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

Thank you, sir. May I have another?

MSU Spartans (4-5/2-4) vs Michigan Wolverines (8-2/4-2)
Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI
November 16, 2019. 9 am Pacific Time.

Weather:  does it matter?

Sagarin Ratings: MSU #30, scUM #11
Vegas Line: scUM by 13-1/2

Prognostications:

Thank God the ES is visiting his pops in Gig Harbor, Washington State.  Thusly, the game is at 9 am. The whole day to enjoy with family after the ass kicking from scUM!

Tomorrow will be yet another poor showing - this time against the Evil Empire. Make it 5 losses in a row. This coach, Mark Dantonio, is clueless and relies on buffoons to coach the walking wounded. 'Tis clear as day: point to consistent years of poor substitutions and curiously poor clock management. Not to mention poor execution. Unfortunately, Coach Dantonio is using the playbook from John L Smith.  Only God knows why.

Against Michigan, a day at the woodshed will be the icing on the cake for Dantonio’s departure.

It’s the end of the world as we know it. And I feel fine.  Thank you sir, may I have another?

• Sloth: Dantonio is fired by Monday morning. F**k that asshole.
• Cam: I probably wasted 100 dollars on a ticket
• Keith: pset....sparty wins. . Because thats what happens when everybody loses hope. Naaaahhhh. Were gonna get killed.
• Chock: scUM 10, MSU 6
• Smig: I predict a bloodbath.
• RGM3: 2-0 Michigan. Another sad day in paradise. Hopefully dantonio tells the players he’s retiring at the end of the season tomorrow in his pregame speech and gets the boys ready for one more Michigan game for him.
• GVSU Gregger: 34-10 Michigan.
• Big Joe and Phantom 309: 30-24 MSU blocks a game winning FG for scUM and runs it back for a TD as time expires.
• Australian Paul:  MSU 21-7
• Mike (ES’ Dad): scUM 28-7
• Queen Kat, Duchess of Kirkcaldy: scUM 21-10

ES sez: scUM 41-10

Stats don't lie: Lewerke is rocking

Let me share with thy mine age.

The last two weeks, Brian Lewerke has been on fire.  On fire.

He is 72-of-113.

No, that is not a typo.  He threw 113 passes in the past two weeks.  He has 1,014 yards in total offense.

Huh?

In the 1987-88 season, MSU won the Rose Bowl, defeating the University of Spoiled Children twice that year.  That year - THE ENTIRE YEAR - Spartans through the air were 71-of-144 behind the leadership of Bobby McCallister - Andre Rison.

Lewerke has thrown for 845 yards... in two games.

Consider 1997.  And 2007.  Check this out - per game averages below. 

Paul Bunyan returns home to EL

Yup. That is correct and official. Welcome home, buddy!

Once again, thank you Mike Hart.

Big Green is #21 and should be ranked ahead of that scUM we beat at craptown on Saturday. OK, bare with me.  The ES has not showered since Friday because of that dominating performance against the bastards from AA.  It's important to wear this victory a bit longer. Coach Dantonio has performed some good coaching jobs in his tenure... but this one against Jesus Harbaugh ranks at the top.  Coach D had a steady hand on the tiller through a driving rain storm - allowing Michigan to make the mistakes... and they did: 5 turnovers.  Good solid defensive effort by MSU.

The Spartans came ready to play.  Witness coach D's reaction after the game - go to 3:45:10 until a about 3:47:10 and turn up the volume.  Listen to this thing of beauty. Two minutes of sheer joy. He did not directly respond to a single question from the reporter and instead lectured her about the bus ride home. It's an absolute classic. "Let me tell you something about this bus ride home." And then he brings up Sherm Lewis for chrissakes. Incredible - unless you are a diehard Spartan, you got no idea. The ES has watched this 50 times today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeL4fQ9nV04

What say you?

Best call?  Well, there were several, particularly on defense.  However, the ES is going to point to the fake sweep reverse screen pass for a TD (go to 1:45).  You want perfection?  That was probably the best and most gorgeous screen the ES has ever seen.  Not only did it baffle scUM defense, but there was a convoy in front of Madre London with noone to block. Wow.

