ES Preview: Getting Worse vs Rapidly Improving

MSU Spartans (4-4/2-3) vs Illinois Fighting Illini (5-4/3-3)
Spartan Stadium
East Lansing, MI.  3:30 pm ET.
November 9, 2019

Weather: 41 partly cloudy.  Winds: 11 ssw.

Vegas Line:  MSU by 14-1/2 (yes, they are smoking crack in Sin City)
Sagarin Ratings: MSU #23, Illinois #77 (Jeff Sagarin in high on the pipe, too)

A mantra of football is that your team is supposed to get better as the season goes along.  That certainly is happening with Illinois; but the Spartans are going in the complete opposite direction, dropping like a rock.

Bum Phillips gave the ultimate compliment to good coaching: 

"He can beat his'n with your'n.  And he can beat your'n with his'n."

The one and only Bum Phillips, telling it like it is

Well, Bum certainly was not talking about coach Dantonio, who can't beat anyone with anyone's talent.  It has been a very disappointing season of playcalling on both sides of the ball, missed assignments, lack of a pass rush, dropped passes, poor quarterbacking.

Expect that to continue today vs the Illini:  until things fundamentally change, don't expect any Spartan improvement.  FYI: Illinois beat Wisconsin.  MSU lost to Wisconsin, 38-0.  'Nuff said.

Prognostications:

CHock:  MSU 12-10
Keith: MSU loses
Big Bob:  ILL 17-10
Sloth: 40,000 empty seats, and a lot of boos. 27-6, tRed Granges.
RGM3: 27-10 MSU. We somehow cover.
Big Joe and Phantom 309: 14-6. The defense remains stout and the offense manages to score one TD.
GVSU Gregger: MSU 21-17
Queen Kat:  MSU 17-10

ES sez:  Illinois 21, MSU 17.

ES Preview: We don't need no stinkin' Badgers

Michigan State Spartans (4-2/2-1) at #8 Wisconsin Badgers (5-0/2-0)
Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI
October 12, 2019.  3:30 pm ET.
TV:  BTN
Weather: 48/cloudy.  It's windy - 19 mph SW

We don't need no stinkin' Badgers!

Line outta Vegas:  Wisky by 10
Sagarin Ratings:  MSU #15, Wisky #6

Prognostications:

Well, it's going to be cold and windy.  So, expect the Big Green to give up the running game and start throwing the ball into the wind, to be picked off time and again by the nation's #1 defense in Wisky (179 ypg).  Which means the nation's #2 ground gainer, Wisky's Jonathan Taylor (149 ypg), may just dice up this Spartan defense which  struggled against the run against Ohio State.

Sigh.  Saw this game last year in the agonizing RedBox bowl game, a 7-6 loss.  At least the ES is going to the Big D (Ole Shellelagh) to witness the slaughter... and go check out a winner - the 3-1 Detroit Red Wings vs the Toronto Maple Leafs!

• Wisconsin State Journal: Wisky 21-13
• Australian Paul:  MSU 14-10.
• RGM3: Wisky 21-13.
• Big Joe and Phantom 309: Wisky 35-6
• GVSU Gregger: Wisky 28-10. 
• Chris Zech:  Wisky 37-24.  Whiskey in a Jar.
• Chef Tom (Glen Arbor): Straight Whiskey.
• Eric J-A (Madison): Wisconsin 24-10. I will be at the game cheering for Bucky and empathizing with State fans. MSU wins only via injury or turnovers.
• Doc: MSU 16-13. ES is so drunk by halftime, he misses Sparty pull it out.
• Oakland Ronnie: MSU 23-10.
• Keith: Wisky 24-10.
• Carter (Bay Area, Cali): Wisky 35-14.
• CHock (San Francisco): Wisky 12-6.
• Sloth (Pittsburgh): Wisky 31-0.
• Big Bob (Kzoo): Wisky 31-17.
• The Future Queen of Scotland, Brexit Deal Be Damned (Detroit): Wisky 31-27.

ES sez...  Sparty 7, Wisky 21.  The march to greatness ends. 

