Enlightened Preview: Spartans at Northwestern

#16 Michigan State (6-1, 4-0) at Northwestern (4-3, 2-2)

Oct 28, 2017 - 3:30 pm

Ryan Field

Sagarin Ratings: MSU #26, Northwestern #34

Line:  Spartans favored by 1-1/2

TV:  ESPN

The ES is in DC for some meetings, going to a Gallaudet University (school for the deaf) Division III football game today.  Then, woop it up with the Spartan faithful at Capitol Lounge. 

Predictions:

Debbie Does Texas: 21-17 MSU

Minny Jeremy:  18-5 MSU

Aussie Paul: 52-0

Doc: In 78 I was at the game in Dyche Stadium. I think MSU won 52-3. Eddie Smith to Kirk Gibson all day long. They give us trouble. Though it is the site of John Ls comeback. 26-22 Sparty. Wierd game. Hopefully Terry Handratty, I mean our QB won't slip & fall on the train platform.
Chef Tom: Was at Dyke in 83 when the Spartans provived the Cats with their 29th, record breaking, consecutive loss.
Big Joe and Phantom 309: 37-24 MSU
Reno Ron: Sparties 24 - Mini Ditkas 10
Keith the Shrimp: 28-13 green. More solid d.
Sluggo:  17-13 MSU

ES sez:  Rough, and tough, and ugly... but another win:  Sparty wins, 17-16

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)

Prime Time BTN = Anything BUT Prime

OK, so the Big Ten Network is promoting its "Prime Time" matchup football schedule this fall, including a Friday, Aug 30, welcome of Western Michigan to Michigan State. 

A fairly pathetic schedule to promote.  Really, what is interesting?  Maybe BTN will be lucky to capture a Thunderstorm or Tornado in the Cowboys' 10-hour, 700-mile drive from Cheyenne to Lincoln.  Syracuse at Northwestern - maybe a 2-hour video of a student rendition of the Scopes Monkey Trial.  Vegas at Minny?  Hopefully it snows in August in Minneapolis.   Indiana State at Indiana?  Godforbid, the Hoosiers best shot is if Larry Bird stays retired, football, basketball, whatever.

Good grief.  Save the press release, but enjoy Big Ten football! 

BTN PRIMETIME SCHEDULE (all times Eastern)
Thursday, August 29

• 7 PM – UNLV at Minnesota

Friday, August 30

• 8 PM – Western Michigan at Michigan State

Saturday, August 31

• 8 PM – Wyoming at Nebraska

Saturday, September 7

• 6 PM – Syracuse at Northwestern
• 6 PM – Southern Miss at Nebraska

Saturday, September 14

• 6 PM – UCF at Penn State
• 6 PM – Washington vs. Illinois (at Soldier Field)
• 9 PM – Western Michigan at Northwestern

Saturday, September 21

• 8 PM – Missouri at Indiana

Saturday, October 19

• 8 PM – Wisconsin at Illinois

REGIONAL COVERAGE

Thursday, Aug. 29

• 7 PM – Indiana State at Indiana

Saturday, September 7

• 6 PM – Navy at Indiana

B1G Ten Tourney.... Gholston HOF Cafe Watch Party... Vegas Title Odds

ES is all jacked up for the B1G Ten Tourney championship.  At around 3:30 today, ES was in a meeting with several colleagues today who figured last Sunday a few of us Spartans were pulling for the Wolverines to beat Indiana to get MSU a share of the regular season title. NOT!!!!  We SOUNDLY denounced his sacrilege and referred to the new Pope maybe needing to forgive our sins in tone and language.  At 3:30, we may have been the first to ask this Pope Francis for forgiveness... but NAHHH.

What is hilarious is the scUMbags get to play an extra game. Thanks, Francis, God is good.  ES could care less about the performance of those wearing stupid yellow-glow-in-the-dark blinding uniforms.  Bumble-bee uniforms in football, and blinding yellow high-lighters in basketball.  They may be great engineers and doctors, but they are color-blind artists in Ann Arbor.  We'll still kick their butt and their extra game.

JOIN GHOLSTON AT HOF, FRIDAY, 7:45
As for the tourney, well it shall be fun - the ES will be at the Spartan HOF Cafe with his fam and work colleagues at the Spartan HOF for a Mid-Michigan Spartan Alum watch party.  Wanna come out for some brews, food, auction items, and fun while we kick Iowa or Northwestern's bootie?  Game time, tipoff is ETA 7:45 pm on Friday, on BTN.

We'll be hangin' with William Gholston if you're interested...  Need to contact SRothw@aol.com if interested...  GO GREEN!

