So, what does Notre Dame do next week in EL?
I always intently watch the Notre Dame - MSU game every year. Perhaps its that lovely feeling of being able to watch, and knowing at least one of them are losing the game!
I think it also does a lot of foreshadowing. It puts Notre Dame's strength (and resolve) into perspective. It shows us what to expect out of MSU in a few more weeks. I've always observed Notre Dame gets one of MSU's better shots, but at the same time, Notre Dame comes in after a hard Michigan game and isn't on their A game.
What do you guys envision this week? I'm thinking Notre Dame might be too strong on paper, but man - the way we ripped the game from them they just might not mentally be ready to play. The game is in East Lansing, and MSU has had two easy warm up games to prepare.
Any thoughts or hopes? Lets assume A) East Lansing isn't disappearing from the map on Saturday and B) both teams cannot lose at once.
September 12th, 2010 at 7:42 PM ^
It will be a close game but MSU will have a sparty moment and give it away at the end. I predict something like 35-31 for ND. Cousins will have a big game but it won't be enough.
September 12th, 2010 at 9:07 PM ^
When was the last time Brian Kelly had a losing season? For him, this losing shit stops right now.
September 12th, 2010 at 7:45 PM ^
MSU better come prepared to play, cause the 2 teams they started out the season with won't have them prepared at all..
I hope ND shits on them, just because you look what any msu homer says and they think they are gonna win by 40..
They will be in for a rude awakening when their running backs won't run for over 150 yards against a solid defense. Cousin's better step up his game as well.. Saturday he threw for under .50 completion percentage..
I can't really see them being able to stop Floyd and Rudolph if Crist is in there the whole time.
September 12th, 2010 at 8:16 PM ^
... on how solid a defense ND has.
September 12th, 2010 at 7:48 PM ^
We have to root for our little brother and more importantly for the real big 10. Also, you probably missed the MSU V Florida Southern game. Not a "warm up" game. It was almost a serious embarrassment.
September 12th, 2010 at 8:15 PM ^
My bad I mixed up the names. FAU made it a pretty close game. I wouldn't be surprised if Sparty loses in blowout fashion. I'm still rooting for them.
September 12th, 2010 at 8:53 PM ^
It pisses them off when we genuinely don't take them seriously.
Also,
67–30–5 means I likely won't live to see State have a winning record against us. If it ever got close I don't think I could continue living anyway.
September 13th, 2010 at 5:25 PM ^
I thought you were saying you'd be rooting for State, which, like, why?
September 12th, 2010 at 8:17 PM ^
Actually it's players from that '32 team that are still alive and managed a relatively close game against Sparty on Saturday.
September 12th, 2010 at 7:53 PM ^
Yup, I didn't catch much of Little Brother's "away" game, but if they play like that Crist will tear them apart. Only thing that might save Little Brother is that ND's defensive backs weren't that good.
September 12th, 2010 at 7:49 PM ^
Won't watch but will enjoying hearing the whining on Sunday.
September 12th, 2010 at 7:49 PM ^
I think Sparty destroys them. But, as always, I just root for lots of injuries.
September 12th, 2010 at 8:45 PM ^
Wishing injuries on young men who play the game of football for our entertainment is about ignorant as you could possibly get. Root for them to lose, hope they get embarrassed, wish for complete humiliation.....but never ever wish injury on a kid.
If you're not better than that, you should be.
September 12th, 2010 at 7:50 PM ^
ND wins BIG! They are are a really good team and we are really fortunate to walk out with a w
September 12th, 2010 at 7:52 PM ^
As long as Kelly can prevent his team from performing the folding chair act, I think MSU is going to have their hands full. State did not look overly impressive yesterday. In a game they were favored by 28 points, I can understand a little bit of looking-to-next-week's-opponent. But watching the highlights, there were times that MSU just didn't look that good. Kelly is going to bring a hornets nest into Spartan Stadium next week. I just don't think State will be ready for it.
September 12th, 2010 at 8:02 PM ^
I wouldn't read too much into State's game against Florida Atlantic, we could very well have a similar outing this week against UMass
September 12th, 2010 at 7:52 PM ^
It's a very weird feeling watching that game every year. I don't root for ND (I could NEVER root for ND) so I have to root for Sparty...but I don't feel good about it.
With the exception of that infamous 2006 game, MSU doesn't really choke against the Irish. The home team has won the last two meetings. Before that, the road team won the previous 6 meetings.
Don't know much about MSU since they have only faced Western and FAU. I have no idea who to pick in this game. It's a tale of two evils.
September 12th, 2010 at 7:57 PM ^
I'm the opposite. I'm always, always against MSU.
September 12th, 2010 at 8:04 PM ^
But rooting for MSU makes for a much better season for Michigan. Why?
Notre Dame fans have to cope with not only losing to Michigan, but also losing to Michigan's Little Brother.
A win against ND gets MSU feeling good. I love it when MSU is off to a good start (5-0 or the like), ranked and we get to end their season by walking all over them for 4 quarters (think of the Drew Stanton era).
September 12th, 2010 at 8:09 PM ^
I still haven't gotten over the Desmond Howard trip in 1990 or the never-ending final second incident in 2001, so I hope MSU loses every game by multiple touchdowns.
September 12th, 2010 at 8:44 PM ^
I'd rather have MSU cancel football than score a single point. I don't know that I could root for them in the last game of the season if a victory would put Michigan in the Rose Bowl. I just hate them.
September 12th, 2010 at 11:01 PM ^
You think like Mark Dantonio. Be careful.
