ES Preview: Big Green vs Ugly Fans

Yup, misplaced priorities in Columbus. 
And, nope Oscar Meyer is a wiener, not a president. Poor kid. 

#25 MSU Spartans (4-1/2-0) at #4 Ohio State (5-0/2-0)
October 5, 2019. 7:30 pm ET.
Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH

TV: ABC-TV
Weather: 70/partly cloudy.  No real wind.

Vegas Line: Ohio State by 20.
What does Sagarin say? MSU #16... OSU #1

The ES woke up and took the dog outside to crap.  Instead, dog crapped in the house.  Nice. Then, put on a hat, get in the car, and stand in line to get Hinkley's Donuts for his gal.  Line was too long, so chocolate muffins from Cafe Lilla instead.  Working on window installation.  Where is my football?????  Well, time to publish this puppy and focus on Ohio State.

The ES hates Ohio State, some of the rudest fans ever - especially at the Big Ten Championship Game. The ES hopes we kick their arse.

Predictions:

• Cleveland Plain Dealer: OSU 45-10, OSU 41-14, OSU 36-13
• Freep:  OSU 31-16
• Sergio: State a little Ohio a lot
• Doc: Sparty 31, Hairless Nuts 17
• Oakland Ronnie: MSU 18, osu 13. couches will burn.
• Poke: Drink heavily...
• Andy Sensoli: Depends on if there's a rain storm or not. OSU if it's a clear day. By 18 points. 31-13.
• The Queen of Scotland: I predict I will not be anywhere near the ES after 7pm Saturday night:)
• Australian Paul:  MSU 18-14 (9 safties, wow!)
• Ruf (Thailand): Buckeyes 38-9
• Keith: 21-20 MSU
• CHock (San Francisco): OSU 17-6
• Sloth: tOSU 45-6; I predict the game will later be vacated due to NCAA sanctions leveled against Terra Community College.

ES sez:  Ohio State 24, Michigan State 14.

ES Preview: Spartans host Oscar Meyer Wieners

#18 Michigan State Spartans vs #10 Ohio State Wieners
November 10, 2018.  12 noon.
Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI

Weather:  34 cloudy, 16 mph wind.  Cccccolder than a ticket taker's smile at the Ivar Theater on a Saturday night.  15 wind chill.

Line:  Wieners by 3-1/2

Sagarin Ratings:  MSU #16, OSU #6

I hate the dude with the fake heart attack and consistent lies to the media, to parents, to everyone.  All the Buckeyes care about is: Just win, baby.  Meyer is a Good coach, Bad person, Terrible liar.  Not good for the B1G Ten, or for college football.  He is an embarrassment, and the only reason the Buckeye Nation keeps him around is one reason:  WIN.  Not education, not athlete welfare, not caring.  WIN. I hope we freeze his ass tomorrow.

Picks:

Kat:  MSU 27, Fuckeyes 20.
CHock:  OSU 28-17
Chef Tom: MSU holds on to win by 4.
Sloth: NyQuil 2, Sloth 0.
GVSU Gregger:  OSU 24-17.
Big Joe and Phantom 309: OSU 35-21
Australian Paul:  MSU 45-0.
RGM3: MSU 17-14. Weather report: Colder than a ticket taker's smile At the Ivar Theatre, on a Saturday night.
Zech: Lewerke starts and goes all the way, 37-13 osu. Lewerke/Lombardi combo, osu 37-20. Lombardi starts, MSU 23-20

ES sez:  MSU 22, OSU 21.  Oscar Meyer chokes on a hot dog when trying to call timeout as his team defends a successful MSU fake extra point while time runs out.  Spartan victory, second fake heart attack ensues.

PS - thanks to the Enlightened Spartan fans who recognized the ES and hung out in the wind storm and empty stadium at "College Park".  Woop woop!

Thanks for joining the ES and Kat!!!

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.  

Bring it.

BRING IT.  GO GREEN.

Dance with the girl who brought you to the party

I'm pissed.

OK, I didn't agree with going for two.  But, it's ok - I accept it.  What I am NOT fine with, is that if you are going for two, give it to LJ Scott.  Give him the F*king ball.  It isn't rocket science.  It was a 17-16 game, MSU just scored... 4 minutes left... and...  Instead, the dummy, offensive coordinator Dave Warner, got cute and let Tyler O'Connor throw the ball.

Why?

It makes no sense.  Just none.  If you would have handed LJ the ball, he would have scored the 2-points.  Take a time out.  Think about it.  Get it right.  I don't care.  Just don't let TO throw it.  He's awful.

Don't you get it?  Are you half-blind?

LJ Scott had a career game. 236 total yards on offense - 160 on the ground, 76 through the air.  Give him the rock.  Shit, let LJ throw it instead of TO.

