So That Just Happened....
I don't know what to think about what just happened in the Sparty Game. What are your thoughts on the this for the conference, Sparty's "Prestige", and Michigan's outlook on this. Discuss.
EDIT: Note that MSU had ZERO penalties in the game, that is a big swing. Good coaching, player recognizing that they got luck with how Michigan didn't take advantage of the penalties, or just don't hate Wiscy as much as Michigan?
October 23rd, 2011 at 12:08 AM ^
Unbielemable
October 23rd, 2011 at 12:09 AM ^
as a name for the NCG? Yeah, me neither. Not. Thanks again, media.
Clearly the B1G's best teams are behind the rest of the country's best. Fine. Whatever.
Man, I feel for you guys in the state of Michigan right now. Sparty's gonna be spittin hot fire for beating M, OSU, and Wisky in the same season. Thank goodness OSU fans are humble enough to not brag too much about improving to 4-3. Then again, they appear to be division-savvy; the OSU fans in the bar were cheering for Sparty, which makes some sense, even though they already have 2 divisional losses.
As for me, I was at least happy about USC winning, and the Blue Jackets took another big step towards being out of the playoffs in October, losing 4-3 in the derpiest manner imaginable (5 Hole FTW!). But yeah, Michigan's going to face a tough eyeball test from yours truly when I roll up to the game next week. I demand more carries for Toussaint, and a few screen passes would help ease my existential angst, represented by this picture of Rebecca Black.
October 23rd, 2011 at 10:46 AM ^
It could be OSU fans were rooting for MSU because they view that as an extension of the OSU program with Dantanio's OSU roots and I think there is a Tressel on staff.
October 23rd, 2011 at 12:12 AM ^
I think we end up in 2nd place in the Legends div...and in to something like the Cap One bowl.
Next fall, Russell Bellomy beats out Devin Gardner for the backup QB spot because he is more accurate, very smart, and just as mobile as Devin.
Denard leads us to a win in the Legends div next fall and in to the BT championship game.
October 23rd, 2011 at 12:13 AM ^
I think Michigan has a very slim chance at winning the division. It's possible that we win out but not probable. I see MSU having a hangover from the last two weeks and losing in Lincoln next week. The only other game I see them potentially losing is the last game of the season in Evanston.
October 23rd, 2011 at 12:14 AM ^
They will get the shit beat of them by an SEC team in their bowl. Then a month later,we will secure everyone in the state of Michigan that we want, except Burbridge. Same ol...
October 23rd, 2011 at 12:14 AM ^
goodbye cruel world
October 23rd, 2011 at 12:29 AM ^
Everyone needs to stop freaking out about a team that's going to lose to Nebraska next week
October 23rd, 2011 at 12:17 AM ^
Zero ..... wow, did I read that right?
October 23rd, 2011 at 12:30 AM ^
When and how did everyone here become so obsessed with MSU?
October 23rd, 2011 at 12:47 AM ^
I agree completely. Some people on this board are turning into state esque fans where they care about state losing more than they care about UM winning... I cannot believe the actions of this board over the past 8 days.
October 23rd, 2011 at 1:02 AM ^
Let's not turn into "State esque" fans please.
October 23rd, 2011 at 1:47 AM ^
by placing us in the same division and making us have to watch what they do in order for us to go to the Rose Bowl.
Get used to it. As long as Dantonio keeps MSU good they're games are going to mean more than the OSU ones.
October 23rd, 2011 at 9:18 AM ^
October 23rd, 2011 at 12:30 AM ^
I'll give it to little brother, they fought hard and won the big ten this year. Hats off. And please don't fuck up the bowl game for the conference.
October 23rd, 2011 at 12:33 AM ^
They'll have to win out and beat Wisconsin again on a neutral field. They ain't won shit yet.
October 23rd, 2011 at 1:04 AM ^
which means Sparty would have to lose two of the following
| Sat, Oct 29 | @ #13 Nebraska | TBD |
| Sat, Nov 5 | vs Minnesota | TBD |
| Sat, Nov 12 | @ Iowa | TBD |
| Sat, Nov 19 | vs Indiana | TBD |
| Sat, Nov 26 | @ Northwestern | TBD |
I just don't see it happening.
October 23rd, 2011 at 12:53 AM ^
I strongly dislike Wisconsin and MSU, so whatever. The clock managment was hideous, as was getting to kicks blocked. I think we will see a rematch in the title game between these two teams and Wisc. will win, but MSU showed up and played well. They got some breaks with Wilson overthrows and made some plays on ST, and they may have also got a bit lucky, but they still won a big game and you have to give them credit for that.
I do think Wisconsin's defense isn't very good (probably about on par with Michigan's this year to be honest) and that may hurt them going forward into that title game. I also think MSU made vast improvements offensively over their bye week, so credit them for that. It's unfortunate that both teams couldn't lose, but whatever.
October 23rd, 2011 at 12:47 AM ^
I was at Bdubs with a bunch of Wisconsin fans. That last play was a serious shot to the soul dong. It was like Colorado all over again. Oh well. Poor couches in East Lansing. Super short sentences with periods. I feel like a Freep reporter. Or any newspaper writer. Alcohol. Too much. Bye Week. AHHHH.
