MSU pounds Youngstown State; heads to Notre Dame a TD underdog

Wow, where did that offense come from?   Amazing performance by a dominant Spartan team the certainly outmanned, and pushed around a overwhelmed FCS team in Youngstown State, 55-17. 

Michigan State held the Penguins to 172 total yards... well under the 700-plus performance by YSU last week.  The Spartan defense gave up just 51 yards rushing.

But, more impressively, MSU put up 547 total yards in a very good performance. And, it was a balanced attack: 277 yards rushing, 270 through the air.  The Spartan offense answered the ES and other critics with 10-of-15 (67%) on third downs, and Connor Cook actually looked like a Big Ten quarterback with some well thrown passes, 15-of-22 for 202 yards and 4 TDs.   By day's end, 10 Spartans caught passes, including three to TE Josiah Price.   It looks like MSU found its #1 receiver in Macgarrett Kings, who was sporting the old BJ Cunningham #3 jersey.  Hell, even Bennie Fowler caught two passes.  It was all good for MSU at the right time.  That Spartan offense needed to wake up.

Over at VegasInsider, MSU is an early 6 point underdog to Notre Dame next week.  The Spartan offense needs to build on the confidence from the win yesterday as the squad head into its first rough test of the sason on the road.

With several losses in the top 25, expect the Spartans to inch in this week, probably at #24.  Will Michigan drop?  They should, and they should have lost to Akron.  

Can DT become TD? ES predicts a MSU win 18-10 over Youngstown

Time:  2 pm ET
Location:  Spartan Stadium, EL
Weather:  68 and sunny. PERFECT.
TV:  Big Ten Network
Line:  MSU is favored by 27




Come on, man!  LET'S JUST POUND THE BALL WITH THE RUNNING GAME.  GIVE US A CHANCE. 

We all know Damion Terry (DT), bar a mistake or injury, will burn his redshirt and play for the Big Green on Saturday vs Youngstown State.  We need to see him play - because the Spartans need a playmaker.  And, we need to see DT before we think about throwing him to the wolves, aka Notre Dame next week. Now is the time.  The ES does like starting Connor Cook. Let's think about how players are making decisions and using their abilities to move the team down the field, even with poor play calling and WR execution.  Thus, even with a marginal running game, considering the need to have a mobile quarterback and pounding the ball seems more practical of a situation to hang your hat on then trying to create a mythical passing game.  Let's just start finding a way to pound that rock.

That said, the ES is very concerned about Youngstown State.  T'ain't often you bring in a team that scored 60+ points and rolled up 700+ yards the game before.  I don't care what level of play, their performance is extraordinary, but YSU will line up against the best defense in the nation.  They hain't seen nothing yet until they see Max Bullough and the Big Green Machine. 

Still, MSU listed a 27-point favorite?  This was one of those times I almost decided to act like Columbus and head for the edge of the Earth.  Absurd.  MSU can't score that many points against my dead grandma.  And it is the ENTIRE offense, as well as our offensive coordinator, Mr. Warner.  It's a total team dive on offense.

Predictions:  ESPN/Bennett, MSU 27-3; Rittenberg, MSU 24-10.   Read Joe Rexrode's chat insight on the game, and the ES is through.

ES sez:  MSU gets another TD on offense, but Youngstown proves a good fight after their previous 67-point performance.  But, maybe, just maybe, the MSU  ffense gets marginally on track with the passing game.  Expect to see Terry play - very curious if DT can become TD.  In the end, the Spartan stout defense is tough enough to stop a very good YSU offense. 

Final score:  MSU 18, YSU 10.

Stoners in Vegas make MSU a 27-pt fave over Youngstown State.

According to Vegas Insider, Michigan State is favored by 27 over Youngstown State.  Did I read that correctly?  That's crazy.

Michigan State's offense doesn't have 27 points through the first two games.   The Spartan offense can't put up more than 14 points in a game if they're lucky.  

Take the points and take Youngstown State.  Are they high in Vegas? Give YSU maybe 7 points.  ES is concerned this will be another "Appalachian State" FCS upset.  MSU's offense is in crisis.  The play calling is poor, the receivers can't catch if they could separate from defenders, and the running game is barely sustainable.  Oh yeah, the QBs are making poor decisions on top of an inability to hit the receivers that aren't open. Plenty of blame to go around, but Dantonio had the last nine months to make an improvement in what everyone knew was going to be a challenge.  Instead of  better or the same... this is an offense that looks far, far worse. 

Now to the stats.

How can we measure good?