September 12th, 2010 at 8:07 PM ^
I won't be crying any tears if MSU loses. And I root against them the other 99% of the time.
It might even be nice to see them lose this game given their cupcake schedule this year. But whatever. One of them has to lose. That's the lone bright spot.
September 12th, 2010 at 8:57 PM ^
I agree with that. In this particular year, I am more anti-Spartan than anti-Domer. They have such an easy schedule that it would be more amusing for them to lose-out. Plus, I was pretty impressed by ND's Crist-led offense.
September 12th, 2010 at 10:20 PM ^
My philosophy on this is pretty simple: in years when we beat ND, I want them to beat State, because that makes our win look better. In years when we lose to ND, I root for State because, well, someone has to beat ND.
Having said that, I always end up feeling dirty about rooting for either one.
September 12th, 2010 at 11:04 PM ^
^^^This, Exactly^^^
September 13th, 2010 at 12:22 PM ^
Then it shows MSU can beat ND, but we can't.
There's rarely value rooting for MSU. Unless it's getting us a Big Ten title.
September 12th, 2010 at 7:54 PM ^
Is Keith Nichol still practicing at QB?
If ND plays as well as they did Saturday, don't turn the ball over, and Crist is healthy, then MSU is in a lot of trouble.
September 12th, 2010 at 8:11 PM ^
i dont know if he's still practicing as a backup qb but he is playing as a starting wide receiver. i saw he had a pretty nice td catch against western. i think he is one of their top receivers this year.
September 12th, 2010 at 8:37 PM ^
I know he's starting at wideout, so it seems unlikely that he's playing QB too, but I'm curious nonetheless.
September 12th, 2010 at 8:39 PM ^
I believe he is there 3rd string quarterback behind Andrew Maxwell
September 12th, 2010 at 7:54 PM ^
Somewhere along the lines of 34-17.
September 12th, 2010 at 8:37 PM ^
but no tear if Sparty loses either.
Sparty will win based on a solid running game, assuming they don't turn the ball over. Can't wait to kick their fucking ass in AA though.
September 12th, 2010 at 10:45 PM ^
Sparty is not defensively prepared for the ND rushing attack and I predict Armando Allen goes off for 150 or so. Dayne Crist will have a so so day but a better one than Cousins.
ND 31
Little Brother 13
September 12th, 2010 at 8:01 PM ^
I think MSUs wide receivers will be too much for ND defensive backs and MSUs linebackers make A LOT of tackles
September 12th, 2010 at 8:01 PM ^
The talent seems pretty even but Brian Kelly > The Meathead
September 12th, 2010 at 9:55 PM ^
The meathead would have kicked a field goal right before half.
The meathead wouldn't have had his backup QB's first pass be a flea-flicker.
The meathead wouldn't have decided to punt with 4 seconds left on the play clock.
September 12th, 2010 at 11:03 PM ^
...then again, how many BCS games has "the meathead" been to? Come to think of it, how many bowl games has "the meathead" won?
Just sayin...
September 12th, 2010 at 8:09 PM ^
I don't know if ND will do the same as UConn, but after being "Denarded" last week, UConn opened a can of whoop-ass on Texas Southern and won 62-3. I think ND has something to prove and after their Denarding this weekend they open a can up against MSU. I don't think the MSU RB's will have the same easy course they have had against their 2 cupcake opponents.
September 12th, 2010 at 8:10 PM ^
they'll be whining. lose and they whine. win and they'll whine about the UM loss.
September 12th, 2010 at 8:10 PM ^
September 12th, 2010 at 8:10 PM ^
I am not just saying this to whoop on lil brother but I think ND is the better team, HANDS DOWN!!!
September 12th, 2010 at 8:12 PM ^
MSU has an easy schedule this year and they need all the losses they can get.
September 12th, 2010 at 8:20 PM ^
Hey guys, Lynn Henning already called that Sparty would handily beat the Irish. He made that prediction one sentence after announcing that ND would beat the Wolverines. Seriously.
September 12th, 2010 at 11:05 PM ^
= irrelevant.
September 12th, 2010 at 8:21 PM ^
ND will win if Crist is healthy for the whole game. Doesn't the away team almost always win this series?
September 12th, 2010 at 9:39 PM ^
Usually the away team wins this game. Sparty has won 9 of the last 13 meetings but the home team has won only 2 of the last 8.
2009: ND-33 MSU-30 (South Bend)
2008: MSU-23 ND-7 (East Lansing)
2007: MSU-31 ND-14 (South Bend)
2006: ND-40 MSU-37 (East Lansing)
2005: MSU-44 ND-41 (South Bend)
2004: ND-31 MSU-24 (East Lansing)
2003: MSU-22 ND-16 (South Bend)
2002: ND-21 MSU-17 (East Lansing)
2001: MSU-17 ND-10 (South Bend)
2000: MSU-27 ND-21 (East Lansing)
1999: MSU-23 ND-13 (South Bend)
1998: MSU-45 ND-23 (East Lansing)
1997: MSU-23 ND-7 (South Bend)
September 12th, 2010 at 8:26 PM ^
I'm fascinated by the wide spread on predictions--I suppose that is in part a product of a relatively new season and different posters seeing different things. But I think another product is both MSU and ND are really hard to get a good read on. ND beat as close to a tomato can as you'll get in the Big Ten (yes, I know, Purdue did beat us the past two years...), and piled up a lot of yards in this week's box score (even though, with more context, their offense is not as impressive). MSU, on the other hand, played tomato can-conference tomato cans and piled up tons of rushing yards.
Bottom line: we really don't know what type of team either one is at this point, so predictions vary from blowouts either way to close games either way.