worst team in the B1G?
September 8th, 2013 at 3:28 PM ^
it was clear to me that the best plan for both teams was to punt on 1st down.
September 8th, 2013 at 12:48 PM ^
Purdue is paying for that hype video, which means more pennance to come
September 8th, 2013 at 12:47 PM ^
This year its got to be Purdue. They look poised to have a really bad year, maybe 1-11 or 2-10.
Indiana might be down there too. They have an offense that can put up points, and yet they still have no defense to speak of. Their ability to even make a bowl game this year is in serious jeopardy if they can't even beat Navy. And then there's Iowa......
Still, its got to be Purdue.
September 8th, 2013 at 12:55 PM ^
MSU is in the top half of the Big Ten, no question. They'll be in the mix in the end. Offense will develop.
September 8th, 2013 at 3:12 PM ^
It's been 2 weeks against pretty soft competition, with no real results. At this point, MSU is what it is. Bottom line, all that defensive talent is going to be wasted on another 7-8 win season with an appearance in the BW3 bowl. If Dantonio wasn't such a dick, I'd almost feel sorry for Sparty.
September 8th, 2013 at 1:07 PM ^
I know he is only two games into his first season but how long does Hazel last at Purdue. His previous coaching records isn't all that impressive and this is an inauspicious start. As has been stated here multiple times, hires like Hazel and Beckham are what is keeping the bottom of the Big Ten down.
September 8th, 2013 at 1:09 PM ^
Purdue and Iowa, by far. I still think Minnesota stinks, but they're improving. And Indiana is terrible defensively but should be fun to watch with their offense.
It's clear you can divide the league into thirds:
Top tier: Michigan, OSU, Wisky, Northwestern
Middle tier: Nebraska, MSU, Penn State, Illinois (Illinois? Yes after demolishing a decent Cincy team)
Bottom rung: Purdue, Iowa, Minney, Hoosiers
September 8th, 2013 at 1:24 PM ^
my boilers suck... we are really really bad at football. is it basketball season yet.
September 8th, 2013 at 1:25 PM ^
putting MSU in the bottom half doesn't make sense. They have an elite defense and their offense can only get better. I imagine by the Michigan game they give us a challenge because they always play out of their mind against us. Purdue is far and away the garbage of the Big Ten. Then Indiana and Minnesota
September 8th, 2013 at 8:24 PM ^
Their D is good, but I will hold back on elite talk until they beat a team that hasnt been blown up by an FCS team. Beaten worst by them than when they played at Spartan Stadium.
September 8th, 2013 at 1:54 PM ^
After these first two games at least:
In WMU-MSU
WMU offense yards 204
WMU defense yards 297
WMU offense points 13
WMU defense allowed 13
In WMU-Nicholls State (FCS)
WMU offense yards 485
WMU defense yards 447
WMU offense points 23
WMU defense allowed 27
In USF-MSU
USF offense yards 155
USF defense yards 265
USF offense points 6
USF defense allowed 7
In USF-McNeese State (FCS)
USF offense yards 342
USF defense yards 424
USF offense points 14
USF defense allowed 41
MSU's "elite" defense held their first two opponents to a combined 19 points. Great, but FCS opponents held those offenses to a combined 37 points. The MSU offense is even worse than I thought, with 20 total points in the first two games. FCS opponents scored 68 points against the same two opponents. So vs. MSU, opponents are averaging 9.5 points on offense, 10 points given up by defense. Against FCS foes, MSU opponents are averaging 18.5 points on offense, and 34 points given up by defense.
MSU Opponents | vs. MSU | vs. FCS |
Avg Offense PF | 9.5 | 18.5 |
Avg Defense PA | 10 | 34 |
+/- | -0.5 | -15.5 |
September 8th, 2013 at 3:31 PM ^
Totally agree with you here. The stats speak for themselves.
September 8th, 2013 at 1:54 PM ^
Illinois really surprised me yesterday. They still have five games against ranked teams (plus MSU and PSU) so it can go south quickly, but I can still see them winning 3 games in the B1G.
As for Purdue, I just wish they were on the schedule this year.
September 8th, 2013 at 2:13 PM ^
Illinois' win yesterday surprised me the most.
MSU's offense getting just 7 points against South Florida is pretty pathetic. I'm interested in seeing how their defense does against a team with a pulse.
Purdue is epic bad.
September 8th, 2013 at 2:41 PM ^
I think we might have a BoilerQuest on our hands this year
September 8th, 2013 at 2:48 PM ^
Purdue is the worst team but Iowa isn't far behind. Then I would say probably Indiana. They look like paper tigers. Unfortunately for Sparty, their offense is so horrible that it diminishes their great defense.
September 8th, 2013 at 3:42 PM ^
But, I would say Minnesota, Purdue, Indiana are all much worse.
September 8th, 2013 at 4:08 PM ^
Nov 9, at Purdue. 'The Battle for the Bottom'
September 8th, 2013 at 4:39 PM ^
the line that MSU's offense will only get better and make them a decent team.
I watched both of their games and they are awful. The defense is going to quickly wear down for all the time they spend on the field.
They have little offensive talent and have to run a very basic offense because of it. That offense was not great last year and they had Bell. Now he is gone and people think they will somehow get better?
Not happening.
September 8th, 2013 at 8:22 PM ^
State's defense automatically vaults them ahead of Purdue, Indiana, and Illinois.
Purdue is absolutely the worst though.