ES MSU Spartan Preview 2022 - 22nd Annual Preview

Spartan Fans - it’s been, yes, 22 years of Enlightened Spartan previews of our Michigan State Spartan gridders - among the oldest of all the college football blog previews in the nation.  From 2001-2022, the ES & friends have provided their predictions not from the sidelines, nor the press box… but from the upper deck of Spartan Stadium!

The Spartans return one helluva dynamic offense, and the addition of Broussard and Berger at RBs to replace Kenneth Walker might just work out.  On the defensive side of the ball, it couldn’t get any worse than last year, with the nation’s worst pass defense on an 11-2 team.  And, we no longer have the unpredictable million-year-senior red-headed stepchild at PK. 

Our first stint is Friday night against Western Michigan, under the lights at 7 pm.  The ES will have that game day preview on Friday.  Another notable game is the away game at UW Huskies.  The ES will be attending that game - his parents live in the Seattle area.  Not sure about a potential upset for 2022 - it could be at Maryland, or at Illinois.  The ES is picking 10 wins from the outset, but wouldn’t be surprised if there was another loss somewhere (home vs Wisky, away at scUM?)... the ES sees a minimum of 8-4 record and an upside of 10-2 regular season.  

ES Sez:  10-2 overall, 7-2 in the Big Ten

Date	Opponent	ES Predicts
Sep. 2	W. MICHIGAN	W, 32-21
Sep. 10	AKRON	W, 52-10
Sep. 17	at Washington	W, 27-21
Sep. 24	MINNESOTA	W, 24-14
Oct. 1	at Maryland	W, 38-30
Oct. 8	OHIO ST.	L, 21-40
Oct. 15	WISCONSIN	W, 32-30
Oct. 29	at Michigan	W, 28-27
Nov. 5	at Illinois	W, 35-21
Nov. 12	RUTGERS	W, 32-17
Nov. 19	INDIANA	W, 28-20
Nov. 26	at Penn St	L, 20-31

Other prognostications... Here are the questions:

1.  How many wins for MSU overall (of 12 games)?

2.  What will be the B1G standings for the Spartoonies at the end of the year?

3.  Can you project a bowl game (and opponent)?

4. What will be the biggest surprise for the Big Green TD Machine in 2022?

5.  Any other thoughts you'd like to add about Green and White in 2022?

• Australian Paul:  12-0
• RGM3: 1. Overall Record: 9-3 2. B1G Record: 6-3 (3rd) 3. Citrus Bowl v South Carolina 4. Breakout Star: Keon Coleman WR 5. Go Green!
• SF Carter: I see a very bright future for MSU football via the recruitment crystal ball. I believe Mel will have a very good season and finish 10-2, second in the East. Not sure about a Bowl Game, but hopefully it will be out west. The surprise: our running game will be better than we all imagined...but very difficult to imagine better than last year...if as good, we may even finish first in the East...but we have a very tough up-front schedule. Go Green! As well, they will win their bowl game and finish 11-2!
• SF Smig: Mediocrities Smignostications are below. 1. 9-3 2. Second in east. 3. We will play Auburn on New Year’s Eve. In the Midas muffler Bowl. 4. Biggest surprise is that our defense will actually improve on third and long.
• Pittsburgh Sloth: I only predict that, after this year, MSU is on a fast track to seriously contending for a Natty in the next 4-6 years, or else we find ourselves wondering where it all went wrong.
• Pontiac Keith: Wow...... just wow..... such unfounded optimism!!!! 'll say 8-4. Big ten is no pushover.....
• Detroit Kelly Mc: I’m thinking 9-3 and RB Collins will have a breakout year.

Enlightened Spartan Predictions for 2018 Season

IT'S FOOTBALL SEASON!  

Time to welcome Utah State to town for the 2018 season's opening shit-kicker!!!! As such, let's forecast the season from some of the most loyal of the ES' Spartan Nation.  They've chimed in with a response to several questions about the Spartans this year...

GO BIG GREEN!

ES sez:

Final Record, Ranking:  11-2, #6

Chance to win B1G Championship: 33%

Team liked the least: Michigan

Beer to be served at opening tailgate:  Maybe some PBR on ice?

Kat.

Final Record, Ranking: 10-2, #7

Chance to win B1G Championship:  50%

Team liked the least:  Michigan

Beer to be served at opening tailgate:  Two Hearted

Sloth.

