So, what does Notre Dame do next week in EL?
I always intently watch the Notre Dame - MSU game every year. Perhaps its that lovely feeling of being able to watch, and knowing at least one of them are losing the game!
I think it also does a lot of foreshadowing. It puts Notre Dame's strength (and resolve) into perspective. It shows us what to expect out of MSU in a few more weeks. I've always observed Notre Dame gets one of MSU's better shots, but at the same time, Notre Dame comes in after a hard Michigan game and isn't on their A game.
What do you guys envision this week? I'm thinking Notre Dame might be too strong on paper, but man - the way we ripped the game from them they just might not mentally be ready to play. The game is in East Lansing, and MSU has had two easy warm up games to prepare.
Any thoughts or hopes? Lets assume A) East Lansing isn't disappearing from the map on Saturday and B) both teams cannot lose at once.
September 12th, 2010 at 8:27 PM ^
September 12th, 2010 at 8:32 PM ^
but i think this is where MSU's bluff is called. i think ND will be pissed and dayne crist will have a field day. ND's linebackers are good, they swallowed up our running backs pretty well.
ND 40
MSU 17
EDIT: obviously, the ND linebackers didn't swallow up denard but who would?
September 12th, 2010 at 8:34 PM ^
September 12th, 2010 at 8:41 PM ^
Hopefully for the first time ever in football, both teams will lose
September 12th, 2010 at 8:42 PM ^
ND wins 35-17. And I will love it.
September 12th, 2010 at 8:43 PM ^
Edit: sorry for double post.
September 12th, 2010 at 8:48 PM ^
Sparty gets KO'd by the leprechaun.
September 12th, 2010 at 8:49 PM ^
Obviously Denard was the difference in the game. Last I checked, State is devoid of dilithium. Ergo, State loses.
September 12th, 2010 at 8:56 PM ^
I'm watched parts of both MSU games this year. Their defense looks ok, but their offense is not very good. I think that MSU gets an early lead, then ND takes the lead and it's over before the 4th quarter. 42-13 ND.
September 12th, 2010 at 8:56 PM ^
I hate Dantonio more than any other coach, including Tressell (who is at least a classy winner). Therefore, I hope State goes 3-9, but I really do think they have the advantage at night in East Lansing, coming off cupcakes and ND coming off 2 big ten games.
September 12th, 2010 at 8:58 PM ^
Feelings aside, I think Notre Dame wins.
Considering feelings, I like the idea of MSU having a weakness get exposed that we can exploit. I hope ND unmasks them for the pretender they are. We need to win Big 10 games this year and a win over Sparty following a triumph over the Hoosiers would be great way to start off the Big 10 season. (ie. 2-0in Big 10 and 6-0 overall).
ND winning helps us in the sense that a 'good' ND season after we beat them makes us look better.
Either way, will be interesting to see those two teams go at it. It's easier for me to root for ND after we beat them. I really can't root for MSU in anything while D'Antonio is their coach. : D
September 12th, 2010 at 9:02 PM ^
Should be a close game, although I will not be rooting for one team over another.
September 12th, 2010 at 9:11 PM ^
loses. State is overrated as a team and D'Anfonio is overrated as a coach. State's O line will be exposed as a fraud as Cousins will be pressured. Also, State's secondary will suck hind tit as Crist will pick them apart..
September 12th, 2010 at 9:14 PM ^
Wow, some of you guys really think MSU is going to win? ND is going to blow them out of the water.
September 12th, 2010 at 9:16 PM ^
For the first time in the history of myself and Life on Planet Earth, I will be (secretly and quietly) rooting for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Sparty fans have just gotten too annoying.
Kirk Cousins will be exposed as the average QB that he is, their "stable" of running backs will be ho-hum, and Brian Kelly will get a solid ND win by about 3 touchdowns.
September 12th, 2010 at 9:20 PM ^
BK will out coach msu. I can see BK running up the score late.
September 12th, 2010 at 9:21 PM ^
They win, and win big. Crist looks like the real deal, and MSU's secondary is like ours, plus they don't have Denard.
