FlexUM

October 19th, 2018 at 7:55 AM ^

Is it  just me or is difficult to pin down how this game looks? MSU can't run at all so I could almost see them coming out running trick plays every other plays and throwing bombs all day. And does UM do the same and come out passing all over the place?

Or does each team say "nah...we are going to grind" and get back to basics of running?

I just don't recall a year recently where MSU literally can't run playing one of the best run defenses in the country and UM having a legit mobile and also good passing qb that can be dynamic and do a lot. 

cletus318

October 19th, 2018 at 9:13 AM ^

Is it difficult to pin down? I mean, not really? If the best versions of both teams show up, Michigan wins comfortably. Of course, the best versions of teams don't generally show up at the same time, but every indicator points to Michigan being the considerably better team. If we lose, it will almost certainly be an issue of us playing down to MSU's level than them rising to ours.

ijohnb

October 19th, 2018 at 10:09 AM ^

Disagree.  I think it is an uncomfortable game to get a handle on as a fan.  We are clearly favored, but our offensive strength runs right into their defensive strength (running the football).  If we would have been more successful down field last week, I think I would be a lot more comfortable with it. As it stands, I am not quite sure how we are going to move the ball consistently.  Both teams that have beat State did their damage through the air, but we have not shown that to be our game consistently at all.  I have no trouble seeing our offense making some plays, but I have to say I do have concerns about being able to sustain long drives.  I think that field position is a really key factor in the game. 

evenyoubrutus

October 19th, 2018 at 10:24 AM ^

I feel the same way.  I could totally see this game turning into a similar situation as the Northwestern game. We get down a couple of scores early and even if we battled back I could see state putting a drive together late in the game in sealing it with a field goal or something.

 Sparty has really bad weaknesses and really good strengths but they always seem to manage to cover up their weaknesses somehow. Not to mention they always get the luck.

ijohnb

October 19th, 2018 at 10:35 AM ^

No question.  In considering the game, I have built in two really bad calls, one completely ridiculous catch off a deflection for a huge gain, one play where the ref makes a bad call on the field in their favor and it is just a teeny bit to close to overturn it leading to a long frustrating delay that kills our momentum, and one unforeseen absence of a key player due to an early injury or questionable ejection.  I know this may be a conservative estimate of what we will have to overcome but I think it is fairly close.

I fear Harbaugh may do the exact opposite, but I would serious try to go over the top immediately in this game if rain is not a factor.  Even if leads to an early three and out, I would test their corners immediately on some a fly routes or some double move deep stuff.  We can grind some yards out on the ground as the game goes along, but we are not going to be able to line up and run right at and over this team.

TheCool

October 19th, 2018 at 10:36 AM ^

The lack of down field success last week wasn't due to failure, it was the gameplan. UW keeps high safeties a lot to dissuade big plays and there was no need to force a deep throw when their offense posed very little threat and our offense was moving the ball pretty well. 

joeyb

October 19th, 2018 at 9:48 AM ^

I fell the same way about this game as I did the one two years ago. In that one, MSU scored on their first drive and then Michigan went on a 30-3 run before letting MSU score two TDs in the 4th, leading to the awesome fumble return that put the game away.

I just think that MSU will have something scripted for us on the first drive and we come out of the gates slow to make everything freak out a bit. Michigan slowly turns it on and pulls away. MSU scores in garbage time. It's the same thing that happened last week and similar to what happened at ND and NW.

huntmich

October 19th, 2018 at 10:00 AM ^

PSU ran for, what, 200 yards against MSU? They have the #1 rush defense because their secondary has been so bad that no one NEEDED to run on them. Michigan will probably keep trying to exert their will on the ground and using the pass and the occasional QB keep to open up more rushing lanes. It's who we are and I don't see MSU stopping us.

FlexUM

October 19th, 2018 at 7:52 AM ^

Yeah weather doesn't seem all that bad now up there. Little rain off and on weather.com has it as like 20% most of the day with not much rain morning/early afternoon. 

Rain or shine if UM protects the football and plays badass defense I think they pull it off. 

The Mad Hatter

October 19th, 2018 at 7:58 AM ^

Speaking of weather, I turned on channel 4 this morning for a few mins to get a quick weather and traffic report.  Their weather guy wasn't so optimistic about the game time forecast. 

Also, the co-anchors, one of whom is the very lovely Rhonda Walker, were both decked out in A LOT of green. 

So now I have to find a new morning show to watch. 

bluepalooza

October 19th, 2018 at 8:12 AM ^

Actually, like many, I think weather is overplayed. If weather is an issue, it favors Michigan. If weather isn't an issue, it favors Michigan. If MSU plays their best game, it favors Michigan. If Michigan shows up, I favor Michigan. I think Michigan also got a break with a noon start thanks to the projection most people thougth PSU would beat MSU. MSU put Michigan on notice that MSU will show up (like there was any doubt). Another benefit to MSU winning.

Yes, there has been a 10 year history of bad road play, MSU bad mojo. I get it.  But this year is different. My biggest concern is the over/under of Michigan D sacks.  The over under for me is 6.  What say you? There will be one Michigan pick six caused by that pressure.  Rashan Gary will play the best game of his career.  Michigan will rush for over 200 yards. The furry that is going to be unleashed tomorrow against the MSU offense is going to momentous. I geniunely hope that boths sides don't suffer any injuries as there will be some serious old fashion smash mouth football.  10 years of frustration will be exorcised tomorrow at Spartan Stadium.

Stop the hang wringing, don't worry about the weather, get your favorite beverage, your favorite gameday food and your best friends for watching the game. Sit back, relax and welcome back Michigan football to the ranks of once again being elite and putting the B1G world back in it's proper rotation with everything on the line for M vs OSU.

Catchafire

October 19th, 2018 at 10:08 AM ^

Cut the crap and big talk.  During the offseason most of us were genuinely concerned about this three game stretch:

Wisconsin

MSU

PSU

We beat an excellent Wisconsin team and MSU just beat a top ten PSU team on the road.  MSU is dangerous and will remain to be dangerous as long as Dantonio is at the helm.  We all want a win against MSU but let's not downplay the issue as if they are some pushover cream pants when all offseason we were worried about deficiencies in our team.

huntmich

October 19th, 2018 at 10:13 AM ^

I agree that MSU is dangerous. However, the deficiencies we were worried about on our team, namely O-Line and QB (and maybe safety) have all been solidified in a convincing manner. While MSU has dealt with injuries and disappointment throughout their team.

 

I am not predicting a goddamn thing, but I would argue confidence is in order.

bluepalooza

October 19th, 2018 at 12:33 PM ^

This post will be here standing tall here tomorrow.  MSU was my lock of year before season started. I thought it then and even feel stronger now. I could list my reasons for feeling this way but they are many. Tomorrow the “fury” that will be unleashed.   10 point min victory.  Not that close statically in M’s favor. 

TheDirtyD

October 19th, 2018 at 8:18 AM ^

The wind could be a factor. Spartan stadium one of the most iconic and beautiful stadiums in the world has its end zone seating rows significantly lower than its sideline ones. The sideline structures sit east and west respectively. My point is that the more east or west the wind direction the more it should be blocked by the sideline structures. Currently the wind is forecasted to be moving from the West throughout the game to a Northwesterly wind by end of game. With a steady state forecasted wind of 18-19 MPH that could severely impact the game.