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: Michigan State Spartans vs That Other Catholic School

Michigan State Spartans (3-0) at Boston College Eagles (3-0)

Alumni Stadium, Chester Hill, Massachusetts

September 21, 2024.  8:00 pm ET.

TV: ACC Network

Weather:  59 degrees, RAIN.  

Sagarin Ratings: Boston College #55, Michigan State #69

Line Outta Vegas:  The Other Catholics by 5.5

BC Stadium Capacity 44,500. Yikes, that's ACC tiny. 

Yes, it will rain today in Boston.  Rain, rain, rain.

 Big Bob and the ES saw these boys sing this live in EL about 20 years ago.  Let it rain rain rain in Boston.

The ES is up at Mackinac Island for the weekend and will watch the game from the City.  A bit distracted from football today, but will pop in to catch scores during the game around lunch, bicycling, the Grand Hotel, and fudge.   72 and sunny today here up north; better than the pouring rain expected during the game today in Boston.  

First of all, BC has has two significant contests on the road:  a win at wannabees Florida State and BC pushed #6 Mizzou to the limit last week. The Other Catholics have a great rushing attack, with a mobile QB with Nick Castellanos who also has 9 TD passes.  The Boston College running game has been the key for the Eagles. Florida State transfer Treshaun Ward has 153 yards through three games, and the Eagles are averaging 205 yards per game on the ground and 5 yards per carry. The Spartan defense is 23rd in FBS in rushing defense, allowing 78 yards per game.  This is key, especially in a rain storm.

Spartan QB Aidan Chiles has all the talent in the world, with wheels to boot. However, the young man has lots of coaching in front as he must learn to settle down and set his feet before he throws instead of behaving like Patrick Mahomes.  Each time, this gets him into trouble resulting in overthrows and INTs. If he can settle in and MSU can find a way to use its run game, it should have a chance.  But, MSU needs to stop the Other Catholic rushing attack.  Watch Chiles try to lengthen the field to standout 17-year old Nick Marsh.  One or two hits on this could be tremendous.  Can the MSU defense hold up and create a few turnovers in the rain?  Pray and find out. 

This will be a challenging contest for the newbie, undefeated Spartan coach Jonathan Smith, who has MSU undefeated and sitting atop the Big Ten through three games. 

Prognostications:

Big Bob: BC 28-24 MSU
Amsterdam CHock: My original pick was what Bob said. To be different,  I'll say BC 27 - MSU 20
Keith:  MSU 24-23

Australian Paul:  MSU 41-0. We're talking scalps. 

Pittsburgh Sloth:  I predict beer. 

ES sez, MSU 27, BC 23.