CLord

October 11th, 2015 at 7:41 PM ^

This game scares me.  Dantonio has proven a good tactical coach and for all we know MSU has been mediocre because Dantonio has left 80% of his playbook in the bag for this game.  A win over Michigan is equivalent to 4-5 other wins to them.  Simply put, we are their universe.  

They have stud QB, RB and receivers.  I like our chances since we're at home but it would not surprise me in the least if MSU plays 10x better this weekend than it has the rest of the year. 

 

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Perkis-Size Me

October 11th, 2015 at 7:59 PM ^

OSU almost lost to quite a few teams last year (Navy and Penn State off the top of my head), and they still went on to win a national title by steamrolling two of the best teams in America.

Just because MSU almost completely wet the bed against Purdue and Rutgers does not mean they won't bring their A-game and turn in one hell of a performance next week. Every week is different.



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CLord

October 11th, 2015 at 8:22 PM ^

MSU has been the team that has exposed the last two coaches.  They exposed RR's offense by consistently shutting Denard down after all our glorious ND wins and 5-0 starts.  They exposed Hoke's offense as well with the lovely negative rushing yard days.  This trend demonstrates the high level of preparation Dantonio puts into Michigan, just as Bo did for Woody.  Yes, I went there.  Dantonio's obsessed fixation on beating Michigan rivals that of Bo beating Woody.  The difference is Bo won with class as opposed to "60 minutes of roughing" or whatever Narduzzi called it.

Would not be surprised to see Dantonio send a lineman on an intentional late hit or head twist to try to get Rudock out of the game like they did with Denard.  In fact knowing Dantonio and how obsessed he is, I give that about a 50% chance of happening.

I'm excited for our chances, but seriously scared that this can end up being MSU's sweetest victory over us above all the others in the last 8 years.

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tbeindit

October 11th, 2015 at 11:37 PM ^

I totally get not slotting this up as a mental "W", but don't you think the Rich Rod and Hoke collapses had more to do with Michigan playing underwhelming and bad teams for four weeks and then facing good MSU teams than it had to do with some crazy matchup advantage?

I know we got embarrased in several of those games - especially the 13/14 games - but I don't think it's that weird for 7 and 5 win teams to get blown out on the road against teams that went to BCS/New Year's 6 bowls. A lot of teams got manhandled by MSU those two years.

Obviously, we focus on it more because we're rivals, but I think it had a lot more to do with Michigan teams going on the road against better opponents than it did with MSU having this crazy good gameplan or something.

Also, as a final note, I know you aren't saying this, but the idea that MSU has been "phoning it in" leading into this game is kind of ridiculous to me. They have been in at least three games where the result was in serious doubt late in the game. MSU is not going to risk losing to a team like Rutgers for the potential of gaining a slight(?) advantage against Michigan.

If MSU did risk that, it's going to be a fast decline in East Lansing.

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Stringer Bell

October 11th, 2015 at 7:46 PM ^

I imagine Dantonio has his sights set on the playoffs.  I can't imagine he would risk a potentially playoff-ending loss by only using a small fraction of the playbook in anticipation for the Michigan game.  Truthfully, they're banged up and I just don't think they're that good.  Cook is a solid but unspectacular QB IMO, and not one that can carry an offense like a Heisman candidate and potential 1st round pick should.  Their receivers have impressed me, but other than those 2 positions I think we're better than them.

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FauxMo

October 11th, 2015 at 8:19 PM ^

MSU has looked ordinary on defense (in all facets, really) after losing Narduzzi, and OSU has looked ordinary on offense (at least for large spurts) since losing Hermann.

Pitt has a very strong defense and is 4-1, and Houston is 5-0, ranked 24 and has a top offense.

Can we all admit the loss of these two coaches by these two teams is having a real, and possibly long-term negative effect on both, without being accused of wishful thinking?

Think of it this way - Harbaugh and company have taken a team that was 5-7 and turned it into a top 15 team in 10 months. It could easily be the reverse effect at OSU and MSU, where the loss of two key coaches at those programs have turned top 5 teams into only top 20-25 programs.

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CLord

October 11th, 2015 at 8:27 PM ^

Totally agree and posted to this effect 2 weeks ago when noting Pitt has a top 5 D.  However no coach is more obsessed with a rival the way Dantonio is with beating  Michigan.  I expect MSU to play very dirty.  Book it.  Not to mention they have excellent talent at QB, WR and RB.  Definitely like our chances but would not be surprised to see Rudock out of the game in the firs thalf due to a vicious late hit or head twist.

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WeimyWoodson

October 11th, 2015 at 8:50 PM ^

agree with you here.  While I believe that UM has been playing lights out D, and much better then MSU has shown all year.  Dantonio is obsessed with UM, to an unhealthy level.  You know he's going to be a raging maniac all week and going into the game.  And you know he wants to beat us more then ever with Harbaugh here.  If ever there was going to be a replay of the famous Harbaugh backslap and a coaching losing his GD mind it will happen Saturday. 

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Mgodiscgolfer

October 11th, 2015 at 9:23 PM ^

I don't fear Dantonio I agree that he has a unhealthy dislike for UM but he does not have his two first round corners he lost last year. He lost his DC. they were so good  Clearly you believe that it was the great Dantonio who beat UM not UM beating itself with five straight years of mediocre football where almost  everybody beat UM except Purdue..If he had reason to hate UM before Harbaugh is going to despise UM like never before ......Go Blue!

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McSomething

October 12th, 2015 at 9:50 AM ^

Personally I don't see Cook as a good enough QB, even at his best, to carry a team to a win against a good defense. If it comes down to him needing to make plays, I expect to see some throws ending up on the hands of our defenders. It'll just be a matter of if our guys can catch them, unlike those of Oregon. Spartyville may think he's elite, but he's just... not.

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TXmaizeNblue

October 11th, 2015 at 8:02 PM ^

No doubt, Sparty will play their best game this year this weekend, but we have every reason to expect the same thing from this Harbaugh led unit. Harbaugh, unlike Hoke, will have this team ready for this matchup. He has clearly proved that each week - as much as Hoke proved his team was not ready in the games that led up to the State game in previous years. I have great confidence this year versus the previous 6 years. I'm expecting Michigan to win big. 37-10!

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