RPI RATINGS
OK, we'll be throwing some smack at Bracketology all week long if Lunardi doesn't give the Spartans props with at LEAST a #2 seed (and maybe a #1 if they win the B1G tourney?)  But real-time RPI ratings, which are significant in determining NCAA tourney qualifications, so far place the Spartans at #9. should be a great week in March, as is always!!!!  It is IZZO TIME.
FAVORITES?
Check out VegasInsider.http://www.vegasinsider.com/college-basketball/odds/futures/  Spartans are 12-1 to take the title, Michigan is 10-1, and Indiana is 9-2... ES likes our chances, and the $20 he put in the Spartans in Vegas in November.  Here are the full lines below:

Indiana	9/2
Duke	5/1
Louisville	6/1
Florida	7/1
Michigan	10/1
Miami, FL	10/1
Gonzaga	10/1
Georgetown	12/1
Michigan State	12/1
Kansas	15/1
Ohio State	20/1
Syracuse	25/1
St. Louis	30/1
New Mexico	30/1
Arizona	40/1
Pittsburgh	40/1
UCLA	50/1
Kansas State	50/1
Oklahoma State	50/1
North Carolina	60/1
Wisconsin	60/1
N.C. State	60/1
Marquette	75/1
VCU	75/1
Minnesota	75/1
Field (any other team)	100/1
Missouri	100/1
Butler	100/1
Kentucky	100/1
Memphis	100/1
UNLV	100/1
Notre Dame	100/1
Colorado State	100/1
Creighton	100/1
Wichita State	200/1
Illinois	200/1
Oregon	200/1
California	200/1
St. Mary's	200/1
San Diego State	200/1
Colorado	200/1
Belmont	200/1
Alabama	300/1
Oklahoma	300/1
Temple	300/1
Villanova	300/1
Davidson	500/1
Arkansas	500/1
Mississippi	500/1
Virginia	500/1
LaSalle	500/1
Iowa State	500/1
Tennessee	500/1
Vanderbilt	500/1
Baylor	500/1
Xavier	500/1
Cincinnati	500/1
Maryland	1000/1
BYU	1000/1
Purdue	1000/1
Seton Hall	1000/1
St. John's	1000/1
West Virginia	1000/1
St. Joseph's	1000/1
Drexel	1000/1
Stanford	1000/1
Southern Miss	1000/1
Mississippi State	1000/1
Providence	1000/1
Oregon State	1000/1
Ohio	1000/1
Northern Iowa	1000/1
Texas A&M	1000/1
South Florida	1000/1
Washington	1000/1
Dayton	1000/1
Clemson	1000/1
Rutgers	1000/1
Texas	1000/1
Florida State	1000/1
Long Beach State	1000/1
Northwestern	1000/1
Iowa	1000/1
Murray State	1000/1
LSU	1000/1
George Mason	1000/1
Marshall	1000/1
Virginia Tech	1000/1
Georgia	1000/1
Harvard	1000/1
Ole Miss	1000/1
Richmond	1000/1
DePaul	1000/1
Utah State	1000/1
Nevada	1000/1
USC	1000/1
South Carolina	1000/1
Georgia Tech	1000/1
St. Bonaventure	1000/1

 

Northwestern men hoops ranked first time since 1969; it is Michigan State's 44th week in a row

Here is the most recent basketball poll. Kudos for Northwestern for making in the AP Top 25 list for the first time since the ES was only 6 months old... in January 1969. That's 40 years! It was before man even landed on the moon. But, this is the AP -- they ain't buying it over at the USA Today poll, where N'western sits at #30.

As a comparison, Michigan State's men's basketball team has been ranked in the AP Top 25 each and every week since the beginning of the 2007 season. That's 44 straight weeks in the regular season.

Still, it's pretty nice to have them as company for once. Welcome to our world, Wildcat fans!

AP Top 25

1. Kansas (52) 11-0 1,607

2. Texas (11) 11-0 1,556

3. Kentucky (1) 13-0 1,476

4. Purdue 11-0 1,407

5. Syracuse (1) 12-0 1,398

6. West Virginia 10-0 1,309

7. Duke 9-1 1,241

8. Villanova 11-1 1,177

9. North Carolina 9-3 1,033

10. Connecticut 9-2 1,002

11. Michigan State 9-3 910

12. Kansas State 11-1 892

13. Georgetown 9-1 813

14. Tennessee 9-2 664

15. Ohio State 10-2 605

16. Mississippi 10-2 544

17. Washington 9-2 490

18. Temple 9-2 403

19. New Mexico 12-1 352

20. Texas Tech 10-1 334

21. Clemson 11-2 300

22. Florida State 11-2 252

23. Wisconsin 10-2 180

24. UAB 11-1 178

25. Northwestern 10-1 144

Others Receiving Votes Gonzaga 129, Georgia Tech 102, Dayton 94, Texas A&M 91, Florida 76, Miami (FL) 60, Brigham Young 55, Oklahoma State 37, Wichita State 35, USC 27, UNLV 26, Butler 19, Memphis 16, Mississippi State 13, Wake Forest 12, St. John's 10, Virginia Tech 7, California 7, Cincinnati 7, Baylor 7, Cornell 5, Missouri State 5, Northern Iowa 5, Rhode Island 5, William & Mary 5, Seton Hall 2, Army 1. Dropped From Rankings Florida 18, Texas A&M 19, Butler 20, Gonzaga 25.