Dance with the girl who brought you to the party.  In other words, give Scott the ball.  Ohio State couldn't stop him.

Give him the damn ball.  Instead, Dave Warner pulls a play out of the damn John L. "Let me outsmart myself" Smith playbook with TO and the ball gets picked off.

Stupid.  Oh well, the team played hard and again the coaches screwed up.  I can't wait for this season to end.

Michigan State vs Ohio State in the Freezing Cold

MSU 3-7/1-6. #2 Ohio State 9-1/7-1.

Sagarin Ratings: MSU #60, Ohio State #2

Saturday, November 12, 2016. 12:00 pm ET.
Spartan Stadium,
East Lansing, MI
Weather: 38 degrees, snow, 22 MPH winds.  This is going to be awful.
TV: BTN.

Line: Ohio State by 25

Ohio State has no chance.  I feel for the Buckeyes, running into the Spartan buzz-saw after our demolition of Rutgers.

Skooz:  MSU 21-17
ES: OSU 58-10

Spartan defense kicks crap out of whining Buckeyes who don't know how to lose

Wahooooooo!!!!!  Michigan State's defense kicked the CRAP out of Ohio State yesterday.  Taught those terrible Buckeye fans a lesson on how to play GOOD OLD FASHIONED FOOTBALL.   And, after missing a 43-yard FG earlier in the day, Michael Geiger had to hit a pair of 41-yarders (one didn't count as Ohio St called time out) in the rain to win.  Yeah!  Projections have MSU moving up to #6 or maybe #5...  MSU has the most impressive resume in America, beating Oregon, Michigan, and Ohio State, winning three ESPN Game Day contests - and did not lead a single second against scUM and OSU.

Biggest crowd in Ohio State history, over 108,000 people, watched MSU gift the 2-TD favorite Buckeyes their advantage, but nothing more.    Only 132 yards and 5 first downs from the "Mighty Buckeyes", and the Spartans won with two backup quarterbacks - not the trio of Buckeye QBs.  Gerald Holmes, LJ Scott, Damion Terry, Tyler O'Connor combined for more than 200 yards rushing.   That guy - yeah that Heisman guy,  Ezekiel Elliott?  12 carries for 33 yards.  Hilarious.

Now, all the Ohio State fans are whining and lighting up the Twittersphere.  And, Elliott and company are bailing because they don't know how to lose.  How classy is it when your Heisman-contending back says "there's no way I'm coming back next year."  What a sissy.  If I were a Buckeye fan or alumni, I would be embarrassed.  Instead, I am laughing.

Dear God, GROW UP Buckeyes.  You are lower than low.  Gouge Away, Buckeyes.

This was a brilliant defensive performance by Michigan State.  It's not about Ohio State.  It's about the MSU defense which had to have its best performance to hope to beat the Buckeyes.  MSU hit OSU straight in the mouth, made them bleed.  We pounded them and pushed them around all game long.  It's easily Michigan State's best defensive performance since the Rose Bowl in 2004. OMG, look at the stats:

                                    MSU      OSU
FIRST DOWNS...................       17        5
NET YARDS RUSHING.............      203       86
  Rushing Attempts............       51       29
  Average Per Rush............      4.0      3.0
NET YARDS PASSING.............       91       46
  Completions-Attempts-Int....   8-16-0   9-16-0
TOTAL OFFENSE YARDS...........      294      132
  Total offense plays.........       67       45
  Average Gain Per Play.......      4.4      2.9
Fumbles: Number-Lost..........      2-2      0-0
Possession Time...............    38:10    21:50
Third-Down Conversions........  7 of 15  4 of 14

Enlightened Spartan Preview: #9 Mich State vs #2 Ohio State

Sagarin Ratings:  MSU #21, *uckeyes #4

MSU: 9-1/5-1. Ohio St:  10-0/6-0
Saturday, November 21, 2015. 3:30 pm ET.

Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH

Weather: 50 degrees, cloudy

Line:  Ohio State favored by 13

TV:  ABC

This is Game Day, the third time this year for the Spartans... yet MSU is getting zero love or respect from the national media.  This plays right into our hands.  With 2 inches of snow falling here in EL, it's nice to see the weather better down in Columbus for the game today.  Ohio State has yet to play a quality opponent - wait until they get a load of us!

Coach Dantonio always has his teams prepared and the Spartans play to the level of their competition.  It's nice to be as healthy as we have been all year, with Darien Hicks returning to the defensive backfield to add depth.  Key to the game:  the Spartan defensive line vs the Buckeye offensive line.  MSU needs to limit the OSU rushing game and put pressure on QB TJ Barrett to keep some pressure off the secondary.  

