Early Line: Michigan +3
http://www.vegasinsider.com/college-football/odds/las-vegas/line-moveme…
The Wynn has opened up betting with Michigan State a 3 point (-110) favorite.
October 9th, 2011 at 9:53 PM ^
ND torched Sparty's secondary. Unfortunately, that is not our specialty. Maybe we can change that this week like we did against ND.
October 10th, 2011 at 8:08 AM ^
MSU held ND to 161 passing yards and 275 total yards. I think their defense is legitimately good.
October 10th, 2011 at 9:01 AM ^
I don't think the stats tell the whole story. ND shut down their own offense in the second half to avoid a(nother) epic collapse.
October 9th, 2011 at 9:25 PM ^
and they get calls. I'm confident that Mattison will find the weaknesses in their beat up OL on film this week and work to exploit them.
If we can manage to run the ball just enough to take the pressure off Denard's shoulders, we should be in great shape. I'm looking for some of those counter plays we saw against Minny to burn their aggressive front seven.
October 9th, 2011 at 9:51 PM ^
Yesterday, Denard was pretty good throwing the ball when he wasn't throwing mind bottling interceptions. If he can eliminate the mistakes by half or so, we should be able to move the ball well enough against them. I think NW has a better offense than MSU so we should be able to hold them to 21 or so.
October 9th, 2011 at 10:15 PM ^
Chazz Michael Michaels: mind bottling, isn't it?
Jimmy MacElroy: ...did you say "mind bottling?"
Chazz Michael Michaels: yeah, when things are crazy and it's like your mind is trapped in a bottle!
October 9th, 2011 at 9:59 PM ^
...like the other factor in addition to home field advantage that might tweak the line is that MSU had a bye last week which allows another week for obsessive game planning.
October 9th, 2011 at 10:09 PM ^
Sounds about right to me, especially give the public betting that will likely come on UM. Should be a good game, one that I expect to go down to the wire. I do think that UM will pull it out, though, at the end. The big difference this year is that UM's defense is at least capable of slowing down MSU's running game, which wasn't the case the past couple of years. Forcing Cousins and co. to throw the ball in lieu of running hasn't worked for them all year.
October 9th, 2011 at 10:14 PM ^
I would really appreciate if someone on this board could explain to me just how Michigan has a chance in hell of winning the MSU game. MSU is coming off a bye week in which they have undoubtably picked apart and found every weakness in Michigan's schemes on both sides of the ball. Even if the defense is able to slow down a weak in the trenches MSU offense, MSU's defense is going to dismantle Michigan's offense. Denard can't throw and Michigan's run game has been totally ineffective against MSU for the last 3 years. We are not going to win this game so don't even bother getting your hopes up. Am I being to negative? Maybe so, but I would need to hear a strong/reasonable argument for Michigan finding success on the field Saturday. If anyone has one I'm all eyes...
October 9th, 2011 at 10:24 PM ^
1. MSU has the number 1 defense (or had, or something).
1a. MSU has played no one. The one good team they played (ND) ripped them apart.
2. The assumption is that UM has held some things in reserve that MSU will not be able to gameplan for.
2a. UM has far better coaches than MSU, so the extra week's preparation is somewhat offset by this. The halftime adjustments alone give me faith that we will have a workable plan in place. That's not to say Dantonio won't try to go all "Little Giants", but the team will play well.
3. Were it not for unfortunate turnovers near the end-zone last year, that game would have been a lot closer. If Denard can minimize turnovers this year, same. Ball control is a premium.
4. MSU's O-Line is garbage, which would suggest that they will have a difficult time with offensive production. Preventing them from scoring would go a long way toward mitigating any turnovers on UM's part.
5. The run game is better this year than it was last year. The emergence of Fitz and a healthy Smith plus Denard admixed with Devin-Gardner-diamond-confusion will enable us to run.
6. Denard Robinson
I'm not saying it'll be a blowout victory, but I think it's a winnable game. I think this team is hungry, and I think MSU is overconfident. This is Michigan.
October 9th, 2011 at 11:04 PM ^
re:1A -- I love that OSU is included in "no one". Also love that it's basically true this year.
October 9th, 2011 at 10:25 PM ^
Did you see the OSU MSU game? Countdown Clock. The Seniors want it more than all of MSU. Brady will have the team ready.
