UM vs. MSU: To Kick, or To Receive...THAT is the Question
Say we win the coin toss this Saturday against MSU...do you want to KICK, or would you prefer to RECEIVE?
This is the question I found myself asking myself (think about THAT for a minute) as I watched Chesson's gallup to glory over and over.
With our dominating defense, I would normally defer to the second half to: (1) stifle the crap out of Connor Cook and the MSU offense and amp up the crowd, as well as (2) learn all I can about our opponent and have more time (including the half) to adjust.
However, I have seen the glory that is John Baxter's special teams - and I'd love to have a big return set an electric tone for the game!
Not to mention scoring first will keep the crowd in it, and take the wind out of Dantonio's sails!
What is YOUR take? Do you want to KICK, or RECEIVE against MSU this weekend?
Oh, and that 7 point spread? Don't think that hasn't been noticed and will be harped upon all week!
October 12th, 2015 at 1:45 PM ^
October 12th, 2015 at 1:47 PM ^
Always defer to the second half (and secretly hope your opponent blows it by electing to kick off in the first half LOL)
October 12th, 2015 at 5:00 PM ^
October 12th, 2015 at 2:14 PM ^
It took me an astoundingly long time to realize what the pre-game coin-flip is all about. If you win, you decide one of three things (the first two of which are decisions themselves): to kick or receive; which endzone you want to defend; or if you will defer your choice to the second half.
October 12th, 2015 at 2:39 PM ^
I want Cook to start the first drive by throwing a pick-six to Peppers.
October 12th, 2015 at 2:39 PM ^
October 12th, 2015 at 2:44 PM ^
If you defer, then the other team will virtually always choose to recieve. Then you have the option of the side to defend. Here the choice will almost always be to take the wind: better chance of the touchback, and if the opponent gets an extra possession in the quarter, it will be against the wind.
Now in the second quarter, they will have the wind. To start the second half, you recieve and they normally will take the wind for the 3rd Quarter (same logic as your choice to start the game. This means that you will have the wind advantage in the all important 4th quarter if the game is close.
Under this scenario you have the wind in the first quarter, when the tone for the game may be set, and in the 4th quarter, whch might help make the difference on that 45 yd FG attempt or that punt which impacts field position for a final drive.
October 12th, 2015 at 3:02 PM ^
No question
October 12th, 2015 at 4:05 PM ^
as there are 3 options.
If the team that wins the coin toss, chooses to defer, then the other team chooses between kicking/receiving or the goal line to defend.
Then the coin toss winner gets to choose the remaining option. So by defering, you actually get to make 2 out of 3 - 2nd half choice AND goal line, as the coin toss looser isn't going to risk having to kick off in both halves.
So, if UM decides to kick off to open the game, MSU gets to choose the goal line and make the choice for the 2nd half. Thus UM could wind up kicking off to begin both halves.
Given that info, I think the choice is evident.
Check reply n°2 by Hujan
http://bigrednetwork.com/story/buzz_mailbag_why_did_nebraska_kick_off_t…
or
http://www.operationsports.com/forums/ncaa-football/590586-deferring-2n…
On Edit: Such a simple question, but very difficult to find a complete answer. The defer part above is correct. As for the goal line/wind, I get 2 contradictory answers. Either the team that chooses the goal line gets that choice in the 1st and 4th quarters.
Or, that the 2nd half choice of goal line is given to the team that didn't defer.
After 20 minutes of spinning wheels on Google, I'll leave the research to "the better man than I, Gunga Din"
October 12th, 2015 at 3:44 PM ^
There is no decision here. You always do the following:
If you win the toss, you defer.
If you lose the toss and your opponent defers (and they usually will), you take the ball.
End of story. The ONLY time you deviate from this is if you are playing in a hurricane or a blizzard and the idea of trying to run plays on offense is terrifying. There is no other situation where you want to give you opponent an extra possession, no matter how good your defense is. Even UNLV came up with a good drive against us. Why give the other team an extra shot at points?
October 12th, 2015 at 4:56 PM ^
I say you always want to get the ball to start the second half .
If the opponent had the ball to end the first half. Halftime , plus waiting so long to get the ball can slow down any momentum. Plus it gives your defense a lot of time ot rest .
If you had the ball to end the first half and scored. You get the ball to start the second . You can keep momentum . The possiblity of scoring twice with out the opponent having the ball, can be huge .