Ohio State opens as 18 point favorites.Well right now the weather in the N.E. part of the state is rain/sleet/trace of snow,now just a cold 35.Sparty weather - not sure what next saturday holds
I questioned that OSU-Purdue line last week when it opened at 21 I believe it was- but that wound up being more than right...so not sure what to think here.
Definitely think Ohio State wins- but could Sparty do the impossible and upset them in C-bus?
I thought the Spartans were a paper tiger before Purdue played them, much as I thought Iowa was a paper tiger before facing Purdue. Didn't think the same about OSU.MSU needs a lucky break or two and they need a whale of a game by KW3 to win. Only shot they have.
I could see it being closer than 18, but OSU is going to win this and it's not going to be in doubt in the 2nd half.
Every time OSU plays Sparty the week before THE GAME, they don't play very well.yeah- and then they go and kick Michigan's ass the week after.
yeah- and then they go and kick Michigan's ass the week after.Yup, a sure fire way to keep JH as coach ...
So I'm hoping OSU absolutely whoops MSU's ass and is feeling themselves going into the game and overlooks Michigan.
Hey, a guy can dream, right?
So I'm hoping OSU absolutely whoops MSU's ass and is feeling themselves going into the game and overlooks Michigan.
Every time OSU plays Sparty the week before THE GAME, they don't play very well.I for one am furious with the conference for this scheduling and this year is neither the first nor the last time they've put tOSU in a tough game the week before Michigan:
yeah- and then they go and kick Michigan's ass the week after.I think/hope that it will be hard to overlook a team that will be playing for a berth in Indianapolis. I thought that PSU would beat Michigan such that tOSU would clinch the B1GCG BEFORE The Game and in that case I would have been very worried about it.
So I'm hoping OSU absolutely whoops MSU's ass and is feeling themselves going into the game and overlooks Michigan.
Hey, a guy can dream, right?
OSU over looks Michigan? LOLIt has been more than 40 years since that happened.
yeah- and then they go and kick Michigan's ass the week after.It's not about wanting to beat Michigan,it's watching jeem have a grand mal seizure and MGO have a meltdown.But this thread is about the Spartans so there'll be no more discussing the Skunk Bears
So I'm hoping OSU absolutely whoops MSU's ass and is feeling themselves going into the game and overlooks Michigan.
Hey, a guy can dream, right?
45. Kenneth Walker III, RB, Michigan State (5-10, 212)
The only running back to make the list (Texas A&M’s Isaiah Spiller just missed), Walker has been a breakout star for the Spartans. I want to see more from him as a pass-catcher and blocker, but he is a hard-nosed, physical runner with the instinctive run skills to make defenders miss. According to PFF, Walker currently leads the nation in forced missed tackles (77) and yards after contact (976).
never seen a player who appeared faster to my eye than Tedd Ginn JR....and it made NO sense to me that anybody would EVER kick or punt it to him. Nah uh. If I am the coach and he's back there on kick off or punt return I am either touchback or kicking it out of bounds- and I'd take the penalty on the kick off- just not going to let him return it period idgaf- he's not touching the ball on special teams.I viewed it from the opposite perspective (rooting for him instead of against him) and I completely agree. I've seen other fast guys who had great track speed but TGII's actual on-field football speed was the best I've ever seen. I don't know how many times I watched experienced opposing defenders take an angle that should have worked and end up with nothing but a front row seat to watch him streak past.
Fastest I can remember seeing was Darren McFadden. That last season at Arkansas he was just making defenders look silly trying to pick an angle to catch him. I remember a run against LSU where he was getting to the second level and two LSU DBs were aiming to converge on him in the secondary from opposite sides and nobody had a damn chance.he was super fast and big too. unfortunately he was made of glass.
Dude blazed.
anybody else find it freaking crazy that Ohio State is so loaded at WR that their 4th best WR transferred to Alabama, walked in day one and has been the best WR at Alabama. Talk about being freaking loaded at a position.Yes- he was staying at OSU until Olave announced he was not going to NFL.
Doom and Gloom TyphonInc here to post:Well I do agree with you this will be way closer than the pointspread I have to admit you are very “doom and gloom“ when it comes to the quarterback. You don’t lead the nation in QBR after 10 games unless you’re a really, really good quarterback.