October 9th, 2011 at 10:40 PM ^
Watch some 2011 spartan football bra. Every team they play has a chance.
October 9th, 2011 at 11:10 PM ^
You sir, have been outed in one post.
October 9th, 2011 at 10:56 PM ^
October 9th, 2011 at 11:03 PM ^
amirite?
October 10th, 2011 at 12:46 AM ^
October 9th, 2011 at 11:29 PM ^
UM will win this game. Of course sparty is going to crowd the box and focus on DROB and any other RB. The key will be quick timing routes that will get past sparty's LBs or cross field screens to trip up an over pursuing sparty defense. I just hope DROB doesn't have to run that much, since I don't want him banged up for the remainder of the season. If DROB comes out hot passing this will really open the running game. Sparty's offense is fairly anemic and UM should hold them under 21. I'm thinking UM 31 vs MSU 20. In any event is should be interesting game since we probably will be facing a defense equivalent to ND! Even if we lose, I'm confident UM will continue to improve through the season. I'm thinking at least 9 or 10 win season now!
October 9th, 2011 at 11:44 PM ^
If I bet on sports, I would take Michigan. Almost every player on the field Saturday has been listening to Sparty talk trash about them for the last three years. Nobody gets more mileage out of even one victory than Sparty, but sometimes the trash talking backfires.
This is going to be one of those times. I'm thinking Michigan by at least ten, and maybe even 17. Sparty's hatred will overcome their lack of talent in the first half, but Michigan should pull away in the second half, particularly the fourth quarter.
October 9th, 2011 at 11:45 PM ^
It's going to be a great game. I really wonder how the line will play out during the week with announcements of injuries and such.
October 9th, 2011 at 11:46 PM ^
The key in this game is the turnover battle. If DRob throws 3 bad picks we will not win. On D we're going to have to get to Cousins. If he has all day, he can pick Ds apart. Under pressure, he doesn't do so well.
October 10th, 2011 at 12:05 AM ^
see more Gifs
October 10th, 2011 at 12:09 AM ^
This one is tough to call. You know MSU is going to stack the box on defense to try to prevent DeRob from running rapidly. If you can't pass in a game like this you will not win. If DeRob is able to get the offense moving with some passes, then he'll be able to run because the defense won't be able to stack the box as much.
I've got to give Michigan the edge with the coaching staff. Even if MSU plays more physical and slightly tougher, I feel confident the coaching staff will come up with schemes to counter whatever MSU is doing, including putting the pressure on Cousins. And Hoke will have this team fired up like no other and will not be intimidated by Dantonio's antics.
October 10th, 2011 at 12:48 AM ^
Is the point of the Double D formation right? To get a passing threat the safeties have to respect on the field at the same time as Denard.
October 10th, 2011 at 2:18 AM ^
I think the game will be more one-sided than every one thinks. If they keep that line, Vegas is going to lose a lot of money (if that was ever possible)
October 10th, 2011 at 5:57 AM ^
To me, that means they consider the game a good each way bet. I'll buy that. It will make me root that much harder for my alma mater. It's been a while since we've tasted Sparty tears, but I would boil them first to get the Natty out.
October 10th, 2011 at 7:21 AM ^
Money. Go blue!
October 10th, 2011 at 7:54 AM ^
I expect there is a fair amount we have not shown on O or D as the Staff as pointed toward this game. UM will win. Bank it!
October 10th, 2011 at 9:58 AM ^
Looks to me like its going to be very similar to the Northwestern game this past weekend. Michigan will be battling in the first half to stop a few of Dantonio's "trick" plays and end up neck and neck. Second half i think Mattison closes up the holes on D and as long as D-Rob has a decent game its game over. Michigan wins by 10.
GO BLUE!!
October 10th, 2011 at 10:04 AM ^
What's the over under on number of times Hoke points at Dantonio?
October 10th, 2011 at 10:31 AM ^
threeve and a half.
October 10th, 2011 at 10:36 AM ^
Am I the only one who feels Michigan will win by more than a touchdown. I dont think their D can match our offense. I also think their weak O-Line will struggle against the blitz packages. I get being timid to feel this way with fear of impending collapse from the last few years. I say screw that have some confidence in these guys....they are little brother. I think its time to remind them of that.