Sorry no video this week - just no time!  But the prediction:  Sparty will win, the ES is as confident today as he was 2 years ago heading into the Big Ten Title game.  MSU 27, Ohio State 26.  

Ohio State a ridiculous 2-TD favorite over Big Green

What a joke.  Ohio State is favored by 2-TDs over the Spartans?  13 points.  LOL.  This is the same Ohio State team that struggled to beat Indiana by 7?

Rutgers is favored by 5 at Army
Maryland is favored by 3 home vs Indy
Minny is favored by 4-1/2 home over Illinois
Wisky is favored by 11 home over Nwestern.  ?????
scUM is favored by 5 at Penn State.  Whaaa????
Iowa is favored by 21 at home vs Purdon't

I need to find me a bookie to bet on MSU, NW, and Penn State.  That's gravy money.

THIS IS IT!

So, Connor Cook, AJ Troup, and Tyler Hoover (Indy Colts) walk into the Peanut Barrel last week.  Joe, the owner repeats to them what I have beaten into Joe all year:  "Hi guys, THIS IS IT!"  Cook agreed, said they are focused on winning it all.  And, the three of them are huge human beings.  :)

This leads into the article in the Freep today, with this pretty quote by Cook:

"When you're in this position, you just have to hold people accountable," said Cook, who will have a strong argument over Cousins as the best MSU quarterback under Dantonio with a successful senior season. "There's a time to joke around and be funny, and there's a time to be serious. For me going into my last year, I think I need to be more assertive. More serious as in being a better leader, more vocal, I'm trying to take it up a notch. It's just me going into my last year and not having any regrets."

All I gots to say is... THIS IS IT.  Look at the roster, across the board.  The only two weaknesses are:  RB (my dead grandma can run behind this OL and get 5 yards), and DB (lots of playing time, lots of experience... hopefully the DL can put on the pressure).  Add gun-wielding stud Delton Williams back into RB for a second-chance, and now you have a true STUD at RB (re: Le'Veon Bell, Jehuu Caulcrick - big, shifty, and strong).   The schedule is fairly weak, except for Oregon (home) and Ohio State (road).  The OSU v MSU matchup is likely to be the playoff contender.  So, we gotta figure out how to win vs #1 OSU in Columbus.  We did it before with a shittier team under $aban, we can do it now with a better team.

A win over Ohio State in Columbus, and Urban Meyer will have another fake heart-attack.  Go GREEN.

Look for some new changes from the ES this year.  Video podcasts with a reporter, live GoPro tailgate footage, etc.  I bought the equipment, now its time to ramp it up  Go GREEN!

THIS IS IT!

Michigan State a FG fave over Buckeyes

The Big Green Machine is a FG favorite at home over the dreaded #13 Ohio State Buckeyes.  The winner of the game is likely the East Division rep for the B1G title game, and the conference's only shot for a CFB Playoff bid.  The whole season has builded up to this... and the ES will chime in later this week with this thoughts.

In other B1G odds:

• Penn State favored by 4 at Indy
• Minny favored by 1 hosting Iowa
• NW favored by 2 hosting scUM
• Wisky favored by 15 at Purdon't

Bye week:  Illinois, Nebraska, Maryland, Rutgers

And, as expected with the loss of Ole Miss (that was a GREAT game, and a tough loss by the Rebels in the last minute), Michigan State rose a spot in the AP Poll to #7.

AP Top 25
RK	TEAM	RECORD	PTS
1	Mississippi State (45)	8-0	1484
2	Florida State (15)	8-0	1452
3	Auburn	7-1	1345
4	Alabama	7-1	1281
5	Oregon	8-1	1275
6	TCU	7-1	1148
7	Michigan State	7-1	1120
8	Notre Dame	7-1	1096
9	Kansas State	7-1	1049
10	Baylor	7-1	961
11	Arizona State	7-1	831
12	Ole Miss	7-2	828
13	Ohio State	7-1	780
14	LSU	7-2	717
15	Nebraska	8-1	680
16	Oklahoma	6-2	574
17	Georgia	6-2	465
18	UCLA	7-2	464
19	Clemson	6-2	341
20	Utah	6-2	327
21	Arizona	6-2	325
22	Duke	7-1	288
23	Marshall	8-0	238
24	West Virginia	6-3	159
25	Wisconsin	6-2	83

• Others receiving votes: Colorado State 67, USC 48, Missouri 42, Georgia Tech 15, Louisville 7, Stanford 4, North Dakota State 4, Florida 1, Texas A&M 1

Paybacks are Hell: How rude Buckeye fans got their just desserts

Zero thanks to Ohio State Buckeye fans in Indianapolis who ended up giving the ES the flu this week.  But now, Friday night, and da ES is finally back on his feet!

