MSU Snowflakes

Submitted by MGlobules on

This will be your repository for thoughts about how MSU looked today, and how the game will play out next week. Of special interest: whether Lewerke and his various receivers are likely to have much success against our D. 

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LSAClassOf2000

September 30th, 2017 at 8:52 PM ^

It's hard to gauge this game, IMHO - Michigan State really doesn't look intimidating, but then again, Kirk Ferentz brought the safest gameplan possible to East Lansing and it blew chunks really. So, I sit here and think to myself, "Is thatIowa or Michigan State?" and come to the conclusion that we should definitely be on guard....just in case it is MSU. 

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 130507

Ty Butterfield

September 30th, 2017 at 9:19 PM ^

Staee will be ready and this game will be very tough. Staee doesn't look terrible and it would be a mistake to act like this game won't be competitive. Interested to see what Don Brown comes up with.

Joined: 09/07/2009

MGoPoints: -81685

Leonhall

September 30th, 2017 at 9:38 PM ^

I expect us to win, there's something about our offense that makes me worry some. Hope I'm wrong; I think the only way we lose is 3 turnovers or something

Joined: 06/14/2012

MGoPoints: 16430

TheCool

September 30th, 2017 at 10:02 PM ^

Our defense is pretty disciplined in their rush lanes so I wouldn't expect Lewerke to have a significant impact running. The most likely thing to give MSU a chance is turnovers. They're secondary should not stop the UM passing game. Their o line is terrible. Their front 7 is maybe ok. Misdirection plays caught our over aggressive defense on a few plays last week, but they caught on and I wouldn't expect that to be an issue. Michigan will win comfortably, 3+ scores, unless there are turnover and/or special teams issues.

Joined: 07/13/2011

MGoPoints: 7120

taistreetsmyhero

September 30th, 2017 at 10:14 PM ^

It always is.

If Michigan under DG could put a huge scare into OSU, MSU can do the same to us. Especially given the question marks on offense.

I think we will roll, but wouldn't be shocked by a low scoring slug fest.

Joined: 08/08/2012

MGoPoints: 39396

MichiganForever

September 30th, 2017 at 10:34 PM ^

Im predicting a slug fest. Their defense is stout and i dont trust our offense yet. Its hard for me to imagine thrm scoring more than 10 points but some fluke shit could happen amd if we turn the ball over and give them short fields we could be in trouble.

Joined: 03/23/2013

MGoPoints: 1522

UMForLife

September 30th, 2017 at 10:36 PM ^

Michigan played OSU toe to toe and should have won the game last year. It was on the road and Speight was not 100%. This year team is not too far off. MSU is no way near as good as OSU last year. JT is a way better athlete than MSU QB. I do not expect this to be close. JOK is going to surprise everyone.

Joined: 11/04/2013

MGoPoints: 63393

allintime23

September 30th, 2017 at 11:19 PM ^

If you want to be scared and act like this team is better than it is go for it. If we have a close game with state next week we are nowhere near where we need to be and that reality. I don't think notre dame gets eight wins this year and they could have beat state by 40 if they hadn't taken their foot off the gas. State can not run the ball. They have a very soft pass rush and a secondary that can be exploited. Their offense will be the worst offense we've played this year.

Joined: 09/21/2009

MGoPoints: 15225

denardogasm

October 1st, 2017 at 1:55 AM ^

I think we'll wipe the floor with them, but also think we're nowhere near where we need to be. The youth is hurting us plain and simple. Last year's team would beat this year's team by 4 touchdowns, and would have about a plus 150 point differential at this point against the teams we've played. I'm always an optimist about Michigan football, especially under Harbaugh, but this is just not the year. PSU worries me and I hate that because Franklin. MSU sucks though. We'll win handily Saturday.

Joined: 09/11/2011

MGoPoints: 10688

GordonG

October 1st, 2017 at 4:01 AM ^

..going to make us soft while Sparty just got tougher slugging out a win. Our OL is going to be exposed leaving OKorn to get mugged. Bush will have a rough time as well being under sized in the middle. I don’t see us winning this one... Sparty 17 MIch. 13

Joined: 11/13/2016

MGoPoints: 2969

allintime23

October 1st, 2017 at 7:23 AM ^

But then Michigan goes into Breslin and wins by 10 and continues to completely dominate the basketball rivalry. Michigan goes on to win the big ten out right but loses to Minnesota in the big ten tournament finale. Later that night we get the three seed in a Midwest bracket and look middle Tennessee right in the eyes. We roll them the next Friday setting up a match up with Georgetown. mAR steps to the plate and scores 22 and we advance to meet up with our old pals duke. The world puts us on blast and picks duke but they're wrong again as we make. Late fourth quarter run and JB bears Coach K again. There's no time to rest though and we find ourselves in the cross hairs of the scummy Baylor bears. We show them that neon is truly done and beat them down 80-60. Final Four, we're back!!! Who you got for us? Oh, Kansas? No problem. We won in over time and await none other than our little B. Izzo commends JB in the week leading up to the great game. He's right too. Michigan ROLLS State again and win their second national title in men's basketball. The dominance continues on the greatest stage of them all....