ES Game Day Preview: MSU 38, Northwestern 17

Northwestern (4-2/1-1, #95 Sagarin, sked strength #139) at Michigan State (3-3/2-1, #44 Sagarin, sked strength #26)
Saturday, October 17, 2009. 12 Noon.
TV: ESPN 2
Weather: 48 degrees, mostly sunny.
Latest Line: Michigan State favored by 13.

Tickets available.

Injuries: Michigan State - S Roderick Jenrette (foot), out; RB Glenn Winston (knee), out; CB Kendall Davis-Clark (leg), questionable; WR Mark Dell (shoulder), probable; QB Kirk Cousins (ankle), probable; QB Keith Nichol (elbow), probable. Northwestern - RB Alex Daniel (ankle) out; S Brendan Smith (hand), out; OT Mike Boyle (back) out; LB Ben Johnson (leg) out; LB Bryce McNaul (leg) out; CB Justan Vaughn (leg) out; DT Jack DiNardo (shoulder) questionable; DE Corey Wootton (ankle), probable.

Previews: Lake The Posts (MSU 30, NW 24); College Football News (MSU 30, NW 23); StatSheet (MSU 30, NW 20); Examiner.com; Bleacher Report (MSU 21, NW 13); ESPN/Adam Rittenberg (MSU 29, NW 23)

Prediction: The ES isn't that impressed with NU. This game ain't like Northwestern upsets of old over Michigan State, because of the improved coaching of MSU and the terrible, terrible play by Northwestern against one of the weakest schedules in all D1-FBS. Sagarin ranks Nwesterns opponents played as #139 strongest in the country. Yes, my dead grandma could QB Northwestern and beaten Eastern Michigan, Miami-Ohio, AND SYRACUSE. What is the strength of schedule of other D1-FBS 2-loss teams in America? The ES took the time, scrolled through Sagarin's website, and compiled a list (below) of all the two-loss teams that competed in the FBS division.... and found that Northwestern was DEAD LAST of all 2-loss teams; matter of fact, their strength of schedule of #139 was lower than the number of teams competing in 1-FBS (120 teams).

2-loss Division 1-FBS teams and Schedule Strength: Arizona SS#5, Arizona State SS#101, Arkansas SS#17, Baylor SS#87, BC SS#57, California SS#12, Central Florida SS#127, Louisiana-Lafayette SS#79, Louisiana Monroe SS#117, Marshall SS#72, Middle Tennessee State SS#71, scUM SS#47, Minnesota SS#46, Mississippi SS#6, UNC SS #81, Northern Illinois SS#84, Ohio SS# 70, Oklahoma SS#55, Oregon State SS#44, SMU SS#64, Stanford SS#27, Temple SS#114, Texas A&M SS#105, Texas Tech SS#110, Troy SS#34, UCLA SS#16, Wake Forest SS#50.

So, what does that mean, with NW and a strength of schedule #139, losing to Sagarin's #97-ranked Syracuse, struggling against #155-ranked Miami-Ohio, squeaking by #164-ranked Eastern Michigan and #91-ranked Purdue, and losing on the road to #55-ranked Minnesota?

A FLAT-ASSED BUTT KICKING. The ES is not impressed, especially if you can't figure out the name of our starting quarterback, let alone the dynamics of our QB situation. Besides, Northwestern's colors in Division 1 are the closest of any school to PINK.

Halftime: MSU 21, Northwestern 10. Final score: MSU 38, NW: 17.

MSU injury report vs Northwestern, men's basketball ranked consensus top 3

Early weather predictions show clear skies, but colder; 48 degrees and partly sunny for the noon kickoff vs Northwestern.

Injury report: Keith Nichol suffered a mild sprain of the elbow, but will play vs the Wildcats. Captain Kirk's ankle has healed and will start at QB for the Big Green. Two players done for the season: safety Roderick Jenrette (foot) and RB Glenn Winston (knee). WR Mark Dell (shoulder) is probable, but can he catch?

Early previews of Michigan State vs Northwestern -- Bleacher Report (MSU 21, NW 13); College Football News (4 of 5 pick MSU); ESPN/Adam Rittenberg (MSU 29, NW 23);

Big Ten Network revealed its power rankings, and hmmm... looks similar to the ES', with the Big Green at #5 in the conference.

