Rational MSU fans, your thoughts for this weekend
I know there are a few users around here who have established themselves as rational MSU fans. I've seen some pretty unbelievable comments in other places (no links, you go to these places at your own risk) about how Michigan is so over-rated and MSU is going to kill us, so I'm interested in hearing some more rational insights. So, this is for you. After seeing how we handled our first away game, what are your thoughts for this weekend? Homerism aside, do you agree with the odds placing MSU as the favorite?
October 10th, 2011 at 4:49 PM ^
it may take awhile to find some rational ones.
October 10th, 2011 at 4:50 PM ^
Thanks for asking, bro. As a very rational MSU fan, I think the Spartans will win 69-0.
It is what we do. We have by FAR the best D in the Big Ten and maybe even the world.
October 10th, 2011 at 5:00 PM ^
TYPICAL scUM FAN, REFERRING TO PHILOSOPHY LIKE YOUR SMARTER THEN US...WE HAVE AN EXCELLANT TEACHING PROGRAM AND VETERINARY SCHOOL AND BUSINESS SCHOOL, ON PAR WITH ANY SCHOOL IN THE COUNTRY...YOUR GOING DOWN FOR THE 4TH YEAR IN A ROW WITH BRADY cHoke!
October 10th, 2011 at 5:01 PM ^
smarter "then" - Than**
"your" going down. - You're**
October 10th, 2011 at 5:05 PM ^
Are you obviously joking too?! Am I too old to understand a one-upsmanship of irony?
October 10th, 2011 at 5:06 PM ^
It goes to 11.
October 10th, 2011 at 5:08 PM ^
From the Simpsons:
Teen No. 1: "Are you being sarcastic, dude?"
Teen No. 2: "I don't even know any more."
October 10th, 2011 at 5:08 PM ^
It goes to 25
.
October 10th, 2011 at 5:06 PM ^
October 10th, 2011 at 5:09 PM ^
See above
October 10th, 2011 at 5:13 PM ^
You forgot the, I GOT IN BUT CHOSE TOO GO TOO MICHIGAN STATE BECUASE ANN ARBOR IS GAY AND YOU CAN GET JUST AS GOOD OF AN EDUCATION IN EAST LANSING.
October 10th, 2011 at 5:28 PM ^
Why are you talking in caps ? Now you just look stupid.
October 10th, 2011 at 5:34 PM ^
WHY DOESN'T IT READ????
October 10th, 2011 at 7:54 PM ^
PLUS I"D BE SURPRISED IF THEY ACTULLY GET TO PLAY THE GAME BECAUSE HOKE IS FAT AND WILL EAT THE BALL.
October 10th, 2011 at 9:48 PM ^
USNWR ranks our education, business and graduate programs higher than MSU. Sorry to deflate you with the facts.
October 10th, 2011 at 4:53 PM ^
"rational MSU fan" you speak of? Is that a mythical creature like a minotaur except with worse personal hygiene?
October 10th, 2011 at 5:01 PM ^
My father, who raised my siblings and I to be Michigan fans, and who also watched two of those children stray off to become Michigan State students and alum, refuses to make a prediction on this game. As I'm his lone suriving michigan-fan son (and therefore, rightful heir to his keep), I've spent the better part of the last six years encouraging him to keep the faith.
He's torn between my mother, who has turned to the dark side and now roots for Michigan State, and myself, who is right. Obviously I'm right, because, well, come on. I think in his heart he knows it, and he won't celebrate if we lose. He will when we win.
October 10th, 2011 at 5:11 PM ^
your mom is now a huge lions fan too
October 10th, 2011 at 5:02 PM ^
I know of 1 who posts here regularly. He always has well thought out points... I actually think his moniker is rationalMSUfan.
October 10th, 2011 at 5:05 PM ^
We also have WatersDemos, but he rarely talks football.
October 10th, 2011 at 10:01 PM ^
Whoa. WatersDemos is an MSU fan? Did not know that somehow. He is one of my favorite posters. Good man.
October 10th, 2011 at 10:21 PM ^
Cheers.
I generally don't talk much football because many people on here know more about it than I do.
So I'm really in a position to learn, not to spout my own BS. Though I do the latter quite frequently as well.
October 10th, 2011 at 5:27 PM ^
Pretty sure Ty from Lions In Winter is also a Sparty fan. Some of the guys from Only Colors will post here from time to time also, but I assume you'll get their take on the game on their actual blog later this week rather than a board post here.
October 10th, 2011 at 5:03 PM ^
It all comes down Sparty O-line vs. MM and Co. If we can make Cousins life miserable, we win. If we can't, it could get ugly. Their defense is good but we should score points (also probably just as important to win is Denard's throwing).
October 10th, 2011 at 5:48 PM ^
BWC SMASH. Bring it this game. Please.