Final Record: 9-3
Final B1G Record: 7-2
Chance to win B1G Championship:  33%

Team liked the least:  This is the most stupidest question ever asked.

Beer to be served at opening tailgate: If Hirko is bringing the beer, it will be lukewarm and served with a heaping side of VH II.

J Rand.

Final Record,  Ranking: 15-0, #1 - National Champions

Chance to win B1G Championship:  100%

Team liked the least:  Illinois

Beer to be served at opening tailgate:  Cheap

Keith.

Final Record, Ranking: 11-2, #7

Chance to win B1G Championship:  20%

Team liked the least:  Ohio State

Beer to be served at opening tailgate: Oberon

Big Bob. 

Final Record,  Ranking: 11-2, #10

Final B1G Record: 7-2

Chance to win B1G Championship:  50%

Team liked the least:  Michigan

Beer to be served at opening tailgate: Two Hearted

Kzoo Michelle.

Final Record,  Ranking: 10-3, #14

Final B1G Record: 8-1

Chance to win B1G Championship:  50%

Team liked the least:  Michigan

Beer to be served at opening tailgate: Oberon

RGM3.

Final Record,  Ranking: 10-2, Outback Bowl
Final B1G Record: 7-2

Chance to win B1G Championship:  42.69%

Team liked the least:  mother fucking Michigan

Beer to be served at opening tailgate: Two Hearted

Big Joe and Phantom 309.
Final Record, Ranking:  11-1, #6
Team liked the least: Ohio State
Beer to be served at opening tailgate: cheap and cold

PEANUT BARREL

And, over the summer, the ES popped into the Peanut Barrel to ask both Joe and Skuz about their predictions and thoughts... it seemed unanimous among the experts at the PB that the over/under for Spartan wins was 9... with a likelihood of 10-2.

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!

Enlightened Spartan Preview 2016

The ES has been outta commission for much of the year... but we're back!  Here is the season preview by our master prognosticators, dating back to 2001...

MSU is listed in Stassen's Top 25 of all the preview magazines, at #12 - anywhere from at #4 (College FB Poll) to #24 (Sports Cruncher).  The ES is looking for a great year out of the Big Green... let's see what the prognosticators chime:

ES

• What will MSU's overall record be for 2016: 10-2
• Playoffs or bowl game (which one) for the Spartans?  Rose Bowl
• How far will MSU advance in the Big Ten?  10-2, tied with scUM for 2nd in East
• Will MSU beat sUM, OSU, and Wisky at home? Yes, No, and Yes - 2-1 out of the three
• MVP for the Big Green this year?  Riley Bullough

Furman, W; @ ND, W; Wisconsin, W; @ Indy, W; BYU, W; NW, L; @ MD, W; scUM, W; @ Illinois, W; Rutgers, W; OSU, L; Penn St, W.

GO GREEN! A step down these years is a step up in our history!  Let's see what Coach D can pull off!

CHock

• What will MSU's overall record be for 2016: 9-4
• Playoffs or bowl game (which one) for the Spartans?  Citrus Bowl, lose to Ole Miss 31-28
• How far will MSU advance in the Big Ten?  9-3, tied for 2nd with UM in B1G East
• Will MSU beat sUM, OSU, and Wisky at home?  No, No, Yes
• MVP for the Big Green this year?  Riley Bullough

My take: we dominated the last couple of years because we had absolutely ROCK STAR lines. We basically lost 5 guys off the line (3 on O, 2 on D) to the NFL and while the O line does have some depth, the D line has been completely wiped out. Aside from McDowell, the last time most of the rest of our D line will have been on the field was when they were playing High School ball. Great LBs and an improved secondary will insure we’re not dropping to MAC level, but those very close ones where we need to win in the trenches won’t go our way like they have in the last couple of years.

Furman, W, 38-6; @ ND, 17-24; Wisconsin, W 24-23; @ Indy, W 38-31; BYU, W 28-24; NW, W 28-26; @ MD, W 24-13; scUM, L, 20-24; @ Illinois, W 28-21; Rutgers, W 27-23; OSU, L 28-35; Penn St, W 27-21.

