State v. Ohio
Very compelling game, yes? I like Sparty here. As much as I was all "Notre Dame blew you out, what a bunch of LOSERS," that kickoff return TD was really the difference in the game. I thought State contained Floyd pretty well, say, like I wish we could have done that. And when did Cunningham get super good. He was always stellar, but I never really saw what I am seeing now. He's clearly a pro and I wasn't even paying attention. State's LB play has also been strong, at least to the naked eye, and I thought that was going to be a weakness for them. They have been lethargic as all hell, I will give you that, but I thought they were snatched pretty quick from the Top 25 after a losing a nearly impossible game to win. (ND had to win that, if that would have been us that week, um yeah, not a chance.)
I also don't think it is legit to consider OSU all washed up as many around here have, especially local media, but I think this sets up well for State. Ohio still trying to find itself, State with a ton of experience. O-line weak, but they overcome it and get the W 24-16. I also want that to be the case, because I don't want them stewing for two weeks about a loss and then going Ivan Drago on us in their military gear. A State win tommorow is good for Michigan, IMO.
September 30th, 2011 at 8:39 PM ^
I don't think you have to hope for that outcome. You will get it. Ugly defensive game that OSU wins 17-14.
September 30th, 2011 at 7:56 PM ^
just getting a feeling this is setting up for a Sparty win
September 30th, 2011 at 8:10 PM ^
State - 27
Ohio - 21
September 30th, 2011 at 8:12 PM ^
September 30th, 2011 at 8:19 PM ^
I think Hoke has changed the tide on the rivalry. Hell people in Ohio are starting to believe him. Never in a million years I would have thought that. Selling Michigan jerseys is a good start.
September 30th, 2011 at 8:22 PM ^
I think MSU has a chance to win because of their D, which I do think is good. But is the D great? I don't think anybody knows yet because of the competition they played outside of ND. OSU has some serious problems with starting a freshman QB and struggling to find an identity under a new coach, but OSU is still the most talented team in the B1G. MSU runs an O that plays to the strengths of OSU's D, and I think MSU's only chance is to come out in a spread and throw to open the run. It will be low scoring, and the team that wins probably is the one that has a special teams breakdown, or a big TO first.
September 30th, 2011 at 8:31 PM ^
September 30th, 2011 at 8:35 PM ^
Michigan will do that when we beat them in two weeks. Giving them their third loss will be bitter sweet
September 30th, 2011 at 11:16 PM ^
Giving them their third loss will be bitter sweetWhat would be bitter about it?
October 1st, 2011 at 9:45 AM ^
That we couldn't give them the first two as well.
September 30th, 2011 at 11:06 PM ^
This is a classic case of wanting both to lose. I'm pulling for Sparty living in Columbus. The last thing I want is these Ohio fans to feel as though they are relevant again.
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<br>That being said, Ohio will get beat by a combination of Wisky, Illinois, and Nebraska.
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<br>I hate both teams but listening to local talk radio make want them to lose all 4 of these games....plus I want Sparty to be undefeated when we put them back in their booster seat.
September 30th, 2011 at 8:33 PM ^
September 30th, 2011 at 8:33 PM ^
We need Sparty to lose for the division's sake.
September 30th, 2011 at 8:34 PM ^
Trying to figure out who I'm rooting against is like being trapped in an Escher painting.
September 30th, 2011 at 8:38 PM ^
When I saw the caption "State v. Ohio" I thought it was a case about some thugs on Ohio's football team.
September 30th, 2011 at 9:00 PM ^
on D. And a good (though thin) OL. OSU having to run the ball plays to the strengths of Sparty's tough but stiff LB's, but if Miller makes a few plays (with arm or feet) they'll score plenty.
Cousins will be under pressure all day, and if he makes mistakes those DB's will make plays on the ball. MSU won't be able to run, and Dantonio will be content to punt it away until it's too late. OSU wins
September 30th, 2011 at 9:15 PM ^
This one could be a mess. MSU's offensive line might get Kirk Cousins killed on Saturday, but Braxton Miller might kill the entire OSU team.
If I have to guess a winner, I pick MSU only because Miller isn't ready to play yet, but if Cousins gets rattled, this could be a 10-6 crime against football.
September 30th, 2011 at 9:40 PM ^
We're going to beat both of them, so what's the difference who wins? Really!
September 30th, 2011 at 9:42 PM ^
Mark May just picked Ohio on tWWL, and "justified" his pick by saying that "strange things happen to the officials in the Horseshoe."
I think stonewalling the FOIA lawsuit has turned it into open season on Ohio in Bristol.
September 30th, 2011 at 9:54 PM ^
through a long afternoon. After that I don't care who ekes out the win.
