ES Preview: MSU v Penn State & Thank God it's over

Spartan players taking a cue from Elvis: "I'll be Home for Christmas"

Michigan State Spartans (5-6/3-5) at Penn State Nittany Lions (9-2/6-2)

November 26, 2022. 4 pm ET.
Beaver Stadium, Happy Valley, PA
TV: FS1
Weather: 52, sunny

Sagarin Ratings: Penn State #5, Michigan State #55
Line Outta Vegas: Penn State by 19-1/2

It's impossible to win at Penn State, especially when your team loses in 2OT to Indiana because of boneheaded coaching and poor execution.  No bowling over these holidays. 

Thank God this forgettable season will be over soon.  Bring on Izzo and hoops.  

ES sez:  Joe Paterno 38, Michigan State 21.

ES Preview: Time to Retire vs the Undefeated

MSU Spartans (4-3/2-2) vs #6 Penn State Nittany Lions (7-0/4-0)
October 26, 2019.  3:30 pm ET
Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI
TV:  ABC
Weather:  49 and rain.  Wind: 10 mph from the East

Sagarin Ratings:  MSU #21 (???), Penn State #6
Vegas Line:  Penn State by 5

Penn State gonna twist up Sparty like a pretzel

It hurts to write this but, gotta be honest with this preview:

In the wet and cold rain, with an ineffective Spartan passing game going up against a staunch defense in Penn State, the Spartan Nation can expect the soggy, butterfinger Spartans to forgo the run and pass themselves to defeat.  The season got ugly two games ago, and it's just getting worse...

Prognostications:

Australian Paul:  MSU 28-24
Poke: 90% chance of rain for the entire game. 6-0 for whichever team recovers a muffed punt inside the 20 yard line.
Chris Zech:  PSU 43-8
Big Joe and Phantom 309: 31-17
GVSU Gregger: 27-10 PSU
RGM3: 24-21 green and white guys
Big Bob:  PSU 98-3
Sloth:  I will hate Dantonio even more
C Hock:  PSU 7-6
Kat:  still sleeping

ES sez:  PSU 28-7 

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 to upset Penn State

 #24 Michigan State (6-2, 4-1) hosts #7 Penn State (7-1, 4-1)
November 4, 2017, Noon
Spartan Stadium
Weather:  37 and rain. Ccccccc-cold

Sagarin Ratings: MSU #26, Penn State #3
Line: Nittany JoePas favored by 10

TV: Fox

Predictions: Debbie Does Texas: I believe in miracles, MSU 21-20
RGM3:  MSU 31-28, upset time
Chef Tom: I'll be there to witness MSU win in a surprise blowout.
Aussie Paul:  42-0 MSU.
Keith:  35-31 green
Turkish Gobbler Brock:  3-0 MSU
Big Joe and Phantom 309: 35-14 Penn State with little or no rain 24-14 MSU if torrential downpour
Grand Valley Greg: 35-28 MSU
Carly (I have no clue): 21-7 msu, I have no clue

ES sez:  Happy Valley is happy for a reason - there is nothing else within 300 miles of that place. Thank God we are home.  Defense wins this game - break out the long johns.

Upset City 15, Penn 14

Rooting for the asteroid

MSU 3-8/1-7. #8 Penn State 9-2/7-1

Sagarin Ratings: MSU #54, Penn State #15

Saturday, November 26, 2016.
3:30 pm ET.
Beaver Stadium, East Lansing, MI

Weather: 41 degrees, partly cloudy, 11 mph winds
TV: ESPN.
Line: Penn State by 11 1/2

ES just had discussions with Joe over a possible tie in college football.  It can.  It is either a nuke or an asteroid hitting Columbus.  I'm rooting for the asteroid.   Or, it would be great to see these two thugs, Urban Meyer and Jesus Harbaugh, drop the gloves and have a slugfest at mid-field.

Oh, I'm sorry.  Back to MSU vs Penn State.  ES has been to State College, Happy Valley, whatever you want to call it.  About the most remote place on earth.  It's in the middle of nowhere, 60 miles from nothingsville.  The only thing to do is football.  And, that stadium is LOUD.

Fro the Peanut Barrel, the picks...

Jill picks MSU
Joe: MSU 19-17
Brad: PSU 28-17
ES sez:  PSU 38-20
Rick:  MSU 24-21
Phil:  MSU 21-14

Enlightened Spartan Preview: #5 Mich State vs Penn State

This is what awaits Quackenberg... 