Wow, what a victory.  ES made the trip with Big Bob, Keith, and Seth - a bunch of old State fraternity guys on the best road trip ever to witness a big-time Spartan victory.  The ES was extremely confident going into this game, and was boasting of the Big Green to plenty of Buckeyes and Spartans at the Colts Grille, the outdoor beer plaza, and the Slippery Noodle.

And, man-oh-man was it cold at the beer plaza.  Like, zero degrees cold.  Just brutal, booger-freezing cold.  Let's talk some about the Buckeye fans before and after the game.  First, off, the ES never heard this song before, "We don't give a damn about the whole state of Michigan, cause we're from O-HI-O"... la de da.  The ES heard it all night long Friday night, especially at the beer plaza underneath the heating lamps (which worked very well, but only if you were within 1 feet).  But, what is strange is the song is all about hating Michigan/Michigan State/Michigan Tech/Univ of Detroit/Ferris State/etc. instead of praising Ohio State. Methinks if you write and sing a song about another, it means you care more about winning than you care about your own school.  It lacks, well, cooth.  However, at the time, I thought it was fine, mainly because I was too damn cold to give a crap.

When we popped into different pubs, the Ohio Staters we met were really friendly.  I mean, down right nice.  Maybe because they nearly always kick our butt, and they were confident at #2 they were going to walk over the Spartans into the national title game.  But, the ES had some great conversations.  Notably, even after the Spartans won, going into a few of the pubs, the Buckeye faithful agreed we were the better team and Michigan State deserved the victory.

On game day, after waiting 90 minutes for a cab, and taking a 45 minute cab ride (SUCKED, even the Sloth beat us downtown by an hour), we arrived around 2 pm and did all the B1G Ten stuff.  When we went to the MSU pep rally (photo below), it was filled with Ohio Staters.... that was an early sign of things to come.  Right outside the Big Ten studio within the convention center, there were people lined up to get an autograph from former MSU QB Jim Miller; the ES asked Miller for a chest-bump, was turned down, and ended up back-bumping Miller. It was cool; not sure if he liked it, but harmless.  We saw some dude wearing Ohio State gear run a timed 4.37-40.  That was amazing.  I think the ES ran a 6.05-40 in his loafers (or was it 6.45, 6.75?  whatever)? Fun.

Big Bob cheers on the Big Green with Sloth (at right) in a sea of red
at Spartan Pep Rally

We did our best to buy tickets to microbrews at the beer plaza and slug them down before the game.  The B1G shut down one end, and then the other, about 2 hours before kickoff.  They didn't give any slack.  Bummer is I still have 2 beer tickets left.  Oh well, I didn't need anymore.  But, it was really really cold.  I mean, like the night before, 10 degrees cold.  The lines to get into the stadium were very long, and while organized it just seemed lethargic... methinks the Big Ten can do a better job opening up more doors and processes to get fans in earlier.  Maybe even provide promotions to get people into the game earlier? 

At the game... the ES walked in, and it was an 80% Buckeye crowd.  That's when I realized what a treat of a game:  NOW WE GOTTA WIN.  We had to stick it to the ugliest coach in the land, Urban Meyer.  Michigan State had to be the team to beat the Buckeye undefeated streak.  The Spartans had to beat up on the confident Buckeye Nation which came to Indianapolis expecting to be anointed and head to a National Title, expecting Michigan State as only a roadbump.  And, we needed to beat these cheaters which vacated their victories from tattoo-gate and cost the Spartans a trip to Pasadena in 2010.  The ES got to thinking:

Paybacks are hell. 

Furthermore, the Spartans had to win after this "downright nice" fanbase turned sour within the stadium.  From kickoff to the Langford game-clinching TD, Spartans in our section were berated by Buckeyes every other play time and again throughout the game, and with Buckeye faithful standing up the ENTIRE GAME and unwilling to sit down (see my seat below).  Said one Buckeye fan early in the 2nd quarter after we politely requested (not demanded) him to "please sit down,"... the Buckeye said: "You haven't been to the Rose Bowl in 26 years, what don't you get up and cheer on your fu**ing team."   Said, Sloth: "well if you aren't using your seat, can I?" and he walked over and sat down in the seat of that really ripe Buckeye fan.  Good for Sloth pointing out their ridiculousness. The Buckeye Nation should be totally embarrassed at how their fans treat others.  These are the ones that cause Kirk Herbstreit to move out of Ohio.

The view of the ES at the B1G Ten Title game.  My guess is Stanford
fans will be more appreciative of others at the Rose Bowl than were
Buckeye fans at the B1G Ten Championship.  

This is just a sample of how these Buckeye fans at the game were AWFUL, TERRIBLE.  Seriously, what terrible, mean people.