October 10th, 2011 at 5:57 PM ^
October 10th, 2011 at 7:51 PM ^
I don't think they will put up close to 24 points on our. If you take a look at the games we've struggled on D, it was against Spread offense teams, such as ND and Northwestern, and even those offense we were finally able to shut down in the second half. I don't think MSU scores more than 13 points on us.
October 10th, 2011 at 5:05 PM ^
I think Hoke is really starting to change the tide in this rivalry
October 10th, 2011 at 5:37 PM ^
jersey sales in Michigan are off the charts.
October 10th, 2011 at 7:52 PM ^
its the jersey sales in Ohio that are turning the tide.
October 10th, 2011 at 5:05 PM ^
Oxymoron?
October 10th, 2011 at 5:07 PM ^
Fairly confident (6.5 out of 10) MSU will pull it off, but not as confident as I was in the pre-season. Your team has looked consistently impressive...MSU has been streaky. I'm disappointed in the fact that it's a noon game which means the crowd won't be as "jacked" as a 3:30 or a night game.
Key matchup: Your D-line and blitzes vs. our O-Line. If our O-Line can at least play like they did in Columbus, then we will be in a good position to win. I think we have the better defense, but your defense is much much improved from previous years and can at least make some plays and get some stops. I am a little worried about our offense, particularly the running game, though I don't think you guys have seen the run-up-the-middle types of backs like Baker and Bell yet. The Notre Dame running attack was similar but was run from a spread and not the power I.
X-factors might be the return of Tyler Hoover and Bennie Fowler. Hoover is a monster at DE and played a big role in keeping Denard at bay last year. Him, Rush, and Gholston should play well enough and stay home so he doesn't break off big runs. Fowler stepped up big time last year at WR so he will be important in giving a 2nd option on the edges for Cousins.
Not expecting a blowout in either direction.
My thoughts.
October 10th, 2011 at 5:11 PM ^
A rational reply - and from a cat with a watermelon on its head, no less.
EDIT: That's a watermelon, right?
October 10th, 2011 at 5:14 PM ^
They're letting people practice law who think a cat would be able to wear a watermelon hat? Jeez.
/sarcasm (just in case it's needed)
October 10th, 2011 at 5:39 PM ^
Pretty sure the actual image is an orange and it has been photoshopped green.
October 10th, 2011 at 5:38 PM ^
And I like watermelon, what was I thinking?
October 10th, 2011 at 5:14 PM ^
The one thing about Baker and Bell is that we do better with between the tackles running. Teams exploited us running to the outside with speed, but with Mike Martin in the middle we do fairly well shutting those lanes down. Granted we have not really faced a true Power I team that State runs, especially with the two TE set. So it will be interesting, but I would be way more worried about your rushing attack if you say had a LaMichael James type burner that always got to the outside.
October 10th, 2011 at 5:17 PM ^
October 10th, 2011 at 5:23 PM ^
Answering as a Michigan fan, but I think it was a combination of a lot of poor play calling and Cousins making some poor decisions that had big consequences.
I would bet MSU fans also felt that OSU's D-Line is elite, so an adequate performance against them satisfied some worries. Something I would kind of disagree with given Miami's gashing of OSU.
October 10th, 2011 at 5:27 PM ^
*should've clarified....by played well I meant that if I recall correctly only allowed 1 sack. Cousins had a decent game with 250 yards passing, but just made a boneheaded decision late for an INT. The running game was still abyssmal.
October 10th, 2011 at 5:51 PM ^
October 10th, 2011 at 7:18 PM ^
You're splitting hairs here:
1) I never said the OL was any good.....not sure what you are trying to argue
2) I said they played well. A bad OL can still play well.....well enough to keep them in position to win....which is what they did.
I had another post a few weeks back talking about the attrition/injuries on the O-Line and how thin the front was when 3 O-Linemen were originally flipped from the DL.
October 10th, 2011 at 5:18 PM ^
What were the levels of injury to Hoover and Fowler/how fully have they recovered? Will they be back at 100% playing every down, or just able to contribute and provide some depth?
October 10th, 2011 at 5:31 PM ^
All I know is that Fowler had a "foot" injury. I haven't read anywhere or heard what it relates to.
His condition has been week to week and was expected to be back for CMU but that obviously didn't happen.
Hoover has sore ribs. He was slated to return against OSU but coach held him out to give him the extra 2 weeks to heal. I believe he is scheduled to be back on Saturday.
October 10th, 2011 at 5:58 PM ^
Is it a watermelon, lime, or something else?
(Seriously, I appreciate your calm and rational responses.)
October 10th, 2011 at 7:19 PM ^
I'm gonna go with a watermelon or an orange that's painted green. There's no way the outside peel of a lime can fit over the head of a kitten....and i've seen some pretty small kittens in my day
October 10th, 2011 at 7:40 PM ^
Not in East Lansing.