Sagarin Ratings:  MSU #15, Penn State #42

MSU: 10-1/6-1. Penn St:  7-3/4-3
Saturday, November 28, 2015. 3:30 pm ET.

Spartan Stadium, Columbus, OH

Weather: 40 degrees, cloudy, winds 5-10 mph

Line:  Big Green favored by 11

TV:  ABC

The ES actually recorded a preview in Chicago... but the audio petered out.  So, here we are with our standard preview.  Hope to be back next week with a preview of the Big Ten Title game... IF WE BEAT PENN STATE

Penn State has a very good defense, but their offensive line is atrocious.  And, the Lion QB Hackenberg has been hammered all year - he only passed for 130-odd yards against Michigan last week on 13-32 (40%) passing... and yet PSU still hung around, trailing by only five points (21-16) midway through the fourth. 

But, Michigan State seems to be back with a force in the trenches... with a completely healthy offensive line and defensive line.  It showed in the total domination of the Ohio State interior.  Spartan defense allowed only 123 total yards to the Buckeyes, while rolling up 203 on the ground against OSU.  The surprise was the solid play of backup QBs Tyler O'Connor and Damien Terry, who filled in for our star QB, Connor Cook.  Each made a mistake, but for the most part ran a very, very well called game by the Spartan coaching staff: a combined 8-16 for 91 yards, 1 TD; better yet, a combined 16 carries for 50 yards.  And, allowing only 5 Buckeye first downs while the Spartans possessed the ball for 38+ minutes?  Domination. 

The refs?  If they did not allow the force-out-of-bounds by Aaron Burbridge that led to a 36 yard completion from Tyler O'Connor - the longest pass of the game on either side - I would have gone ballistic (considering how MSU was screwed at the end of the Nebraska game).  But, the Big Ten crew allowed it, and it was a different crew than what the Big Green has faced this year.  With the football gods on our side, MSU ended up scoring on the drive.  

Bottom line, it is amazing how well you can accomplish a task when you have the right tools: namely, your best, healthy players. 

MSU doesn't need to get fancy against the Lions.  As long as the boys play inspired in the trenches, it should wear down PSU as the game goes on.  I would expect to see a bit more of a passing game out of MSU - whether it is Cook or not.  Regardless, I find it difficult to fathom how the Lion offense will be able to stop the flood of the MSU defense pouring in on Hackenberg - and the repositioning of the MSU defensive backfield with the addition of Darian Hicks helping to create better pass coverage.  

With so much on the line - a trip to the Big Ten title, potential trip to the College Football Playoff. And, Michigan State's coaching has been, for the most part this season, very good.  

Predictions:  ChiSpartan:  MSU (with Cook) 34-21; (without Cook) 24-21.  EnlightenedSpartan:  MSU 31-13.    

If the Spartans win, a variety of scenarios are set up for the Big Ten title vs Iowa - read here.

College Football Playoff Scenarios for Michigan State

Let's not look past a very tough Penn State game this week; although Quackenbush doesn't look so hot (his offensive line is offensive) yet, the Nittany defense is tough.

But, MSU handles Penn State... so, OK, here are some predictions for Michigan State in the College Football Playoff.  Note that the Orange Bowl (Miami) gets seeds 1-4; Cotton Bowl (Dallas) gets seeds 2-3. 

Probable scenarios assuming MSU wins Big Ten title vs. undefeated Iowa, Clemson beats South Carolina, and Alabama defeats Auburn.

1. Everyone wins out. MSU gets #4 seed. Book your rooms in Miami.
2. Clemson loses ACC title.  The rest win out.  MSU gets #3 seed.  Book Dallas.
3. Alabama loses SEC title.  The rest win out.  MSU gets #3 seed. Book Dallas.
4. Clemson loses ACC title. Alabama loses SEC title.  MSU gets #2 seed. Book Dallas... or, MSU gets #1 seed pending tight win by Oklahoma; then, Book Miami. 
5. Oklahoma loses to Ok St.  The rest win out.  MSU gets #3 seed.  Book Dallas.
6. Clemson loses ACC title.  Oklahoma loses to OK St.  MSU gets #2 seed.  Book Dallas.
7. Alabama loses SEC title.  Oklahoma loses to OK St.  MSU gets #2 seed.  Book Dallas.
8. Clemson loses ACC title. Alabama loses SEC title.  Oklahoma loses to Ok St.   MSU gets #1 seed.  Book Miami.