No Offense vs. Good Coaching

Coach D and the Spartans

MSU Spartans (2-1/0-0) vs Northwestern Wildcats (1-1/0-0)
Ryan Field, Evanston, IL
September 21, 2019,  Noon ET.
TV: ABC

Line:  MSU by 8-1/2?  They're smoking dope in Vegas

Sagarin Ratings:  MSU #15, Northwestern #57

In East Lansing, John L. Smith has returned to overthink the offense.  Why play your best running back (Collins) at the most important times?  Naaahhh, let's substitute him with someone (Hayward) who can't juke past a dying rhino.  Better yet, when we have time, let's run a Chinese fire-drill with time ticking down to kick a field goal... instead of spiking the ball to give the team more time!

This coach we have is being paid very well.  $4.39 million dollars this year, to be exact.  Yet, the Dr. of Excuses says "everything is happening real time, very fast" can't use his experience to save our skins.  Throwing the ball in 50 mph winds in a bowl game (RedBox), or ditching an effective run game to pass in sub-zero temperatures in BFE Nebraska, or switching to your backup QB on 4th down to run into a pile (Tulsa), or mismanaging the entire season by playing a hurt QB...  This is getting old.

As said countless times: MSU is is going to WASTE another dominating defense because of stupid coaching on the offense.  This is an average team at best. Coach Dantonio has lost his way.
 https://www.mlive.com/sports/2019/09/michigan-state-in-danger-of-wasting-another-dominant-defense-as-2018-season-seems-to-roll-on.html

Coach Fitzpatrick is EXACTLY what you want in a coach.  Putting his best players on the field at the best time and giving his players the best opportunities to win.  Our coach, takes our best players out and overthinks himself.  What happened to Coach D?  His trick plays?  Coaching up 3-star recruits?  He seems lost.

This hurts to write this, but it is true.  He didn't fire anyone.  Dr. Excuses, the "foxhole" guy will be loyal to the point of losing.  And, he has lost this faithful Spartan.

8-1/2 point favorites?   Shit, we can't even score more than 7.

Predictions:

• Big Joe & Phantom 309 (metro D): 12-10 MSU the offense scores 3 points and the defense gets a TD and a safety to secure the game
• GVSU Gregger (Gr Rapids):  MSU 24-17
• RGM3 (Farm Hills): MSU 21-10
• The Queen of Scotland (NY, NY):  AWOL
• J Dog (Clarkston): MSU 17-13 in OT
• CHock (San Francisco, CA):  NW 28-24
• Keith (Pontiac):  MSU 20-17
• Sloth (Pittsburgh, PA):  Frustration
• Smig (Santa Rosa, CA): NW 14-3
• Big Bob (Kzoo): NW 20-14. MSU’s offense will be twice as gooderer at moving the ball between the 20 yard lines as last week, so they will generate 808 yards of offense and lose the game 20-14. CHOCK response: "How the fuck will they ever score 14 points Big Bob? 6 Point Mark's offense is fine tuned for 2 made field goals (except last week, substitute 1 made TF... about the same)." BIG BOB response: "Easy. The D will have to score the 2nd TD."

ES (en route to be with J in Clarkston):  NW 10-6

FIRE DAVE WARNER

Moron.  Absolute moron. Dipshit. 

Dave Warner is the worst offensive coordinator in the nation.  In college football history.  His playcalling is dogshit.   Let me explain -

Against Ohio State, MSU took a safety intentionally because they were backed up to the 1 yard line with a fourth-string punter.  While it gave a free two points to Ohio State, the ES agreed with the decision at the time and it was only 9-6 in the fourth quarter.

But then, this is where there is NO EXCUSE.  Jesus, it's hard for me to type this, I am so fuming pissed off.  This was the last straw.  MSU again was backed up to the one yard line.  Why on earth would you run a jet sweep or a direct snap to a guy in motion - to #13, who we've never even heard of.  With your backup quarterback (who should now be the starter), Rocky Lombardi.  That was the STUPIDEST PLAY I've ever seen.  At least just fall forward for a few yards and get some room.  To even think about calling that play is stupid.  What an INCOMPETENT OAF.

Of course, snap gets fucked up and Ohio State falls on the fumbled pigskin for a freebie TD.  Let me regurgitate my breakfast.

Why?  Why?  Good God, why????   Hey, here's an idea, from Coaching 101 for Babies:  KEEP IT SIMPLE when backed up to your own endzone.  At the very least, take ANOTHER safety to flip the field position.

The play was just mind-blowingly stupid.  And, if Dantonio can chime in call or not call certain plays, WHY IN THE HELL would he allow that play to even be called?  It defies logic.