Yesterday, watching the Lions game at Reno's... and color commentator (and former Cowboy and Syracuse Orange) Darryl Johnston mentions "what about the Michigan State and Michigan game last night???"  WOOP WOOP!!!!!

It was an incredible game. In a monsoon in the 3rd quarter, MSU did what it needed to with a 14-3 lead: they held onto the ball.  scUM did not.  We deserved that win. Played really REALLY hard. Good good football. As good as it gets. Coach D was a genius yesterday - absolute master. One of his greatest coaching jobs.

Joe Bachie, B1G Player of the Week, played like a man possessed vs scUM

Who was the player of the game? While Lewerke played very well at QB for the Spartans, Joe Bachie (#35) was EVERYWHERE on defense, with 10 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and an INT in the monsoon.  Awesome performance.  He played deep safety on the last play of the game and recorded a PBU, knocking the ball down.   He is easily the B1G Ten Defensive Player of the Week. Get this - on the season - he already has 44 tackles, 2 sacks, a fumble recovery, an INT, a forced fumble, and 2 PBUs. What???? 44 tackles? Jesus, he is on pace to have 120 tackles this year. What????

It's amazing how Mike Hart's "little brother" comments continue to haunt scUM.  Nearly every year, the same thing, a victory over the little people from Ann Arbor.

Post-game press conferences are a must.  Jesus Harbaugh showed why yesterday.  The $9 million man was morose.

Always remember: "The pride comes before the fall."  Thank you, Coach D.

Next up:  a tough roadie at Minnesota (3-2/0-2), which lost 31-17 at Purdue on Saturday.

Wahoo! Ugly Chickens - Check. 14-pt dog to Khakis? Check

OK.  Bring on Big Blue. Thanks sweet Jesus the Big Green defeated the Ugly Chickens from Iowa, otherwise we'd be a 28-pt dog to God.  But, MSU was victorious, and as such, the Touchdown Machine is just a 2-TD underdog to the Ann Arborites.

Bring on Jesus. 

Whew.  The ES figures life was over.  A few take aways from the 17-10  victory over Iowa are below for your consumption.

First the positives:

1.  The Spartan defense is pretty damn good.  The interior defense is far better than advertised.  And, the ES is digging on LB Joe Bachie - he is everywhere.  Everywhere. You'd think Bachie was either a CNN reporter waiting to pounce on Trump or the ghost of Hugh Heffner waiting to pounce on anything moving.

2.  +2 on the TO parade.  LJ Scott hung onto the ball as the only real threat on the ground all day, and he didn't cough up anything.  He should carry that pigskin around campus for the rest of the year.

3.  Felton Davis.  Ahem, we now have a go-to target.  Davis caught nine beautiful balls for 114 yards and 2 TDs - including a leaping goregous-dreadlock catch.  His bud, C, a waitress here at Reno's... was bragging about him to the ES on Sunday.  "My besty... He was killing it!"  Indeed.

4.  Hartbarger.  The Spartan punter just delivered an all-conference performance against Iowa.  MSU dominated, but parce que incompetence of Dave Warner's play calling (see below), the Spartans just couldn't put the game away.  After the ES was done berating Warner, Jake Hartbarger did better and  dropped all five of his Spartan punts inside the 20 -- this includes one of three punts late in the 4th when, over and over and over again, Hartbarger punted as a result of back-to-back false start and delay of game penalties by #2 Justin Layne (and he still stayed in the game after both penalties on the same play).  Give Hartbarger credit, no thanks to his teammate.  His performance was certainly worthy of B1G Player of the Week.

5.  Spartan DBs played... Lights out.  Playing fantastic.  Really tight coverage.  Surprisingly impressive performance.

Now, let the bitching commence.

Coaches:  Get with it!

Dave Warner should be fired immediately.  Coach Dantonio has too much loyalty... but the ES was up in row 125, turning around and screaming at the coaches ("time for a change"???? YES!) next to the press box 'cause:

1.  Iowa fake field goal could be spotted from the moon.  Why didn't Coach D call a time-out?  Just not thinking.  Weird - he's better than that.  Brain fart.