So, HOW WE WON was even better.  The Spartan defense was awsome early and late - that's how defense wins championships... when it matters.  That Buckeye offensive line and Braxton Miller really gave a good sucker punch to the Spartans in the third quarter.  The ES turned to Buckeye fans sitting next to him and said, "wow, Miller is awesome, and that line is playing great."  Sloth turned to the ES and said, "we're done."  But, the Spartans weren't done - not these Spartans.  No more S.O.S.  The Spartans, with Cook and Langford, punched right back with a nice mix of run and pass.  Hard-nosed play out of Michigan State, with a 4th-Down conversion on the option by Cook in the process.  For the Spartans to have the resilience they did, for the defense to shut down OSU, to beat them down and demoralize them in the final 15 minutes - it was beautiful. POUND GREEN POUND. Better yet, seeing the "WTF" look on the face of Urban Meyer at the end of the game was... well, priceless.   That was worth $1,000.

Sure enough, these Buckeye fans, including the jerk above standing all game, left when Langford ran for paydirt to seal the MSU victory. If you care so much for your school and your football team has won 24 straight, wouldn't you want to stick around?  I guess not - because you Buckeyes don't care about the school; just your team winning.  What sore losers, terrible football fans.

All the ES wanted was to get back to the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1988.  Who cares about the National Title?  It is all about the Rose Bowl.  AND WE DID IT! The Spartans did it our way - with grind it out defense, a timely running game behind drives with long times-of-possession, and the best game of his career by QB Connor Cook.  

Yeah, it was pretty much all red. The Buckeye Nation figured this was a walk in the park. 
Michigan State ruined the Ohio State dream, and ruined their season. 

After the game, the ES jumped onto the railings outside with his "yeee-haws."  High-fiving every Spartan in shouting distance.  It was 5 degrees outside, 27 below freezing, but it felt like it was 80 degrees on a California beach.  Then, the ES walked with Keith and Big Bob into another three or four bars and high-fived all the Spartan fans in eyeshot.  98% of all Spartans said they were going to Pasadena, had no idea how but didn't care about the cost.  Must have had 1,000 high-fives between 1-3 am in Indianapolis.  The place was electric... and exhausting over time.  How much partying and jumping up and down can one do in one evening?  The ES must've burned 5,000 calories, and got the flu in the process.

The ES is bringing his posse of 10-15 Spartan fans to the Rose Bowl.  OMG, I can't wait.  

Ohio State and Buckeye Nation:  We got payback for your cheating ways; Paybacks are Hell.  

Just look at these basic stats.  Read 'em and weep:

OSU	MSU
1st Downs	20	23
Total Yards	374	438
Passing	101	304
Rushing	273	134
Penalties	5-62	3-20
3rd Down Conversions	1-10	5-15
4th Down Conversions	0-2	2-2
Turnovers	0	1
Possession	27:09	32:51

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS

The greatest formation in football.  

WE DID IT!!!!! 

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

2013 BIG TEN FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS

See ya in Pasadena!

ES Game Day, Championship version: Spartan defense will lay the hammer

ES Game Day:

B1G Ten Conference Championship
#9 Michigan State Spartans (11-1/8-0) vs #2 Ohio State Buckeyes (12-0/8-0)

Where:  Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
When:  8 pm, December 7, 2013
TV:  Fox
Line:  Ohio State by 5-1/2

SPARTANS: WHAT IS YOUR PROFESSION!!!!

Predictions: 

• BTN.com:  Merriman, MSU 24-21; Bardo, MSU 28-24; Yarina, OSU 27-23; Dienhart, OSU 30-27
• ESPN.com:  Rittenberg, MSU 30-28; Bennett: OSU 27-24
• CFN/Scout:  OSU, 27-17
• CBSSports:  Palm: OSU wins & covers; Feldman: OSU 14-10
• OffTackleEmpire:  OSU 27-23
• BeforeItsNews: MSU 27-17
• Bloguin: Kenney, OSU 20-13; Coppens, OSU 34-21; Torres, OSU 20-14; Singleton, OSU 42-28; Biles, OSU 28-18; Parcell, MSU 24-21; Causey, OSU 31-28; McGuire, OSU 24-20; Perry, OSU 28-12
• movoli:  MSU 27-17
• CollegeFootballPoll:  Computer says OSU by 7.66, but the blogger picks MSU outright
• Channel3000/SportsXChange:  MSU 30-27
• International Business Times:  OSU 41-28
• CappersPicks: OSU 31-20
• NewsOK:  OSU 19-17 
• BuckeyeFansOnly:  probably the most painful website blog on the eye, but it's an aggregate of a ton of different previews out there.  Some predictions, but it just too difficult and bothersome to splice up for the ES site.