Then after pulling Lewerke for Rocky (Lewerke should have never played)... Dantonio puts Lewerke back in?  WHY, GOOD LORD, WHY?

How many times did MSU run the ball off tackle.  3 times in the whole game?  WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON????!!!!!  Stop this bullshit.

Worst coaching job of Dantonio's career.  Total choke job.  It's embarrassing.

Stop being so FUCKING LOYAL, Dantonio, and FIRE HIS ASS or get outta town.  Dummy.

FIRE DAVE WARNER NOW.  He is garbage. 

MSU vs that fucking piece of shit

Shopping for teeth? Finish your degree in Anthropology first.... 

#24 MSU vs #6 scUM
12 noon/Fox
40 degrees, 18 MPH wind, and rain

Sagarin Ratings: #5 Mich, #24 Mich State
Line:  Arrogant Assholes by 7

Spartans vs Jesus Harbaugh

All hail to the almighty respondents to making good for what is "right" about college football.  Let us give the holy grail to the man in the Lazy Boy with a $4,000-khaki contract down in preppy-land.   Whatever.  OK, you've won over the masses with your smoke and mirrors, and Northwestern almost figured you out.  Boy, Jesus Harbaugh, you make the rest of us tired just to have to deal with your antics.

I gotta get to a tailgate:

Picks:
J:  MSU 31-30
Kat: MSU 14-10
CHock:  MSU 21-20
Madison Toth:  MSU 21-17
Big Joe and Phantom 309: MSU 28-26
RGM3: MSU 24, other team 20
Paul Australia:  MSU 45-0 (possibly the greatest team to ever wear shoes)
Sloth:  Lite Beer by Miller 3, Sloth 0
Skuz: 17-14
Carter: MSU 24-21. Believe in Dantonio! Felton Davis will catch a couple...Spartan D can stop UM run game...Lewerke will run wild and a few freshman will step up...Hopefully Higgins will not factor...too much...nuff said! MSU 24 UM 21....looking for a great game overall on both sides...makes it more fun....

ES sez:  14-13 MSU

HERE WE GO!  GO BIG GREEN TOUCHDOWN MACHINE!  GET 'ER DONE!

ES Preview: MSU hosts Mildcats

LAKE THE POSTS!  Not on Saturday, and it ain't two miles to Lake Michigan from EL.
 That's 100 miles to carry goalposts. Not gonna happen.

#20 Michigan State Spartans (3-1, 1-0) vs Northwestern Wildcats (1-3, 1-1).
October 6, 2018.  12 noon.  FS1.

Weather: 74, scattered thunderstorms.

Sagarin Ratings: MSU #24, Northwestern #55.

Line:  MSU favored by 10 1/2 

So, the ES was in a diatribe with C and C out on the west coast, diagnosing the Spartans' issues through four games.  Here how it went:

• Carter: "They are mediocre..."
• C Hock: "Their (MSU) run D is unbelievably good. I can play QB for the Spartans and get 6 or 7 wins. Hell, I could probably have a better TD to Int/turnover ratio than our starting QB as well. "
• ES: "C - agreed. MSU run defense is a brick wall. Should be a concern with our banged up secondary against NW slant-pass offense (as usual). MSU offense is seriously underperforming, courtesy of injuries and Dave Warner. Two starting receivers out with injury. Doesn't help our All-American punter is out with injury, too. We are far from a complete team, but we've got talent."
• C Hock: "Lewerke's turnovers and bad decisions and bad penalties in the red zone during worse than play calling IMO"
• ES: "C - agreed to some extent. Lewerke is trying too hard because their is no run game, and OLine help is rough. He needs to back off a bit."