2.  Just a few examples of the garbage crap from offensive coordinator Dave Warner:

    2a.  Don't understand why, early in the 4th, one would throw a long pass out of the shotgun on a 3rd-and-1 while at the Iowa 30.  Confounding.  Led to a missed field goal.  Dumb.

    2b.  With 4:47 to go, on the Iowa 40, on 3rd-and-8, why throw an interior slant. ????  Burn clock???  Duh???

    2c.  With 3:38 to go, 2nd and 10, running the pitch-reverse.  Stupid.  Can lead to a disaster and noone was fooled.  Completely unnecessary.  It's bush-league, John-L-Smith type play-calling.

    2d.  About 6:00 left in the third quarter... two straight runs with an ineffective Madre London straight up the middle. London running useless, so...  bring in LJ Scott, and the same thing.  Loss on downs.  What is wrong with you, Warner?  A glutton for punishment?

3.  Madre London looked like his namesake.  Give his lethargic tail some more fried fish and chips.  Put him on a boat back to see the Queen.

4.  Matt Coughlin, our FG kicker, is not very good.  Just an FYI.

I'M DONE.  Talk to you later.

Big Green jumps to #5; awaits the Quakers

Michigan State surges in the polls to #5 in the College Football Playoff, with a convincing 17-14 victory at the horseshoe over Ohio State in Columbus.  Now, bring on the Quakers of The Pennsylvania State University.

The ES watched Quackenberg against scUM and thought, not only does the Quaker offensive line have no push or protection, but Quacker really didn't play well under pressure.   Now, the Quakers have great defense, but that will be tough sledding for a full day against a refurbished, and healthy, Spartan O-Line.  I'm looking forward to the stint.  And, the MSU defense has returned to form... playing off the charts.

The rankings...

TEAM	RECORD	CFP	AP POLL	SOS	SOR	GC	RAT	RK
Clemson	11-0	1	1	32	2	1	21.2	6
Alabama	10-1	2	2	5	1	2	24.3	3
Oklahoma	10-1	3	5	34	3	5	26.4	1
Iowa	11-0	4	3	67	5	11	12.9	28
Michigan State	10-1	5	6	50	8	13	16.5	17
Notre Dame	10-1	6	4	29	7	6	19.7	8
Baylor	9-1	7	7	62	9	3	25.1	2
Ohio State	10-1	8	8	58	13	10	22.5	4
Stanford	9-2	9	13	24	12	18	19.3	9

Valenti radio & Hill video digging into Michigan. AWESOME

Two things:  1) Mike Valenti and 2) Jemele Hill.  Oh, the joy.  Piling on?  Who cares.

1) You gotta listen to this.  Dear God, the greatest radio broadcast in the history of radio. Mike Valenti of CBS Radio Detroit just lays into the Michigan fan base.  "Burn, baby, burn"... indeed.  "All of this Jesus Harbaugh crap"... "Go blame your messiah." Listen and WEEP IN TEARS OF LAUGHTER AND JOY.   Better yet, watch it here.



2) Jamele Hill's video broadcast on ESPN is also so precious.  Sweet Jesus, the greatest 2 minutes in cinematic history.

5 Lessons from MSU v Rutgers; scUM favored by TD over MSU

The #12 scUM football team is favored by a TD (6-1/2) over the #7 Big Green as we invade the Godforsaken garbage of Ann Arbor this weekend... and ESPN Game Day wants to pile it on to preview this matchup.  It's a 3:30 kick.

Five things we learned about MSU at Rutgers (the ES went to New Jersey for the game):

1.  Injuries continue to mount.  Dear God, the ES has never seen a team with so many injuries - particularly on the offensive line and defensive backfield.  On the OL, seeing Jack Allen getting carted off the field was devastating... as we've seen losses to Jack Conklin, Kodi Keiler, and Josiah Price.  Madre London hurt his ankle and left the game, but MSU burned the redshirt off Delton Williams with a few carries, and LJ Scott (9-42, 4.7 ypc) ran his tail off again behind a banged up line.  We saw Connor Cook get knocked around more than in any game since he's started for MSU... but... 

