UM vs MSU: Who is the X-Factor?

Submitted by Wee-Bey Brice on

Since I am sick and tired of seeing people pick Devin Gardner as the X-factor of the game because DUHHHHHHH!!! I decided to give it more thought...

My choice is none other than MATT WILE. This will be a good ol' fashioned field position game. We need him to boot them back behind their own 25 all game. With their below average offense we will be in great shape if he does that.

Which player do you guys see whose production will swing the game one way or the other (Besides DG)?

MGlobules

November 1st, 2013 at 9:35 PM ^

out of the power running game-- a couple of times in the early part of the game to keep the MSU D tentative and support the pass--and later, to salt away the game at the end. 

MGoStrength

November 2nd, 2013 at 8:21 AM ^

Interior of the o-line...Bosch, Glasgow, and Mags.  If they protect Gardner he will be fine and if they can create running lanes UM will win.  Lewan & Schofield have been there done that, the young guys have to come around.

mGrowOld

November 2nd, 2013 at 8:41 AM ^

If by X factor we are referring to the unknown then I would say it would have to be Borges's game plan.  If somebody had told me prior to the PSU game that we'd do what we did I wouldnt have believed it.  If somebody had told me the same thing prior to Iowa in 2011 & OSU in 2012 I would say the same thing too.  So I'm somewhat expecting another WTF reaction after today's game but would happily take being wrong.

So I'm watching him.  Everything else I'm pretty sure I know what's going to unfold but with Al I have no idea.

Don

November 2nd, 2013 at 9:30 AM ^

It's unlikely we'll be able to do much offensively, so it's on our defense, and unless we can control the LOS with our defensive line, MSU will be able to run the ball and control the clock.

MGoBlue24

November 2nd, 2013 at 9:34 AM ^

who take their close knowledge of the players (we really don't know who is dinged up, who isn't "getting it" in practice) and game plan and execute the best. It will be interesting to see who stays conservative and who pulls out something new (or at least out of tendency) on both sides of the ball. I really want to give us credit for ingenuity here. Go Blue! Beat State!

KBLOW

November 2nd, 2013 at 12:41 PM ^

Hoke working the refs from before the first snap.  They'll be terrified to call any PI after the outcry from the ND game, despite that they missed half a dozen more than were called.