September 30th, 2011 at 9:57 PM ^
I hope to have many laugh-out-loud funny moments as the game is broadcast live coast to coast. That said, I hope OSU's tailbacks run for 500 yards, Braxton goes 3-of-18 for 5 yards with 3 INTs, and OSU wins 45-44.
September 30th, 2011 at 10:00 PM ^
For MSU to win Cousins is going to have to have a game. OSU's D will be ready to stop the run so Kirk has to be the man. I think this is going to be a really good game, a real back and forth lower scoring affair.
OSU - 17
MSU - 16
With the new alignment it benefits us more to see an OSU win/MSU loss. Either way the loser already accumulates 2 losses on the year. Intresting though that if OSU loses this game they then have the upcoming . . .
MSU - lets say for the argument OSU goes down in defeat.
@ Nebraska - Big Red gets it done. I don think the suspendees coming back save them.
@ Illinois - Its really up to Illinois if they play well at all they should win IMO.
Wisconsin - Need we say more? I guess you know who I am picking for tomorrow night!!
Could OSU possibly be 3-5 heading into November? Luke Fickell would be banished forever from the "Truck Stop" known as Ohio.
September 30th, 2011 at 10:05 PM ^
I hope it's like 9-7 I don't even care who wins
September 30th, 2011 at 10:33 PM ^
God I feel dirty. Excuse me, I need to go take a shower.
September 30th, 2011 at 10:55 PM ^
MSU 2 OSU 0
September 30th, 2011 at 11:12 PM ^
Ya know, I heard that these two schools were starting football teams.
September 30th, 2011 at 11:35 PM ^
I just havent seen anything out of Ohio that leads me to believe they can pull this out. Anemic offense and decent defense for them vs respectable offense with solid defense for MSU. I agree with someone above, QB play will be important, and unless Miller is the second coming of Troy Smith (curse his name!), Cousins will outplay him all day.
September 30th, 2011 at 11:48 PM ^
I definitely hate Ohio more, but I love Michigan more than my hate for Ohio, therefore I want the best for Michigan=State loss
October 1st, 2011 at 12:07 AM ^
They started out with a bad offensive line, and it has only gotten worse with injuries. To make matters worse, they started the year breaking in a new offensive line coach(and subsequently a new offensive coordinator) in a year when most of their linemen either weren't good enough to contribute, or were playing a different position last year.
They're basically a poor man's 2007 Michigan team. Sans Mike Hart and Chad Henne.
To make matters worse, their coaches are stubborn and stupid, and the chances that they're going to install a west coast shotgun offense to minimize the shortcomings of their crappy OL(as Michigan did in 07) are slim and none, and slim just left town.
I think we're going to see a punt fest, but a punt fest in which OSU moves the ball on the ground considerably better than MSU. I do not care about the outcome, but I'd guess a 2 touchdown margin of victory for OSU seems about right.
October 1st, 2011 at 12:54 AM ^
But I'm getting really sick of sparty! I'll be rooting for OSU to beat them down and win the game 24-20. OSU defense looks good and the new running QB will give MSU some fits! Any ways it will be much better for sparty to lose for our chances to win the division. I would also like NE to lose for the same reasons!
October 1st, 2011 at 1:27 AM ^
I think msu sets up well this week, but i don't exactly think their play has been spectacular. a lot of their supposed play on defense is based on stats boosted by against 3 HORRIBLE teams.
I mean just take a quick comparison to our schedule this year. One of msu's games this year was against central....who was dismantled by western in almost the same fashion as michigan state....sorry I'm not quite impressed at this point.
Until I see msu really handle a legit opponent (or at least win) I can't sit here and say they're great. Even if they win this weekend people will credit the defense, even though ohio's offense is simply HORRENDOUS. It's easy to hold a team to a few yards if they complete about 2 passes a game...
October 1st, 2011 at 2:38 AM ^
It's not that we can't lose the division if State wins, it's just more like that we do if they lose
October 1st, 2011 at 7:35 AM ^
Ohio wins 24 - 14
October 1st, 2011 at 7:46 AM ^
As Ira said on WTKA, the best scenario would be for both teams to be swallowed up by a giant sinkhole. However, you have to walk before you run (Thanks D) and we have to overtake little brother before we go after tOSU. Add the division implications and I have to hope that Sparty goes down.
October 1st, 2011 at 8:39 AM ^
"And the earth opened and swallowed them up, with their households... and all their goods."
I'm cheering for something akin to this. Short of that, I'm expecting both defenses to keep the opposing offenses in check, so, the punters will be busy.
October 1st, 2011 at 2:37 PM ^
Although Ohio State has struggled this season, I believe that Ohio State will win this one. The score will be 28-21. Expect a close game, but I just have this feeling that OSU will come on top.