BSD Staff Previews: Michigan State
by Run Up The Score on Nov 20, 2009 11:00 AM EST
in Game Previews
111 comments
[Programming note: Penn State's basketball team tries to extract themselves from the quicksand today at 12:30 p.m. against Tulane (0-2). No front-page open thread for this one, so it'll be up to someone to put up a Fanpost. And here it is. - RUTS]
This must have been during a MSU-Notre Dame game. LOLtato.
BSD Mike: Oh, how I look forward to this game. It seems like every year Sparty comes into the season finale licking their wounds and hoping to squeak out an invitation to the Alamo Bowl. And every year it's such a pleasure to slap them back to reality. Last year was particularly fun because Sparty woke up that morning thinking they actually had a chance at the Rose Bowl. How cute. Then Daryll Clark torched them silly, and Dantonio went all pissy pants in the final seconds as we celebrated. Here's an idea, Mark. If you don't like our boys celebrating, try beating them. Of course, let's not forget Dantonio had no problems enjoying a Gatorade bath in 2007 while JoePa waited to shake his hand at midfield. What goes around comes around, dude.
This year I expect more of the same. Sparty hasn't beaten anyone with a pulse this year. Their passing defense is terrible. The rest of the team is nothing special. Though they'll be playing with that motivation of hoping to get a third tier bowl game, our boys will be playing for a possible invite to a BCS bowl. Just slightly higher stakes. Give the edge to the good guys, and Sparty can take a bus to the Motor City Bowl in Detroit.
Penn State 35, Michigan State 17
Kevin HD: I’m usually pretty good at blinding myself in games like these, but I’ve got to be honest: the more I look at this one the less enthused I am.
Yesterday’s Q&A’s had one theme for me: special teams. It’s not that we aren’t making any big plays in the kick game – we aren’t -- it’s that we’re bad, bad, bad on a level I didn’t quite realize. I mean, 100+ in most categories with the athletes we have?
The bottom line, though: Penn State is the more talented team, but Paterno/Hall need to commit to protecting the quarterback at all costs. When things break down Clark isn’t going to persevere anyway, but if you give him a chance with calculated risk he performs every time. Prediction: pain and Paternoball.
I think a blowout here and a struggle in the Iowa-Minnesota game gets us into the BCS, but I can’t predict that in good faith. Sure, the Iowa game might be ugly, but I suspect ours will be as well.
Penn State 20, Michigan State 17
Run Up The Score: Be prepared for a shootout, as both teams should have great success(!) passing the ball. Each team should excel in the passing game for different reasons, however -- Penn State, because MSU's secondary is garbage, and MSU because they protect the quarterback well and our defensive ends are having a below average year applying pressure. And quite frankly, Michigan State has more quality receivers than we can cover, especially with A.J. Wallace likely out of the lineup.
It's the special teams blunders that continue to terrorize the Nittany Lions -- really, the only disasters we're missing are a blocked field goal, giving up a kickoff return for a touchdown, and the dreaded "krumble" (kickoff return fumble). Michigan State has a clear edge in nearly every facet of the kicking game. Further, Sparty should be the looser team, having locked up some random, low-level bowl game while Penn State has to deal with the pressure of grabbing an at-large BCS bid in a hostile environment.
The common denominator in Penn State's three (three! It's the 12th game!) previous road games at Illinois, Michigan, and Northwestern. Slow, slow starts. Expect another one tomorrow. Sparty struggled mightily with Purdue last week. They had 16 less first downs, 20 less minutes of possession, and gave up 524 yards to the Boilermakers...but still won due to special teams play. Sparty also lost to Central Michigan, Minnesota and Notre Dame. They needed overtime to beat Michigan. And yet they're only a three-point underdog at home. (Wouldn't touch this game with stolen money, by the way.)
I tend to get tagged as the negative editor around here, but I don't think I've picked against PSU all year. Bad feeling about this one, though. Michigan State starts fast, Penn State makes a run in the middle quarters, and another epic fail on special teams dooms the Lions in the end.
Michigan State 34, Penn State 31.
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Mike, you koolaid drinker
Michigan State – 24
Penn State – 17
Punt return for a TD or a 60 yard TD to Mark Dell or something equally stupid.
