December 4th, 2013 at 9:50 AM ^
If you are being honest with yourself, MSU looked far better than OSU vs UM. Now it was in EL rather than AA and I think Sparty's hate for UM has surpassed OSU's hate for us, since it is barely a rivalry in the past 12 years and there appeared a lot more holes to OSU than MSU.
For mSU the keys are slow down Hyde...not stop him, but slow him down. If their DL can hit Hyde at the LOS and he does not get a full head of steam before he reaches LBs he can be brought down by their aggressive front 7 before doing major damage. Success vs Hyde would be something like 125-135 yards or less. I expect Narduzzi to focus all attention on Hyde and let Miller be the one to beat them if he can. MSU D has much better speed than UM on the outside so stand more of a chance to contain Miller on the run. And they will trust their CBs agaisnt Millers throws - OSU doesnt really have elite WRs, and Miller is hit or miss in his throwing. I think MSU will score near 30 on OSU so I am not worried about their offense...
I see this game something like 34-30 with 2 quite equally matched teams. I dont know who wins, it will come down to turnovers, special teams, et al. Sparty will have to overcome Delany as well as I am sure he has guns blazing to get the Big 10 into the NCG.
December 4th, 2013 at 10:24 AM ^
I'm fairly certain that the official review of the Gardner fumble went right up to Delany in the booth.
The over/under for PI calls aginst MSU should be 4.
December 4th, 2013 at 10:42 AM ^
That was a horrid review, which has been lost in the 2 pt conversion commentary. Knee down = turnover, as long as OSU is 11-0 I guess.
December 4th, 2013 at 9:48 AM ^
MSU blew the doors off UM & NU
I see Sparty stepping up and exposing OSU.
December 4th, 2013 at 10:01 AM ^
MSU D > OSU O
Miller and Hyde will have their moments, to be sure, but I think Narduzzi will have a game plan for the ages.
December 4th, 2013 at 11:52 AM ^
Works every time.
December 4th, 2013 at 11:35 PM ^
December 4th, 2013 at 9:52 AM ^
December 4th, 2013 at 9:53 AM ^
I'll root for OSU but I think MSU's defense will dominate.
December 4th, 2013 at 9:53 AM ^
Sparty, then Rose Bowl Meteor so they get the ultimate clowning.
December 4th, 2013 at 9:55 AM ^
wins on a horrible call by the officials, just so we can watch Urbz whine and cry for about the next 10 years!
Go Blue!
December 4th, 2013 at 9:57 AM ^
Impact on recruiting: Push. Both comprise our biggest recruiting rivals. Even with a BiG championship I don't see Sparty overtaking UM as the state's best recruiter. Hoke may not be an offense mastermind, but the heavyset man sure can recruit.
Douchier coach: Push. Dantonio is a mirthless bastard, and Urbz is an unscrupulous, win-at-all-costs moral phony.
Impact on next 364 days of misery for UM fans: Favor Ohio. Buckeye fans have grown weary of rubbing it in our faces after a decade of dominance. MSU fans with a Big Ten championship, which we haven't had in 10 years, would unsheathe a new dimension of misery on us we've never seen before.
Team Trajectory: Favor Ohio. Ohio's status won't change much with this win. Sparty's will.
Heartstings with the Underdog: Obviously, favor MSU. Sparty's resources and national recruiting pull (Dantonio intergalactic reach aside) are far inferior to Brutus's, so it is always nice to see the little guy beat the big guy (as long as the big guy isn't us).
VERDICT: With your heart you will be leaning for MSU, but with your mind, in terms of what is best for UM, you will be leaning for OSU, provided OSU loses in the NC game.
December 4th, 2013 at 9:57 AM ^
I think Sparty wins and I want them to. As annoying as the fans will be, I just can't stomach the idea of a school whose coach gets run off for blatant cheating coming back and having a shot at the NC a year later. Fuck Sparty, but fuck the Buckeyes more. The fact that state probably plays in the rose bowl either way just seals it for me.
December 4th, 2013 at 9:59 AM ^
As good as MSU's D is, I don't see them shutting down Miller and Hyde. OSU will score 30 and will win this game.
December 4th, 2013 at 11:18 AM ^
I dunno, Ohio will get points, but if anyone matches up with them it's Sparty. Their ability to leave their corners on an island really frees up the rest of the defense to stop the run game. As much as it pains me to say, state has an elite defense this year and their offense is better than people give them credit for.