Joined: 09/21/2009

MGoPoints: 15225

PutInPeters18

October 1st, 2017 at 4:18 AM ^

Unnecessarily detailed game predictions: - Speight is healthy and gets the start. - Sparty blitzes a crap ton and manages to disorient Michigan’s offense for the first half, Michigan goes into half up 7-6 after two Sparty field goals, and a 43-yard Chris Evans touchdown run. - Second half, Michigan O starts to move the ball, settles for some field goals to go into the 4th up 13-6. - 4th Quarter, Lewerke manages to scramble around and find an open Receiver for a big TD, brings it to 13-13. - Michigan puts together a long touchdown drive, 20-13. - Sparty responds with a field goal w/ 4:00 mins left, 20-16. - Michigan kicks one more field goal with 1:23 left, 23-16. - Lewerke’s pass is picked off by Lavert Hill to seal the game. Hail to the Victors.

Joined: 12/27/2014

MGoPoints: 508

bluepalooza

October 1st, 2017 at 8:03 AM ^

This is a rivalry game with one of the teams having an extra week to prepare.  The 17.5 point is a little rich considering Michigan's offensive woes and it being a rivaly.  That said, I think our defense MAY pitch a shut out or at worst give up 10 pts. I can see us going 4 - 3 - 4 for most of game and really putting MSU in a lot of 3rd and longs. Lewerke will see a lot of Michigan D in his grille on every drop back.  In short, the Michigan D should keep them under 200 yds.  Don't think for a second that other B1G coaches didn't learn from the Purdue mis-direction plays.  Expect to see a little trickeration from MSU which could lead to 1 TD.

If Okorn starts, Michigan should put up between 24 and 38 points.  If Harbaugh is half the coach we think he is, we will have a game plan for 8 in box and a weak MSU secondary.  This may be a coming out party for DPJ.  I can see a couple of over the top TD's due to MSU cheating to stop run. Now, this is all predicated on the Okorn we seen against Purdue.  If we get that Okorn, this game will not be that close by end of 3rd quarter.

There is so much going in the favor of Michigan.  They take the rivalry very serious, so they will be focused.  They have 1 extra week to prepare.   They will be at home with a fan base who has been drinking for 7+ hours and the novelty of a night game so it will be loud.  A defense that is scary good so lots of celebrating behind the MSU offensive line.  Again, if Purdue Okorn shows up, this could turn into a comfortable win early into second half.

Joined: 09/02/2017

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LeCheezus

October 1st, 2017 at 9:16 AM ^

Iowa isn't great, nor are they bad. They're just Iowa- 3-0 or 2-1 out of conference and 5-4 or 6-3 in conference for a competent but not scary 8-4 team. They will play out of their minds once or twice a season at home at night, and lay one or two eggs on the road. Every 4-5 years the schedule/roster stars will align and they'll go 11-1. Kirk Ferentz just strikes me as a sound but incredibly stubborn coach. Iowa is sitting in cover 2 with LBs dropping in shallow zones and rushing 4- MSU knows they will do this from the start and gets two fairly easy early TDs. Iowa also set 3-4 possessions on fire starting from inside their 10 and playing very conservatively. I just don't get why teams play to the MSU D's strength- you can't just run inside/outside zone with 8 guys in the box and a 9th frequently moving down late. MSU showed a cover 1 or cover 0 multiple times and Iowa didn't audible into any slants or posts to take advantage. You have to throw the ball against MSU - I would think everyone knows this by now.

Joined: 06/11/2017

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I Love Lamp

October 1st, 2017 at 9:28 AM ^

MSU has given our fan base this over the better part of the decade. I have a pretty severe case myself. But if you throw this version of Sparty in say, an Indiana uniform, we’d be feeling pretty damn good about next week. I’m counting on this game to be tough; rivalry games tend to be closer than expected, but this MSU team is hardly impressive. I’m thinking a 23-10 type of game that isn’t too much in doubt. Outside of disaster, I just don’t see how MSU scores.

Joined: 07/15/2014

MGoPoints: 8306

93Grad

October 1st, 2017 at 10:14 AM ^

People have written Sparty off way too soon. A lot of posters here thought they would have another losing season, but they could easily win 7 games this year. More importantly this game is their Super Bowl every year. Their roided up front 7 will be looking to hurt people as they always do and our offense is hardly a sure thing. If I had more confidence in our passing game I could see us beating them by 20+ Now I see this as a close game throughout. We should still win by 7-10 but a few bad breaks could leave us vulnerable.

Joined: 07/26/2011

MGoPoints: 13556

yooper_blue

October 1st, 2017 at 11:38 AM ^

Kinda OT, but how much do you guys expect tickets to go down closer to the game, if at all? Tickets are up to about 280 with fees on stubhub right now. I am willing to pay 200-215 but 280 is a little out of my price range.

Joined: 09/23/2012

MGoPoints: 1402

markusr2007

October 1st, 2017 at 2:58 PM ^

seems really high. Its only there because of the defense. And sometimes thats enough.

MSU’s QB cant run on this UM defense. Not like Lewerke has last 4 games

But MSU will be high emotionally for this game. It is a less talented team. They will need help from Michigan to win.

And unfortunately Michigan’s offense is sloppy, behind and not crisp. The offense line of Michigan has to play better.

Joined: 10/21/2008

MGoPoints: 19372

KC135R-87

October 1st, 2017 at 6:00 PM ^

Haven't heard this anywhere:

"our chances would improve if Speight were able start but just reported that he has 3 broken vertebrae and is finished."

Joined: 02/06/2015

MGoPoints: 141