Rose Bowl Open Thread
The Granddaddy of them all! The 100th Rose Bowl. Number 4 Michigan State vs. Number 5 Stanford. Who are you guys taking in this game and why? I like Stanford so I wouldn't mind to see them win. I do think the perception of the Big Ten is somewhat important, but I also don't think the Big Ten being that great matters a whole lot. I'm cheering for neither team though. I am just hoping for a good quality game.
The line favors Stanford by 5.5 points. Michigan State has the best defense in the country. Stanford has one of the best ground and pound teams in the country.
F/+ Projection: Stanford 20, Michigan State 11
Win Probability: Stanford 73%
Michigan St | Stanford | |
Actual Score | 0 | 0 |
Most Likely | 13 | 17 |
Median | 13 | 17 |
Mean | 14.63 | 19.37 |
Win Probability | 36% | 64% |
January 1st, 2014 at 7:42 PM ^
1. Who is Staee's OL coach?
2. Stanford are bad.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:42 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 7:43 PM ^
Why is Al Borges in the booth for Stanford?
January 1st, 2014 at 7:43 PM ^
Stanford is playing scared offensively. Almost feels like the "Lloyd Carr School of Playing Not to Lose" up in this joint.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:44 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 7:44 PM ^
Stanford has been playing like ass. Was their offense hyped up too much, or is MSU really just completely shutting them down?
January 1st, 2014 at 7:54 PM ^
state is taking away what stanford likes to do best, run the football. novel concept, make a team beat you using secondary options.
UM let osu run all over us and let ksu own us with one WR.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:44 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 7:44 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 7:54 PM ^
Next year is going to go a decent ways toward answering the question as to whether our troubles are entirely and only due to youth and inexperience, or whether there are serious coaching deficiencies on our staff. 2015 will clinch the answer one way or the other.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:44 PM ^
doing the AL Borges "we will run dammit" thing against MSU. If they don't stop, they're done.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:44 PM ^
MSU's defense is a delight to watch, even if they are MSU.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:44 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 7:44 PM ^
Nothing keeps a program strong like an excellent defense.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:44 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 7:47 PM ^
Stanford has been ridiculously outcoached this game. It's like they didn't scout MSU at all on either side of the ball.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:53 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 7:47 PM ^
Well I certainly didn't think Stanford would do this. They have to run something other than run the ball straight up the middle every play. What's confusing is that when they pass, it usually goes for a good gain.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:48 PM ^
Every time I watch the msu defense I get jealous. EVERY TIME!
January 1st, 2014 at 7:48 PM ^
MSU's turnovers are why this game is tied. MSU is just flat out better than Stanford.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:48 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 7:49 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 7:49 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 7:50 PM ^
Cook makes stupid plays here and there but he is the polar opposite of Maxwell. He is a gamer. Maxwell puts up a ton of yardage but doesnt win. Cook is the opposite. Their heralded freshman Mr. Terry is going to have a tough time unseating Cook next year.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:50 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 7:55 PM ^
He also recruited and coached most of the players on UM's national championship team. I think he knows what he is doing.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:59 PM ^
He was also way younger then.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:50 PM ^
How many times has Musburger said that Lippett is from Detroit.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:51 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 7:50 PM ^
They are playing at such a higher level than we are. Crazy they were 15 PI calls against Notre Dame away from the national championship.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:54 PM ^
My personal opinion is MSU is the 3rd best team in the nation. They have a defense to play with anyone and their offense need only be competent versus most teams and their offense is better than compent now. Cook has a NFL arm if he makes some bonehead plays and Langford has turned into a hell of a back and they have a very good OL. I think FSU would beat Sparty by about 14-17 and Alabama the same. MSU would slow down Auburn as they are built on the run. Everyone else I think MSU can beat. It's just their year, they are a complete team with their offense now churning. And they got better as the year went by. and a top 5 coaching staff in the nation. They'd smoke ND by 20 if they replayed now.
Next year they take a step back on defense to "only" top 10, and the offense loses a few OL but they rotate 8. They wont be going anywhere in a bad Big 10.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:56 PM ^
That sounds about right, though I think people are discounting how many players they are losing on defense. 6 of 12 starters is a big hit, and even if they cycle guys in I wouldn't expect quite the level of results. top-15 defense probably, but that could be the difference between 8 and 10 wins. Still, a good team is going to be in EL for the next couple of years.
January 1st, 2014 at 8:00 PM ^
Top 15 defense is something we haven't had in years. I would take that all day. They might not be quite as good next year but they'll only reload.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:50 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 7:51 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 7:51 PM ^
It's always 3rd down that kills the Stanford D.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:51 PM ^
I'm just amazed that so few teams have been able to expose MSU's extremely aggressive defense. One good WR should be able to force MSU out of single coverage, but teams just keep running into 9 man boxes over and over again.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:54 PM ^
To be fair, they really haven't had to play good WRs that often. And that pass rush makes it hard for QBs to get enough time to find those WRs.
January 1st, 2014 at 8:00 PM ^
It is a misconception they have a great pass rush - that their one weak point. Calhoun is the only guy who gets pressure really. They completely take away the run and take up passing lanes. Which makes their results that much more remarkable - because you'd think it was reliant on pass rush. Both corners are very good so it gives their line extra time to get to the QB. Of their 3 levels of defense their LBs are #1, DB #2 and line last. But its a great run stuffing line.
January 1st, 2014 at 8:04 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 7:52 PM ^
HAte to say it, but Sparty is really really good.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:53 PM ^
No coaching turnover.
That is the difference.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:53 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 7:56 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 8:07 PM ^
Narduzzi to be DC at UConn? Uh why?
January 1st, 2014 at 8:11 PM ^
like a month ago man
January 1st, 2014 at 7:53 PM ^
Every single third down is a wide open guy in the middle of the field for msu.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:56 PM ^
Cook looked the seafty off on that TD, wow. Most college QBs don't do that as well as a senior.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:57 PM ^