Mustache Wars

44-13.  On the road in West Lafayette.  409 total yards for Michigan to just 213 for the Boilermakers.  Michigan is to Purdue as Alabama is to Michigan.  The only statistical edge Purdue had in the game was mustache awesomeness.

Glorious be thy stache

Denard Robinson remains the best runner in the Big Ten and the Michigan defense looks as though it may even be improved over last season's stout unit.  I haven't felt this good about the Wolverine's Rose Bowl chances since Appalachian State sauntered into the Big House.

Yes, I went there.  Michigan is the favorite to make the Rose Bowl.

The remaining schedule:

Illinois
MSU
@Nebraska
@Minnesota
Northwestern
Iowa
@OSU

Things could go south if they lose in two weeks to the Spartans and of course there is a lot of football left to be played but at 3-2 Michigan looks like a team destined for no worse than 8-4 and the team that is in the driver's seat to make the B1G championship game from the Legends division where they will face off against either Purdue or Wisconsin.  That sounds like a pretty nice opportunity to me.


Elsewhere in College Football

I saw the highlights of the Penn State - Northwestern game.  Seems like a great comeback win for the Nittany Lions.  Page me in 8 years when they are relevant again.  Still looks like a 7-5ish team to me.

I LOL'd to the Spartans score at halftime but figured they would pull it out.  Got to see bits and pieces of the 2nd half and it looked extremely encouraging for MSU.  Having only watched the 2nd half and seeing how completely dominant the Spartans were I'm guessing the first half was an exercise in frustration for Tbone.   I've been telling anyone who will listen how much I loved Aaron Burbridge as a prospect and whatdoyaknow he gets the start and is already MSU's best receiver.  +1 for pjh's recruiting obsession paying dividends in knowing thangs.

Quick rundown of the Big Ten

1. OSU - Anyone else feel sick to their stomach after seeing all the love the Buckeyes are getting on espn.com?  They deserve the #1 ranking here but they simply are not exceedingly better than everyone else.  They easily could have lost to the Spartans.

2. Michigan - IMO the clear favorites to represent the Big Ten in the Rose Bowl.

3. MSU - They haven't really looked impressive for any extended stretch this season but who are you putting above them?

4. Nebraska - Clearly flawed on defense and not dominant enough on offense to overcome it. 

5. PSU - Moving up my rankings because they keep winning but I think they'd lose to all four teams above them on this list.

6. Wisconsin - They have issues but they are still your Leaders division favorites.

7. Northwestern - That defense is pitiful.  They are scary on offense and will beat some good teams this season.

8. Purdue - The hype comes before the massive letdown for Danny Hope and co.

9. Iowa - They lost to a bad Central Michigan team two weeks ago...

10. Minnesota - Got beaten soundly by a bad Iowa team.

11. Indiana - Offense is one of the best in the Big Ten but defense is probably the league's worst single unit.

12. Illinois - HaLOL

Rosey Rosie Rose'?

So he we are the B1G championship game and a chance for MSU to make it to the Rose Bowl.  The Grandaddy of them all!  Unfortunately MSU is having an in season rematch against Wisconsin.  A team we beat earlier in the season on yes, a hail mary.  However, what is often forgotten is that MSU was up 14 on Wisconsin in the fourth quarter.  So what does that say?  Mostly that Wisconsin is a good football team.  They can score, they have a good defense.  That's why they have a chance to go to their second straight Rose Bowl.  So what did I write for the first preview and how can these things work for us a second time around?  See below! (previous games three things in gray.)

MSU vs. Wisconsin

WHOA.  This game snuck up on me.  Nothing posted since the Michigan game.  Also, for those UM fans out there, Pat is at a wedding and will unable to post anything.  It helps that Michigan has a bye week... So, let us jump right into to East Lansing. 



I will start by saying that the reason that they have nets up on College Gameday is that in about 1997 I want to say, fans pelted Herbstreit with  beer cans.   GO STATE!

What are three things to watch out for?

1:  The play of Russel Wilson.

For MSU to win this game, they need to stop Wilson from making plays.  Russel is is both an upgrade and a down grade from Denard Robinson, he is a less dynamic runner but a better passer.  We need to get to Wilson early and get some hits on him.  Any way to rattle the quarterback and disrupt some timing on his passes will go a long way to winning this game.  On that note, Wilson is still very capable of running and going out on passes to catch the pass. 



