Forde likes Sparty by 1
"But now the Spartans finally play a road game, after four in East Lansing and hosting Florida Atlantic in Detroit. They still won't leave the state of Michigan until Game No. 8, at Northwestern, on Oct. 23. If they're still unbeaten by then, look out. League heavy Ohio State is nowhere on the schedule.
Key question: Can playmaking Michigan State linebacker Greg Jones and his teammates cut off the running lanes of superfreak Denard Robinson?"
Dash pick: Michigan State 35, Michigan 34.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=5650…
GO BLUE!
October 6th, 2010 at 9:17 AM ^
likes penis.
October 6th, 2010 at 11:18 AM ^
Not that there's anything wrong with that
October 6th, 2010 at 9:18 AM ^
MSU's win last week (albeit at home) was more impressive than ours.
All I'm going to say is, vegas knows something the world doesn't...
October 6th, 2010 at 9:51 AM ^
I hope you're right.... whenever I see a game like this with two ranked, undefeated teams and a spread over 3.5 I assume Vegas has one of those "secrets" that no one considers when betting. Either that, or the underdog just isn't good and their time to get taken down has come (See Nebraska at 4-0 Kansas St. +12). We all know MSU is undefeated because they are good... but why the relatively lofty line for UM?
For this game, I am assuming the line started at -4.5 because outside of the Midwest (where attention is spread somewhat evenly on the success of both teams) the national attention is Denard dominating, Denard running, and Heisman front-runner Denard. Betters in California and SEC country (Bet on Speeeeeeeeeeeeeed) don't even consider an undefeated road team in Denard's back-yard worthy of +3. So, Vegas shifts the line a bit to attract the "educated" betters toward Sparty to compensate for the casual betters' assumption that the "hot" team/player must be better.
October 6th, 2010 at 10:01 AM ^
Yes Vegas knows we are a bunch of homers that have a lot of money.
Not to say we won't win, but I think this has more to do with that than what they think the outcome of the game is.
October 6th, 2010 at 9:19 AM ^
MSU is very good. I like to see the improvements we're making this year but it'll take a Heisman caliber performance by Denard to win each week.
October 6th, 2010 at 9:19 AM ^
molests collies
October 6th, 2010 at 9:20 AM ^
And also said this:
"But keep this in mind about Robinson: At this time last year, we all were frothing about another Michigan quarterback who sliced up Notre Dame, Tate Forcier. He threw for 240 yards, ran for 70 and accounted for three touchdowns, and everyone said coach Rich Rodriguez had found his ideal spread quarterback. Except then the Wolverines finished 5-7 and Forcier is now a third-stringer. Robinson looks like the real deal, but let's hold off on constructing a statue outside the Big House for now."
Who cares what he thinks.
October 6th, 2010 at 9:32 AM ^
did I say that it is all about Denard yet?
October 6th, 2010 at 9:57 AM ^
...but it's hard not to see how he's on to something pretty insightful here. I'm not usually a big Forde fan, but you've got to give him his props, those parallels he draws between this year's start and last year's are spot on. Up until now, I've been really high on DENARD ROBINSON as someone who could run coach RICH RODRIGUEZ'S spread offense, but we all need to check ourselves: if you'll remember back to 2009, last year's Michigan team also started strong, led by a dynamic new quarterback named TATE FORCIER. As Forde points out, that didn't exactly end well. I ended up quite disappointed.
I don't know about you, but I'm going to take his advice and "keep this in mind."
October 6th, 2010 at 10:06 AM ^
Please tell me this is sarcasm.
October 6th, 2010 at 10:14 AM ^
So if this year is exactly like last year and MSU/UM were tied in regulation at Sparty last year, and, given the 3 points for the home team and UM is at home this year.... we win by 6 in 2010!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
UM 6 MSU 0 (per the 2010 is exactly as 2009 rule)
October 6th, 2010 at 10:41 AM ^
I hear what you're saying. But Forde is talking about the offense, which is not the problem this year. It honestly did not prevent us from going bowling last year. Our D imploded starting with the Iowa game last year. Iowa and Purdue should have been wins for us last year. We also gave up a 98 or 99 yard drive to Illinois when they stoned us on the goal line in the second half.
And all the other differences between this year and last on offense have been well documented. Tate was hurt. We were still inexperienced on offense. Blah blah blah. You should be able to just look at the execution on offense and see the difference between this year and last year's offense.
October 6th, 2010 at 10:45 AM ^
Dissenting opinion? Negged!
October 6th, 2010 at 11:04 AM ^
October 6th, 2010 at 1:24 PM ^
It seems like you're simply going from thread to thread dropping this complaint.
October 6th, 2010 at 11:15 AM ^
Why does your computer all caps names? That must be annoying for you.
October 6th, 2010 at 12:46 PM ^
Um, yeah, I was being a little bit sarcastic. I was trying to poke fun at Forde who is approximately the 1,750,000th person in the world to pick up the "But Michigan started strong last year, too, and look what happened" idea.
I also all-capped the names in his honor, since he highlights the names in his pathetic columns.
But I guess the real joke is on me, since I just got neg-bombed for an attempt at amusing you all.
October 6th, 2010 at 1:22 PM ^
I'll admit fault here. I didn't actually read the post with attention. I just noticed the few obvious capitalizations and didn't see any gross embellishment and assumed you weren't being sarcastic.