Dear Buck-nut fans: 

Those of you who have never set foot on THE OSU campus, who paint yourselves up as ugly looking red and silver Christmas trees, or some reddish porcupine roadkill... those of you who will return on Sunday to your $50,000 two-story, plastic-shuddered houses in Euclid, Mansfield, Zanesville, or your trailers in Springfield... that's right, those of you Buck-nut fans who use your copy of Catcher in the Rye to prop up your garage sale ottoman for your fat ugly legs when watching your Buckeyes on a plasma tv for which you took out a second mortgage... those of you Buck-nut fans who will go to work on Monday to your $15 shifts repairing General Electric microwaves, filling in potholes in 25 degree weather, realigning the plumbing in the shack of another saddended Buck-nut fan whose Little Caeasar pizza didn't agree with him while watching the Buckeyes lose... that's right, you Buck-nuts who think the unethical, cheating, and admitted liar Jim Tressel is a saint and a martyr... those red and white fans who never picked up a book, who never went to college but choose this historically scandalous football program as one deserving your allegiance, this allegiance which is at the pinnacle of arrogance of college football.  Wake up, the ES is speaking to you, you uneducated Buckeye scum. To those fans with NO ties to Ohio State athletics other than the red and white poop-stained underwear in your drawers... the ES sez: why don't you buy a paper, read it with your pink eye, and stick it where the sun don't shine.

To the rest of the Buckeye Nation, the Spartan Nation, and the rest of college football, the ES sez:

Thank the good lord Ohio State is undefeated.  It's hard to like Urban Meyer.  More directly, it's hard not to hate Urban Meyer.  He's a bottom feeder.  The national media is swimming along next to him, sucking up to Meyer and the Buckeyes in the press conference on Wednesday.  Asking MSU defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi about the greatness of the Buckeye offense, Narduzzi quipped, appropriately: “Shoot, maybe we shouldn’t even show up.”  Thankfully, we have the vicious Spartan defense to take its hot poker and stick a big 'ole "L" on his butt cheek.

The ES is looking for payback in this game.  Payback for the cheatin' ways of Tressel, whose players' arrogance for free tattoos and swapping jewelry ended up pushing Michigan State out of what should have deservedly been a Rose Bowl appearance in 2010-2011.  In the record books, Ohio State now has L's next to all the games that season - but what hurt was the collateral damage of the Big Green NOT making it to its Promised Land of wine and roses, instead being sent to Florida for a slaughter at the hands of Alabama.  And, no remorse from the Buckeye faithful.  ES sez: payback is hell.

This is the most significant football game in my 45 years of life.  Why?  This is the best Spartan football team I've ever seen.  It's better than the 2011 team with Kirk Cousins that failed to win the B1G Title game vs Wisconsin.  It's definitely better than the 1988 Rose Bowl team, of which I attended every game: ES watching the title clinching game vs Indiana with mononucleosis, and spending New Years Day basking in the Rose Bowl victory over Southern Cal.

This season, our Michigan State Spartans have defeated every Big Ten team by double digits.  So, when the media says the Big Ten is soft in 2013 - that's fine; the Big Green whooped 'em all.  This is the best Spartans team since we last won the national title in 1966.  That's why we NEED this game:  it's in our blood, THE ROSE BOWL means everything to the Spartan Nation and our proud program.

You can read about the matchups, the stats, all the other hoopla elsewhere. ES sez the player of the game will be Max Bullough, using his storied family Spartan pedigree as inspiration to slow the Buckeye run game and position the defense for game-making plays.  The leader of the best defense in the land that will get it done, and sacrifice himself so his teammates can break Braxton Miller in two. The angry Spartan defense will bully the Buckyes, and by the end of the game will shove a pail of buckeyes right up their arse. The whole nation is rooting for the Spartans because of the near-unanimous hatred of Meyer.  The Spartans will deservedly end this ugly winning streak of that rodent of a coach, Urban Meyer.    

The ES will be at Lucas Oil Stadium, in tears of joy, with Big Bob, Keith, Seth, Sloth and his juniors - handing out red and white roses to Green and White fans who've made the trip.  

ES sez:  MSU 24, Ohio State 20.  See ya in Pasadena!

Smack on Ohio State

Let the smack run free and rampant. 

Ohio State president E. Gordon Gee said he never considered firing Tressel: "No, are you kidding me?" Gee said. "Let me be very clear. I'm just hoping the coach doesn't dismiss me."

ESPN announcer Kirk Herbstreit: "To continue to have to defend myself and my family in regards to my love and devotion to Ohio State is unfair. …Eighty to ninety percent of the Ohio State fans are great. It’s the vocal minority that make it rough. They probably represent only 5 to 10 percent of the fan base, but they are relentless.”


Found this lovely website.  Did not do any fact-checking, but methinks this is pretty accurate.  Or, close enough.  Corrections are welcome.