December 4th, 2013 at 1:09 PM ^
They did it last year.
December 4th, 2013 at 9:58 AM ^
If OSU wins, MSU probably ends up in the Rose Bowl, which bumps everyone else in the B1G up a bowl slot, including Michigan (good for us).
If MSU wins, the Buckeyes get knocked down a peg, and let's face it - with Sparty's epic defense this year, they've earned it.
December 4th, 2013 at 9:58 AM ^
I think the best scenario would be an ugly game that OSU wins on a controversial call and then the voters put Auburn ahead of them in the NC game thus screwing both teams in the process. That would be the best case scenario as a fan without involving natural disasters that swallow the stadium whole. As for what WILL happen? I don't think MSU's offense can score enough and as great as their D is I think they'll still give up 25+ points. OSU in an ugly close game.
December 4th, 2013 at 10:06 AM ^
In the long run it is probably better for us if OSU is not in the national championship. I actually would want them both to win BCS bowls since the Big Ten is perceived to be a laughingstock of a conference. If Hoke is going to be the guy we are going to have to have a pretty good year next year and a spectacular year in 2015.
If the conference continues to look terrible by Big Ten teams dropping bowl games then when Michigan finally turns this around we will have a much tougher time getting into bowls we want to get into. We need the conference to at least look better for our long term goals.
Edit: to add to this I want Michigan to be the leaders and best of a good conference not simply replace Ohio State as the flag bearer for a down, decrepit conference. Ohio State has had so much success in recent years but have failed on the big stage. This may possibly be due to the Big Ten being down for so long and not providing them a challenge. Obviously we have even less control of how well the conference does and I won't be upset if they lose their bowls. I'm merely stating there may be some good things that come out of Big Ten teams doing well in the non-conference games. Either way Hoke needs to do well the next two years or we will be starting over anyway.
December 4th, 2013 at 9:59 AM ^
I got the meteor headed right for Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday!
That's who I'm pulling for1
December 4th, 2013 at 10:01 AM ^
I just don't think MSU can score enough points against OSU to beat them. It will be a lower scoring game.. but OSU is still going to get 24-28 points. I have Sparty down for 17 points.
I hope Missouri and Auburn collude and Missouri lets Auburn beat them by 60+ points. That way, the voters will really consider letting Auburn jump OSU.
December 4th, 2013 at 10:03 AM ^
December 4th, 2013 at 10:45 AM ^
How did you allow or your brother/sister allow your 6 year old to decide she loves MSU? WHERE IS THE PROPER PARENTING?
December 4th, 2013 at 10:03 AM ^
December 4th, 2013 at 10:07 AM ^
December 4th, 2013 at 10:07 AM ^
December 4th, 2013 at 10:08 AM ^
I know that Ohio is our biggest rival, but I can go months without talking to an Ohio fan, I have MSU fans all around me and they're insufferable right now.
As far as respect, I have more respect for Dantonio than Meyer. Dantonio has built that team in his own image and they are tough and hard nosed. Sparty has been better than us under Mark Dantonio, no two ways about it. Meyer is a con artist and awful.
As far as who will win, Sparty kicked the crap out of us and Ohio barely beat us, going with Sparty to win.
December 4th, 2013 at 10:14 AM ^
December 4th, 2013 at 10:15 AM ^
OSU and I want them to win the MNC. I'm sick to death of hearing about how the SEC is the only league playing real football and I want to restore some of the B1G lost lusture. If it takes OSU to do that, I'm ok with that.
And I hope MSU wins the Rose Bowl and every B1G team wins their respective bowl game. Sorry, when we're 7-5 I'm rooting B1G first and foremost.
December 4th, 2013 at 10:22 AM ^
I predict I will be unhappy no matter what happens
December 4th, 2013 at 10:24 AM ^
December 4th, 2013 at 10:25 AM ^
that the heavens shit on us.
Last year...both OSU and Notre Dame undefeated...ND gets the ype machine for a month on their way to the national title game, and OSU gets the OMG Urbz is the best coach ever.
This year...MSU and OSU clearly the best teams in B1G. Could have one in the Rose the other in the national title game. The MSU has surpassed Michigan in football meme has grown exhausting and the OMG Urbz is SEC coach in B1G won't stop until they lose.
It's really brutal being a Michigan fan these days.
December 4th, 2013 at 10:26 AM ^
Sparty thumped us this year, legitimately. Ohio, well, they did not, despite their elite ranking.
Sparty has a great defense. Ohio has a great offense. Lets see who's tougher.
