Leonhall

October 13th, 2014 at 6:10 PM ^

I think Sparty will win a natl title in the next couple of seasons, they are so well coached and like someone said below, they get better every week. I wouldn't be surprised if they won it this year or next, unfortunately, they play great defense, and have an offense now.


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Leonhall

October 13th, 2014 at 7:17 PM ^

Especially with this year there not being a dominant team so to speak, I hate to say it, but if they get into the playoff, they will be VERY tough to beat IMO...it sucks to say it, but they are about to win. Double digits again, how many years has that happened to us lately? They are doing it every year now.


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YaterSalad

October 13th, 2014 at 7:56 PM ^

You want to call up Dantonio and offer him a free blowjob? Come on now ... You expect to throw praise in spades at a rival coaching staff and expect nobody to take offense or argue you.

Wow. I am surprised by your lack of hatred for rivals and your general lack of a clue. Sorry bro.

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WolvinLA2

October 13th, 2014 at 7:21 PM ^

The defense is not as good as last year.  And I don't think the offense is enough better to say that.  I agree that they were better last year.  

Keep in mind that part of the reason MSU got better relative to their competition last year as the season went on is that they never suffered any major injuries.  Injuries can often play a major part on how well (or not well) a team does at the end of the season.  Oregon has been a very healthy team the last few years, but this year they have numerous injuries on the OL and they are a completely different team.  

If MSU can be equally fortunate this year, they have a shot.  But that's out of their control and statistics suggests some of their guys will get hurt.  Who those guys are can play a big role in how their season finishes.

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alum96

October 13th, 2014 at 8:04 PM ^

They will take a step back next year.  They could lose Cook Calhoun and Waynes all early entry.  They finally start playing some tough road games.  Their toughest road game last year was a flawed Nebraska and they avoided Wisconsin and OSU in the regular season - the only 2 viable Big 10 teams in 2013 outside of Sparty.  This year their toughest road game was... err Purdue I guess.  Or Maryland.  Or junk PSU. They get Nebraska, OSU and UM at home.  Not that UM is any great shakes.

If everyone comes back I see them losing 2 next year just due to more road games in conference against better teams.  If they lose Cook they will be breaking in a new QB and their defense doesnt have the same secondary it has in 2013.  Could see 3 losses.

But this year all the chips are falling for them - 2 weeks ago when 4 out of top 6 lost.. this week the 1 guy who could make Indidna a punchers chance win is injured etc.  They also never seem to suffer any key season ending injuries like we do - 2012 was the only year their OL took some key injuries but 2011, 2013, 2014 they seem to just go through a season with injuries to backups or lose guys for 2-3 weeks rather than for the season or 8 weeks like us.

That said I'd die for conversations like this about our school - "man we might take a step back to 3 losses next year if our QB leaves early for the NFL."  First world problems.

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UMxWolverines

October 13th, 2014 at 8:07 PM ^

All I heard on here during the offseason was that they would take a step back this year. Jesus Christ stop with the hopes and dreams and just realize that they're just going to reload every year. We need someone to coach us that can to go toe to toe with them in terms of toughness. 

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alum96

October 13th, 2014 at 8:16 PM ^

That shit was not from me.  I thought they'd be a 1 or 2 loss team this year with Oregon and either Nebraska or OSU.

I said after the Iowa win last year I was worried about them running the table since they finally had a QB and last year all that defense needed was an "average" offense.

And I've said countless times as long as Dantonio is there anyone thinking their defense is going away is the same as a MSU slappy who thinks UM is going away under Beilein.

With all that said when Cook is out that offense slows down a lot and they lose their best offensive player (Lippett) to graduation and could lose Cook to the NFL draft.  That slows down the offense.  The defense this year is not great.  If they played in the Pac 12 or Big 12 they'd lose 2-3 times this year. 

But any "very good" Big 10 or ACC team has a major advantage right now.  In the ACC you basically have to play Clemson if you are FSU, and in the Big 10 you basically have to play OSU or Wisconsin to get through.  And Wisconsin is down this year.  Nebraska is a mid tier team, UM is zilly bad, and PSU is mediocre.

So I am saying MSU will take a step backnext year due to their personnel losses combined with having tougher road games - this year is @PSU, @Maryland, @Purdue and @Indiana.  I didnt say that last year or this year.

There is a big difference between going 12-1 and 10-3 in terms of playoffs.  10-3 is still an excellent record and MSU could win the East again next year, it just won't be at 12-1.

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bronxblue

October 13th, 2014 at 7:05 PM ^

This isn't last year's MSU defense out there, and that makes them vulnerable against any team.  I do think their road is pretty clear, but only if they get past OSU.  Nobody in the other division could probably stick with them in the BTT game, but until they show something more than they have already I don't see a world their 12-1 matches up against 12-1's from the other conferences.

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Perkis-Size Me

October 13th, 2014 at 7:22 PM ^

They've still got to get past OSU, who happens to be getting better every week. Would not be surprised if Meyer and Co. get out of there with a win. MSU seems to be having some difficulty lately closing games out, and I'm betting that could really bite them in the ass against OSU. I was sure Dantonio would fix that after the Nebraska game, but they almost blew it against a hapless Purdue team last week too.

Either way, this is not the same MSU team from last year. At least not on defense anyway. They're tough to find, but Oregon definitely proved there's some holes a good team can expose on them. The offense is definitely better, but we're not watching Baylor out there.

There's not many better-coached teams out there than MSU's, but even if they make the playoff, I have a hard time seeing them get past the likes of Auburn, Ole Miss or Miss State. Coaching-wise, the teams are all about even, but I think those are games where the overall superior talent wins out. MSU's defense would make them earn it, but with the way those teams have been playing, I doubt Sparty would make it past the first round.

 

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Livonia Wolverine

October 13th, 2014 at 8:06 PM ^

Don't understand the Michigan State love. Are they the best team in the B1G? Prolly. But that's really not saying much. 31 points to Purdue is kind of embarrassing to be honest.

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UMForLife

October 13th, 2014 at 9:04 PM ^

They were blown out in one quarter by one decent team they played so far.

Nebraska is not good. I am not sure how they were ranked in the first place.

OSU will be a good test for MSU. But, MSU generally plays well against the spread teams. So, I say this favors MSU. So, they will have one good win, if they beat OSU.

They might end up playing a team like Iowa in the B1G championship. That is not going to get it done.

I will not be suprised if Alabama runs the table from here on out. If they do, I just don't see how they are going to be left out.

Either FSU or ND is going in. That makes it two.

Then there is #2 SEC team (MISS St), B12 champion, Pac12 champion.

It is going to be hard for MSU to get in, unless all stars align for them.

Their ugly win against Nebraska and Purdue is going to come back and haunt them.

I don't know if DG is going to pull off a game like he did against OSU. I wouldn't put that past M to do that this year. You never know...

Hopefully, M can pull of an upset (can't believe we have to call this upset nowadays, shaking my finger at Hoke and DB)  in 2 weeks.

Go Blue!

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SFBlue

October 13th, 2014 at 9:11 PM ^

The way those words ran together in the title, at first blush, came accross to me as Vegas Party Favors, and I was like, whoa, that really is OT.

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