"Captain Kirk Just Needs to Steer a Steady MSU Ship"

That play was bull @#$%

I think their gameplan will be exactly that.  I bet 1 MgoPoint that they believe they can run the ball at will on us, and will try to do that.  I also expect a ton of quick passes to WR's that have a corner playing 10 yards off.

Our QB is The Happening.

Their QB is Captain Kirk?

Because I typically turn off my tv once the clock reads zeroes.

Edit:  Figuratively.  Once the game is over I turn off the tv.  And to anybody smart enough to count seconds (apparently not MSU grads/students/fans/employees) that game was over.

he has people for that

Do you really think we will stop their running backs?  I don't expect much from Cousin's, but their RBs seem pretty solid.

The rivalry is about poor timekeepers?

We've got all of your Dilithium. No more warp speed for you.

Yes, I was in the endzone with my Spartan-slappy family when that pass was made.  All of us 0Michigan fans were counting outloud and knew that the play was over - but it wasn't.  Anyway, this weekend, I disagree with the assessment that Cousins won't be called on to win.  IMO, this game will either be solidly in hand (doubt it) by the 3Q for UM or more realistically, it will be a shoot out where the better QB with pass protection and receivers with hands will win.

What they don't understand is that this is Denard being steady. Kind of scary, huh?

Stardate 10-09-10...we've arrived at the hostile blue planet, Big House 114K. My goal...to avoid the interception that will send the Sparty Federation into a decade long black hole of depression...must...maintain...focus...Ooh! There's a hot green alien girl (I think)! Quickly...Spocktonio, use your powers of logic to predict snap counts and control clock time with your Spartan Bob mind meld...remember- you must show no emotions. Jones- learn everything there is to know about this "Nard Dog" and his abilities. "Dammit Jim, I'm a linebacker not a doctor!" Mission: failed

Anyone else already cackling with glee seeing a Cousins INT in the 2nd half?  Next play is Denard to Hemingway or Stonum for a nice 2 TD lead.

I can't wait to see Jones try to spy Denard. Don't see that working out well for them...

I do love how on the BTN Revsine, Dinardo, and co. are all actually calling Sparty "little brother."

Hasn't it been proven that the time was accurate? I think the real issue should have been the blatant holding that wasn't called.

Cousins will be called to make plays because Denard and the Rodriguez/Magee offense will gash them all game. Their defense is not better than last year when Tate nearly pulled out the win. Our defense has holes...that's for sure...but this will be more than equalled by offensive output. What this means is that Cousins will have to perform and at least try to match Denard's output.

This will not happen and he will choke.

Fake field goal pass FTW, and in the post game, live on the field interview, RR will say, "We've been working on that play all year. We call it, Remember the Titans."

I'm calling it. Not because it will happen, but because it would be the most epically awesome, soul crushing way in which we could defeat Sparty.

Cousins is gonna hand-off as long as it works. If we can stop the run early we will force Cousins to go toe-to-toe with Denard and he loses everytime. If however we get gashed by the run we may be in trouble because we are talking about 7+ minute drives and we don't get the ball nearly as much as against Ind.  So this SpartanMag dude is assuming they can run the ball when he says Cousins won't have to win the game. I thiink Martin and the boys on DLine can limit running game which would bode well.

Unfortunately, I believe they are right. With our bad-to-horrible linebacking, frequently shoddy tackling in the back seven, lousy pursuit angles, not to mention our very green secondary, Bell, Baker, and Caper are very likely to rip off yardage in big chunks.

re: it's tougher for UM to win because Denard must produce.

Simply put - no he doesn't.  We have a very capable team without Denard that put this game into overtime on the road last year.  We have a very good team + a playmaker that has shown the ability to put the entire team on its back and win games + a guy that could step in for an injured Denard that showed similar tendencies last year.  Turning to scenarios in which Denard is actually able to play....MSU has to account for him.  Even if he has a bad day, it opens up our RBs to running lanes and makes WRs more open.  His existence, without doing anything, makes it easier to win.  He could play average and the rest of the team is talented enough to contribute to a win.  Conversely, our RBs or WRs could play poorly and we still have a chance to win because of Denard.

Contrast with Cousins who wins if he "manages the game." Er...no.  In addition to not screwing it up, the rest of his team has to play well in order to produce.  If MSUs WRs or RBs decide to suck on Saturday, Kirk can't step in and take over the game.  Everyone has to be on or they become 1 dimensional.

Which scenario would you prefer?