BigBob

• What will MSU's overall record be for 2016? 10-3
• Playoffs or bowl game (which one) for the Spartans? MSU will win its bowl game against some SEC chump 
• How far will MSU advance in the Big Ten (record/final standing/B1G Title)? 7-2, second place in division, no title this year 
• Will MSU beat Michigan, Ohio State, and Wisconsin at home? MSU will lose to Ohio State but beat both Wisconsin and UM at home. Jim Harbaugh will suffer a stroke and die in Spartan Stadium after shitting himself when his team is once again defeated by the Spartans on the last play of the game. Who will be the MVP for the Big Green this year? Malik McDowell

Sloth

• What will MSU's overall record be for 2016: 8-4 
• Playoffs or bowl game (which one) for the Spartans? Who cares, the Big Ten Champeenship is what matters 
• How far will MSU advance in the Big Ten? 2nd in conference 
• Will MSU beat sUM, OSU, and Wisky at home? Yes, No and No 
• MVP for the Big Green this year? My liver 

SpartyMSU

• What will MSU's overall record be for 2016: 12-1. I know originally.. I predicted 2 losses.. but the Green cool-aid is flowing..
• Playoffs or bowl game (which one) for the Spartans? Rematch against Stanford.. it’s the 2014 Rose Bowl all over again., and just like 2 years ago – The Spartans beat Stanford. I am making my plans now… Last trip to Pasadena was awesome
• How far will MSU advance in the Big Ten? Win the East and beat to Iowa OSU stumbles.. 1 more loss than the Spartans. scUM proves they are over rated, get beat early (Shades of App State)..
• Will MSU beat sUM, OSU, and Wisky at home? MSU 27 – scUM 21 (scUM loses early, prove they were over rated – but still advance to Outback Bowl); MSU 23 – TOSU 21 (Buckeyes advance to Cotton Bowl); MSU 31 – Badgers 27 (Badgers head to TaxSlayer Bowl)
• MVP for the Big Green this year? O - Tyler O’Connor; D- Malik McDowell, Riley Bulgur

The cupboard is not bare on the D-Line. True many are young, but, Demetrius Cooper and Malik are forces andill provide leadership. Grad transfer Kevin Williams will be stout, so will Bowers. Spartans will be using RS-Freshman, although they have been around a stellar program and have learned. In order for the MSU Defensive line to remain one of the best in the nation, they must step up and preform. I believe they will. Offensive will be fine.. No concerns. Bottom line, this is a very good team, underrated, and will hit the “Back2Back” goal for 2016. Sparty On !!

Furman, W; @ ND, L; Wisconsin, W; @ Indy, W; BYU, W; NW, W; @ MD, W; scUM, W; @ Illinois, W; Rutgers, W; OSU, L; Penn St, W

ChiSpartan:

• What will MSU's overall record be for 2016? 11-2 
• Playoffs or bowl game (which one) for the Spartans? Rose Bowl 
• How far will MSU advance in the Big Ten (record/final standing/B1G Title)? 8-1 
• Will MSU beat Michigan, Ohio State, and Wisconsin at home? Lose to OSU 
• Who will be the MVP for the Big Green this year? Riley Bullough 

 9/2 FURMAN W; 9/17 at ND L; 9/24 WISKY W; 10/1 at Indy W; 10/8 BYU W; 10/15 NW W; 10/22 at Maryland W; 10/29 scUM W; 11/5 at Illini W; 11/12 RUTGERS W; 11/19 OHIO ST L; 11/26 at Penn St W

Smigdiggler:

The WestCoast Spartan Reporter is the pigskin prognosticating expert who is here to tell you how the season is going to unfold for Big Green.

• What will MSU's overall record be for 2016? 12-1 
•  Playoffs or bowl game (which one) for the Spartans? Playoffs - That is what they play for now! anything else is what Harbaugh would wish for!! 
• How far will MSU advance in the Big Ten (record/final standing/B1G Title)? 9-0 Big Ten Title is only a pitstop on the Green Kool-Aid train ride. 
•  Will MSU beat Michigan, Ohio State, and Wisconsin at home? That shit Cra! I bet you a harbaugh titty twister that they sweep at home this year. 
•  Who will be the MVP for the Big Green this year? LJ Scott Loc of the century!

Enlightened Spartan season preview 2015-2016

ES Season Preview for 2015-2016:

Here you will find the official Enlightened Spartan season preview for the 15th straight year.  These are from your Big Green Touchdown Machine prognosticators... and you see lots of praise for the Staters!  Stay tuned for a Western Michigan VIDEO preview tomorrow morning!  Wahoo!  Season is upon us!