2.   Cook (23-38 for 357) played well again AFTER his bad interception that he telegraphed to the Rutgers defense late in the first half.  While he never should have thrown it, in typical Cook fashion he came back in the second half, and on the last drive of the game, made some very, very solid throws in tough situations.  Cook's fave target, Aaron Burbridge (9-146), played amazing except for the easy drop as he walked into the end zone early in the game.  The ES hung out with Connor's dad before and after the game and complimented Connor's play for the most part, despite the few brain farts.

3.  Michigan State's secondary is in trouble.  We've lost Copeland and Williamson for the season, and both are certainly not of the caliber of Dennard and Waynes.  So, relying on Colquon and Edmonson at corners is questionable, but the depth is gone.  The ES sez:  if your leading tacklers are DBs, you are in trouble - against Rutgers, Cox and Nicholson led with 8 & 5.  Tisk, tisk.  There is a guy who the ES met with CHock before the season started - Josh Butler - and he was an impressive young man who may now have his redshirt burned because his talent is so highly valued by Coach D and we are banged up.  But, this is a raw place to throw in raw talent... Why????

4.  We need a better DL play, including a more consistent pass rush.   The Spartans aren't pushing enough up front.  Three sacks for 28 yards, and another three QB hurries just aren't enough and not typical of this Spartan Green D.  Malik McDowell is a beast - he ran over the Rutgers C late in the game but RU called time-out right before the play.  Lawrence Thomas had a sack but also is hit or miss throughout the game.  Shalique Calhoun (1/2 sack, 2 QB hurries) played well... but not dominating.  What's going on?  This area is NOT injured and needs to play better, especially this week vs Michigan to give the secondary a chance.

5.  Special teams suck.  This is the worst special teams of the Dantonio era.   At High Points Stadium, the Spartan faithful were concerned of MSU "Geigering It."  Never heard such negative vibes on our special teams.  One FG blocked, the other hit the right upright and Praise God went through for a trey.  These ain't long kicks - 35, 30 yards.   Big Green had a 11-yard shank punt.  Terrible.  Just lack of execution and focus.  We do this, we lose.

BUT WE WIN GAMES.  Of all the injuries, etc, we keep winning.  Look at the third down conversions:  MSU 11 of 17, Rutgers 3 of 12.  It says quite a bit of the resilience and ability to finish.  This ain't the John L Smith era.   Look at some of the key stats below... interesting.  

                                    MSU       RU

FIRST DOWNS...................       22       15
NET YARDS RUSHING.............      132      141
  Rushing Attempts............       38       32
  Average Per Rush............      3.5      4.4
NET YARDS PASSING.............      357      208
  Completions-Attempts-Int....  23-38-1  15-26-0
TOTAL OFFENSE YARDS...........      489      349
  Total offense plays.........       76       58
  Average Gain Per Play.......      6.4      6.0
Penalties: Number-Yards.......      1-5     3-20
Average Yards Per Punt........     24.7     34.4
Third-Down Conversions........ 11 of 17  3 of 12
Fourth-Down Conversions.......   1 of 1   2 of 3
Sacks By: Number-Yards........     3-28      1-6

LOL: The $8 million Prodigal Son

Just a quickie about Jim Harbaugh returning to the University of Michigan as football coach.  First, off, for $8 million a year, he'd be a FOOL not to coach the roadkill.  Read ESPN's take and it will make the good lord's head spin:  "[Harbaugh is] an iconic figure there and has been hearing from family and friends about returning as the prodigal son."

Prodigal Son?  For $8 million a year?  Umm.... doesn't entirely fit.

Read the history of "Michigan men" ashamed at Harbaugh ripping his alma mater:

• here ("Jim Harbaugh has to be some sort of verbal moron... We shouldn't look down on him just because there are six-year-olds with a better sense of what an appropriate public discourse is....  What Harbaugh proposes harms everyone but himself; sadly, it's become obvious we can expect no better from this man"),   
• here ("kiss any chance of coaching at Michigan goodbye"), 
• here ("he's not a Michigan man and I wish he had never played here"), 
• here ("elitist and arrogant"),  etc.