Picks:

• Kat: MSU 27-21.
• Sloth:  MSU 17-10.  I will go with 17-10 MSU. NU is terrible on offense, but so is MSU. Warner needs to dial up a lot of runs, especially with White out with the broken hand. Should be a slobberknocker and hard-hitting as hell.
• Carter: MSU 27-21.  NW played a very good game against UM - this is a tough one...it will be close...our best receiver out with a broken hand...I am going MSU - hope the running game blossoms.
• C Hock:  MSU 38-35.
• Paul Anders: MSU 45-0.
• Ronnie Maxedon: NW 34-21 
• Poke: MSU 31-24 
• Jack: NW 17-2 
• Chef Tom: Northwestern -1.5 
• RGM3: MSU 38-17 MSU. Probably a lot closer but one can hope 
• Feather: MSU 27-24 
• Big Joe and Phantom 309: MSU 10-6  
• Paul Rinella: MSU has a tough one 
• David Russell Havens: NU really made U of M look like a Rutgers team last week, up until the last half of a quarter. Hate to say it but MSU’s gonna have a tougher time than we’d hope. It’s gonna come down to penalties 
• Gregger: MSU 24-17

ES Sez:  Bring your poncho, wear your shorts.  Warm, and wet.  MSU pulls out a win in the end in an ugly drubber.  MSU 17, Northwestern 13.  

ES Preview: Spartans at Hoosiers

Really?  Hoosier pride in the kitchen!

#24 Michigan State Spartans
(1-1, 0-0) at
Indiana Hoosiers (3-0, 0-0)
Sept. 22, 2018.  7:30 pm.
TV:  Big Ten Network.
Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN.

Weather:  64, cloudy, no wind.  Good passing weather.

Sagarin Ratings:  MSU #22, Indiana #55.

Line out of Vegas:  MSU by 5.

How did we get here?

Well, whaddya know.  Here are our Spartans in the middle of September, having played just one game at home and looking like crap in both games.  This underwhelming team's biggest deficiency has reared its ugly head, that being the Offensive Line... which is more like the Maginot Line.  In two games, and specifically in the loss to Arizona State, the left side of that offensive line had no push, and no protection for Brian Lewerke.   We certainly miss Cole Chewins on the left side of that line.   LJ Scott hasn't been much of a help, either.  If the Maginot Line has been poor, then Scott's protection for Lewerke has been poorerer.  Oh yeah, he's a running back.  Well, his running has been just as poor - in the first two games, he's dancing like Justin Timberlake instead of running like Jim Brown: just 103 yards and averaging 3.4 yards per carry against powerhouses Utah State and Arizona State.  And on the other side of the ball?  Let's be honest, the defense was LUCKY against Arizona State, as their QB overthrew pass after pass after pass after pass... and finally  connected on the last drive when MSU DBs had to make a stop.  Bend bend bend break!  Just too many mental mistakes, too many opportunities lost (e.g. Lewerke INT in the endzone) - mistakes do not make a mark of a good team.

So, now Indiana?

The Hoosier nation is in constant desire of football mediocrity.  Indiana is 3-0, again.  So, expect another 5-7 season out of the Hoosiers... unless they find a way to trip up our Spartans.

Make note of the Little Pink House on the Indiana Campus.   Yes, it's pink. 

Stat chat

Well... other than MSU's run defense... well.... offense averaging 114 yards on the ground per game???  Screw that, who are we?

MSU has won 16 of the last 20 against Indiana... and 7 of the last 10 played at Indiana.  Doesn't matter much, unless you are considering this against expectations.

Pix:

Kat:  MSU 30-17
Smig:  MSU 32-26
Carter:  MSU 24-10
CHock:  MSU 24-23
Keith:   MSU 35-32. "trap game."
Dr. Tom:  MSU 24-7. "This has become infinitely harder after ASU game… Honestly they could rebound and drop a bomb on Indiana or continue to look like a bag of hot dicks. And their o-line looks like such a piece of shit I don’t even know. I think we win 24-13 because Lewerke takes over the game. Wait. 24-7. Dantonio is pissed."
GR Gregger:  MSU 38-20
Big Joe and Phantom 309: MSU 24-22
RGM3: MSU 31-10.

ES sez:  MSU 21,  John Cougar Mellencamp 17.  

Graham Couch LSJ: "Spartan Stadium crowd was disappointing" - GET WITH THE CROWD

Worst weather ever.  EVER .  Snowglobe. 

This is what I sent to Graham Couch of the LSJ today, someone who I respect... but I think he needs a few more years in his gut first after reading this crap. My response - DON'T YOU DARE MESS WITH THE MSU FAN BASE. GET YOUR ASS IN THE STANDS FOR 4 HOURS LIKE ME.

------------------

I did my best. I stayed until 4:30 in the 4th quarter and was frigid and shaking with freezing bones and arms.

I don't appreciate your comment about the Spartan fan-base. You should have been with me the whole game instead of in your cozy box. Your writing is disappointing. I tried. I was there.