This rings exactly true again.  In the first match up MSU was able to create some turnovers by picking Russell off.  I am not sure that those same poor throws that the Wisconsin QB made in the first game will happen here again.  After the rest of the season of preparation Wisconsin is looking good.  If you need any proof, look at the score of the Penn State game (though the PSU players may have had a lot on their minds). For Wisconsin to win this game they will need Wilson to be flawless.  Hell have to open up lanes for both himself and Ball to run in by passing effectively.   

2: Defensive line play.

This Wisconsin offensive line is just about a complete 180 from the Michigan offensive line.  These are big boys.  Wisconsin is best known for their massive offensive linemen and their ability to pound the football.  Without William Gholston, the MSU offensive line is going to need to step up their play.  We need to find ways get through their line and stop that initial push.  If Wisconsin is constantly getting a good 2 or 3 yards of push in the trenches it is going to be a long day for the Spartans.  I am looking for the defensive line to blitz more linebackers both on the edge and up the middle and keep the defensive backs in coverage to limit Wilsons ability to pass the ball on blitzes.



No clever segway here, mainly cause this is exaclty true again.  MSU's defensive line needs to have a MONSTER game.  Think Suh in the Big 12 championship game his senior year.  We will need that kind of game out of our whole line.  The biggest difference between last game and this game is that William Gholston will be back.  Gholston missed the last match up after feasting on some Wolverines for an entire game.  Well now it's Badger season - time to feed the beast.  Coupled with that is the fact that Wisconsin's starting center is questionable with a dislocated ankle (that sounds horrible feeling).  To win this match up our ends need to plug the lanes and keep Wilson from picking up easy yards on the edge.  Along with that, Worthy needs to occupy two blockers and allow our linebackers to make stops at the line.  If we win this game, Bullough will have a good game.   I see that being a major factor in how this game plays out, if the line can allow for Bullough and Allen to make plays before Wisconsin gains yards.  

3: Can we score some points?

This is a HUGE game for our offense.  The offense has been very much a lame duck. At times they have looked good, and other times have looked downright awful.  Wisconsin has been scoring at a clip of about 40 ppg.  Does the MSU offense need to match that?  No.  But we are going to need to get some points with touchdowns - not field goals.  Like the UM game, I expect Kirk Cousins to attack the edges in the passing game and after Keshawn Martins game last week, I see more plays aimed at him...DO NOT FUMBLE THE BALL!!!!!!!!!!   With that, it is pretty obvious that we need to be able to run the football and when MSU is unable to run the football, MSU gets stomped.  Edwin Baker looked like a man possessed last week.  Will he still have that speed, and will our offensive line still have that push?  I sure hope so.  If you cant get up for a game like this, you might as well stay home.  If Kirk can get the ball on the edges and open up some dump passes in the middle to the TE.  We will be very effective on offense. 




This is mostly true again, however, Bell is now our most productive back and it should stay that way this game.  Bell is the more physical back but he also has moves to use againse the linebackers - see any number of spins or leaps from the entire season.  Baker will be use more of a change of pace back with his speed to burn he could pick up some massive chunks of yards in limiated action.  However, the key to this game is the play of ole Kirk.  Kirk and Cunningham have been on fire the last 4 games and that will continue.  Short passes to to Mr. Catch everything himself will open up the running game.  On top of that, Keyshawn Martin is looking the best he has in over a year.  Mainly becauase he is now catching everything.  The speed is there, the hands are there and he is getting the ball his direction.  This extra threat will allow MSU to spread out the Wisconsin defense.  For our tight ends?  Well it will be the same as they have been all year, I belive Sims hand is still in a cast so do not expect him to play a whole lot but there will be chances for our very good receiving tight ends to make plays of 10 yards or more.  

This game is at night, in Spartan Stadium.  The place is going to be rocking.  I think this favors us a lot.  However, I think Wisconsin is legit.  They are big, their running back is fast, and the ability of Wilson to scramble adds another dimension to their offense.   As much as it pains me to type this I do not think MSU wins this one.  31-27 Wisconsin.  Prove me wrong State!! 

To win this game, MSU will have to play with zero turnovers.  This game will be tight throughout.  With defensive stops by MSU getting the crowd rowdy.  Wisconsin wont go away and MSU will need to hold them to under 150 yards rushing.  How do I see this ending?  34-31 MSU and a trip to our first Rose Bowl since I was 4.  

GO GREEN

Little late

but expect content tomorrow regarding the first B1G championship game.  I likely will not have much in the way of breakdown of MSU vs. Wiscy since they have already played.  But I would like to rehash that.  Uh, in the meantime?  GO GREEN.