ES:

• Final Record (including bowl game(s)): 15-0 
• MSU's biggest obstacle: OSU 
• Best Tailgate on the schedule: Oregon 
• Scale of 1 to 10 on the MSU Season: 10 
• MSU losses: none, but if any, @OSU 

Carter:

• Final Record (including bowl game(s)): 12 - 1 
• MSU's biggest obstacle: OSU 
• Best Tailgate on the schedule: @OSU 
• Scale of 1 to 10 on the MSU Season: 9.5 
• MSU losses: OSU @ OSU 

Chi-Spartan:

• What will be MSU's final record (including bowl games) 15-0 
• What is the biggest obstacle facing MSU? Playoff game 
• What is the best tailgate on the schedule? Indiana. It will be late in October and the campus will be beautiful, and there will be no stress for the game.
•  On a scale of 1-10 (10 being tops, 1 being lowest), how do you think this year.... THIS IS IT!!!!! (national title): 8, or in my lifetime, 10 as this is probably as close as we could ever get 

Big Bob:

• What will be MSU's final record (including bowl games): 11-2. 
• What is the biggest obstacle facing MSU? Ohio State. 
• What is the best tailgate on the schedule? Any home tailgate. 
• On a scale of 1-10 (10 being tops, 1 being lowest), how do you think this year.... THIS IS IT!!!!! (national title): 1-10 Chance of winning national title: 6.937/10. 

Rufus Polanski:

• What will be MSU's final record (including bowl games): 8 wins 4 losses, assuming 12 games, 1 bowl game win, cotton or gator. 
• What is the biggest obstacle facing MSU? Offensive solidness and consistency, they lack it.
• What is the best tailgate on the schedule? no idea 
• On a scale of 1-10 (10 being tops, 1 being lowest), how do you think this year.... THIS IS IT!!!!! (national title): Odds are always against it, in general, and the act of predicting it, just serves to make the odds more against it. But I'll say, its maybe the best chance we've had in the last 25 years, so I'll go with a 7/10 national title odds.

April Jones:

• Final Record (including bowl game(s)): 12-1 
• MSU's biggest obstacle: OSU 
• Best Tailgate on the schedule: @Michigan 
• Scale of 1 to 10 on the MSU Season: 8.5 
• MSU losses: OSU 

Enlightened Spartan Preview Trailer video - from the Peanut Barrel

Your new Enlightened Spartan video preview is here... This is a trailer for the 2015 Michigan State national football championship season.  My co-host, April Jones, is a journalist and has done work for Meridian HOM-TV.  She's great, likes beer, and is very enthusiastic about the Big Green Machine.  We'll be previewing every week during the season...

Thanks to Joe Bell, and THE PEANUT BARREL.  This is our studio for the rest of the season.  April and I are working out some kinks, but what the hell.  This is FUN!

Tomorrow, we will have a full show preview of the WMU game, as well as written previews from some of the ES constants over the past 15 years.  Tune in!  - ES

Enlightened Spartan Preview with friends: consensus is a VERY GOOD YEAR

The ES presents his 14th annual championship season preview of your 2014 Michigan State Spartans. May the preview begin!  Please find the ES commentary... followed by 6 other predictions of Spartan faithful across the globe!  Read between the lines... WE ARE HEADED FOR THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYOFF.

note: SR is the Sagarin Rating of each team, preseason, for the 2014 schedule.  Notably, Michigan State has a SR of #20.  

Enlightened Spartan preview

8/29. Jacksonville State. 

SR # 96

Win, 52-0.

Spartans should be embarrassed for scheduling such trivial garbage.

9/6.  at Oregon.

SR# 1

Loss, 24–28.

Autzen Stadium is the loudest in North America.  But at least this time the Spartans will make it close.

9/20. Eastern Michigan.

SR# 178

Win, 42–7

The Charlie Batch years seem like a century ago for Eastern.

9/27. Wyoming.

SR# 102

Win, 35–10

Laramie Wyoming is a great town. State should schedule an away game there.

10/4. Nebraska.

SR# 36

Win, 23–18

A battle of great defenses but the home team airs it out in the fourth quarter

10/11. At Purdue

SR# 107

Win, 27–14

Poor Purdue, even Drew Brees is getting old at QB U.

