Predictions about this Week's Game v. Sparty
Mates,
Like everyone here, I was very glad to see so much of our team's play last night against a highly ranked opponent. The game plan, multiple players at QB, shut-down defense, so much to love. That said, we're going to EL this week and give Dantonio his due, he can coach and his hate (and steroid) infused team is going to be flying high after a dramatic win in Happy Valley. Not going to be easy.
So the question is pretty simple: What is your prediction for this week's game vs. MSU?
bonus check out question: Would you be willing to contribute to a fund to save EL furniture from the fires of hades that will happen, win or lose, on Saturday?
Go Blue,
XM
October 14th, 2018 at 9:05 AM ^
This is the right take IMO. Sparty saved their season yesterday, which was on the verge of disaster. They have renewed confidence now, going into their Super Bowl at home. Even when we beat them under Dantonio, it's not by a lot. I see no way for us to win at their place by more than a TD. I think we win next week, by 3, but if we lost again, I'm sorry to say It wouldn't shock me.
Last point--anyone on this board that doesn't give Dantonio his due for what he is, a great coach, is delusional. We don't have to like him to acknowledge facts.
October 14th, 2018 at 9:35 AM ^
Are you two serious? The talent difference between these two teams is HUGE! Mick will have his team ready for two offensive series, maybe three. After that, the Michigan specific plays will be gone and the norm will return. At that point, Michigan's talent, heft, and offensive diversity will take its toll. We'll see the offense continue to possess the ball at non-normal rates, scoring on most drives - just like last night. This isn't the game 1 team anymore...
You're entitled to your opinion, and its a somewhat reasonable take, so I won't down vote. But jeez...
October 14th, 2018 at 10:01 AM ^
I with you...
The talent differential is as significant as it has been in a long time...but that's not really all that new. What is different is I think UM is as motivated for this game as Sparty. Also, I think Hebert has this team in much better physical condition than in years past and that counters much of Sparty's roid advantage.
And finally...I'm taking Harbaugh and this staff (top to bottom this is beginning to look like the best staffs UM has had in a very long time) over Dantonio his minions.
Sparty will have their tricks and they will have their dirty play...and that might make this closer than otherwise..but I just don't think it will be enough to overcome all of the other advantages UM brings to this game.
October 14th, 2018 at 10:11 AM ^
The difference is we have a QB and an Oline now. We lacked both for a decade which is why most of the games with them were so close. That won't happen anymore as the talent gulf between us is huge.
October 14th, 2018 at 12:04 PM ^
We say this every...single....year. We have more talent. Doesn’t seem to matter.
October 14th, 2018 at 12:27 PM ^
The QB situation is different this year...and that matters.
October 14th, 2018 at 1:40 PM ^
Because, the one area that MSU has been better is QB. This year, Michigan is much better in the QB area. QB is the most important position on a football team. QB cost Michigan most of the losses in the past two years. I am NOT saying it was always costly mistakes by the QB. But lack of ability to put points on board was always leaving defense on field way too often due to so many 3 and outs and lack of running game due to no respect for passing game. This years team? Go ahead and load box and Michigan will torch you with passing and a mobile QB.
October 14th, 2018 at 2:22 PM ^
Go back to RCMB.
October 14th, 2018 at 3:23 PM ^
Raw talent doesn't matter much. Developed talent matters a lot.
October 14th, 2018 at 6:24 PM ^
Sounds like the same crap we all spew about Sparty every year. And then every year we either get out-coached or just out-muscled and lose, wondering how this could’ve happened.
The talent differential means next to nothing in this game. That’s why Dantonio has been able to beat some great teams that have far more pure talent (OSU, Stanford, Baylor, Michigan). MSU’s entire two deep could be walk-ons and I’d still think this game wasn’t much better than a coin flip.
October 14th, 2018 at 8:54 AM ^
2-8 in the last 10 years. two and..................EIGHT
October 14th, 2018 at 9:04 AM ^
good morning mr. troll.
i see you like math. can you tell us what these numbers are: 69-36-5?
i knew you could.
sorry about those SAT scores.