October 23rd, 2011 at 12:49 AM ^
I was surprised they gave them the TD...it looked to me that he probably broke the plane, but indisputable evidence? At a minimum I expected a more protracted review...the replays they had were not great. If this were an NFL game you probably would have had something more definitive...that goal line shot had some serious shake.
October 23rd, 2011 at 1:08 AM ^
I don't think Nichols was over until--ironically--the Wiscy defenders finally push him backward but not before Nichols twisting motion breaks the plane with the ball.
October 23rd, 2011 at 12:49 AM ^
Why is it that the one time that Wisconsin could actually help Michigan, they do everything they can to give the game away? My thoughts:
1) Wisconsin deserved to lose for not going on 4th and 1 early, resulting in a blocked FG.
2) Wisconsin deserved to lose for calling timeouts rather than conidering themselves lucky to get to OT.
3) Zero MSU penalties is a crock. There was pretty clear offensive pass interference on the hail mary, and there was a false start on the shovel pass. Also, the hit on Ball looked to be helmet to helmet, followed by a facemask.
4) Since a rematch looks fairly likely, I still expect Wisconsin to win. I don't see MSU blocking two kicks (one for a TD), getting a safety and completing a hail mary all in one game again.
5) Indisputable =/= pretty sure. It looks like he may have gotten in, but the camera angles were not actually on the goal line, while two refs were standing right there.
6) MSU manages to win another big game while still not looking great. I don't know if that is luck or good defense making for ugly games. I still think that OSU, Michigan and Wisconsin left a ton of plays on the field, and beat themselves, but at the end of the day they were wins for MSU. I hate to say it, but the top teams in the B1G would be about fourth best in the SEC.
October 23rd, 2011 at 4:41 AM ^
I'm just glad that someone other than me noticed that false start on the third down conversion shovel pass. The fact that I haven't heard any Wisconsin fans whining about it made me think I was hallucinating.
October 23rd, 2011 at 12:10 PM ^
I saw it, too, but my wife was talking to me so I thought maybe I imagined it.
October 23rd, 2011 at 1:13 AM ^
October 23rd, 2011 at 1:17 AM ^
This is bad for the conference, at least in the short term. Wisconsin was the only team in the big ten that the rest of the country was trying to take seriously. After tonight, I don't know. I don't want to seem like I'm totally doom and gloom, but the team that leads our conference right now got smoked by Notre Dame. The top team in the big ten is michigan state! How can that freaking be?! Again, I just don't know what to think.
October 23rd, 2011 at 2:26 AM ^
I have no idea what just happened, so here's a picture of a bunny with a pancake on its head.
October 23rd, 2011 at 3:25 AM ^
Just like any other year when our fate is no longer in our hands, you follow the games that help/hurt your positioning in the conference.
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<br>Chill, brahs.
October 23rd, 2011 at 3:39 AM ^
October 23rd, 2011 at 3:46 AM ^
MSU has gotten 3 breaks in the past 2 years on game winning plays and this was just a pure luck play. Had this game of been at Camp Randall, Wisky would of beaten State by 30 something. I am not convinced this team is as good as they are standings wise. Yes they beat 6th ranked Wisconsin but it was also A HOME NIGHT GAME. Advantage=MSU. What did State do when they went on the road against ND? Lost 38-10. What did they do against OSU? 10-7 ugly victory. State is not a good road team thus far and has had home field advantage this season which gives them the edge. Unless this State team can play the way they did and beat Nebraska by a solid victory in Lincoln, then I will eat my words and keep my mouth closed. Do not forget they also go to Kinnick too.
October 23rd, 2011 at 5:27 AM ^
Purdue beat Illinois.
Our game against them may be a little tougher than a cupcake. Difficulty just increased by 1.
October 23rd, 2011 at 8:49 AM ^
sick watching that game. I hate MSU SO freaking much. They will still loose half of there games left. I cant wait to see them get cremed against Nebraska.
October 23rd, 2011 at 10:10 AM ^
So essentially, if anyone even makes it down this far in the thread to read this, Brian might be wrong about MSU in that their luck will regress to the mean. It seems it has not and they continue to be the luckiest team I've watched so far this year.
October 23rd, 2011 at 10:50 AM ^
Ohio State, 2002.
October 23rd, 2011 at 11:12 AM ^
It was a nice win for Sparty. Congrats to them. They're actually quite good, perhaps better than we thought, and that may mean that Michigan isn't all that bad losing to them.
Surprisingly, Wisconsin gave up more points to Sparty than we did; says something about our defense. I still think last week's game was winnable, starting with a better call on that 4th and one when they were near tying it up.
October 23rd, 2011 at 11:31 AM ^
Look, I think this tells us a few things. First, our game against MSU was not that bad, in the scheme of things. In bad weather, we had a chance to win...not much different than Wisky. Second, it says that Wisky is not world beating this year either. Third, it likely means Sparty and wisky meet again, right?
I still don't think any of these teams compete with, say, Alabama. The Big 10 is clearly down this year, again.
For us, it says that last weeks lost doesn't ruin the season, and we need to move forward. We never expected to win the Big 10 at the beginning of the year...getting to 9 wins, a good bowl game, and a bowl win should be our goal, in order to build for future success.