If MSU wins vs Penn State but loses Big Ten Title?  It would likely play #9 Stanford in the Rose Bowl.  Book Pasadena.

If MSU loses to Penn State?  It would get the #3 Big Ten spot, the Capitol One Bowl.  Book Orlando.

Here are your top 7 playoff contenders:

#1 Clemson (11-0/7-0)

vs 3-8/1-7 South Carolina.
vs #14  10-1/7-0 North Carolina.

#2 Alabama (10-1/6-1)

vs 6-5/2-5 Auburn.

vs #12 10-1/7-1 Florida.

#3 Oklahoma (10-1/7-1)

vs #11 10-1/7-1 Oklahoma State. 

end of season.

#4 Iowa

vs 5-6/3-4 Nebraska.  

vs (projected) #5 11-1/7-1 Michigan State.

#5 Michigan State (10-1/6-1)

vs 7-4/4-3 Penn State.

vs #4 12-0/8-0 or 11-1/7-1 Iowa. 

#6 Notre Dame (10-1)

vs #9 9-2/6-2 Stanford.

end of season.

#7 Baylor (9-1/6-1)

vs #19  9-2/6-2  Texas Christian.

vs 4-6/3-4 Texas. 

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

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.

ES Game Day: MSU gonna kick Penn State's arse

#8/#10 Michigan State (9-2/6-1) at Penn State (6-5/2-5)
Beaver Stadium, Happy Valley, PA
3:30 ET, ABC/ESPN2
Sagarin Ratings: MSU #10, Penn State #50

Weather: 36, cloudy, 7 mph wind

Line:  MSU by 13.5

Predictions:  

• Free Press: Rexrode, MSU 24-10, 
• Onward State: Berkman, MSU 24-7, Abrzeese, PSU 17-16; Doon, MSU 27-10; Reisman, MSU 20-13; Leeson, MSU 26-19; Berger, MSU 27-10; Hardinger, 23-10; Purcell, MSU 40-9; Gilbert, MSU 17-0
• Victory Bell Rings:  Leonard, MSU 24-7; Lance, MSU 31-6; Jezewski, MSU 38-9; Sio, MSU 35-14
• Det News: Charbenou, MSU 31-14; Changelis, MSU 24-10; Wojo, MSU 30-10; Niyo, MSU 27-14;  
• CFN Scout:  MSU 23-13
• CBSSports.com:  MSU unanimous
• Rant Sports:  MSU 24-10
• Black Shoe Diaries: Page, MSU 33-17; Ryan, PSU 20-17;  Matt, MSU 24-7; bacaff, PSU 24-23; Blonde, MSU 16-7; Tim, MSU 24-13; Dan, MSU 27-10; PREVIEW: MSU 30-10
• WSBT-TV:  MSU 37-21

ES sez:   OK, the Spartan defense is not as stout as last year... but it is pretty damn good, and adjustments in the secondary (Lippett playing both ways, for instance) are paying dividends.  On offense, MSU CAN'T score less than 35 against a mediocre team.  Spartan Defense is UP, Spartan Offense is SCREAMING.  Penn State is mediocre.  The ES sees this as a blow-out, unfortunately for the Nittanies.

Michigan State 51, Penn State 5.

Spartans favored by 2 TD at Penn State

9-2/6-1 Michigan State, which moved up to #8 in the USA Today coaches poll but remained at #10 in the other polls, is favored by 13-1/2 points at 6-5/2-5 Penn State.  Those are 2 Jeremy Langford TDs... and, it is the only Big Ten game this weekend with the road team a fave.