"My G.P.A. was bad [0.0] because I never attended class. It wasn't bad because I did the work and failed."
-Reggie Germany, former Ohio State wide receiver
 
"I don't think he's [Clarett's] lying. If he feels it's right to speak out, then I'm behind him 100%."
-Chris Vance, former Ohio State wide receiver

"He gave us furniture all the time. At least $2,000 worth of nice tables and couches."
-Marco Cooper, former Ohio State linebacker, speaking about an Ohio State booster

"When you'd leave, [the booster] sets you straight. They say, 'You got any money in your pocket?' They make sure your money's straight."
-Maurice Clarett, former Ohio State tailback

"What would have become of Ohio State if I said everything? Half the team would have been suspended, and it would have been worse for everybody. I was like, 'Why don't I just take it?'"
-Maurice Clarett, former Ohio State tailback

"Ohio State created me. They created what they suspended."
-Maurice Clarett, former Ohio State tailback

"I don't say that anymore. I found out four things can happen on a forward pass. The fourth is that you can get fired."
-Woody Hayes, former Ohio State coach

And..

#2 Buckeyes favored by 6 over #9 Spartans; weird stats on 14-3 slaying of Gophers

Congrats to our Michigan State Spartans, B1G Legends Champs in two of the last three years.  MSU is now ranked #9/#10 in the land after sweeping through the Big Ten undefeated, 8-0, winning every conference game by more than 10 points.  The Big Green's 14-3 victory over Minnesota (see thoughts from ES below) sets up for a nice B1G championship game against #2 Ohio State - the best offense in the conference vs the best defense.  And we all know, defense wins championships!

Ohio State is favored by 6 over Michigan State.  This is a Buckeye team that needed a boneheaded call for a 2 point conversion by Brady Hoke to beat Michigan after giving up 41 points.  As the ES recalls, the Spartans gave up just 6 points to the Wolvies and beat them by 23 points. 

Check out the coaches poll, as the Spartans creep up to #9.   Can't wait to see the BCS rankings this evening... ES expects a #9 ranking by the computers.

USA Today Poll
RK	TEAM	RECORD	PTS
1	Florida State (58)	12-0	1546
2	Ohio State (4)	12-0	1462
3	Auburn	11-1	1437
4	Alabama	11-1	1333
5	Missouri	11-1	1315
6	Oklahoma State	10-1	1248
7	Baylor	10-1	1100
7	South Carolina	10-2	1100
9	Michigan State	11-1	1037
10	Stanford	10-2	1034
11	Clemson	10-2	853
12	Oregon	10-2	843
13	Arizona State	10-2	765
14	LSU	9-3	720
15	Oklahoma	9-2	660
16	Louisville	10-1	625
17	UCF	10-1	572
18	Northern Illinois	12-0	547
19	UCLA	9-3	473
20	Duke	10-2	402
21	Wisconsin	9-3	266
22	Fresno State	10-1	215
23	Cincinnati	9-2	167
24	Texas	8-3	149
25	Texas A&M	8-4	121

• Dropped from rankings: USC 23

• Others receiving votes: Miami (FL) 47, Georgia 41, Vanderbilt 18, Iowa 13, Marshall 13, USC 10, Washington 6, Virginia Tech 4, Minnesota 4, Notre Dame 3, Ball State 1

THOUGHTS ON SPARTANS VS GOPHERS:

Two stats that really pop out from the game yesterday:  1) Minnesota getting just 249 yards (and 124 on the ground) but needing nearly 39 minutes to do it.  That's a lot of time for very few yards.  It was the only time this year Michigan State lost the time of possession battle.  What it tells the ES is the Spartan defense bent but didn't break; and actually stiffened near the red zone.  Minny finished 1-3 in the redzone.  And, the Spartans had 11 tackles for loss, including 4 sacks on the day.  Wow.  2) MSU 0-8 on third downs.  A surprising stat that needs to be improved if the Spartans are to defeat Ohio State.     

Yesterday, Michigan State played probably the best team on its schedule this season.  The Gophers are an impressive squad, and David Cobb, who gained 101 yards on 27 carries (3.7 per carry) was the best RB the Spartans have faced all year.  Good timing as take on the Buckeyes!

Here are the stats from yesterday:

MINN	MSU
1st Downs	17	15
3rd down efficiency	8-20	0-8
4th down efficiency	1-2	0-1
Total Yards	249	324
Passing	125	143
Comp-Att	9-25	10-20
Yards per pass	5.0	7.2
Rushing	124	181
Rushing Attempts	50	31
Yards per rush	2.5	5.8
Penalties	3-14	2-15
Turnovers	3	2
Fumbles lost	1	1
Interceptions thrown	2	1
Possession	38:41	21:19

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!  

