Dantonio got his annual clunker out of the way. I think MSU will be pretty solid the rest of the way. I like Sparty in this one.He doesn't so much have clunkers as is frequently inconsistent. I'm sure he has more clunkers and more gems in store. It wouldn't shock me at all to lose this game and beat OSU next week.
Woah, D.J. Durkin will be back on the sidelines Saturday. Not sure I like that as far as intangibles factors go for MSU's chances.You missed my post?
this will be one of the best games to watch, I think. Won't find more inconsistent teams in the B1G this year week to week than these two.I do not think that Maryland has been as inconsistent as you are thinking. I think it is just a matter of who they have played and where:
You missed my post?I don't see one here
Are you ready for the awesome Blackout!?!?
Wait until we rock the stadium in all black.......at noon....all 5,000 Terp fans.....
Anyway, maybe we'll have a surprise guest on the sideline....
I also have to believe that in talking to the current players before today what may happen, they took into account what they think.That was my thought. They knew some amount we're going to be pissed either way, and they had to have some idea of the numbers before making a call.
I'd have to believe an overwhelming majority want him back before allowing it or making a decision.
If not, an even bigger colossal failure to ignore them, then how it looks to outsiders.
LOL!Most teams would be like 1-7 going through all this.
MICHIGAN ST wins this easily.
Team is in shambles and torn.
| Michigan State Spartans (3-2, 5-3) at Maryland Terrapins (3-2, 5-3) |
| NOON - College Park, MD - espn2 |
| You take probably the two most schitzo teams in the conference, then add in the events of the past couple days, and I have zero idea what to expect here. At their best Michigan State has a pair of wins over ranked teams, and completely shut down a Purdue offense that lit up Ohio State. At their worst, they lost at home to Northwestern, and looked completely inept against Michigan. Maryland has a neutral field win over Texas, and three dominant Big Ten wins. At their worst, they have three blowout losses, including one to Temple. Then you mix in the past week. There is certainly some level of fracture among the team, but its unclear just how much, how much is misreported, but how much is out there unreported. Is the fracture better with Durkin gone than if Durkin had been coaching? There's no way of knowing. What has been surprisingly steady, particularly in the absence of Durkin, has been the Maryland defense. The Terps are third in the conference in total defense, particularly stingy against the pass, leading the conference with 10 interceptions, and their opponents completion percentage (45.9%), yards allowed per attempt (6.2), yards allowed per game (163.6), and defensive pass efficiency (99.9) are second across the board to only Michigan. Yes, the Rutgers game helps, but they also held Nate Stanley to just 86 yards on 11-22 passing. Michigan State has been absolutely awful running the ball all year. Every single offensive line starter has missed some time, and L.J. Scott is only now returning. But the problems there began before the injuries. At times, even now without their top two wide receivers, Michigan State has had enough of a passing game to get by. Even without Brian Lewerke last week, Rocky Lombardi stepped in, and the passing game actually improved. Maryland isn't anything near Michigan up front, but the Wolverines were able to stymie Michigan State with just four guys, and their secondary gave the Spartan receivers no breathing room. Lewerke found no windows. Michigan State's passing attack is not predicated on a bunch of timing routes, and hitting windows, they have longer developing plays. This is probably the best secondary Michigan State has faced all season aside from Michigan, and if the Terps can force the same small windows, the Spartans offense will not move the ball. This really probably comes down to strength on strength. Maryland is picking up 6.8 ypc on the ground, best in the Big Ten. Michigan State is only allowing 3.2, second best, while allowing a league low 4 rushing touchdowns. If Maryland can stay ahead of the sticks, and use play action effectively, they should have just enough offense. If the Spartans front can win first down, and force Kasim Hill into some obvious passing downs, Michigan State should be in good field position all day. That's been the story in the short history as conference foes. In 2014, Michigan State held Maryland to 0.4 ypc, and C.J. Brown was forced to throw a career high 43 passes in a 37-15 loss. In 2015, Michigan State held Maryland to 2.9 ypc, and Perry Hills was forced to throw a career high 30 passes in a 24-7 loss. Last year, Michigan State held Maryland to 2.7 ypc, and Max Bortenschlager was forced to throw 25 passes in a snowstorm in a 17-7 loss. But in Maryland's lone win, in 2016, they ran for nearly 6 ypc, and had two backs go over 100 yards. As far as Xs and Os go, whoever wins that battle between Maryland's run game and Michigan State's run defense should win the game. But it's college football, and it's hard to ignore the emotions on Maryland's side coming into this game. Will they be galvanized or splintered? That might be the most important question. |
| MICHIGAN STATE 24, MARYLAND 21 |
Most teams would be like 1-7 going through all this.Multiple top 30 recruiting classes by the guy exonerated by 2 reports kinda helps.
5-3 under the circumstances is rather impressive.
Multiple top 30 recruiting classes by the guy exonerated by 2 reports kinda helps.But Social Media.
Wonder what we could do if the world would treat us like they do others who have these issues.
Jordan would have died at any school, given his own irresponsibly that day, PER THE REPORT.
MSUs DL seems to be getting better as the season goes on. Hill and the RBs never had a chance, Maryland couldn't block anything.:34:
https://twitter.com/ryanobleness/status/1058797794423660544?s=194th time Matt Canada's offense was stopped dead. Whooptee doo da.
l don't agree it is all on Jordan McNair. He did what coaches insisted he do. The University did not do what it was supposed to do, including the athletic training staff. And the coaching staff was not up to speed on standards for heat exhaustion. http://www.dbknews.com/2018/09/30/jordan-mcnair-maryland-football-heatstroke-death-investigation-timeline-walters/ (http://www.dbknews.com/2018/09/30/jordan-mcnair-maryland-football-heatstroke-death-investigation-timeline-walters/)
Jordan would have died at any school, given his own irresponsibility that day, PER THE REPORT.
l don't agree it is all on Jordan McNair. He did what coaches insisted he do. The University did not do what it was supposed to do, including the athletic training staff. And the coaching staff was not up to speed on standards for heat exhaustion. http://www.dbknews.com/2018/09/30/jordan-mcnair-maryland-football-heatstroke-death-investigation-timeline-walters/ (http://www.dbknews.com/2018/09/30/jordan-mcnair-maryland-football-heatstroke-death-investigation-timeline-walters/)I never said it was all his fault
Wouldn't have mattered. OL couldn't block anything.That's right.
That's right.This is your MO, though. It wouldn’t have mattered if any outside distractions had happened or not. Anyone who beats Maryland you either bitch about the officiating or give an opposing fan a million reasons why they shouldn’t feel good about the win or both.
Distractions never matter.
You beat a well-oiled machine on their field today. ;)
That's right.No, we beat a flawed team on their field today by dominating the trenches and jumping on a couple loose balls first. We've played one well oiled machine, and lost 21-7 on our own field.
Distractions never matter.
You beat a well-oiled machine on their field today. ;)