The bookies on the Big Ten slate:

MSU (-13) at Penn State
Iowa (-1) vs Nebraska
Ohio State (-20) vs Michigan
Wisconsin (-14) vs Minnesota
Maryland (-8) vs Rutgers
Illinois (-8) vs Northwestern
Indiana (-2) vs Purdon't

USA Today Poll
RK	TEAM	RECORD	PTS
1	Alabama (25)	10-1	1474
2	Florida State (30)	11-0	1462
3	Oregon (6)	10-1	1431
4	Mississippi State	10-1	1323
5	TCU	9-1	1259
6	Baylor	9-1	1242
7	Ohio State	10-1	1191
8	Michigan State	9-2	1052
9	Georgia	9-2	1002
10	UCLA	9-2	963
11	Kansas State	8-2	912
12	Arizona	9-2	818
13	Arizona State	9-2	783
14	Wisconsin	9-2	758
15	Georgia Tech	9-2	615
16	Auburn	8-3	565
17	Missouri	9-2	560
18	Oklahoma	8-3	420
19	Ole Miss	8-3	390
20	Marshall	11-0	383
21	Colorado State	10-1	304
22	Minnesota	8-3	256
23	Louisville	8-3	208
24	Clemson	8-3	203
25	Boise State	9-2	85

• Dropped from rankings: Nebraska 19, Utah 21, USC 24, Duke 25
• 
  
• Others receiving votes: LSU 43, Nebraska 41, Arkansas 19, Utah 19, Cincinnati 7, Louisiana Tech 7, Stanford 7, Duke 5, Texas A&M 4, Texas 4, USC 4, Northern Illinois 3, Iowa 1, Utah State 1, Notre Dame 1
• 
  

Can you do the limbo? Watch Spartan Hockey

My oh my, how the mighty have fallen.  Notably, Spartan hockey.  How low can you go? 

Michigan State is dead last in the CCHA (note: Michigan is next to last) and lost tonight at home to... Penn State?  This is a Nittany Lion program in their first year of varsity hockey, moving up from a club sport to an independent status, and without a real hockey arena at home.  And, the result?  Penn State wins, 3-2.  

And, it was on the Big Ten Network.  One word?  Embarrassing.  Sure, Penn State defeated Union and Ohio State early this year.  But, if you watched the game... the win at Munn Ice Arena was defining in how disorganized and lazy Michigan State was as the game wore on.  Don't blame goalie Hidebrand, who faced 50 shots - blame everyone else wearing Green and White.

Under Ron Mason, the team was a perennial Frozen Four team and CCHA champion.  Now, with a 7-16-1 record, MSU is on pace for one of its worst records in the last 35 years.  What an ugly game to watch.

Tom Anastos is gonna have a tough time selling Spartan tickets next year for the first year of Big Ten hockey.  Right now, Michigan State has to be considered dead last looking forward. Nice to give Penn State its signature win in its history.  From a hockey perspective, this was similar to Appalachian State beating Michigan football in Michigan Stadium.

Can't wait to watch Spartan men's hoops tomorrow at Indiana.  Bring back some green and white mojo in a MAJOR game toward Big Ten championships.  Anastos and the Spartan icers should take some notes from the men's basketball team on how to dig deep, especially defensively late in games.

MSU at #9 in Lunardi's Bracketology; Predicts a Spartan win over JoePa

OK, Lunardi finally posts his Bracketology, and Michigan State moves up to a #9 in the West.

As for today? ES prediction... Michigan State 67, Penn State 55. Any team (Penn State) that wins a game scoring less than 40 points (scoring 36 in yesterday's win over Wisconsin) has no offense -- and MSU can relate to that! MSU has its mojo back, and enough offense to move on.

Mich State a 2-1/2 pt fave over Penn State; move up to #9 in Bracketology

OK, the ES is excited post-Purdue destruction.... Some early thoughts heading into today's Big Ten semi-finals. Early line out of Vegas has Michigan State favored by 2 1/2 over Penn State. The game tips at 4 pm, on CBS television.

Bracketology update: Joe Lunardi is still nursing his hangover as of 10 am on Saturday. What's ESPN paying him the big bucks if he can't wake up during tourney time to update his bracket? MSU still listed as last one in, #12 SE.

Bracketology #2 update: But, give Bruce Marshall over at VegasInsider.com some kudos for updating his bracket. He inks in Michigan State right now as a #9 seed in the East.

Jeff Sagarin: Even the MIT guru punched his numbers this morning, moving MSU up to #34 overall. That's IN my friends.

See you at the Peanut Barrell at 4 pm!