Live Chat: #11 Ohio State at #17 Michigan State

Brace yourself for slugfest at the Breslin; Live chat tonite

Bring on the Buckeyes - should be one helluva slugfest, particularly with the great recent play of the Spartan bigs - Adreian Payne, Brendan Dawson, and Derrick Nix.  The depth in the post will be the difference on the defensive end late in the game.  F Deshaun Thomas and G Aaron Craft are the real deal for the Buckeyes, but the ES likes the matchup and MSU's depth, particularly home with a screaming Izzone at the Breslin.

Michigan State vs Ohio State.  Watch it on ESPN, 6 pm ET.  Live chat blog here on the ES, starting at 5:30 pm.

ES sez: MSU 66, Ohio State 63.

SOME HISTORY:
Love the history of MSU & Izzo vs Ohio State, provided by MSU Sports Info staff: Michigan State leads the all-time series with Ohio State, 65-54, including a 40-17 advantage in games played in East Lansing. The Spartans have won 25 of the last 36 games in the series. Tom Izzo is 20-11 in his career against the Buckeyes. And, through his first 17 seasons, Tom Izzo has won 412 games, ranking tied for second in college basketball history for most wins by a college coach in his first 17 years.

GO BIG GREEN!

Spartans drop out of Top 25, favored by 15 at Indiana

Well the Spartans certainly played far better on Saturday, despite being tripped up in a 17-16 tough loss to Ohio State.  Anytime you play the Buckeyes, you're in for a great game.  OSU's Braxton Miller is the real deal, he made it tough on a Spartan defense that held the Buckeye offense in check and out of the end zone for much of the game.

What cost MSU the game was Johnny Adams' blown coverage, giving up a 63-yard passing TD, and the defenses' inability to stop OSU and get the ball back in the final 4-minutes.  Give the Buckeyes credit, they earned the win in a game of two very different teams who were fairly evenly matched.  The biggest disappointment was the Spartan offensive line, which didn't find holes for LeVeon Bell and allowed Andrew Maxwell to be battered.   A VERY NICE SURPRISE to see the Spartan receivers finally catch the ball.  Yes, this team is improving, but it was a tough loss.

A note about the call by the refs that stopped MSU from scoring a wide open TD on the fumble recovery...  Well, we still could have scored the TD, if the offense had put it in the end zone; instead, we settled for a FG off that turnover.  Sure, the refs blew it, but MSU did have its chance to put score a TD anyways, and failed to do so.  You gotta take advantage of the turnovers and overcome adversity.  We didn't.

If MSU wants a nice bowl, or the Rose Bowl, it can't lose the rest of the year.  Improvements are still needed, particularly on the O-Line.

As for this upcoming week, the opening line out of Wynn Casino in Vegas has MSU as a 15-point favorite at Indiana. Indiana gave up - get this - 394 rushing yards to Northwestern.  The ES figures we can expect a real heavy dose of LeVeon Bell on Saturday. Penn State is favored by 4 at home over #24/#22 Northwestern. Wisconsin is favored by 14 at home over Illinois. Michigan is favored by 3 at Purdue. #12 Ohio State is favored at home by 4-1/2 over #21/#20 Nebraska.

And, predictably the Spartans fell out of the AP Top 25, but are on the door knocking to get back in.  The two losses -- to Notre Dame and to Ohio State -- were to quality opponents with the Spartans also beating Boise State.

AP Top 25
RK	TEAM	RECORD	PTS
1	Alabama (60)	5-0	1500
2	Oregon	5-0	1430
3	Florida State	5-0	1349
4	LSU	5-0	1310
5	Georgia	5-0	1252
6	South Carolina	5-0	1152
7	Kansas State	4-0	1123
8	West Virginia	4-0	1066
9	Notre Dame	4-0	1043
10	Florida	4-0	937
11	Texas	4-0	932
12	Ohio State	5-0	793
13	USC	3-1	703
14	Oregon State	3-0	647
15	Clemson	4-1	608
15	TCU	4-0	608
17	Oklahoma	2-1	581
18	Stanford	3-1	509
19	Louisville	5-0	404
20	Mississippi State	4-0	306
21	Nebraska	4-1	240
22	Rutgers	4-0	160
23	Washington	3-1	159
24	Northwestern	5-0	143
25	UCLA	4-1	122

• Dropped from rankings: Michigan State 20, Boise State 24, Baylor 25

• Others receiving votes: Cincinnati 72, Boise State 53, Texas A&M 51, Michigan State 43, Texas Tech 39, Michigan 38, Louisiana Tech 37, Baylor 31, Ohio 30, Arizona State 15, Arizona 4, Miami (FL) 4, Iowa State 3, Tennessee 3