October 6th, 2010 at 12:50 PM ^
This is misleading. If I recall correctly, Ford wrote this weeks ago, right after the Notre Dame game. BKFinest makes it seem like it's from this week's column.
October 6th, 2010 at 9:23 AM ^
When these guys do the 'by one point' pick, just to play it safe. It's like a meteorologist announcing a 1% CHANCE OF SNOW. If you're gonna make the call, put on your big boots and draw up it in stone, Nancy.
October 6th, 2010 at 9:22 AM ^
I don't see anything wrong with this assessment. I hope he's wrong, but it's a legitimate opinion.
October 6th, 2010 at 9:24 AM ^
that he does, in fact, like penis.
October 6th, 2010 at 9:41 AM ^
Um, I guess so?
October 6th, 2010 at 10:49 AM ^
RCMB is in need of homophobic remarks. Here's the link!
http://www.spartantailgate.com/forums/msu-red-cedar-message-board/
October 6th, 2010 at 9:26 AM ^
Forde picks a team ranked one spot higher than us to win by 1? Oh noes! Panic!
October 6th, 2010 at 10:00 AM ^
Every time someone posts a prediction (whether their own or from a pundit) someone chimes in that people are "panicking" or "overreacting" or "who cares what people think" etc., discussing predictions (which is what 99% like to do) is part of this board. Predicting UM scores; Recruits; Rankings. Complaining about people predicting anything about UM football is complaining about MGoBlog's reason for existence.
You anti-MGoBlogite.
October 6th, 2010 at 9:33 AM ^
a superficial analysis suggests.
October 6th, 2010 at 9:35 AM ^
Victory is assured.
October 6th, 2010 at 9:37 AM ^
lol he thinks a one point lead is safe against Denard Robinson.
October 6th, 2010 at 10:51 AM ^
That's not the score with a minute left in the 4th quarter. That's the final score, little guy.
October 6th, 2010 at 9:39 AM ^
Fiu takes Sparty (no!) 45-37 but, I'll give him one thing, he did call them little brother so rather than the usual 0/10 I'll give him 1/10 ;)
http://cfn.scout.com/2/1009200.html
Also, as per everyone this week, he thinks MSU will bottle up Denard (at least to some extent) - I want Denard to go absolutely ape on MSU like he did IU just to show that dilithium reacts the same regardless of what its surrounded by :)
October 6th, 2010 at 10:23 AM ^
-reference "Glee".
October 6th, 2010 at 9:48 AM ^
I have no problem with him favoring Sparty by one, but by saying the score is going to be 35-34 he assumes we're making two field goals, which is nuts.
On the other hand, he may be betting that we'll miss an extra point . . .
October 6th, 2010 at 9:52 AM ^
Forde gargles balls
October 6th, 2010 at 10:03 AM ^
October 6th, 2010 at 10:07 AM ^
If MSU only scores 35 I like our chances.
October 6th, 2010 at 10:14 AM ^
Why does everyone predict scores for us that involve 1 or more field goals?
October 6th, 2010 at 10:20 AM ^
Could be a missed extra poin.... nevermind nothing to see here AMHG.
October 6th, 2010 at 10:27 AM ^
Pat Forde: September 28, 2010
Michigan State at Michigan (26), Oct. 9.
Why it's big: One or both could still be undefeated, and rather unexpectedly so given preseason expectations. If that team is the Spartans, their Big Ten title aspirations rise with a victory over Michigan, since there is no Ohio State on the schedule. If that team is the Wolverines, Rich Rodriguez's job security rises with a victory over the in-state rivals, since he's 0-2 against Sparty while at Michigan.
Why it's interesting: The Dash wants to see Michigan State middle linebacker and playmaker Greg Jones against the skittering feet of Denard Robinson. The 235-pound Jones can put a hurt on the 190-pound Robinson -- if he can catch him.
Who will win: Michigan, 30-24.
October 6th, 2010 at 12:17 PM ^
He had Denard for 500 yards in Moe's prediction contest. The guy really carries a grudge.
October 6th, 2010 at 11:01 AM ^
forde and schlabach might be the two least informed writers, in any sport, at espn.
October 6th, 2010 at 11:19 AM ^
cares......he gets paid to write fluff............since when did he become an "expert"........
October 6th, 2010 at 11:20 AM ^
Also picked Texas to win AT NEBRASKA. He's a cool dude, but not always on the mark.
October 6th, 2010 at 2:11 PM ^
...if we lose on a missed extra point. Cause we sure as shit ain't making 2 field goals. I don't think we'll make two more the rest of the year, let alone kick two more.
October 6th, 2010 at 2:48 PM ^
Picking a team to win by one point is the cheap way out. If MSU wins, he'll brag that he called it. If we win, he'll say "I basically called it - I just thought they'd miss a PAT."
October 6th, 2010 at 4:21 PM ^
The hot new game by Parker Bros. "Forde Likes _______ by _______ !"
I'll go first.
- Forde Likes Songs by Nickelback
- Forde Likes His Balls Liked by Goats (but who doesn't)
- Forde Likes Asian Schoolgirls by The Truckload
- Forde Likes Predicting by Overreacting to the most recent events
Makes the perfect Christmas, Kwanzaa or Hanukkah gift.