September 12th, 2010 at 9:23 PM ^
Michigan plays University of Massachusetts next Saturday, September 18, at 12noon. Go to some other website to discuss this topic.
September 13th, 2010 at 4:32 AM ^
September 12th, 2010 at 9:24 PM ^
Particularly when the Fighting Irish were reduced to playing for ties.
Then they started playing overtimes.
September 12th, 2010 at 10:01 PM ^
I want them undefeated when we beat them. Then laugh inside as the rest of their season hits the skids.
September 12th, 2010 at 10:17 PM ^
I really am surprised the amount of people that think ND is going to smoke them. I'll take ND but close.
September 12th, 2010 at 10:18 PM ^
Screw your assumptions, I hope they both lose!
(sorry to break the rules, but it is the truth)
September 12th, 2010 at 10:24 PM ^
1. ND by a TD (31-24 or so)
2. The 1966 10-10 tie between these two teams will be brought up many, many times during the telecast (as it seems to have been the only meaningful game these two have ever played).
September 12th, 2010 at 10:45 PM ^
I'll always enjoy an ND loss, but since I have the misfortune of working with a few sparties I honestly hope ND defeats them. Tired of their talking.
September 12th, 2010 at 10:51 PM ^
then ND walks away with it. Michael Floyd's lack of impact in the Michigan game was an aberration and I think they solve it on Saturday.
As far as rooting interests, it's pretty simple. I'll take the brothers-in-arrogance fanbase over Team Tribal Tatz any day.
September 12th, 2010 at 10:54 PM ^
I hope ND wins the rest of their games, along with UCONN. I know ND is more of a rivalry, but of course it makes us look good. Plus I cannot stand seeing MSU or OSU win any game. I cannot stand to listen to their sorry ass fans. If they both would never win again, I'd be a happy man!
September 12th, 2010 at 10:59 PM ^
a strong MSU tempts young recruits to think highly of them...ultimately this doesn't matter so much as long as Mich beats MSU. ND wins this IMO... 24 - 17... but I am just makng that up.
September 12th, 2010 at 11:08 PM ^
I hope State loses. My Facebook page is full of State fans claiming that our win against the Irish doesn't mean much, because they're not very good.
I want to see that "not very good" team smoke the Sparties.
September 12th, 2010 at 11:17 PM ^
I always root against whomever I'm hating more at the moment. By Saturday that's surely going to be Sparty. If I thought my hating/rooting could affect the game, I might make a more rational cost-benefit analysis.
The game should provide some good information on where things stand. MSU seems to have a better running game than last year, and I expect the passing game should be good again. ND's defense seems better, how much will be interesting. ND's d-line performed better than I expected. I don't expect MSU will be able to pass at will against ND, but MSU should be able to put up more than decent numbers. MSU's still seems to have the same problems on defense as last year, despite the stud linebackers. ND should be able to put up big passing numbers.
Assuming Crist is fine, I expect ND holds the turnovers downand and wins.
September 13th, 2010 at 12:30 AM ^
trouble running the ball vs MSU. Conversly MSU should run the ball well vs ND, however if MSU struggles its on the arms of the two QB's and I like Cousins over Crist.
Should be a close one like the UM/ND game, look for ND to be a little sharper in a few areas of decision making.
September 13th, 2010 at 5:43 AM ^
This is about the only time I can cheer for ND. When we come off a road win in South Bend, it looks way better if ND then goes into EL at night and spanks Michigan State. If Michigan State beats ND, our win doesn't hold as much water. I think this game is going to be very close but I'm leaning towards ND if Crist can see.
September 13th, 2010 at 7:26 AM ^
I want ND to lose every game, every year until the end of time (December 2012 apparently).
While the MSM's recent infatuation with MSU has been annoying, MSU is likely never going to be a true national power so I don't mind seeing them win 6 or 7 games each year especially if one of those wins is against Notre Dame.
In summary: Screw Notre Dame!
September 13th, 2010 at 6:16 PM ^
an MSU performance similar to the one from 2006 (1st through 3rd quarters, only)