10/18. At Indiana.

SR# 69

Win, 38–28

An Ariel circus with a little bit better defense from the Spartans.  Nice try, but no payback from the Hoosiers.  

10/25.  Michigan

SR# 31

Win, 27-20.

The Other Side feels good about making a score that seems reasonable to the voters, despite once again rushing for negative yardage. Shoelace was the "greatest ever".  Gardner was the "second coming." Whatever. It's the same story, Spartan domination.  

11/8. Ohio State

SR# 10

Win, 9-6.

The most difficult game of the year.  A defensive stalemate.  A FG in OT from Geiger is the difference.

11/15. at Maryland

SR# 59

Win, 28-0.

Welcome to the Big Ten.   The hype about the Terps competitiveness crashes to reality with a wakeup call against the nation's best defense. 

11/22. Rutgers

SR# 87

Win, 42-10.

Rutgers exemplifies 1869.  Their play shows it.  Rutgers is nothing more than a bump in the road, like Eastern Michigan.  Welcome to the B1G.

11/29.  at Penn State.

SR# 41

Win, 24-20.

The most difficult game to call on the schedule.  Penn State with a new coach, but the history of excellence and kicking our butt.  Still, the recovery effort dominates the landscape compared to the well-oiled machine aiming for a title run.  Cook pulls out a late TD to seal a victory.

12/6.  B1G Championship

MSU 31, Wisconsin 17.

Michigan State again matches up against the Wisconsin Badgers, but the juggernaut that is MSU overcomes the new estate in Madison.  Defense, which carries MSU much of the year, wins this championship again.

OTHER PREDICTIONS:  

 Swiss Spartan (Switzerland)

1.  What will be MSU's overall record (Wins-Losses)  13-2 (Losses to Oregon and in the National Championship Final)
2.  What will be MSU's Big Ten record (Wins-Losses) 8-0, 9-0 including the Championship game.
3.  What will MSU finish in the Big Ten East?  6-0
4.  Most disappointing loss or potential for a loss?   Oregon.
5.  Most satisfying victory? (and predict the score)   vs Iowa in the Big Ten Championship game, 35-21.
6.  Best player?  Shilique Calhoun and Mike Sadler.  Shilique will deliver as expected while Mike's 46.5 yard-a-punt average lands him yet another cover photo on Seventeen.
7.  If it were January 2015, what would you say about the performance of the Spartans in 2014?   I'll be sitting by the pool in Pasadena reflecting on another great year and our first back-to-back Rose Bowl visits in school history.

----------

Sloth (Luxemborg)
 
1. 12-2 (losses to Oregon and tOSU)
2. 8-1 (including loss to tOSU and win vs. Wisky in the Big 10 Championship Game)
3. First place in the East
4. Michigan is always the biggest potential for a disappointing loss
5. Michigan is always the most satisfying victory - 37-9
6. Langford has the potential to have a Lo White season this year
7. I wish Notre Dame was on the schedule so we could beat the living shit out of them

----------

Chock (San Francisco)

1.  What will be MSU's overall record (Wins-Losses) 

[chock]:  10 – 4

MSU 31 – JS 17

UO 27 – MSU 24

MSU 38 – EMU 9

MSU 28 – WY 13

NEB 24 – MSU 21

MSU 21 – PUR 17

MSU 42 – IND 31

MSU 21 – scUM 17

MSU 24 – OSU 21

MSU 28 – Maryland 21

MSU 24 – Rutgers 13

PSU 24 – MSU 21

B10 Champ Bowl – MSU 31 vs. Wiscy 28

Bowl – LSU 28 v. MSU 27 at the Cotton Bowl, Jan 1

2.  What will be MSU's Big Ten record (Wins-Losses): 6-2  (7-2 counting the B10 championship game)

3.  What will MSU finish in the Big Ten East? Tied for first

4.  Most disappointing loss or potential for a loss? Maryland will be closer than it should be, we’ll lose in Happy Valley

5.  Most satisfying victory? (and predict the score): Beating UM again 21-17

6.  Best player?   Geiger and Sadler continue to make the best kicking tandum in all of college ball.  Other than that, Taiwan Jones makes a name for himself this year … or at least has to if my predictions will come true

7.  If it were January 2015, what would you say about the performance of the Spartans in 2014?  Pretty decent season and great to be playing on Jan 1 once again!

