MSU/Wiscy-UM/Indiana scenarios

Submitted by MGlobules on

Let's assume for the sake of argument two plausible scenarios for next week: MSU gets their hat handed to them by Wisconsin, and we beat Indiana on the road. 

What kind of psychological condition is MSU in when they travel to Ann Arbor a week later?

Possibilities: 

a) they don't give a crap; they're our little brother and they want to kill us

b) their egos are dented and they play with less conviction/confidence

c) they're more dangerous still

d) something that I haven't thought of

 

P.S. If this kind of looking ahead or conjecture is not your cup of tea, that's great; you are not required to respond

Litt1e Rhino

September 26th, 2010 at 3:43 PM ^

Sparty will take the loss hard but they hate us with an undying passion and this is their must win game. They will play hard they will put up alot if points and if they win they will talk shit for the whole year. This is one game that I can not stand to loose this year. I think we will come out on top in a close game. (please god)

switch26

September 26th, 2010 at 3:45 PM ^

Depends on if Dantionio comes back for Wisc or our game..  But seeing that the game is at our place this year, we will def have an advantage.

They will still play tough, but it will be interesting to see how Denard does against a Defensed ranked similiar to UCONN's.  If he can perform as well as he did against UCONN then msu is in Deep shit

jmblue

September 26th, 2010 at 8:09 PM ^

I don't care if he's on the sideline or not.  That really doesn't matter.  What I'm more curious about is whether he'll put in the 100-hour week beforehand to prepare for the game.  (Believe it or not, these guys work 100+ hour weeks during the season.)  Is he healthy enough to do that?  If not, how much will it affect MSU's preparation? 

steve sharik

September 26th, 2010 at 3:45 PM ^

I don't think MSU will get creamed, but if we assume M wins and MSU loses (which are certainly not guarantees), I think a) and c) are both likely.  Regardless, M will be jacked for that game.

beangoblue

September 26th, 2010 at 3:47 PM ^

After the last 2 years we need no motivation to come to play. State has come to play hard the last 2 years and now with their coach out I'm worried that's giving them extra mojo. Also worried that it could potentially be win 6 on the year for us and that could be distracting.
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<br>That being said, I still think we stomp them into the turf and hopefully put up 700yrds again. As long as we get the W I'm happy no matter how it goes down

Don

September 26th, 2010 at 3:52 PM ^

my preferred outcome of next week's games would be for us to play poorly but still just squeak by IU (ignoring the cardiac stress on the Wolverine faithful) while MSU pounds the snot out of Wisky. That would A) inflate the heads/egos/pride of the Spartan players; B) probably move the Spartoons ahead of us in the polls; and C) establish them as the favorite coming into the game. I'd much prefer to be the home dog this year.

Running a very, very close second to beating Indiana is to come out of that game with no injuries.

bronxblue

September 26th, 2010 at 3:59 PM ^

I don't think the outcome of next week's games will affect how the teams play in Ann Arbor, but a win by MSU will definitely make them cocky coming to town, and that can only help.  For all the talk about how "meh", MSU gave up more points and nearly the same yards to the only good offense they saw this year (ND) than UM, and that was at home.  So while I think MSU's defense will be tough, it's not like they have been dominating on that side of the ball. 

I am actually interested to see good MSU's running game looks against a stout Wiscy defense, since I'm not sold MSU's passing game is as dangerous as it has been the past few years.  As for UM-IU, the outcome doesn't mean as much (of course, given that UM wins) as how UM plays defensively - if they can replicate the effort shown against ND/UConn/BGSU and hold IU to lots of yards for less points, then I'll feel pretty good about the team's chances against Sparty.

Paly33

September 26th, 2010 at 4:06 PM ^

Everything is out the window when State comes to town.  It won't matter what their outcome is at Wisconsin (I think State wins) because this game for once means more to us than State.

The State game is our fork in the road/turning point game for this team.  All eyes are on us that game to see how far we have come.  We will not disapoint!!! 

MGoTarHeel

September 26th, 2010 at 4:07 PM ^

I'm also curious what everyone's opinions are on rooting interests for next week. Do we want MSU to be undefeated when they come to visit? Or would we rather they get lambasted by Wisconsin hopefully leaving them a little wounded and exposed? Do we want a close game so that they perhaps are a little worn down? Sparty and Nore Dame always present dilemmas for me.

jmblue

September 26th, 2010 at 4:12 PM ^

People overthink this stuff.  There's nothing worse than a loss.  Nothing shakes your confidence more, and nothing leads to more dissention.  I will always prefer to face a team that is unsure of itself following a defeat than a team full of confidence.  Accordingly, I hope we win big (duh) and that MSU gets physically and emotionally beaten down by UW. 

BlockM

September 26th, 2010 at 4:15 PM ^

Wisconsin is a pretty beefy team, and I wouldn't be too surprised if their lines are a little beat up after the game. I can't root for MSU to win the game, especially since we play both of them. If MSU wins, they have a better record when we play them the following week, but the same is true about Wisconsin.

The MSU game, IME, is the most important game of the season for this team.

The Impaler

September 26th, 2010 at 4:17 PM ^

It should not matter what happens to MSU or M this week.  Next week you can expect it to be a bloodbath no matter what.  This could be one of the most intense games of the entire year in college football.

Don

September 26th, 2010 at 8:39 PM ^

Whoever said that didn't actually look at the schedule for October 9.