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by ReadingRambler on Nov 20, 2009 11:03 AM EST reply actions
I’ve been right in all of my predictions, friendo.
UNACCEPTABLE!
by ReadingRambler on Nov 20, 2009 11:31 AM EST up reply actions
Well
Didn’t you also predict a win over OSU? Got ya.
That was a joke
No one said “63-14” so I had to say it.
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by ReadingRambler on Nov 20, 2009 11:53 AM EST up reply actions
HOLD ON SPORT.....I call BS!
I definitely you remember you predicting a struggle if not an L agaisnt the Wolverines! The truth is…… though some of us drink Kool-Aid, it is far better to partake of the Kool-Aid man than to perpetually dine on debbiedowner snack cakes (like yourself). I like Mike’s prediction and I do see us in the BCS. To quote the Notorious BIG…..It’s all about the Benjamins baby!
I thought only safeties played 15 yards off the ball?
Most people predicted a struggle against the Wolverines, friendo
Find a better example.
UNACCEPTABLE!
by ReadingRambler on Nov 20, 2009 2:30 PM EST up reply actions
Seriously Champ....your defense to being wrong is most people agreed with you?
Whether or not most people predicted a struggle against the Wolverines is not the issue (for the record I did not predict a struggle, especially after watching UM steal a game from the Hoosiers). The issue is whether or not you have been right in all your predictions. I sacked up and admitted I was wrong with my Iowa prediction and with Michigan you were just plain WRONG. You pretty much admit that in your above response but still seem to promote yourself as being the Shwamie of PSU predicitions! Just plain weak…. I don’t need a better example Friendo!
I thought only safeties played 15 yards off the ball?
Oh, please
I predicted a Penn State win over Michigan. Period. Don’t give me this “you’re a Debbie Downer” crap if you’re not gonna call everyone else who predicted a close win a Debbie Downer.
Or maybe I should use a “sarcasm” tag or something.
UNACCEPTABLE!
by ReadingRambler on Nov 20, 2009 2:55 PM EST up reply actions
I should have said from the beginning that the post was sarcastic arrogance
Apologies.
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by ReadingRambler on Nov 20, 2009 3:01 PM EST up reply actions
Guess you were slightly wrong on this game...
Maybe time to rethink the attitude….huh? Also would guess that you are wrong about the whole bowl issue too. Lions should be ending up in a BCS game after yesterdays win. Guess you being wrong is starting to become a theme!
I thought only safeties played 15 yards off the ball?
Question:
If I could promise you a special teams wash (which I can’t obviously), who wins the game?
BSD
Yes, really
I don’t feel like debating this anymore.
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by ReadingRambler on Nov 20, 2009 12:38 PM EST up reply actions
what about if it was in Happy Valley?
And if you are still down on the Nittany Lions chances, what if it was in Happy Valley and the specials team line up was 11 guys named Ditka? You GOTTA like those odds!
"I'm driven by greatness" - Derrick Williams
special teams: the way the kookie krumbles
Penn State 24
Michigan State 31
I wouldn't trust old rooster me neither.
Come on, man!
Penn State 34
Michigan State 20, due to efficient time out utilization at the end of both halves.
Don't think so.
Twitter: @scrappled
"When it’s third-and-10, you can take the milk drinkers and I’ll take the whiskey drinkers every time" - Max McGee
by Run Up The Score on Nov 20, 2009 11:27 AM EST up reply actions
Nope
Not like we were gonna watch it anyway.
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by ReadingRambler on Nov 20, 2009 11:34 AM EST up reply actions
21-10
Michigan State. our lake of special teams will come back to bite us. Sparty has a chip from last year….ha…who am i kidding…
48-17 PSU…
Big Ten Titles for everyone.
and of course when i say lake...i mean giant water filled hole in our special teams.
Big Ten Titles for everyone.