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

West Coast Smig (San Francisco)

Reporting my pigskin prognostications – We were who we thought they were!!

1.  What will be MSU's overall record?   13-1

2.  What will be MSU's Big Ten record?  9-0
3.  What will MSU finish in the Big Ten East?  Champions!

4.  Most disappointing loss or potential for a loss?   MSU will lose to Oregon.    We could also win this game and run the table.  I flipped a coin!
5.  Most satisfying victory?  2 straight wins  vs scUM and OSU

6.  Best player  Darian Hicks   Narduzzi is going to make this guy a star in his defensive backfield  

7.  If it were January 2015, what would you say about the performance of the Spartans in 2014?   I plan to be enjoying this conversation in warm weather looking at a national champiionship game in our future and I will say “They were who we thought they were”

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

Big Bob (East Lansing)

Here are my picks:

1.  What will be MSU's overall record (Wins-Losses) 11-3

2.  What will be MSU's Big Ten record (Wins-Losses) 7-2

3.  What will MSU finish in the Big Ten East? Tied for first with Penn State.

4.  Most disappointing loss or potential for a loss? Losses to L'il Bo Pelini and the JoePa's.

5.  Most satisfying victory? (and predict the score) Ohio State 31-28.  Urban Meyer has another fake heart attack after MSU's OT victory.

6.  Best player?  Shilique Calhoun

7.  If it were January 2015, what would you say about the performance of the Spartans in 2014?  Very impressive.  Next year:  national championship game.

Big Bob

Enlightened Spartan 2012 Preview for Michigan State Football

OK, so here is the ES season preview below. The ES and The Blue Turf (Boise State) are working on a salvo of banters about our teams and campuses. That should be posted by tomorrow morning (Aug 30). In the meantime, the ES chimes in, along with ChiSpartan, Chock, Big Bob, and Swiss Sloth. Enjoy the predictions; the ES Game Day preview will be up Friday morning.

2012 Enlightened Spartan Season Preview

MSU 12-2 overall, 10-2 regular season. Rose Bowl champions, defeating Oregon.

With all due respect, this is the greatest season ticket package in Michigan State season history: Boise St, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Iowa, Nebraska, Northwestern. Another word: WOW.

BOISE STATE. W. This ain’t Atlanta, this is Spartan Stadium, and a feroucious defense feasts on the Boise backfield. MSU offense scores one TD, the defense scores two en route to a sounding defeat of the Bronco potato-heads.

@ Central Michigan. W. Unlike the Ann Arbor stick-my-nose-in-the-air rodents down the road, the Spartans share the wealth and give CMU a home game to pad its departmental budget. The Chips need the padding, as they are mauled in a big loss at home.

NOTRE DAME. W. The Irish are overrated again, but a very tough s chedule inspires the Catholics to a tough fight for their lives, early on the road in a night game. Doesn’t matter as Sparty’s defense shuts down ND in a low-scoring contest, making it 11 of the last 16 for Michigan State. Another TD for the Spartan D.

EASTERN MICHIGAN. W. The question: against whom will the Spartans score the most points? CMU, EMU, Indiana, or Minnesota.

OHIO STATE. L. Spartans shocked at home, suffer first home defeat since 2009 and giving Urban Meyer the first feather in his cap.

@ Indiana. W. See the intro “@ Indiana”? Enough said.

IOWA. W. ‘Tis interesting the decline of the Hawkeyes and the rise of the Spartans, no? Spartan defense should manhandle the Hawkeye front – a reversal of roles from a decade ago. Rising = Dantonio; Falling = Ferentz.

@ Michigan. W. Denard who? The hype is squashed for the third straight year. Last two years, Spartans viciously ended any Heisman talk, knocking Robinson into another world, with unHeisman-like stats (rush: 39-128 yards-3.3 avg; pass: 26-53-338-4 INTs)…... Defense wins championships, watch Robinson’s cage get rattled again. Spartan defense scores a pair of TDs to shut down Michigan Heisman talk. Again.

@ Wisconsin. L. Michigan State suffers loss number two, on the road, in a tight, heated rivalry that is the 21^st century version of the B1G Ten glory that used to be Woody & Bo. The two squads will meet later…

NEBRASKA. W. Spartans defeat the Huskers for the first time. ES suffers a heart attack upon learning the win actually isn’t a replay of the 55 point shellacking the Spartans suffered to Nebraska in 1996.

