Betting line moving towards Sparty
At this site:
http://www.vegasinsider.com/college-football/odds/las-vegas/
the opening line was listed as MSU - 3.5. When I looked earlier this morning the consensus was -4.5 and now it's at -5.
October 27th, 2013 at 1:27 PM ^
Yes, we must have a strategy of passing coupled with Gardner scrambling and forget any thought of a run game. It's risky for Gardner, especially with State's well-documented "aggression," but if he plays it safe (slides, runs out of bounds, doesn't force passes, and so on) it should be very effective.
If we see entire drives played out of the I-formation, I give up. I would love to see 95% shotgun.
October 27th, 2013 at 12:11 PM ^
October 27th, 2013 at 12:13 PM ^
October 27th, 2013 at 1:09 PM ^
October 27th, 2013 at 12:16 PM ^
October 27th, 2013 at 12:27 PM ^
In terms of final record, @ 7-6 Illinois in 2011. It's amazing how good Michigan has been at home vs. how poor on the road.
October 27th, 2013 at 12:37 PM ^
I haven't done the research to back this up, but I'd bet that we're turning the ball over more frequently on the road than at home.
October 27th, 2013 at 1:16 PM ^
I'm sure you're right Don, although we do tend to at least seem far more conservative on the road as well.
October 27th, 2013 at 3:08 PM ^
under Hoke on the road counting bowl games, 4-5 not counting. The idea of toughness probably comes into play here somewhere. . .
October 27th, 2013 at 10:24 PM ^
How do you go from 7 losses under Hoke counting bowl games, 5 losses not counting? Hoke is 1-1 in bowl games.
October 27th, 2013 at 12:33 PM ^
So far under Hoke we have not yet gone on the road and beaten a team that's finished the regular season with a winning record.
October 27th, 2013 at 7:12 PM ^
against a team with a winning record. I could be wrong. But I don't think he does.
October 27th, 2013 at 12:17 PM ^
Bet the under.
October 27th, 2013 at 12:19 PM ^
Whew, good thing I looked it up. Games aren't decided by Vegas betting lines. Crazy.
October 27th, 2013 at 12:20 PM ^
that Gardner will have more turnovers than UM has points.
October 27th, 2013 at 1:51 PM ^
your sparty friend is a moron. typical sparty grad intelligence.
October 27th, 2013 at 4:18 PM ^
for having a Sparty friend. Life is easier without them.
October 27th, 2013 at 12:20 PM ^
...now it's back to -4.5
Does anyone know if it's usual to be moving so much at this time?
October 27th, 2013 at 12:31 PM ^
October 27th, 2013 at 12:50 PM ^
October 27th, 2013 at 1:31 PM ^
October 27th, 2013 at 12:22 PM ^
October 27th, 2013 at 12:22 PM ^
I don't mind. Being the underdog is a slap in the face to the team and they should respond appropriately.
October 27th, 2013 at 12:23 PM ^
vegas wants people to take sparty, which means michigan is the bet to take...
that said if you look at history (specifically hoke on the road) and State's defense I think 5 or 6 is a fair line, I certainly wouldn't take michigan +3 or less...
jdon
October 28th, 2013 at 11:54 AM ^
October 27th, 2013 at 12:28 PM ^
Their defense is well known and well studied. Mattison has to have a master plan to disrupt their newly minted offense. Devin will lead team to score some points.
The outcome will be determined by a field goal (???!!!) in last second.
October 27th, 2013 at 12:28 PM ^
Not at all bothered by being an underdog in this one. I think I would take Michigan and that line myself actually. If it is of any interest, Massey Ratings currently (this might update in the morning as per normal for the site) gives us a 23% win probability with a median score of 28-20. TeamRankings' algorithm is a little more generous to Michigan, placing the win probability at just short of 40%.
October 28th, 2013 at 7:33 AM ^
October 27th, 2013 at 12:32 PM ^
October 27th, 2013 at 12:39 PM ^
October 27th, 2013 at 12:44 PM ^
October 27th, 2013 at 12:47 PM ^
Throw a WR screen out of the stack. Put Funch at the point of attack, he ought to be able to block the CB who is pressing. By virtue of the stack, the other two WRs should get a clean break.
I think back to 2001 when MSU has Plaxico and he went beast mode against us. Carr tried everything including placing David Terrell on Plax (he got tossed like a rag doll). I want Funch to be our Plax. He should win physical battles at the line.
October 27th, 2013 at 4:40 PM ^
so much Funch to watch. And if the announcers were worth a crap they would note the irony. I want to see several more of our receivers get in on the action.
October 27th, 2013 at 12:50 PM ^
October 27th, 2013 at 1:06 PM ^
Hoke is not on the hot seat. That's crazy talk. He's in zero jeopardy of losing his job win or lose.
If you're defining "hot seat" as "facing criticism from fans," then every coach is on the hotseat, including Beilein at many times last season (and probably this coming season as well).
October 27th, 2013 at 7:02 PM ^
"Hot Seat" probably was a bad choice of words, but maybe the "Less Cool Seat" would apply. Of course, Brady Hoke isn't going to be fired anytime soon, and I regret having said something that would imply that outcome.
But remember, Brady Hoke's mantra for Michigan's football success has been "Winning the Big Ten Championship." He's the one who set the bar that high. A loss to Michigan State next Saturday probably makes it unlikely that Michigan will be playing in the Big Ten Championship Game this season, and if that happens, after three seasons as Michigan's head football coach, Brady Hoke will have won as many Big Ten championships as his predecessor.
While I appreciate Brady Hoke's desire to measure success by Big Ten Championships, I'm concerned that his measuring device places undue pressure on a lot of young men who might have to consider themselves ether failures or something less than successes, if that goal isn't achieved.
I don't subscribe to the notion that "every kid deserves a trophy" just for competing. It makes sense to encourage the goal of winning a championship. As often as I've watched my children suffer humiliating losses in athletic competitions, I've also seen them play for championship teams; but I never considered them to be less than successful, just because their team didn't win a championship. And if Brady Hoke doesn't lead Team 134 to a Big Ten Championship this season, I wouldn't think of him or his players as being less than successful.
October 27th, 2013 at 1:39 PM ^
October 27th, 2013 at 11:25 PM ^
made mention when he was hiring Hoke that he paid particular attention to "Red Letter Games". Hoke is 4-3. And 0-3 on the road against OSU, MSU, and ND. Last year's ND game was a winnable game. We were in it against OSU, and we'll be in it in this game. IBut if we get shut out again on the road after this year against those teams, it's going to get the boss's attention.
October 27th, 2013 at 1:28 PM ^
October 27th, 2013 at 12:50 PM ^
October 27th, 2013 at 12:53 PM ^
October 27th, 2013 at 2:50 PM ^
October 27th, 2013 at 12:56 PM ^
The team and the coaches have a lot to prove in this game. No one seems to think this team is good enough to beat MSU. No one seems to think Hoke & co. can prepare well enough to win on the road (rightfully so). Im curious to see how this goes but my gut tells me that we will win this game. Lets hope my gut isn't just being a homer..
October 27th, 2013 at 1:44 PM ^
October 27th, 2013 at 4:21 PM ^
October 27th, 2013 at 1:25 PM ^
October 27th, 2013 at 1:34 PM ^
I would be surprised if we cover that spread.
October 27th, 2013 at 5:40 PM ^
October 27th, 2013 at 1:42 PM ^
October 27th, 2013 at 1:54 PM ^
Michigan as the underdog allows the "no respect" angle. I know they don't "need" more motivation, but I would imagane that the coaching staff will have no problem keeping their attention.