Why don't you come stand with me for 3 hours the next time and get soaked in rain FIRST and then watch the temps dive below freezing and the winds pick up? I had Spartan friends fly in with their kids from FLORIDA to watch this game and they left early. You are disappointing with your comments. I throw the blame back on you for even stating as such. How DARE YOU bring up the fan base. Get your ass out of the press box for 4 hours and in the stadium. That's BS. I'm very very upset with what you say.

If we were #1 in the country playing Alabama, that stadium would not be half full. No way, the weather was AWFUL. Get out of your comfort seat for 4 hours and join me next time. That is my invitation to you. See you in Florida where it is warmer.

Yes, I am going to put this on my website and criticize you - it's just not fair. Your statement is biased and privileged. 

If you were to first, be like us, then criticize us. That's fine. But with your report - You have no right to say that. I will blast you on social media. Take me on - it's fine. I have no problem.

-----------------

Freezing our asses off.  Why bother in 124?  Deeter.

I'll be damned if I was gonna leave.  

Colder than a ticket-taker's smile at the Ivar Theater on a Sat night

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. 

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.

Winning B1G is fun

YES!

There are few things better in life than a convincing win from your alma mater on the gridiron.  That was exactly the case yesterday, as our Big Green Touchdown Machine dispatched Bowling Green in easy, simple fashion.  The ES wuz surprised at how well the MSU defense played - and there were certainly some pluses and minuses.  

Looking to next week:  MSU is favored by a TD over Western. 

Beyond all of this - WOW - the B1G Ten (11-3 in week one) looks by far to have the best conference top to bottom in the land.  Maryland beating Texas… in Texas????  Who dominated in the Big Ten? Michigan State, Ohio State, Wisconsin, MARYLAND, Michigan, Penn State, Iowa. Even Purdon’t (loss to Louisville) hung around.  Wow. This was easily the greatest opening weekend of college football in what remains of my memory.  Big Ten schools that struggled: Nebraska, Northwestern, Illinois, Minny, and of course, Rutgers (loss).

A fairly full house on a beautiful Saturday for football!

Ahem.  Pretty!

The ES breaks down our win over Bowling Green:

Biggest surprise:  The defense.  Other than the bomb on BGSU’s first drive, the Spartan defense controlled the game.  First downs: MSU won the battle, 25-9. Only 9 FDs!  And, MSU gave up just 212 total yards, 67 on the ground - 2.8 average per carry.  The defense was stout - surprisingly very good.  

Best play: In the third quarter, with MSU up 21-3, LB Chris Frey busted around the right end, threw the tackle aside, and hit the BGSU quarterback straight up.  It was - WOW - a great, athletic play.  Almost a safety - that was when you knew the game was over.  

Biggest disappointment:  LJ Scott.  If Coach D doesn’t make LJ carry a football around campus all week - and sleep with it - then he should be fired.  Scott had a fumble on the one yard line - a NO-NO -and then BGSU’s only TD was off another Scott fumble.  That guy needs to get a GRIP.  He has too much talent to be afflicted with fumble-itis. 

Best stat: MSU 8-of-15 on third downs.  This was a real problem area for MSU all season last year.  No problem against BGSU - MSU looked comfortable on third downs for the balance of the game. 

Not on the bandwagon:  Felton Davis (#18) made some GREAT catches.  He also dropped a few.  He can’t drop those passes if we are going to beat Michigan or Ohio State.  You wanna keep those dreadlocks?  Fine, CATCH THE BALL. 

On the bandwagon:  Chris Frey (#23) and Jake Hartbarger (#2).  Frey was flying around the field (5 tackles), as the field general of the defense he looked good!  Harbarger punted a 57 yarder that had great hang-time… that can be a potential deadly weapon in tight games.  

Crowd:  It was 12 o’clock on a Saturday.  The regular crowd shuffled in. There was an old man sitting next to me.  Bitching about tonic and gin.  It was GREAT to see the usher (for 50+years) up in section 125, and of course, Dieter.   About 71,500+ - pretty good for Bowling Green.  

A comment from my Italian friend, Joe: “First half sloppy offense, too many fumbles, second half they pulled their shit together like I expected:” 

 Total Yards: 465-212, another Spartan victory.  Stats are what they are: 

Team Statistics (Final) 
The Automated ScoreBook 
Bowling Green vs Michigan State (Sep 2, 2017 at East Lansing, Mich.)