October 14th, 2018 at 9:11 AM ^
October 14th, 2018 at 9:49 AM ^
It's almost like Michigan's last two coaches sucked and got fired. Michigan sucked at football. MSU just sucks.
October 14th, 2018 at 10:15 AM ^
Come on now... they don’t just suck, they also turn their backs on helpless rape victims.
October 14th, 2018 at 10:21 AM ^
Don't even get me started on all the "littering". There has never been a better match than MSU/Dantorio/EL. All shit. All the time.
October 14th, 2018 at 12:13 PM ^
I thought we didn't like living in the past Jimbo? Good to see the Sparty fans crawling out of their cardboard boxes again, although that week of silence post NW was refreshing. I'd rather have a little shit talk leading up to the game. It will make the win that much more satisfying.
October 14th, 2018 at 6:13 PM ^
3-8 in last 11.
10-10 last 20.
69-36-5 overall
October 14th, 2018 at 8:55 AM ^
The game will be tougher than it should be. I think we win if the game is ref’d like our last two. I think we lose if it’s ref’d like OSU 2016.
Thankfully, Mike has had to break out the Michigan plays a few times already this season.
October 14th, 2018 at 9:05 AM ^
Prediction: Michigan 16, Sparty 14. Will EASILY be Michigan's toughest game until Ohio State.
Once again, expect Sparty to make this game their "whole season." Expect Sparty to play like coked-up berserkers the entire game.
Could be a tough game to watch. Feels like either UM wins in a squeaker, or UM loses confidence due to one nasty Sparty play, and UM gets crushed.
October 14th, 2018 at 12:35 PM ^
Feels like either UM wins in a squeaker, or UM loses confidence due to one nasty Sparty play, and UM gets crushed.
Have you been watching college football at all this year? There doesn't exist a "nasty Sparty play" that would make this Michigan team "lose confidence," but there certainly are nasty Michigan plays that will make party lose confidence and get crushed like they did against Northwestern.
Only one of these teams has shown that it can play with anybody, and it's not Michigan State. Michigan wins this by double digits.
October 14th, 2018 at 12:36 PM ^
You seem to be alone in your opinion if what fans on the radio are saying. A loss to Sparty will make a win against a 15th ranked Wisconsin irrelevant. A loss to Sparty makes game against OSU almost irrelevant.
Spartans have to win to remain relevant.
We have to win to remain relevant.
October 14th, 2018 at 9:15 AM ^
I predict Tarik Black plays this game.
October 14th, 2018 at 9:18 AM ^
If we play like first half - we lose.
If we play like 2nd half - we win.
October 14th, 2018 at 9:59 AM ^
Michigan was up 13-7 at the half against a much better team. If Michigan comes out against sparty at the same level as that first half then we would absolutely win. Extrapolate that out and its 26 points, Sparty isn't going to score 4 td's on this team.
October 14th, 2018 at 11:32 AM ^
Wisconsin is not really much better than State. I think State is actually a little better than Wiscy and if anyone knows me I always think State is over rated. If you listen to our player interviews after the game they knew they were going to blow out Wiscy, they watched film and knew they were bad. I am starting to think Harbaugh held Gary out because he knew he wouldn't need him, which is a heck of a ballsy move.
October 14th, 2018 at 1:04 PM ^
That’s quite an intriguing point total to be stuck at.
October 14th, 2018 at 3:32 PM ^
Wisconsin is really much better than Sparty. Wisky's S&P+ rating is 13.2 (88th %tile), Sparty is 8.3 (76th %tile). Sparty has a slightly better defense but a much worse offense.
October 14th, 2018 at 11:36 AM ^
What if we play the first half like the first half and the second like the second, do we tie?
What if we play the first quarter like the third quarter? Should we play the first 2 minutes of each half just like the last 2?
Does the first half ever set up the second? Is it better to start fast or finish strong?
What's the sound of one handing clapping?
