This should be a pretty close matchup against two teams with a younger and inexperienced group of players. While Ohio State is a 3 1/2 point favorite, probably due to playing on its home turf, the game is a toss up in my opinion. If we can not run the football against thier defense, we we will be in serious trouble. Braxton Miller seems to be handling the offense well for a young QB, but turnovers and field position will determine the outcome of the game. Go Bucks!
MSU does have solid experience on both sides of the ball but you guys are more talented the msu wr bj cunningham is tough to stop. It will be interesting to see what Miller does against what you know is a well coached defense
Don, I'm hopeful the young QB can continue to improve but my big concerns for the season are on defense. The Irish got an early lead on Sparty, shut down their running game and took it to them pretty good along the defensive front. Again missing Nate Williams - we are a much different defense without him - I'm uncertain we can duplicate their results of holding Sparty to 29 rushing yards, I'd like to believe we can keep them in check and make them one dimensional and force Cousins to beat us.....this will be a pivotal game for the seasons results. Glad we're at home and the students are back.....should be a good environment.
After the waxing Alabama laid on MSU in Jan. and then the licking the Irish put on Sparty a couple of weeks ago I think OSU is still significantly ahead of the Spartans....... OSU 31 MSU 14
Don, let's not get our hopes up here.....with a frosh QB and first year starters/babies at every offensive skill position, putting 31 points on the board is a bit of a stretch for us. Now a couple pick six and special teams return perhaps......I expect a very closely contested defensive struggle. Coach D'Antonio will have something special he cooked up for our young phenom I have no doubt.....
That is one way to look at it...kind of a superficial way. They have lost their last two game to quality teams (ND and Alabama). Prior to that they were 11-1 last year in the conference including a win against Wisconsin.
They beat Wisky about a year ago.....got spanked by Iowa 37-6 after that....beat the lousiest Michigan team in decades....squeaked by a very pedestrian Penn St team 28-22 and then were crushed by Bama 49-7. The Wisky win....as long ago as it was....was a good one but otherwise Sparty is a shell game with lots of Ws and not much substance.
11-1...substance enough for me. They weren't all patsys despite your attempt to bolster your point by denigrating them.
You're certainly entitled to your opinion, but I just don't agree with you. I think D'Antonio has them on the right track and they are a good, solid football team and I expect them to give us fits this weekend. I have no doubt that if they played in the SEC, they'd be a juggernaut in your estimation....you are so damn transparent but at least you're consistent. :roll:
How do you explain 49-7.....in Orlando? I could have overlooked it....was willing to until ND put the wood to 'em and I don't think even Notre Dame fans think the Irish is/are a great team. Decent...maybe good....but far from great. So how does that not further cloud the judgement on an MSU team that has been beaten by 114-23 in it's last three losses?
You've stated your opinion....we understand. Gator's Laws of the Football Hierarchy 1)They are not in the SEC and therefore they can't be any good. 2) Further, anybody they ever beat must then necessarily not be any good. 3) In addition, anybody that has not beaten them into submission is then in fact overrated..... I think that about covers it....we get it :roll:
I can't speak for anyone but myself in reply to the above comment. If (big IF) ND plays near-turnover-free football, we are undefeated in our first four games and highly ranked based on the teams we've played. Such a team would be capable of playing with and beating any team in the country. Disagree if you will, but my point dovetails with BT's point above. You are misguided in your analysis of the strength of MSU. The OSU guys understand what kind of team the Buckeyes are up against. That's all that counts.
It's not that complicated nor conspiratorial BT. Over their past dozen or so games the Spartans have won marginally over some marginal teams and got spanked by a Big Ten team, an SEC team and Notre Dame. Pretty simple to me they are vulnerable and were overrated to begin the season. Hey....mebbe it's the Michigan fan coming out in me. 8)
No Irish fan is tougher on the Irish than I am. I piss Sid off a lot and that's risky business. But I love the Irish and , while they are not a great team, if they had simply cut their turnovers in half we would be 4-0 and rated somewhere between 11-15. And remember, the two teams we have lost to are a combined 8-0. Now, if we only had a punt returner 8) ........