NORTHWESTERN. W. Even though the Cats have had a great rivalry in recent years, they’ve been lucky not to schedule Michigan State on its current stretch. Read that: current stretch. This is a Wildcat offense and defense that, on its best day, just isn’t in the same league, even if in the same conference.

@ Minn. W. The days of old Metropolitan Stadium return in a -10 degree blizzard in Minneapolis. Bud Grant would love the weather, but not the result.

B1G CHAMPIONSHIP. W. Michigan State turns the table, avenges its loss to Wisconsin earlier in the season and in last year’s B1G title game with a Rose Bowl-clinching victory. Montee Ball runs for 210 yards for the game; but, on the last play, fumbles into the arms of Johnny Adams, who runs it back 98 yards for the winning score.

ROSE BOWL. W. Michigan State beats Oregon in the fourth meeting of the two teams witnessed by the ES. With a month to prepare, Andrew Maxwell gets his moxy and Spartan receivers have a field day… as do Duck receivers. But, this is the Spartans’ year.

NOT ON SCHEDULE: Purdue, Penn State, Illinois.

EXPERT PREDICTIONS

Swiss Sloth:

1. Total # wins: 8
2. Bowl: Outback bowl v auburn
3. Toughest game: Michigan cuz it’s on the road
4. How much would you bet on MSU to win the Big Ten if in Vegas? 0, but I never bet on anything
5. Score for MSU vs Boise? 24-14 for the good guys!!!
6. Season total TDs vs INTs for Maxwell? 18 td’s, 15 int’s

ChiSpartan:

1. Total # of MSU wins: 11
2. Bowl game for MSU (vs who?): Rose Bowl vs Oregon
3. Toughest game for MSU on schedule: Wisconsin
4. How much would you bet on MSU to win Big Ten in Vegas? 5,000,000 Vietamese Dong
5. Score of MSU vs Boise game 24-10
6. Total # of TDs vs INTs for Maxwell : 20 TDs and 7 Ints

Chock (with welcome commentary!):

1. total # of MSU wins: 8 wins for an 8-4 record not counting the bowl game. I think 9-3 is a good, educated guess and I even think that 10-2 is definitely achievable. But we will lose at least one because of inexperience by our rookie QB. Cousins was really, really good and we’ll miss that.
2. bowl game for MSU (vs who?): Capital One bowl vs. Arkansas and MSU fans relish the return of John L Smith with a second straight bowl victory after Smith’s team crumbles around him at the end of the season
3. toughest game for MSU on schedule: @ Wisconsin
4. How much would you bet on MSU to win Big Ten in Vegas? $100 … although I’m much rather spend my Vegas dollars betting on the opening weekend of the NCAA tournament
5. Score of MSU vs Boise game: MSU 27 – Boise State 24
6. Total # of TDs vs INTs for Maxwell: 24 - 11

BTW, you didn’t ask, but Nebraska wins the Legends and Wiscy wins the Leaders. Nebraska beats Wiscy in the B1G Championship game and goes the Rose Bowl and shits the bed vs. USC. Kill, William, Kill, and Pound, Green, Pound!!! Go State…

Big Bob:

1. total # of MSU wins - 11
2. bowl game for MSU (vs who?) - Rose v Oregon
3. toughest game for MSU on schedule - at Wisconsin
4. How much would you bet on MSU to win Big Ten in Vegas? - $123.45
5. Score of MSU vs Boise game - 20-17. MSU
6. Total # of TDs vs INTs for Maxwell - 24TDs, 13INTs

Smigdiggler (with more commentary!):

MSU WestCoast Correspondent - Smigdiggler Sees positive things from the Spartans this year. with the favorable home schedule with a tough spot right in the middle of the season with UM followed by Wisky on the road, back to back.
1. total # of MSU wins 10
2. bowl game for MSU (vs who?) I want rose bowl, but due to some kind of BCS logic they will be relegated to the Capital One bowl. What's in your wallet?
3. toughest game for MSU on schedule - At Wisky a week after beating the tar out of those scUM bastards in the big sh!t house
4. How much would you bet on MSU to win Big Ten in Vegas? $100.00
5. Score of MSU vs Boise game This will be higher than most people think. MSU-28 BS-21
6. Total # of TDs vs INTs for Maxwell - Going Big - 27/9