What created the Big Bang?
Was it a Ben Mason hit?
October 14th, 2018 at 9:19 AM ^
One other point of note. Before the season began, there was an interview with Devin Bush. It is on Youtube. He says "I hate Michigan State". You could tell there was a special contempt for MSU. It was then, that I knew that we would win game. Here is a guy from Florida that gets it. More importantly, here is a leader on the team and defense that has revenge for Michigan State running through his veins even before season started. This is what is needed and been missing for years. MSU hates Michigan more than any other team on their schedule. Now, there is venom for MSU like in the days of Bo. That is what is needed to shift this rivalry back to dominance for good guys. Michigan will almost always have more talent than MSU but MSU always had the emotional edge since the "little brother" comment. Well, I think that disrespect card has been finally overplayed. Michigan respects MSU. Now they hate them as much as MSU hates Michigan. Emotional edge for MSU is gone. MIchigan starts to win this tough game most years and the sports world in Michigan is once again back on it's proper axis.
Go Blue and God Bless their maize and blue cotton pickin hearts!
October 14th, 2018 at 9:20 AM ^
Blanket Felton Davis. They will need him to have a huge game in order to win. Do that, and get pressure on Lewerke in spite of all the holding they will do, and we'll win comfortably.
October 14th, 2018 at 9:44 AM ^
They were holding the hell out of PSU yesterday and were not getting called for much of anything, at PSU. Scares me to think of what they’ll get away with at home.
October 14th, 2018 at 9:21 AM ^
I just consider one thing, how aware is the locker room of the 1-6 record v rivals?
Not to mention, when you turn revenge into a whole tour, you really focus on giving each city the respect they deserve.
Heck, IMO they want this game more than the OSU game, and they're going to get it.
October 14th, 2018 at 9:22 AM ^
1. MSU will march down the field and score on its first drive.
2. Some dipshit color guy on a TV broadcast will say that the Spartans "line up and hit you in the mouth."
3. Felton Davis will beat excellent coverage for a few jump balls.
4. Lewerke will run for first downs three times on broken plays on third-and-long.
5. I will throw up in my mouth at least once.
Score? No idea ... not much would surprise me.
October 14th, 2018 at 9:23 AM ^
Felton Davis is an excellent receiver. He is a difference-maker in MSU’s passing game. I would not be surprised to see him break a couple of big plays.
Film of last night’s game will also show that the jet sweep/reverse is still effective against Michigan. Mike LOVES that play, and will use it.
Lewerke is a good player, not a great one, but he is capable of clutch throws when he needs to be. He played with ice water in his veins on last drive against PSU (apart from the dropped interception that would have sealed the win for Field Goal Franklin’s squad). If next week’s game comes down to a similar opportunity for Sparty, I wouldn’t bet against him.
October 14th, 2018 at 9:27 AM ^
The "O" line of MSU is not anything close to that of Wisconsin. Wisconsin is the BEST Oline in B1G and one of the best in country. There will be at least three of those Olineman in NFL. The run plays that worked last night were due in large part to a great Oline against Michigan D. Those plays will be blown up like Marylands plays were as MSU does not have the horses up front to seal blocks.
October 14th, 2018 at 9:35 AM ^
That’s possible, but MSU’s OL is getting healthier (or seems to be). Yesterday’s edition didn’t look like the tire fire that was on the field against Northwestern. If they get a bit healthier before next Saturday (possible, even likely) they may not be as good as Bucky’s, but they’ll be better than Maryland’s by a fair margin.
October 14th, 2018 at 9:43 AM ^
I'm with Bluepalooza - those jet sweeps last night worked because Taylor went through the DT's for 5-7 yards on a bunch of plays in a row. Michigan's LB's were crashing hard, then BOOM! Jet sweep gets the corner. We did it to them all night, too.
Those plays won't work nearly as well for MSU because their OL and RB's suck, compared to UW's. There'll be no reason to crash down on an LJ Smith threat...