LOL. My how times change when you are getting your asses kicked on the gridiron.  May the seas part for the Harbaugh clan. The arrogance is deafening, and he hasn't even yet publicly announced he has accepted the job.  ES can't wait until MSU comes to Ann Arbor in 2015, Prodigal Son or not.

And, for $8 million per year - there are no guarantees... just ask Notre Dame, Florida, Tennessee, UCLA (for starters).

Michigan State hits rare 2-weekend TRIFECTA (paired with UM and ND losses)

TRIFECTA HISTORY – Past 46 years (since 1968). Weekends: 544. Occurred: 21 times.  3.8%

OK, so Michigan State whipped Penn State, 34-10 in Happy Valley.  Now, let's revisit our trifecta... The ES looked back at this in 2009… and that was when Mark Dantonio was just kicking off as coach. My, oh my,  how things have changed… or have they?  While MSU’s dominance in the rivalry vs Michigan is solidified, we’ve struggled vs the hated Irish… and thusly, the trifecta seemingly is still pretty tough.

But, this weekend we HIT THE TRIFECTA! FOR THE SECOND WEEK IN A ROW (only third time this has happened since 1968)!  MSU beat Penn State, Michigan lost to Ohio State, and ND lost to Southern Cal.... Spartan fans, the trifecta is a a very, very, very difficult thing to do.  What is the trifecta?  Again, the ES Trifecta is defined as: on the same weekend for there to be a Michigan State victory AND losses by Notre Dame and Michigan. Note, on some weekends over the past four decades not all three teams played. But, again, the TRIFECTA makes for a PERFECT football weekend when all three events are combined.

The ES looked back over his lifetime, 46 years long now, to see how often his weekend football Trifecta had occurred.

Is it happening more frequently than the ES remembers in the past? Certainly, YES.  Dantonio is now among the nation’s elite,  Rich Rod and the soon-to-be-has-been Brady Hoke are both Michigan coaching history… Chuck E Weis is a goner at ND, but Brian Kelly seems to have the ability to stick around for the Irish.  Still, let's take a looksie… 

The statistics, plain Ws and Ls are below.

• 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 46 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 NOW - the last two weekends (11/22-11/29) in 2014.
• There has not been a Trifecta three times in a row in the past 46 years. And, the next opportunity to do this is the opening weekend of 2015, since Michigan is ineligible for bowl season.  (it is possible to FINALLY do the trifecta thrice first week of 2015:  MSU at WMU, Michigan at Utah, ND hosts Texas).

The year-by-year break out is below.

2014 (2)

11/22.  Michigan at Maryland. L, 16-23.  ND v Louisville, L, 28-31.  MSU v Rutgers, W, 45-3.

11/29.  Michigan at Ohio State. L, 28-42.  ND at USC, L, 14-49.  MSU at Penn State, W, 34-10.

2013 (1)

11/30.  Michigan v Ohio State, L, 41-42.  ND at Stanford, L. 20-27.  MSU v Minnesota, @. 14-3.

2012 (1)

Bowls.  Michigan v South Carolina (Outback), L, 28-33.  ND v Alabama (BCS Title), L, 14-42.  MSU vs TCU (BWW), W, 17-16.

2010 - 2011: none

2009 (2)
11/7. Michigan vs Purdue. L, 36-38. ND vs Navy. L, 21-23. MSU vs WMU. W, 49-14.
11/14. Michigan at Wisconsin. L, 24-45. ND at Pitt. L, 22-27. MSU vs Purdue. W, 40-37.

2008 (2)
10/11. Michigan vs Toledo. L, 10-13. ND at North Carolina. L, 24-29. MSU at N’western. W, 37-20.
11/1. Michigan at Purdue. L, 42-48. ND vs Pittsburgh. L, 33-36. MSU vs. Wisconsin. W, 25-24.