DELUSIONAL Koolaid drinker
UNACCEPTABLE!
by ReadingRambler on Nov 20, 2009 11:34 AM EST up reply actions
if penn state goes 10-2 do you believe you will get at large bcs berth? just curious.
yes i am obsessive, obnoxious, in your face and all about covering the spread. those are my good qualities.
by wolfmanshowlforever on Nov 21, 2009 1:53 AM EST up reply actions
I don't know how to feel about this game
In my heart I don’t see a reason why Penn State should lose this game. This is the same kind of team that they have beaten all season. In my head, the special teams nightmare rings true.
Heart pick – MSU 16 PSU 17
Head pick – MSU 16 PSU 7
In both picks, MSU scores their points the same (1 long TD drive based on the pass game, 3 short field drives bc of good punt returns ending in FG). The difference is in the head pick, the special teams nightmare takes scoring opportunites off the board for Penn State.
So there you have it. The game will follow one of those 2 paths. Or it will be a blow out either way. I don’t know. Who even asked me?
"I'm driven by greatness" - Derrick Williams
I gotta believe
we’re capable of an offensive pulse against MSU. They are NOT GOOD against the pass, and we’ve shown ability to pass to set up the run if we need to. Build a lead through the air, grind it out in the 2nd half to win. We should have enough talent to overcome whatever hole we dig ourselves into on special teams in this one.
a rose by any other name
sparty is still sparty. good guys by 10 or so. not very easily though.
Black Shoes. Basic Blues. No Name. All Game.
"Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the mouth."
by Roland86 on Nov 20, 2009 11:35 AM EST via mobile reply actions
No question - Penn State wins
PSU – 34
MSU – 23
"Every player we have, someone—maybe a parent, a grandparent, someone—poured their life and soul into that young man. They are handing that young man off to us. They are giving us their treasure, and it's our job to make sure we give them back that young man intact and ready to face the world." - Joe Paterno
Realist!
"Every player we have, someone—maybe a parent, a grandparent, someone—poured their life and soul into that young man. They are handing that young man off to us. They are giving us their treasure, and it's our job to make sure we give them back that young man intact and ready to face the world." - Joe Paterno
by Horse N Buggy on Nov 20, 2009 11:36 AM EST up reply actions
Your koolaid tastes like illusion
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by ReadingRambler on Nov 20, 2009 11:48 AM EST up reply actions
Delicious delicious illusion
"The only cohesive passing game in the whole damn conference was in Happy Valley." -Rivalry Esq.
MSU
Early 10 to 14 point lead like last week…full sphincter offense and no defensive points leads to a 24-10 MSU win…yuck
Nah…..27-17 Penn State…Quarless over the middle 3 times is the difference!!!
"That's why you don't play! 'Cuz you're no good!" -Joe Paterno
sphincter says
pucker pucker pucker
"Every player we have, someone—maybe a parent, a grandparent, someone—poured their life and soul into that young man. They are handing that young man off to us. They are giving us their treasure, and it's our job to make sure we give them back that young man intact and ready to face the world." - Joe Paterno
by Horse N Buggy on Nov 20, 2009 11:49 AM EST up reply actions
Michigan State starts fast
Penn State folds.
Michigan State 31
Penn State 10
Land Grant or bust! Worst 10-2 team ever? Beat Michigan State.
Teams with a solid pass rusher or who are tough up front
give our O-line absolute fits. The and special teams are the only reasons I like MSU in this game.
MSU 20
PSU 16
In the presser we get to hear how young this team was and that special teams are being done they way Joe has always done it.
How can we even talk about this?
The OMG biggest rivalry eva is on tomorrow. Common knowledge: Michigan-Ohio State determines the b10 and national championship every year.
I have no optimism
because the Lions haven’t played a 60-minute game all year. MSU wins 34-24.
A good 35-40 minutes
should be enough to beat MSU. Similar to how we beat Indiana with 20 good minutes.
22 points
is the least MSU has scored at home in this series, if memory serves, I think in 2005. I remember a game where Wally Richardson had to get a last minute TD to win.
Penn State has NO CHANCE of winning this game if it isn’t their best performance of the year.
Michigan State has lost to teams way worse than ones we've beaten
And everyone we’ve beaten, we’ve beaten comfortably.
I’m not saying this is a sure thing, but it reminds me of the illinois fallout after the Iowa loss, where we just assumed we sucked without actually looking at the team we were facing.