October 14th, 2018 at 12:03 PM ^
Unless it’s a big RPS win, I don’t think the jet sweep is effective when we have Gary. IIRC, Maryland has jet sweep threat every play and got nothing really until Gary went out. Either Gary or Chase can delay it long enough to allow help from Bush or one of the safeties. I’d bet they ran those sweeps away from Chase tonight and our other DEs aren’t experienced or talented enough to know what to do.
October 14th, 2018 at 9:24 AM ^
Actually, their win at Penn State sets up nicely. Lewerke, in my estimation, throws a lot of risky balls, and PSU dropped several sure interceptions. That won’t happen next week. I predict at least three interceptions.
October 14th, 2018 at 9:48 AM ^
Good point. The one PSU corner single-handedly cost them the game. He dropped a pick thrown right at him, then a few plays later he was guy that fell in the endzone for the Sparty TD.
October 14th, 2018 at 10:02 AM ^
just like x guy who missed a block and didn't allow for a td, y guy who missed a catch and didn't get a td, or z defender that missed a read/tackle and gave up a td?
Football is a team sport, no one player ever single-handedly costs a team a game.
October 14th, 2018 at 9:26 AM ^
Since no one else has posted this that I see.
![C-EUKtBVwAEfWki[1].jpg](/sites/default/files/users/user27946/C-EUKtBVwAEfWki%5B1%5D.jpg)
October 14th, 2018 at 9:27 AM ^
Prediction: pain for Sparty
October 14th, 2018 at 9:35 AM ^
30-17 M
October 14th, 2018 at 9:42 AM ^
Until we win a big game on the road, I’m leery. I don’t think msu is that good, I’m still leery of our offensive game calling that we won’t try and run 100 dives up the middle repeatedly. I expect a dog fight, we don’t play well on the road, maybe that changes
October 14th, 2018 at 9:51 AM ^
23-21 MSU. Not because I think MSU is more talented or better coached, but solely because it's on the road. Yesterday's win was great, but home games haven't been the issue.
Sparty's win at PSU was a nice gift to Harbaugh & staff—there won't be any problem with overconfidence and not taking MSU seriously enough.
October 14th, 2018 at 10:02 AM ^
I said this last week about UW, also...
Michigan's offense has been controlling the ball (ToP) for LONG stretches each game, to the point of doubling up on most teams. I don't care how good the opponents offense is, if they're not on the field, they can't score. And when they do get on the field, they have to face a Don Brown defense that will - most likely - be the most athletically talented, and FAST, defense they've seen all year. They cannot depend on scoring with every possession, but they're almost going to have to. And they better score early - Brown shuts you the fuck down after halftime.
MSU will be sky high (literally?) at home, and will have a Michigan specific package ready to go. They'll score on one, maybe two, of their first few drives, but that's it. They are totally dependent on Lewerke doing things. Feel free to bring your one-dimensional team against Don Brown... Defensively, MSU just doesn't have enough horses to shut down the vast array of weaponry and play calls for more than a drive, or two. PSU, as high octane as they are, does not have the amount of playmakers that Michigan has. They need big plays to make things happen, Michigan does not. Michigan will grind you into dust - eating the clock as they go, so you don't have a chance to come back. Ask Wisconsin!
I just hope that Harbaugh keeps the gas pedal on the floor. Don't pull into the garage when you're up 31 in the 4th. Make it a 42 point win...
October 14th, 2018 at 10:04 AM ^
It’s going to come down to a couple of plays. Our best bet is to to what we did to Wisconsin...run the ball, set up quality play action. Wisconsin was able to take away our deep ball very effectively, which I don’t think we were anticipating. Shea was able to hit the middle routes for chunks instead of forcing it long. Well done, and the same may be required for Sparty.
October 14th, 2018 at 10:05 AM ^
MSU's OL has mostly been trash because of injuries to Chewins, Jarvis, Beedle, and I believe one other starter I'm forgetting. Last night Chewins (their best) seemed back to full strength.
Im expecting Jarvis back this week (not insider info).