So far, GD has been to Atlanta for LSU-NC, Tuscaloosa for Bama-Penn St, Auburn for Auburn-Clemson, and Boise for BSU-OSU. Next week for October 2, they're heading to Eugene for Stanford-Oregon.

Take a look at the schedule for October 9. Assume both MSU and UM are undefeated coming into their game (hardly a given, I know). How many other possible matchups between two ranked and undefeated teams will be taking place that weekend? I only see two: LSU at Florida, and USC at Stanford.

Since Stanford will be one of the participants on GD on just the week before at a PAC10 location, I think it's very unlikely that GD will appear at a PAC 10 conference game two weeks in a row, especially if it's involving one school in both games.

As for LSU and Florida, since GD has already covered one of LSU's games, I think that lessens the possibility that they'll appear again so soon. The only reason I think that would happen is if Florida beats Alabama next weekend. Plus, GD has already been to games involving SEC teams three times.

Now look at the possible storylines from GD's viewpoint for an appearance in Ann Arbor:

1) they haven't been to a Big 10 location yet this year.

2) Michigan has just rolled out its brand spanking new stadium.

3) Mark Dantonio may make a dramatic return to the sidelines for his most hated foe.

4) Rich Rodriguez appears to have finally gotten UM on track.

5) And last, but not least: Denard.

IF IF IF both MSU and UM are undefeated on October 9 before the game, my money's on Herbie, Chris, and Lee sitting in their booth outside the Big House. The only competitor is LSU at Florida, and the only way that happens is if Urban goes into Nick Satan's lair and pulls his tail the week before.

*In case you're wondering about the Big 12, both Texas and OK have byes that weekend. Nebraska is playing KSU at Manhattan, but currently KSU is unranked. Even if the Wildcats were to be ranked by the time they played NEB, the game is a Thursday night game, and I don't think GameDay would be doing a mid-week game then. Aside from the fact that there's no way they'd choose Manhattan over Ann Arbor.

clarkiefromcanada

September 26th, 2010 at 5:14 PM ^

I don't think Wisconisn is that impressive so far this year and, honestly, it's not like Sparty set has set the world on fire playing a crap schedule and getting *officially* lucky on that balls out overtime call. I think Wisconsin goes down at home like 24 - 17 with Sparty favored coming into AA. Sparty can score a bit but...well...so can Michigan...

brad

September 26th, 2010 at 4:54 PM ^

Sparty brought their best to our game.  They always do.  No reason to expect that M will not have a battle on its hands on October 9.

Bodogblog

September 26th, 2010 at 4:57 PM ^

with a 2nd half chance at b). Especially if, in the hypothetical Wiscy loss, Cousins loses his mind again and either throws it up in the end zone, or tries to run back behind the LOS to throw the ball. Also if Wiscy runs on them all day, and we do the same, they may lose their will as a D. But we get their best effort as long as the game is close, no matter the 10/2 result

mongoose0614

September 26th, 2010 at 5:19 PM ^

is that they would rather beat UM and finish in the middle of the big 10 than lose to us and win the big ten.  

The UM game is their season no matter what their record is or where they are ranked.  

The only bearing a loss at Wisky would have would be if they had a meltdown and face a similar situation against us.  They have never been mentally tough.

Tater

September 26th, 2010 at 5:51 PM ^

Wiscy is more physical than MSU and a bit faster.  Wiscy can appear to really suck sometimes, but they are still not the team you want to play a week before a rivalry game.  If MSU was as good as Michigan, I wouldn't think this was so important.  However, MSU always overachieves against Michigan, and it will be more difficult for them to do so if Wiscy has pounded them physically the week before.

I am looking forward to yet another MSU fourth-quarter collapse against Michigan, and looking more forward to their 4-2 schedenfreude.

the_big_house 500th

September 26th, 2010 at 6:03 PM ^

but the MSU game I truly believe is going to be a fight to the end and game where our defense is really going to have to step up big. Cousins has a good arm and State has a good offense I'm not going to lie about that. I do think though if Robinson stays healthy through the Indiana game and is good to go for Oct 9th then we have a great chance to beat them but even if he doesn't play I think Tate can get the job done and lead us to victory he has improved a lot since last year.

Sven_Da_M

September 26th, 2010 at 6:06 PM ^

... so the team is set up for an alibi when they lose to them on the road--which they surely will.

Then Dantonio returns to the sidelines at the Big House, and we win with a final classic drive.  

And I hope to God he is OK and doesn't have to experience the Michigan Difference.

the_big_house 500th

September 26th, 2010 at 6:12 PM ^

this year. Our defense has just not clicked in a way that can contain an offense like OSU. Pryor looked good even though they were playing EMU he had some runs that were amazing and I'm really worried about how we will stand up next to them come November 27th. Everyone is going to have to play lights out for that game because I can see a large amount of points up there for tOSU when it's all said and done.

the_big_house 500th

September 26th, 2010 at 7:36 PM ^

 was the last time we got blown out in the Shoe but I agree about how we had a good chance in 2009. Turnovers though sealed that loss. I am hoping to see Michigan give tOSU a game this season. It's been since 2000 since we last beat them in the Shoe.

In reply to by bouje

M-Wolverine

September 27th, 2010 at 12:52 PM ^

Did you think that going into the game? Because we thought our defense was all world going in.  In hindsight, maybe it didn't look as good....but going into the game, how could you think we couldn't stop them better in 2006 than we could last year? (After which, we did an ok job...but going in it seemed more horrific).