; Tom (PB regular), MSU 38-21

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: MSU 21-16
Madtown Badgers:  Nick, MSU 24-17; Rayan, MSU 24-14;
FoxSports.com: Feldman, MSU 17-9; Mandel, MSU 27-20
Freep: MSU 27-13
LSJ:  MSU 27-19
DetNews: Charboneau, MSU 27-13; Chengelis, MSU 35-13; Wojo, MSU 24-10; Niyo, MSU 23-17
BTN: Dienhart, MSU 17-13; Merriman, MSU 27-15; Yarina, MSU 23-19
ESPN: Bennett, MSU 21-17; Moyer, MSU 28-20; Murphy, MSU 24-21; Temple, MSU 17-14; Ward, MSU 20-16
CampusInsiders:  MSU 20-14
Athlon:  MSU 26-20
MLive.com: MSU 24-10
CBSSports.com: MSU 20-16
Sports XChange:  MSU 31-13
College Football News:  MSU 23-20
The Oklahoman: MSU 30-19
Chicago Tribune:  MSU 23-20