I'm pretty concerned about this game. If MSU can get their run game / clock control offense moving, against OSU's suspect defense; that's the best way to nerf OSU's high flying offense.
And I still don't trust our rookie quarterback when the game is on the line.
I think this will be a 17-24 type of game, and I hope the good guys can get the lead early; because if OSU has to come from behind, I'm not sure our happy feet overthrowing QB, and coach who forgets we a talented Running back can figure it out on the fly.
Glad this game is in the Shoe. I will personally vouch for ridiculous amounts of yelling that will lead to 2 unnecessary mistakes by the Spartan offense/special teams.
Well I do agree with you this will be way closer than the pointspread I have to admit you are very “doom and gloom“ when it comes to the quarterback. You don’t lead the nation in QBR after 10 games unless you’re a really, really good quarterback.Stroud is legit.
Doom and Gloom TyphonInc here to post:You are right once in a while in the same way that a broken clock is right twice a day. You are ALWAYS doom and gloom so whenever the buckeyes underperform or lose you get it right.
I'm pretty concerned about this game. If MSU can get their run game / clock control offense moving, against OSU's suspect defense; that's the best way to nerf OSU's high flying offense.
And I still don't trust our rookie quarterback when the game is on the line.
I think this will be a 17-24 type of game, and I hope the good guys can get the lead early; because if OSU has to come from behind, I'm not sure our happy feet overthrowing QB, and coach who forgets we a talented Running back can figure it out on the fly.
Glad this game is in the Shoe. I will personally vouch for ridiculous amounts of yelling that will lead to 2 unnecessary mistakes by the Spartan offense/special teams.
You don’t lead the nation in QBR after 10 games unless you’re a really, really good quarterback.I believe that @Abba (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=65) has the only possible formula for the Spartans:
I think the way MSU wins this game is to limit OSU's big plays to between the 20s and play good red-zone defense. We saw Nebraska and Penn State hold the Buckeyes to a lot of FGs in the red zone. Then when they have the ball, try to control the clock and limit the Buckeye offensive possessions. If they can hold the Buckeyes to 26 like Nebraska did, then they can win the game. I don't think they can win in a shootout.The only way they can accomplish that is to play very soft coverage and keep EVERYTHING in front of them but if they do that I think Ohio State's offensive staff is good enough to figure out that:
It would be surprising if Sparty played a great defensive game given their past performances. They do have some guys on the line, so anything is possible, but hard to predict that they will suddenly put up a wall on OSU's offense. But conversely, MSU is the best offense they have seen since Oregon, and they have some big play potential that other teams might not have. KW3 can penalize mistakes with huge runs, and OSU's defense makes a lot of mistakes. That's probably the area I'm most unsure about.Any given Saturday, right? Anything can happen when conference foes match-up.
The Spartans have gone full-on bend, don't break this season on defense, and it has reaped dividends. They rank just 70th in success rate allowed, and they force three-and-outs on just 21% of opponents' drives (122nd in FBS), but they rank 15th in explosive play rate allowed (rushes of 12-plus yards, passes of 16-plus yards). They force you to take small nibbles down the field, and they make life extremely difficult as you get closer to their end zone. They rank 10th in points allowed per scoring opportunity (first downs inside the defense's 40) and seventh in both red zone touchdown rate (43%) and goal-to-go touchdown rate (52%).
Overall, the Ohio State offense has done just fine in these categories. The Buckeyes rank ninth in points per scoring opportunity, and they're a decent 42nd in red zone TD rate (66%) and 37th in goal-to-go TD rate (82%). But their three closest games (Oregon, Nebraska, Penn State) were all close because of blown opportunities.
And guess who leads the nation in quarterback pressures? None other than Michigan Statethey have some real dudes on the front 4. their back 7 is very leaky in coverage however.
There is this though:It's the NFL defense model. Granted in the NFL it's because the QBs are so good, and with illegal contact, it's almost impossible to play defense.So basically, Michigan State's defense is pretty horrific but becomes absolutely excellent as soon as it gets to the red zone. Meanwhile, Ohio State's offense is otherworldly but forgets how to function in the red zone against good teams.