Team Totals	BGSU	MSU
FIRST DOWNS	9	25
Rushing	3	13
Passing	6	11
Penalty	0	1
NET YARDS RUSHING	67	215
Rushing Attempts	24	46
Average Per Rush	2.8	4.7
Rushing Touchdowns	0	1
Yards Gained Rushing	78	244
Yards Lost Rushing	11	29
NET YARDS PASSING	145	250
Completions-Attempts-Int	10-31-1	22-36-0
Average Per Attempt	4.7	6.9
Average Per Completion	14.5	11.4
Passing Touchdowns	0	3
TOTAL OFFENSE YARDS	212	465
Total offense plays	55	82
Average Gain Per Play	3.9	5.7
Fumbles: Number-Lost	0-0	4-3
Penalties: Number-Yards	4-20	4-25
PUNTS-YARDS	8-369	6-294
Average Yards Per Punt	46.1	49.0
Net Yards Per Punt	44.2	40.7
Inside 20	3	3
50+ Yards	2	3
Touchbacks	0	2
Fair catch	1	3
KICKOFFS-YARDS	3-161	6-367
Average Yards Per Kickoff	53.7	61.2
Net Yards Per Kickoff	34.0	41.5
Touchbacks	1	1
Punt returns: Number-Yards-TD	1-10-0	3-15-0
Average Per Return	10.0	5.0
Kickoff returns: Number-Yds-TD	5-93-0	2-34-0
Average Per Return	18.6	17.0
Interceptions: Number-Yds-TD	0-0-0	1-38-1
Fumble Returns: Number-Yds-TD	2-76-1	0-0-0
Miscellaneous Yards	0	0
Possession Time	21:59	38:01
1st Quarter	5:06	9:54
2nd Quarter	4:13	10:47
3rd Quarter	5:19	9:41
4th Quarter	7:21	7:39
Third-Down Conversions	2 of 13	8 of 15
Fourth-Down Conversions	0 of 2	0 of 0
Red-Zone Scores-Chances	1-1	4-5
Touchdowns	0-1	4-5
Field goals	1-1	0-5
Sacks By: Number-Yards	0-0	1-10
PAT Kicks	1-1	5-5
Field Goals	1-1	0-0
Points off turnovers	10	7

MSU vs Bowling Green

Michigan State (0-0) vs Bowling Green (0-0)
BGSU picked for 3rd in MAC East
MSU picked for 4th in B1G Ten East
75 degrees and sunny
MSU favored by 17

Sagarin Ratings:  Michigan State #33, Bowling Green #109

IT'S GAME DAY!!!!

Picks:  Keith 32-10

ES Sez: A healthy dose of LJ Scott, a splash of Elwerke, and breaking in our receivers lead to a closer that expected MSU win, 28-24.

Enlightened Spartan Preview 2017-18

It's the End of the World as we
Know it, and I feel fine!

The ES is in his 18th year publishing Spartan predictions on-line! We are talking the LONGEST COLLEGE FOOTBALL BLOG in history.

The ES is partial on the Big Green this year. Check out this picture from Dantonio’s first radio show at Reno’s. Well, things are just looking up peachy at MSU. What a great year!!!! The ES invites anyone with a beating heart to look at the lovely facilities built for the Athletics Department on South Harrison.

You can’t miss it - Mark Hollis with his binoculars should keep a tight eye on the actions of our coaches, and in most proximity, Mark Dantonio. He should get his henchmen in order, and create a KGB-culture spy ring to figure out what athletes are disrespecting women on our campus - and to punish them! “Education”? Meh. When Coach D mentions “we got education” it is demeaning and empty with respect to what actually needs to be done proactive towards student development. Gimme a break.

Mark Hollis: Welcome to 1855 Spartan Plaza!!!!!
(look across west side of Breslin)

Where the hell did you go???? 