MSU is ranked #3 in Third Down Conversion Defense. MSU is ranked #19 in Fourth Down Conversion Defense. MSU is ranked #30 in First Down Defense. MSU is ranked #22 in Fumbles Recovered. MSU is #4 in Team Sacks.  MSU is #2 in Pass Efficiency Defense.  MSU is #4 in Total Defense. MSU is #11 in Turnovers Gained.

How can we measure bad?

MSU is ranked #104th in Third Down Conversion.  MSU is ranked #80 in First Downs.  MSU is ranked #117 in Passing Offense. MSU is ranked #122 in Passing Yards per Completion.  MSU is ranked #79 in Red Zone Offense.  MSU is ranked #62 in Rushing Yards per Game. MSU is ranked #86 in Scoring Offense - which is an anomaly, because the NCAA counts defensive touchdowns as "Scoring Offense."  MSU is ranked #111 in Team Offense. 

Oh, and in case you didn't know it... Youngstown State had 718 yards and 67 points last week.

This is miserable. I have a simple request:  Either, 1) figure the offense out so State is at least miserable (and not pathetic) or, 2) somebody spin the cylinder and pass the gun across the table.

Michigan State favored by "about 40" over Youngstown State; B1G Ten odds

Michigan State vs Youngstown State? No Line of course, because the Big Green decided to schedule DOWN, DOWN, DOWN.   So, the ES asks YOU (guess at right) by how many points will Michigan State defeat the Penguins. Considering the lines below (Wisky -35, OSU -32) over D1A mid-majors, the ES figures it probably is about a 35 to 45 point spread with the Spartans as Favorite.

Other Big Ten Squads?

Wisky is favored by 35 at home over UNLV; Illinois by 20 at home over Arkansas State; Purdue favored by 18 at home over Middle Tennessee; Boston College favored by 3 home vs Northwestern; Southern Cal favored by 21 at home over Minny; Ohio State favored by 32 at home over Akron; Michigan favored by 14 at home over WMU; Indiana favored by 6 1/2 at Ball State;

Not listed?  Iowa home vs. Tennessee Tech; Penn State home vs Indiana State; Nebraska home vs Chattanooga; 

FYI - Notre Dame favored by 10 1/2 at home over South Florida

And, current odds to win the 2012 BCS Title Game?  Michigan State is only a 40-1 bet.  Bet it!  What is B.S. is the oddsmakers have Notre Dame 20-1... uheam!

What the hell is the most interesting thing about YSU, other than Pengiuns can't survive there?  Um, Major Healey (aka "I Dream of Jeanie") was the grandfather of former YSU baseball shortstop Jackie Healey...

MSU first -ever Friday tilt vs #158 Youngstown State

Michigan State is going to open up the 2011 football season hosting Youngstown State on Friday, September 2... at 7:30 pm, to be televised on Big Ten Network... Is this the first ever Friday game for Michigan State football? Methinks so.

Last year, YSU finished 3-8 and #158 according to Jeff Sagarin (MSU finished 11-2 and #31). YSU has a fairly impressive stadium for a Division I-FCS institution... the ES visited it on a trip to Pittsburgh back in 2007. Here's a shot of where the Penguins play on Saturdays:




A quick look at future schedules for Michigan State... we open the 2012 season hosting Boise State on a Friday as well....

2011
Sept. 2 YOUNGSTOWN STATE
Sept. 10 FLORIDA ATLANTIC
Sept. 17 at Notre Dame
Sept. 24 CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Oct. 1 at Ohio State
Oct. 15 MICHIGAN
Oct. 22 WISCONSIN
Oct. 29 at Nebraska
Nov. 5 MINNESOTA
Nov. 12 at Iowa
Nov. 19 INDIANA
Nov. 26 at Northwestern

2012
Aug. 31 BOISE STATE
Sept. 8 at Central Michigan
Sept. 15 NOTRE DAME
Sept. 22 EASTERN MICHIGAN
Sept. 29 OHIO STATE
Oct. 6 at Indiana
Oct. 13 IOWA
Oct. 20 at Michigan
Oct. 27 at Wisconsin
Nov. 3 NEBRASKA
Nov. 17 NORTHWESTERN
Nov. 24 at Minnesota

2013 (BIG TEN ONLY)
Oct. 5 at Iowa
Oct. 12 INDIANA
Oct. 19 PURDUE
Oct. 26 at Illinois
Nov. 2 MICHIGAN
Nov. 16 at Nebraska
Nov. 23 at Northwestern
Nov. 30 MINNESOTA

2014 (BIG TEN ONLY)
Oct. 4 ILLINOIS
Oct. 11 at Michigan
Oct. 25 at Indiana
Nov. 1 NORTHWESTERN
Nov. 8 at Purdue
Nov. 15 NEBRASKA
Nov. 22 IOWA
Nov. 29 at Minnesota