And guess who leads the nation in quarterback pressures? None other than Michigan StateThat's also a product of how often teams pass on us. We are dead last in passing yard allowed, but in terms of yards per attempt, they are #44, and in yards per completion, #23. They also are #1 in the country in opposing pass play %. So if teams pass against you the most, you might give up the most yards, and get the most QB pressures.
| ***GAME OF THE WEEK*** |
| #7 Michigan State Spartans (6-1, 9-1) at #4 Ohio State Buckeyes (7-0, 9-1) |
| NOON - Columbus, OH - ABC |
| The lead in to The Game for Ohio State involves back to back home games against arguably the two Big Ten programs who have had the most (relative) success against the Buckeyes over the recent history. Purdue had beaten Ohio State in 3 of 6 meetings since 2009, and Ohio State put their foot down extremely quickly there. Michigan State has won 3 of 10 over the past decade. The difference is all of Purdue's wins came in West Lafayette, and they had to visit the Shoe. None of Michigan State's wins came in East Lansing, so travelling to Columbus is less of an issue. What is much of an issue is Michigan State's cornerbacks against the best receiving core in the country. Scottie Hazelton had done a pretty good job of scheming around cornerback deficiencies, but between the transfer of Kalon Gervin, and a pair of injuries, what was already the weakest unit on the team is down to only one member of its preseason two deep. Ohio State may not have a receiver as good as David Bell, but they have three who are all just a half step (at most) behind. Darius Snow at the nickel back went from the hiest rated member of Dantonio's last recruiting class, to a potential bust, to an absolute stud in his sophomore year. But on the outside, the Buckeyes have a huge advantage. I'll be interested so see how Ohio State's run game functions. TreVeon Henderson is an absolute stud, but the run blocking has been questionable, and it seems too reliant on the splash play. If the Spartans defense can avoid that, they can do what Penn State did, and force them to fight in the red zone, which is what Michigan State's defense wants to do anyway, they have a shot. Michigan State's offense isn't nearly as good without Jalen Nailor, who was the team's biggest over the top threat, and helped open up some space for Kenneth Walker. Walker is still going to create his yards, but the biggest threat they had was to take the top off the defense, and force you to keep your safeties back. Without Nailor, that's not the case anymore. |
| OHIO STATE 37, MICHIGAN STATE 24 |
sounds like Walker may be dinged up- sounding like it's an ankle injury. this is bad for MSU.Where are you picking that up at?
I think this will be a 17-24 type of game . . .LoL!
Agreed, MSU needs some big breaks, and a good game from all to be in this. It can happen, but probably won't.
OSU 45 MSU 27
Did not realize today was Christmas for online UM personalities who live vicariously through...checks notes...Ohio State?They probably just feeling themselves bc M up 14-0 on Maryland- and they also needed OSU to beat MSU and knock them out of title race to setup the winner takes all battle of the top 5's showdown in Ann Arbor next week.
Did not realize today was Christmas for online UM personalities who live vicariously through...checks notes...Ohio State?OSU cooled it in the second half because they want to beat M by an even bigger margin...
I loved WoodyI hated him.
Doom and Gloom TyphonInc here to post:
I'm pretty concerned about this game. If MSU can get their run game / clock control offense moving, against OSU's suspect defense; that's the best way to nerf OSU's high flying offense.
And I still don't trust our rookie quarterback when the game is on the line.
I think this will be a 17-24 type of game, and I hope the good guys can get the lead early; because if OSU has to come from behind, I'm not sure our happy feet overthrowing QB, and coach who forgets we a talented Running back can figure it out on the fly.
Glad this game is in the Shoe. I will personally vouch for ridiculous amounts of yelling that will lead to 2 unnecessary mistakes by the Spartan offense/special teams.
OSU is a scary good team, I remain shocked they lost at home to Oregon.I still can't believe they lost to Oregon at home. It was super early in the season and they are a young team- having said that- they still have way more talent than Oregon and should've won- but the more talented team doesn't always win. Any given Saturday.
I had the over, and felt rock solid at halftime. I had it at 69.5, don't take your foot off the gas now Day!So did I in a 3 leg parley. Would have paid me a couple hundred bucks.