OK, now that the ES got that off his chest - how will this stained-football program fare in 2017-18? I welcome my prognosticators who are more well endowed in football lore than the ES. My queries: 1) Final record W-L; 
2) Big Ten record W-L; 
3) Bowl game??? 
4) Best Win; 
5) Worst Loss; 
6) General commentary on MSU debauchery...
Responses:

• SMIG 1) Final record 8-4; 2) Big Ten record 6-3; 3) Bowl game - Yes 4) Wisky 5) Ohio State 6) Looking forward to watching some football on Saturday. 
• KEITH 1) Ditto w ChicagoBro: 7-5. 6) team will gel but administrative heads will roll...maybe some coaches too. 
• CHICAGO BRO 1) Final record 7-5 2) Big Ten record 4-5 3) Bowl game - Yes 4) Best Win - vs Iowa 5) Worst Loss - at Minnesota 6) General commentary on MSU debauchery... off field troubles are past 
• BIG BOB 1) 6-6. 2) 4-5. 3) MSU will turn down the offer to play in the inaugural Barnyard Bowl played on the High School field in beautiful Elmore, OH. 4) Bowling Green. 5) Western Michigan. 6) Students boycott all games and only talk about upcoming hoops season. 
• JACK 1) 6-7; 2) 3-6; 3) loss @ Ford Field; 4) charges dismissed; 5) Rutgers (because I will be there, and last time I was there Dowdell was QB); 6) can it get worse that last year and the off season? 
• PAUL BEER IN AUSTRALIA 1) 12-0.
• KELLY BUTT 1) 7-6 (best case) How many fake punts ??? 25 Chances of First play...hand off to the the right..?? 100% 
• SLOTH 2) 3-6 3) Lmfao 4) The end of the season comes without any more violent crimes being committed 5) Michigan 6) This season feels like what 2003 would have felt like had BW been allowed to come back. We are the biggest joke at the college level right now, and it is only going to get worse. Coach D will be gone by January 1. 
•  RGM3 7-5. Upset v Penn St or Ohio St. MSU will have a winning record in the Big Ten. Loss to Notre Dame. Biggest win is Penn St at home. BWW Bowl against Texas Tech with a victory. MSU will finish in the Top20 in 2018-19.

Da ES:

• Is this John L Smith all over again?  Or, as the Sloth, pointed out; "what does it take to get a guy fired around here?"  OK, here's my take.   HARUMPH.  I've heard Indians, Pakistanis, Chinese, Japanese, Brazilians, Peruvians, Russians, Egyptians.  They all say the same thing. 6-6 record.  Then again, the Indians and Pakis thought I asked about cricket, and responded 264-6 wickets.  Whatever that means. 
• 1) Final record W-L: 6-6.

• 2) Big Ten record W-L: 3-6
• 3) Bowl game: BWW - I want Asian Zing. 

• 4) Best Win: Notre Dame. 

• 5) Worst Loss: Maryland (again).

• 6) General commentary on MSU debauchery... Coach D wins his job for another year. Barely. Stop the rape!!!!

Tomorrow morning for the first game prediction of the year!

MSU vs BYU: Spartans v Mormons

Welcome Mormon Nation!  We hope you enjoy your stay in EL. 

(FYI - click on the link - one of the funniest videos EVER made.  Me and Chock laughed for hours.)

#27 MSU 2-2/0-2. Brigham Young 2-3
Sagarin Ratings: MSU #51, BYU #45

Saturday, October 8, 2016. 3:30 pm ET.
Spartan Stadium, East Lansing
Weather: 57 degrees, sunny

TV: ABC 

Line: MSU by 6 (vegasinsider.com)

OK - so here is the skinny on BYU: Jesus is Love.

What does Jeff Sagarin know that we don't?  Damn, sending us down the line to #46 was accurate last week as we looked lethargic - and were penalized for our play - against the Hoosiers.  Indy is good... but come on, they will lose by 28 to Ohio State. Thanks for the measuring stick.  We deserve to be #51 at this point.  Two weeks ago, in the AP Poll we were #8!!!!

MSU has lots of injuries on defense - we have replaced our entire LB corps, which was the best in the nation prior to the season.  That's hurt, and it shows with opposing QBs (prolific ones like BYU's who led a 700+ yard effort last week) taking advantage.   But, it's hard to conceive MSU lose three straight, IMHO.

ES sez - MSU 38, BYU 31.

Freep: MSU 30-24
DetNews: Charboneau, BYU 31-27; Changelis, MSU 21-10; Niyo, MSU 31-24; Wojo, MSU 34-32
LSJ: BYU 31-30
CollegeFootballNews: MSU 30-27
Vanquish The Foe:  good stuff, but not taking a stand?  Woosies.