Again: Losses to Central Michigan, Notre Dame, and Minnesota, overtime vs. Michigan, and out-gained by Purdue by 162 yards.
BSD
won't Temple still be the best win
even IF we end up beating Sparty?
"I'm driven by greatness" - Derrick Williams
I don't dispute any of this
it’s just that Michigan State usually plays one of their best games of the year when this is in East Lansing. They’re going to play like a top 25 team this Saturday. If we play exactly as well as we did during the five game winning streak between Iowa and OSU, it’s at least a 10 point loss. I haven’t seen anything from this team to suggest that they can play a focused and determined game for 60 minutes. I hope they prove me wrong.
By the way, Central Michigan is 9-2 and #36 in the Harris. Their only losses are to Arizona (who pundits were liking for the Pac-10 last week) and Boston College. They beat Akron 48-21, a larger margin than we did.
Hmmm...
49-14 good guys.
Lots of DC throwing the ball – its his last regular season game, and the coaches will let him unleash the dragon.
"Every player we have, someone-maybe a parent, a grandparent, someone-poured their soul into that young man. They are handing that young man off to us. They are giving us their treasure, and it's our job to make sure we give them back that young man intact and ready to face the world."
-J.V.Pa.
Last game of the year...
wife has me on “get stuff done” alert. I have myself on “whatever, I’ll be watching PSU” alert.
I predict a nailbiter game that casues me to overdrink ultimately ending in defeat, depression and getstuffdone failure.
MSU 24 PSU 14.
One man doing the work of 100's for the good of 1000's
by rahpsu92 on Nov 20, 2009 1:04 PM EST reply actions 4 recs
I'll redeem
myself in the bedroom. Who am I kidding, no I won’t.
One man doing the work of 100's for the good of 1000's
by rahpsu92 on Nov 20, 2009 3:23 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
Love it!
To put oneself on Alert is one thing, but to have that Alert be ‘whatever’ is funny.
"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69
I have no idea about this game...
MSU – 24
PSU – 13
Special teams and o-line lose the third game of the year.
Never mistake effort for achievement.
by Esteban d' Amur on Nov 20, 2009 1:05 PM EST reply actions
MSU Kicker has a good game
But I still think Penn State pulls this one out on a couple of medium-range passes to Moye, who has been M.I.A. the past couple games. MSU gets good field position all game because of special teams, but the PSU D plays the constant “bend-but-don’t suck” defense and keeps them out of the end zone.
Penn State – 27
Michigan State- 16
I’m making a prediction too – I think Bowman or Lee step up with a HUGE play which changes the tide of the game – in response to hearing how great MSU’s LB Greg Jones is.
I PREDICT PAIN
9-3 PSU
"We hugged as grown men do. It was a great moment. Then, it was business as usual." -- LJ Sr.
We need our own version of 6-4
UNACCEPTABLE!
by ReadingRambler on Nov 20, 2009 3:01 PM EST up reply actions
Won't be happening this week
Unless your O-line is a disaster on the level of Notre Dame 2007 (which I doubt) or Clark decides it’s time to do a Bad Stanzi impression (which I doubt more), you will carve up our secondary. I’m expecting a relatively high-scoring game, which we keep close mainly because of Keshawn Martin.
Michigan State 42
Penn State 2
The good news is Talor Battle makes his free throws.
A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice.
Bill Cosby
Are you so sure about that last bit?
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by ReadingRambler on Nov 20, 2009 3:20 PM EST up reply actions
Tebow- 77
Penn/Michigan State with 22 players on each side of the ball- 0
In a surprise move Tebow appears to take on both b10 teams in every game in the b10 because it’s his last chance and he can! It’s his senior season and he must have his presence felt.
Tim Tebow against Big Ten teams not named Ohio State (because, let's face it, we don't count them anymore):
0-1
hahahahahahahahahaha
HA!
UNACCEPTABLE!
by ReadingRambler on Nov 20, 2009 4:32 PM EST up reply actions
10 - 2
You boyz have hit the xanax and Cpt. Morgan way too hard this week….RELAX…..ALL IS WELL !!!