2007 (3)
9/1. Michigan vs. Appalachian St. L, 32-34. ND vs Georgia Tech. L, 3-33. MSU vs UAB. W, 55-18.
9/8. Michigan vs. Oregon. L, 7-39. ND at Penn State. L, 10-31. MSU vs BGSU. W, 28-17.
11/10. Michigan at Wisconsin. L, 21-37. ND vs Air Force. L, 24-41. MSU at Purdue. W, 48-31.

2006 – 2004: none

2003 (1)
9/20. Michigan at Oregon. L, 27-31. ND vs MSU. L, 16-22. MSU at ND. W, 22-16.

2002: none

2001 (2)
9/8. Michigan at Washington. L, 18-23. ND at Nebraska. L, 10-27. MSU vs CMU. W, 35-21.
11/3. Michigan at MSU. L, 24-26. ND vs Tennessee. L, 18-28. MSU vs Michigan. W, 26-24.

2000 - 1999: none

1998 (1)
9/12. Michigan vs Syracuse. L, 28-38. ND at MSU. L, 23-45. MSU vs ND. W, 45-23.

1997 - 1988: none

1987 (2)
10/10. Michigan at MSU. L, 11-17. ND at Pitt. L, 22-30. MSU vs Michigan. W, 17-11.
11/21. Michigan vs Ohio St. L, 20-23. ND at Penn St. L, 20-21. MSU at Wisconsin. W, 30-9.

1986-1985: none

1984 (1)
10/6. Michigan vs MSU. L, 7-19. ND vs Miami-FL. L, 13-31. MSU at Michigan. W, 19-7.

1983 (1)
9/17. Michigan at Washington. L, 24-25. ND vs. MSU. L, 23-28. MSU at ND. W, 28-23.

1982-1980: none.

1979 (1)
11/10. Michigan at Purdue. L, 21-24. ND at Tennessee. L, 18-40. MSU vs Minnesota. W, 31-17.

1978-77: none.

1976 (1)
11/6. Michigan at Purdue. L, 14-16. ND at Georgia Tech. L, 14-23. MSU vs Indiana. W, 23-0.

1975-1968: none.

Scheitern

From a Spartan football perspective: David Brandon resigning at UM?  LOL, no surprise.

Bowl projections look terrible for B1G Ten

Wow, based on the projections by BTN's Tom Deinhart, the ES isn't so bullish on the Big Ten's chances in bowls.  This game by MSU really can make or break whether or not MSU plays in a premium bowl, or a toilet bowl. Right now, Deinhart has the Spartans in a toilet bowl.

Here is what the ES thinks with his prediction of a, gulp, ugly 3-6 Big Ten result:

BOWL GAME	MATCHUP	PROJECTION (ES PREDICTS)
BCS title game, Jan. 6	BCS No 1 vs. No. 2	Ohio State vs. Alabama (LOSS)
Rose Bowl, Jan. 1	Big Ten vs. BCS/Pac-12	Northwestern vs. Oregon (LOSS)
Capital One Bowl, Jan. 1	Big Ten vs. SEC	Wisconsin vs. Georgia (LOSS)
Outback Bowl, Jan. 1	Big Ten vs. SEC	Michigan vs. Florida (LOSS)
Gator Bowl, Jan. 1	Big Ten vs. SEC	Nebraska vs. Ole Miss (WIN)
Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, Dec. 28	Big Ten vs. Big 12	Iowa vs. Baylor (WIN)
Texas Bowl, Dec. 27	Big Ten vs. Big 12	Michigan State vs. Texas (LOSS)
Heart of Dallas Bowl, Jan. 1	Big Ten vs. C-USA	Illinois vs. Rice (WIN)
Little Caesars Pizza, Dec. 26	Big Ten vs. MAC	Minnesota vs. Ohio (LOSS)

Big Green survive vs Iowa, unlike other wannabees

Unlike Michigan, or Duke, or Georgetown...

Michigan State also played its worst game of the year... but was talented enough -- especially on defense -- to pull out a victory in the Big Ten quarters vs. Iowa.  Now, time to bulk up for Ohio State at 4 pm ET tomorrow.  The ES is a stalwart believer of this Big Green team and its potential for a deep run in 2013.

