Rittenberg Picks Sparty In A Close One

Submitted by brewandbluesaturdays on

Rittenberg says sparty wins on a Dan Conroy field goal in the waning moments...

He says Denard will get his, but Cousins will "continue his second half brilliance" and Sparty comes out on top 37-35.

I keep trying to be objective and I see our flaws and where we are going to struggle I just think that, there's too much on the line for us and we find a way to bring the Bunyan back to AA. Link below.

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/category/_/name/michigan-wolverines

OSUMC Wolverine

October 7th, 2010 at 9:19 AM ^

I feel badly for those who are anxiously waiting for us to fall off a cliff this year.  Even when we win this week people will say Sparty wasnt a real team either...when does it stop??

JonSobel

October 7th, 2010 at 9:44 AM ^

Otherwise, the MSM and rival fans will be able to claim they were at least a little right about DRob failing at some point (although my guess is that it won't be DRob's scoring that loses us a game - I'm looking at you defense).

I will say it gets funnier listening to them every week because it has turned from argument rebuttal into passionate hope that he will fail or get injured before he takes the field against their team.  I live in Columbus and the fear and loathing is almost visible in the media and fanbase.  For a lot of them, the game at the end of the season has gone from foregone conclusion to "they might actually have a shot at this".  And it's beautiful.

Not a Blue Fan

October 7th, 2010 at 12:34 PM ^

Frankly, Denard Robinson would not fit into our offense very well. All of the things you say about TP? Yeah, they're true about DR, too. Your offense doesn't make those flaws as obvious. So, to be honest, it's a wash as far as I'm concerned.

That being said, DR fits really well into your offense and he's having an insane season. I just don't really see any reason to drool over a guy that wouldn't fit into our scheme.

OSUMC Wolverine

October 7th, 2010 at 12:53 PM ^

I dont think TUOOS's offense has a real identity right now.  There is more talent in the two deep than most of the rest of the Big Ten combined and yet they look above average at best and at times its almost painful to watch.  It seems like a horrible waste of talent and its unfortunate for TUOOS.  Can you imagine how downright scary it will be when the winning that started this year gains a foothold for Michigan's recruiting and Michigan can field comparable recruiting classes in UM's system?

Purkinje

October 7th, 2010 at 9:19 AM ^

If we can take it into overtime on the road last year, we can definitely ground Sparty into a bloody mush on a sunny afternoon in Ann Arbor this year before the end of regulation.

steelymax

October 7th, 2010 at 10:16 AM ^

That's what I was thinking, too. Granted, last year's game has little impact this year, but it's the most recent matchup we have. So between Sparty's offense/defense and Michigan's offense/defense - what has improved the most since then? I'm going out on a limb to suggest it's Michigan's offense. By a mile.

GunnersApe

October 7th, 2010 at 9:20 AM ^

It's their first true road test and it's not in Bloomington or West Lafayette. It's going to be in front of the largest crowd in CFB history. Where is the Sparty hate thread for the day damn it.

GBOD79

October 7th, 2010 at 9:23 AM ^

Seems fair. Since nobody here is predicting a blowout UM win, it seems reasonable that Sparty could win a nailbiter. Close games can usually go either way. 

mxair23

October 7th, 2010 at 9:23 AM ^

Better kick that field goal as time reaches triple zero! Their defense would get gashed just like Indiana. I say we win 42-31. A first half rampage by the wolverines protects us from 2 scores by sparty in the second half making it a 35-31 game in the fourth ending with Denard scoring a final touchdown late in the 4th. GO BLUE!! DENARD FOR HE16MAN!!

Tater

October 7th, 2010 at 9:29 AM ^

...but if he was the be-all and end-all of predicting the outcome of games, he would make so much money gambling that he wouldn't need to write for a blog.  And he would buy some designer glasses.

BigBlue02

October 7th, 2010 at 7:25 PM ^

Hurr Hurr Walmart wolverine. It is pretty sad that in all of your fandom and bleeding green and white that you are only msu fan #4320. I bet all 4319 before you said the exact same thing. Let's try to be original before you get the banhammer. I bet you feel really silly knowing that with that half semester of community college credit, Mr Walmart wolverine probably makes a better contribution to society than 90% of your alums. Go green.

Dan TrueBlue

October 7th, 2010 at 10:33 AM ^

Both teams have a lot on the line.  We have our past, they have their future.  We're playing for redemption, stability, and signs of the turnaround to come; they're playing for a shot at the title and a larger foothold in the state of Michigan.

But if I were a gambling man, I'd go with Phil Steele (he picked Michigan) over Adam Rittenberg.

2014

October 7th, 2010 at 9:46 AM ^

I can't think of any outcome that would surprise me given our team's makeup. The analytics say we win a close one, so I expect to win, but that's a pretty reasonable guess by Rittenberg. Especially considering he hearts MSU pretty big time.