"You boyz have hit the xanax and Cpt. Morgan way too hard this week"
man that gave me a specific flashback
"It was an attrition football game and you know we like that."
what scares me
is sparty playing with some hate in their guts from last year and you know they are just dying to get their mitts on the land grant trophy in all its awesomeness.
I would post a pic of it but I am mobile and traveling today
I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member
by TheMightyErik on Nov 20, 2009 5:38 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Oh, ye of little faith.
PSU – 99
MSU – Problems
by Tailgate Shogun on Nov 20, 2009 6:00 PM EST reply actions
/To Dantonio
I feel bad for ya, son.
"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69
question marks
MSU is jeckyl and hyde. Our chances are dependant on what team shows up at home and how much heart we have if we get down or things go wrong.
17-13 not sure who is who though
"No, Donny, these men are nihilists. There's nothing to be afraid of"
From what I'm gathering
this might be one of those very rare time where both fanbases are filled with people who are predicting the opponent will win. It’s turned into a battle to see which team is better at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Needless to say, I’m enjoying it very much. :)
"In the beginning the Universe was created.
This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move."
Indeed
PSU fans have nightmares of Keshawn Martin returning five kickoffs for touchdowns. MSU fans have nightmares of Clark carving up the secondary like a Thanksgiving turkey. Neither is particularly unrealistic (given the number of opportunities Martin will have to return kickoffs, multiple TDs is entirely believable).
Don't worry about this one
Worry a lot about the next one. A lot lot.
PSU 35
MSU 13
Do I know what rhetorical means?
I'm less worried about LSU than I guess I should be
UNACCEPTABLE!
by ReadingRambler on Nov 21, 2009 12:39 AM EST up reply actions
The next one will justify the truism that southern football is better
It is.
Do I know what rhetorical means?
Before everyone jumps all over me
I think Penn State is and should be one of four or five northern (northeastern) teams that can survive the talent shift that is happening, whether we like it or not. We can, indeed we must, own the eastern seaboard north of Virginia. There will be bastions, and we will be one of them, for a long time to come. The Big 10 is losing to the SEC because of population shift, nothing more or less. It doesn’t mean we can’t beat their asses, but it’ll be us, Michigan, the Buckeyes, and Notre Dame who’ll do it, and no one else.
Do I know what rhetorical means?
HAHAHAHA
Notre Dame. Way to kill any chance at me believing you.
by PSUinBOSSton on Nov 21, 2009 11:39 AM EST up reply actions
I really can't see us losing
Yea our STs suck, but unless MSU is returning every kick for a TD they still have to score on our defense, which only OSU was able to do well this year…
Penn State – 31
Mich State – 17
Huddle, Hike, Pass, Strike! Go State Go! FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT!
That’s right. We win with the Air Force today led by one DC17. Precision surgical strikes to zug & moye combined with a couple MSU roughing the passer penalties keep the chains moving and Quarless over the middle keeps their D in check. Dumtonio will waste his TO’s Challenging calls and attempting to prolong the agony of a crippling aerial assault. After numerous dropped passes and the two Kirk Cousin INT’s he eventually spontaneous combusts on the sideline. DC17 soars to another record performance acheived thru multiple sorties allowed by a stubborn war in the trenches. Royster rolls past a 1000 exploiting breaches in the Sparty defense. Penn State ends the game with trademark class by demonstrating restraint by not using it’s remaining TO’s to be a superdick. PSU 31 MSU 17
And no
I don’t drink kool-aid. I inhale blue grain jello shots!
Do You Realize
If PSU can defeat Sparty AND
Mr. Jazzhands has the game of his life and wins in AA
The Bucknuts will have to share the title with Penn state and Iowa. Now that will ruin their day.
just a thought.
Reg4
How will it ruin their day?
They still get to claim they’re big ten champs regardless, even last year didn’t depress them enough to disillusion that fact from their tiny brains.
That begs the question.
Which is more desirable
Michigan fails to get bowl eligible for the second straight year. OR
Ohio State falls to their greatest rival and has to share the title.
Personally, I decided last week as i watched the OSU/Iowa game that I really hate Ohio State more than any other team in the Big Ten.
Reg4
OR
A meteor strikes the field, and both teams are instantly vaporized.
^ PS, I’m going with this one
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