SI ranks MSU #8, Boise State #23: Analyzing the matchups

Bronco Nation beware: William Gholston is a beast

Sports Illustrated's Top 25 has the Michigan State Spartans listed at #8, and the Boise State Broncos at #23.   Let's look at their analysis, and what this all means on a matchup basis.

On offense, Michigan State's biggest weakness entering the season was a lack of experience at QB, and lack of experience at wide receiver.  The offensive line is the most experienced, with three returning starters (Blake Treadwell is out for at least the first one to two games with “a stress fracture or hairline fracture in his tibia”).  The running backs are deep, with All Big Ten Le'Veon Bell, former starter Larry Caper, and the swift and speedy Nick Bell. The Spartans return 9 of 11 on defense, the best linebacking corps in the nation, a pair of lock-down corners, and a deep and talented line in the trenches led by a pair of ferocious pass rushing ends: All Big Ten Marcus "Whatttta" Rush and All America William "I'm gonna get you sucka" Gholston. For more, read http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/ncaa/michigan-state-preview/index.html

Boise State also returns an inexperienced quarterback, but a deep receiving corps and a more than capable RB in DJ Harper.  As noted by SI, "Not only did 12 players sign NFL contracts, but offensive coordinator Brent Pease left to become the offensive coordinator at Florida. There are all of seven returning starters; Boise State lost nine of its top ten tacklers, its leading passer, rusher, receiver, and even its punter." Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/ncaa/boise-state-broncos-preview/index.html#ixzz23fzLHuDv

So what does this all mean?  It's a home, night game for the Spartans - which means with its new scoreboards the crowd will be fueled and loud. On offense, MSU has an advantage with its running game with a solid line against and inexperienced Boise defensive front.  While the Spartans may not have an experienced QB-WR tandem, a healthy dose of Le'Veon Bell and maybe some tosses from QB Andrew Maxwell to TE Deon Sims can loosen up that Boise defense.  On defense, MSU has a strong advantage with its depth across the board.  Expect the Spartan defensive front and LB corps should be able to plug holes and shut down the run game while pressuring the inexperienced Boise QB, probably redshirt junior Joe Southwick, who has appeared in 16 games.  Southwick can throw to talented wideouts... if he has the time.  The Spartan secondary is among the best in the nation, and with that vaunted Spartan pass rush the secondary will minimize the Bronco damage.

MSU has an advantage in its punting and kicking game, and in its return game with Nick Hill.  The Spartans are favored by 7, and when you look at it on paper you can see why.  If the Spartan defense comes with its A-game, the ES doesn't see Boise scoring more than 2 TDs.

SI investigation tears down "ignorant" Tressel and Ohio State

Values, shmalues. Jim Tressel is a cheat, a sham and a fraud. Eight years of countless violations at Ohio State which went unnoticed... and of course, add to that Tressel's cheating ways at Youngstown State -- oblivious to the people of Ohio, who want a winner no matter what.

How shameful is OSU? Read the Sports Illustrated investigation... even if 10% of it is true, it is a significant blight and shameful for the Buckeye Nation.

Expect the Buckeyes to vacate their victories the past year or more, a few years of probation, and scholarship losses. No death penalty, but expect USC/Reggie Bush - or worse - type penalties... especially since Tressel embarrassed the NCAA.

my favorite excerpts: "For more than a decade, Ohioans have viewed Tressel as a pillar of rectitude, and have disregarded or made excuses for the allegations and scandal that have quietly followed him throughout his career. His integrity was one of the great myths of college football. Like a disgraced politician who preaches probity but is caught in lies, the Senator was not the person he purported to be."

"Tressel violated NCAA bylaw 10.1 -- Unethical Conduct, one of the cornerstones of NCAA rulebook -- three times: first by failing to act when tipped off about the tattoo scandal; again last fall, by signing a standard form given to all coaches declaring that he knew of no violations; and then, last December, by not being forthcoming with school officials. Tressel's violations will almost certainly lead to sanctions that will follow him to any school that might hire him, making it highly unlikely that he will coach a major college program again. Like Woody Hayes, the ruination at the end of his Ohio State career will tail him forever."

WOW. Plead ignorance and give me death.

MSU football 2011-12 early rankings at #12 and #16

OK - sorry Spartan fans... Delayed posts by the ES here. Da ES is swamped into dissertation work, so your patience is appreciated. But, two important points.

#1 - Michigan State ended up ranked in football #14 in both the AP and USA Today polls (see below). Not too shabby - much better than what most of us anticipated at the beginning of the year.

#2 - The Spartans are ranked decently in very early power rankings for the 2011 season. Look at Rivals at #12 and at SI.com at #16 .

Sez Rivals:"Almost all of the key skill-position players will be back, and if Dantonio and his staff can remake the linebacker corps, the Spartans will be in excellent shape." Sez Andy Staples at SI: "Quarterback Kirk Cousins and tailback Edwin Baker lead a large group of returning starters that should keep the Spartans competing for the Big Ten title. After laying an egg against Alabama in the Capital One Bowl, Michigan State has a lot to prove in the first season of the new-look Big Ten."

ES College Bowl Pick 'Em; Spartan Hoops #1

Hey, the ES invites the Spartan Nation to play along in the College Bowl Pick 'Em game via Yahoo Sports. The winner of the ES' College Bowl Pick 'Em will win a pair of tickets to the Michigan State vs Iowa men's basketball game on January 13, at 6:30 pm.

Link below to play and follow along - you need to sign up with a Yahoo ID, but once you do, you are IN. First bowl game is the New Mexico Bowl this Saturday, at 4:30 pm - so that is when the selection process will be closed for picks.

Yahoo Pick 'Em: link here
Group #: 36800
The password is: gostate

Again, you need a Yahoo ID for this to work. Good luck!

SI: MSU HOOPS BEST IN THE NATION
Damn, that's sweet. Seth Davis over at Sports Illustrated named Michigan State as the men's basketball team of the decade -- above UNC and Florida. Read about it