Maybe it is too soon for basketball... but yer men's hoops national-runners up from a year ago, Michigan State, is ranked in the TOP 3 of nearly every single preseason publication, prognostication, or pundit.

No... it's Captain Kirk - not Brian!

Lake The Posts is still smoking the pipe.... "It's still unclear if MSU QB Keith Nichol will play as he's listed as day-to-day. His back-up is a split-time starter, Brian Cousins."

No, LTP, it is Kirk, Captain Kirk Cousins -- he is one of the Spartans' four captains, and he has excelled all year. He is the full-time starter, but sat out last game to rest an ankle sprain so he can KICK YER WILDCAT ARSE this week.

As for all yer hype and surprise on 13 1/2 point underdogs (it started out at 12 point 'dogs on Sunday), STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE, baby... you lost to SYRACUSE, lost to a Minny team that was crushed at home by an iffy Cal team, defeated hapless Purdue, winless Miami. And, you squeaked by an EMU team that lost by 48 to CMU (who MSU lost on the last play of the game).

It's not just Ws vs Ls. It's who you played. It's easy to beat up on the Sisters of the Poor.

Lake the Posts - N'western, huh?

Our friends over at Lake the Posts give some insight into the 'Cats play, and they certainly see the glass as half full... the ES critiques LTP's commentary, just roughly. Nwestern is looking at the last two games as a season-saver, with predictible predictions of grandeur. Ummmm - the 'Cats registered gritty wins over, well, Purdue and Miami-Ohio? After a loss to Syracuse? Sorry, you should look like World Beaters after that schedule ("special teams has done a 180 the last two games" and "our D line has gone from atrocious to respectable the past two games".) Wait 'til we smack you upside the head. Over the same period, the Sparties played... Wisky, scUM, and Illinois. No, Sparty ain't hurtin'. We're hurtin' to hurt YOU, 'Cats. There won't be no 2007 repeat, we're a 12-pt fave 'cause we're gonna stomp on yer 'TROAT. Yes, who you play DOES matter.

Michigan State favored by 12 over Northwestern

Fresh off the Spartans' ruining the Illini homecoming, 24-14, the Big Green returns to East Lansing for its own homecoming this week as a 12-point favorite over Northwestern. Ohio State is favored by 14 at Purdue; Iowa favored by 2 at Wisky; Joe Pa by 15 at home over Minny; Illinois by 2.5 at Indiana. FYI, Southern Cal is favored by 8 at Notre Dame. And, Michigan faces 1-3 Delaware State, ranked #187 by Jeff Sagarin. Speaking of Sagarin, here is his rankings of the Big Ten, including schedule strength:

#8. Ohio State, SS = 37
#9. Iowa, SS = 30
#21. Wisconsin, SS = 31
#28. Joe Pa, SS = 113
#37. scUM, SS = 47
#44. Michigan State, SS = 26
#54. Minnesota, SS = 46
#86. Indiana, SS = 61
#91. Purdue, SS = 23
#95. Northwestern, SS = 139
#112. Illinois, SS = 25

Here is your latest AP Poll for week 7, through October 11, 2009

RK	TEAM	RECORD	PTS
1	Florida (50)	5-0	1490
2	Alabama (10)	6-0	1430
3	Texas	5-0	1395
4	Virginia Tech	5-1	1283
5	Boise State	5-0	1199
6	USC	4-1	1161
7	Ohio State	5-1	1048
8	Cincinnati	5-0	1038
9	Miami (FL)	4-1	970
10	LSU	5-1	947
11	Iowa	6-0	919
12	TCU	5-0	917
13	Oregon	5-1	776
14	Penn State	5-1	597
15	Nebraska	4-1	576
16	Oklahoma State	4-1	559
17	Kansas	5-0	551
18	Brigham Young	5-1	490
19	Georgia Tech	5-1	453
20	Oklahoma	3-2	432
21	South Florida	5-0	330
22	South Carolina	5-1	319
23	Houston	4-1	192
24	Utah	4-1	76
25	Notre Dame	4-1	75

Dropped from rankings: Auburn 17, Mississippi 20, Missouri 24

Others receiving votes: Pittsburgh 58, Auburn 55, West Virginia 46, Mississippi 28, Wisconsin 27, Missouri 25, Arkansas 16, Central Michigan 6, Arizona 5, Michigan 5, Oregon State 2, Navy 1, Idaho 1, Stanford 1, Texas Tech 1

INJURY UPDATE: It's a bummer, but Glenn Winston is done for the year with a torn knee ligament (ACL). That's a big blow to MSU's kick return game; Winston was also the most physical of the MSU running backs this year.