In recent weeks, MSU has come close on the road but folded when it mattered most, but not today. The Spartans offensively played their worst game of the year but still found a way to win in the last 5 minutes.  Bring on the Buckeyes!  

MSU in perfect spot to win Big Ten football title; Media gives Mich the nod

Those pesky rodents down the road received the nod as the favorite to win the Big Ten title this year.  MSU was picked behind the Wolvies for second in the Legends division (similar to last year's pick of the Spartans behind Nebraska).  That's perfect - what wins championships?  DEFENSE, and all noted that Michigan State has the best defense returning to the Big Ten for 2012.  Love the USA Today quote from James Ferentz, the starting center at Iowa, said it was a nightmare to prepare to play the Spartans. "I think they are incredible," Ferentz said.

That game down in Ann Arbor looms large as the potential for the Legends title.  The Spartans have won four straight in the series, and have completely shut down that little scat-back of a QB, Denard Robinson, in each of the past three years.  Shall the Spartans make it five in the series?  The ES thinks so.  Nebraska was picked third in the Legends.

Other than that, not much news from the Big Ten media day, other than JOHNNY ADAMS and WILLIAM GHOLSTON noted as players to watch in the Big Ten this year. 

Rich Rod firing at Michigan is a mistake

Rich Rodriguez fired today at Michigan, reported by Fox 2 Detroit at 3 pm. My guess is Stanford's Jim Harbaugh will be hired by tomorrow. scUM AD David Brandon wouldn't fire Rodriguez unless he had someone else lined up. And, right after the Stanford game? Too much of a coincidence.

But, if Harbaugh ain't available, it might be this Brady Hoke guy the ES has never heard of down at San Diego State. That would be beautiful -- another noname, and from a non-BCS conference... HOPE FOR HOKE!

It's too bad. Rodriguez was the greatest coach in recent memory for the Wolverines. His style of play was perfect for the Big Ten. The ES thought his "You Raise Me Up" performance at the season ending banquet sealed the deal - he was quintessentially a perfect fit in Ann Arbor...

Incidentally re: Harbaugh, if the ES was a coach at Stanford or Cal and was offered the position to coach at Michigan State... "sorry" - the ES bleeds green and northern California is God's-own country, the most beautiful and fun place on the planet - the ES would stay at Stanford or Cal. Matter of fact, the ES hopes on getting a faculty gig out there sooner than later.... why go shovel snow for 5 months a year when instead you can enjoy warm weather, the bread-basket/vineyards/hoplands of the year for 12 months? Sorry, the ES would stay and one wonders if Harbaugh will, too.... (FYI - the SAME could be said for Hoke down at San Diego, except warmer with a better beach!)

Trifecta for 2010

After watching a wide variety of video clips from the fake-FG touchdown victory in OT over Notre Dame... the ES started wondering: how successful has been the TRIFECTA in 2010?

Just a reminder to enlighten the masses: the trifecta is a weekend with an MSU football victory, a Michigan loss, and a Notre Dame loss. As of last year, for the 41 years of the life of the ES (since 1968), it had happened 17 times in 479 weekends of football. But, it happened 7 times from 2007-2009, and only 10 times from 1968-2006. So the frequency had increased dramatically as both ND and scUM take a nosedive in their quality of football.

Does the trend continue in 2010? Not yet. Actually, Michigan lost the past three of the past four weeks, including a bye... but, in two of those weeks when scUM played, Notre Dame did not lose. And, when scUM and ND lost last week - so did Michigan State. Sigh.

This weekend, the TRIFECTA looks good - Notre Dame sans Crist faces undefeated #5 Utah; Michigan faces Illinois, and Michigan State faces Minnesota.

ES predicts TRIFECTA this weekend.

Dantonio is back; shedding tears in Madison

Mark Dantonio will be back for this weekends stint at that hellhole in Ann Arbor. Said the Doctor: "Can't keep me down Michigan week." MD plans to be in the coaching box for Saturday's game. At today's presser, Dantonio said Saturday's win over Wisconsin was "the best moment of my head football coaching career."

Yes, MD. We kicked their ass. It certainly was sweet. They're still crying in Madison.