I don't see Ohio being elite. I think they ran the table on a season of creampuffs. Even unranked M came within one play of giving them a spanking they wouldn't forget for 25 years. I cannot respect their "elite" ranking.
Sparty is a bunch of underdog grinders and they have my respect for this season as they actually earned it and I will pull for them to serve justice to Urban and his boys.
December 4th, 2013 at 11:52 AM ^
If MSU can contain the run decently well, I think they win. OSU doesn't seem like a particularly good passing team
December 4th, 2013 at 10:32 AM ^
Which scenario hurts Michigan more, from a recruiting standpoint, (1) Ohio goes to NC or (2) 1-loss SEC jumps undefeated perennial B1G power?
December 4th, 2013 at 10:59 AM ^
December 4th, 2013 at 10:32 AM ^
Because evil exists, I can see Ohio getting lucky enough to play FSU's third string QB (back-up is injured) on the very last year of the broken BCS chapionship format. That's the only way they could win it because they're not beating any of the top teams at full strength. I hope Ohio loses, to avoid that scenario.
December 4th, 2013 at 10:35 AM ^
but if it tilts one way or the other for a blow out, i say ohio would come out ahead. i agree with many of the posts here about why pulling for sparty makes sense. that said, i also get the whole 'meteor'' and 'sink hole' option too....
December 4th, 2013 at 10:39 AM ^
December 4th, 2013 at 10:40 AM ^
Fuck the SEC...and why FSU vs osu NCG is what I'm rooting for:
December 4th, 2013 at 11:18 AM ^
I live in Atlanta and have been downtown during the SECCG a few times. Last time I went (2010 or 2011) I went to the parking garage near the Georgia dome and a lot of cars had words painted on them with that white stuff that people use to write on their windows.
I kid you not - at least a dozen cars had stuff like "SEC! SEC!" and "GO SEC!" written on them.
December 4th, 2013 at 10:42 AM ^
Personally, I'll get the most satisfaction out of it being a turnover-filled, terribly-played 3-2 outcome, regardless of who wins. I'm not rooting for either team, but I am interested to see how MSU's defense and Ohio's offense collide.
I guess I'd rather have Ohio win, so that even if MSU goes to the Rose Bowl, it won't be as B1G champions. Of course, that also sets up the potential for Ohio to be embarrassed by Florida State and MSU by Stanford. While personally satisfying, it would push the B1G into Big East territory as far as reputation.
I guess I really just want this season to end. Worst. Season. Ever.
December 4th, 2013 at 10:58 AM ^
December 4th, 2013 at 10:51 AM ^
1. Jameis Winston suspended
2. Winston plays, but they pull the upset i.e. 2002 Miami, one of the best college teams I've ever seen.
3. Why wouldn't they? Why wouldn't the universe give us a big middle finger by letting Urban start out 26-0 with a national title. FUCK YOU UNIVERSE.
So yeah, cheer for Sparty. Besides, in real life you cheer for your little brother. I'm sure Cooper Manning supports his little bros. when they play for titles.
December 4th, 2013 at 10:52 AM ^
C.mon meteor.
In absence of meteor, I think the most satisfying outcome is OSU winning in a close, ugly game which allows Auburn to leap them in the poll, pushing Ohio to the Rose Bowl and Sparty getting Spartied again.
Here's to hoping the B1G Championship game is as unimpressive as all the B1G hatrers out there expect.
December 4th, 2013 at 10:58 AM ^
I hate OSU much more.
December 4th, 2013 at 10:59 AM ^
Can they both lose?
December 4th, 2013 at 11:03 AM ^
So, I won't be tempted to watch.
I don't live in either state, so I don't have to put up with the fans in general, though in a 5-person office I got an OSU grad and a secretary dating a Sparty. Luckily I'm above them in the org chart, and so I don't have to put up with much either way.
What would bring me much joy is for OSU to win but get passed by Auburn. What would bring me the most pain is OSU in the NC game. I think the MSU team is filled with jackasses, but I think OSU cheats. So, while I wouldn't root for MSU over the space aliens from Independence Day, Sparty on.
December 4th, 2013 at 11:09 AM ^
I keep going back and forth in terms of rooting interest. I don't like either program, but I think I actually have less hate for Ohio than I do Sparty. Either way, I suspect we will find that one of the two teams will be exposed as being not as good as people think, due to the very weak B1G this year.
December 4th, 2013 at 11:20 AM ^