MICHIGAN STATE: BIG TEN CHAMPIONS

A little late on the post, but... CONGRATS SPARTANS! We won the Big Ten Championship! Unbelieveable. 11-1 to end the regular season after a 28-22 dominating victory at Penn State. Our first win at JoePa since before he was a coach at PSU - since 1965. Kirk Cousins played fantastic, an impressive 17-of-22 passing for 152 yards and 2 TDs. Even Keith Nlichol played great, another great playcall by OC Treadwell to put him in at QB to throw a tight pass to Charlie Gantt to extend the Spartan lead to 28-10. MSU outgained JoePa 163-84 on the ground, including 118 yards on 28 impressive carries by Edwin Baker. The Spartan defense pressured Penn State QB Matt McGloin all game long and should have had 3-4 INTs. MSU came in prepared and stepped on the jugular early and often. Impressive, impressive performance.

11-1? Possibility for a 12-1 season? Michigan State has never before won 11 games in one season, and we could win 12. Look at the poll to the right, out of 285 votes before the season, only 12 predicted at least 11 wins - just 4.2% of all voters. The ES is not going to complain about settling for a third-tier bowl, even though we manhandled Wisconsin at home earlier this year. Michigan State is Big Ten champs, and we'll be happy to play on New Year's Day and kick some SEC, Big 12, or Pac 10 butt.

The Big Green jumped to #7 in the AP and USA Today polls... BCS ranks Michigan State #8. ... It is just nice to say BIG TEN CHAMPIONS in FOOTBALL.

BCS		Harris Poll			USA Today			Computer Rankings
RK	TEAM	AVG	PVS	RK	PTS	%	RK	PTS	%	AVG	A&H	RB	CM	KM	JS	PW	%
1	Auburn	.9779	2	2	2769	.9716	2	1419	.9620	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1.000
2	Oregon	.9777	1	1	2804	.9839	1	1459	.9892	2	2	3	2	2	2	2	.960
3	TCU	.9167	3	3	2621	.9196	3	1343	.9105	3	3	2	3	3	6	3	.920
4	Stanford	.8413	6	5	2417	.8481	5	1233	.8359	4	8	7	5	4	4	4	.840
5	Wisconsin	.8185	7	4	2441	.8565	4	1282	.8692	7	4	4	12	9	11	7	.730
6	Ohio State	.7632	8	6	2301	.8074	6	1213	.8224	9	5	6	8	14	15	10	.660
7	Arkansas	.7189	12	8	1997	.7007	8	1012	.6861	5	9	8	9	5	3	5	.770
8	Michigan State	.6980	10	7	2080	.7298	7	1083	.7342	11	7	11	6	15	14	9	.630
9	Oklahoma	.6780	13	9	1809	.6347	9	943	.6393	6	6	12	4	7	7	8	.760
10	LSU	.6067	5	11	1569	.5505	12	796	.5397	7	11	9	10	6	5	6	.730
11	Boise State	.5805	4	10	1802	.6323	10	869	.5892	14	13	5	11	16	16	12	.520
12	Missouri	.5148	14	14	1291	.4530	14	666	.4515	10	10	17	7	11	8	11	.640
13	Nebraska	.5071	15	13	1446	.5074	13	773	.5241	15	14	14	15	13	10	14	.490
14	Oklahoma State	.4630	9	16	1171	.4109	15	661	.4481	12	12	13	13	10	13	15	.530
15	Virginia Tech	.4396	16	12	1503	.5274	11	843	.5715	20	20	18	20	24	22	20	.220
16	Alabama	.4201	11	18	1113	.3905	19	501	.3397	12	16	10	17	12	9	13	.530
17	Nevada	.4043	19	15	1231	.4319	17	621	.4210	17	18	16	16	17	18	17	.360
18	Texas A&M	.3910	17	19	1032	.3621	18	503	.3410	16	15	20	14	8	12	16	.470
19	South Carolina	.3817	18	17	1142	.4007	16	626	.4244	18	17	19	18	18	17	19	.320
20	Utah	.2254	20	21	567	.1989	21	291	.1973	19	21	15	19	19	20	18	.280
21	Florida State	.2125	22	20	650	.2281	20	353	.2393	22	19	22	21	22	23	22	.170
22	Mississippi State	.1630	25	22	393	.1379	22	223	.1512	21	22	21	25	20	19	21	.200
23	Arizona	.0713	21	25	120	.0421	NR	47	.0319	23	23	23	0	21	21	23	.140
24	West Virginia	.0542	NR	23	251	.0881	24	110	.0746	24	0	0	23	0	0	0	.000
25	Northern Illinois	.0482	NR	24	161	.0565	23	130	.0881	24	0	25	0	0	0	0	.000