HeismanPose

October 7th, 2010 at 10:04 AM ^

Rittenberg picked us over UConn 28-27 and also picked us over ND 31-30. 

So, yeah...this all means nothing anyway, except anyother guy thinks it will be a close, high scoring game.  What else is new?

Firstbase

October 7th, 2010 at 10:06 AM ^

...needs to mix up the defensive play calling. If Cousins starts to drop back with play action as anticipated, we should gamble a bit and do a little blitzing -- maybe a safety or a corner off the end.

Grahambino

October 7th, 2010 at 10:12 AM ^

I'll tell you what I"m thinking here, I think Michigan's defense is going to have a good day. Maybe not by a good defenses standards, but I think they'll step it up in this rivalry game. I think with Robinsons (greg) butt on the line he's going to do everything in his power to keep his job, and that includes putting more pressure on the QB. This 3-3-5 garbage isn't getting nearly enough guys in the backfield. You figure if they bring out their big tight end set we're going to get double teamed on every one of our guys allowing them to run through some major holes.

I like the under dog role, and hope our team uses it to it's advantage. It's not going to get any easier next week, so we need to get it done this week. Michigan wins 45 - 42 on a last second field goal by Broke-the choke-heiuzen....if that's how you spell it. The FG will be a chip shot.

jtmc33

October 7th, 2010 at 10:21 AM ^

I just don't see Cousins playing at an elite QB level this Saturday (which is what he has to do to keep the play-action working and balancing the run-pass)

UM's run defense is impressive (statistically) and we'll find out this weekend if it is a real stat or just a mirage based on opponents concentrating on the pass (UConn tried to run and fails; UMass was successful --- everyone else concentrated on the passing game).  Dantonio will not sacrifice his run game for the pass - but - the pass needs to work to keep the ground game moving.  They have the WRs, they just need the QB to play at a top level.

MSU is #10 int he Big 10 in sacks allowed and turnovers.  I think Martin blows up their O-line keeping most running plays in check; more pressure is on Cousins and the passing game; Cousins doesn't do well in pressure situations.

Cousins 2 picks and UM's 4 sacks allows the D to finally take some credit for a win.

UM 35   MSU 24.

backusduo

October 7th, 2010 at 10:35 AM ^

His prediction doesn't even make sense. MSU is going to start slow but then all of a sudden run down Denards offense? They'll be down 3 TDs by then and you'd have more chance of catching Denatd from behind then catching up to this offense regardless of who plays LB for you.
I get it. They still don't understand how good this offense is... but they will.

TESOE

October 7th, 2010 at 11:18 AM ^

Against IU and ND, when it was time to put them away early we didn't get it done.  In the second half the game was on.  To get up by 2 or more scores in the 1st half calls for execution, up front and handling the ball.

Getting Schilling and Omameh on Jones is going to be paramount as well.  I can't wait for this game...but that isn't very different than every other fall weekend.  Bring on Sparty!

Unfortunately my daughter has a soccer game and I'm going to miss the first half...so here's to your up by 3 TDs by the time I get the game on.

detrocks

October 7th, 2010 at 11:14 AM ^

Just looking at the stats, it does look like it'll be a high scoring game. 

Even though, Sparty's defense has better stats, when you look at the only tough games that they've played (ND and Wisc), teams have definitely been able to move the ball on them and score some points.   I expect that we'll be able to do the same and put points up.   

For our defense, if we can shut down the run and take away the play action, it would definitely help our pass defense as that seems to be where Cousins is most effective.   Also, Cousins has coughed up the ball a lot this season (4 INTs, only the directionals from Michigan and Colorado failed to pick off at least one pass), so we could have some opportunities there.   Still State's shown a good offense this season so, it'll be a challenge.

The part of the game that worries me is Special Teams.   In a close game, these areas could be the difference and right now, its a clear advantage for State.  

The problems with our kicking game are well-documented.   In contrast, their kicker (Conroy) is 7-7 on FGs, including 4-4 from 40 or longer (although 3 of those were in a dome).    So, if both defenses show up and field goals play any sort of role, this is a big advantage for them.

The retun game could also be a problem.   While State's kickoff returns aren't anything great (66th in the country), their punt return team is 8th in the country with a 17.2 average.  That's obviously inflated due to the 75-yd TD return they had against WI, but even if you take that out, they'd still be in the top 30.   On the other hand, we're 88th in net punting.    Hagerup and the coverage teams will need to have a great game to ensure that this doesn't become an advantage for State.

It would be great if OUR kickoff and punt return teams had their best game of the season after being relatively quiet so far.

TSWC

October 7th, 2010 at 12:28 PM ^

While I don't think picking MSU to win is crazy--it could go either way (I'm picking Michigan, of course)--Rittenberg has had a hard-on for Sparty for just about as long as he's been running that blog. Every year he picks MSU as a "dark horse" or whatever, and every year he's been wrong. I hope he's wrong again.