lawrencelaundry

Tue, Oct 26, 2010 : 12:13 p.m.

Yeah I heard that story last yr folks. Penn states Kevin newsome wont be able to handle the pressure on his first start. Do u remember purdue last yr. 2nd string qb ran all over us and we lost. RR will be lucky to win 1 more game with the slop fest fundamentals he teaches. I hope im wrong but its sucks getting beat on 3 yrs in a row by Msu and the bottom dwellers in the big ten.

Yelmonian

Tue, Oct 26, 2010 : 11:58 a.m.

One of the items that irks me is the statement that the Spartans schedule has been soft. OK, it isn't the toughest out there, but it's not as if all of the teams they have played are terrible either. First the issue that MSU hasn't traveled out of state until last week. Can't help that Florida Atlantic's arena wasn't done on time, so FAU decided to put the game in Detroit. This game was schedule many years ago, and was supposed to be in Florida. And I'm sorry that UM is located in the State of Michigan. MSU did play in the "Big House". Not the Spartans fault that RR has lowered the quality of play there. MSU traveled to NW... a team that has a winning record, got behind and did come back and win. So 3 of 7 were originally scheduled away from home. MSU did not intentionally set up this quirk in the schedule. Sometimes stuff happens. Now... on to the teams they have beat. Western Michigan (3-4) Florida Atlantic (1-5) Notre Dame (4-4) Northern Colorado (2-6) Wisconsin (7-1) Michigan (5-2) Illinois (4-3) Northwestern (5-2) Now, I'm not saying that these teams are all excellent, but more than half of MSU's opponents are.500 or better. MSU knocked off Wisconsin, who is currently ranked #10 in the BCS. Wisconsin beat OSU and Iowa. MSU beat UM when UM was undefeated, and MSU played them at the big house. If RR had a year to beat MSU, it was this year according to many of the posters on this website prior to the game. Illinois has been playing much improved football from last year, and many are picking them to make a bowl game this year. I would expect Northwestern to make a bowl game this year also. So where is MSU's schedule so much weaker than... let's say... Michigan's? The only difference is that MSU has won all of their games this year, and has a legitimate chance to win any of their remaining games. And before everyone says MSU doesn't have to play OSU this year... MSU also doesn't get to play Indiana... easily the worst team in the Big Ten.

musthaved

Tue, Oct 26, 2010 : 11:03 a.m.

The 3 man defensive front hasn't stopped anyone including the string of D2 teams we played early in the year. I want this team to win as much as any other M fan, however, leaving 3 foot gaps between your D linemen doesn't bode well in the Big 10. The pass rush is weak and the holes for running are gaping. Doesn't help that Obi wan Kanobe at middle linebacker is useless and the back 8 tackle like girls. We can win, but we are going to have to score at least 40 points to do it.

GoblueinNE_PA

Tue, Oct 26, 2010 : 10:07 a.m.

ChelseaBob RichRod has a history of panicking when the pressure is on. I suspect what you'll see is a strange play call early (like punting from the PSU 39 on 4th and 2) that goes wrong and starts snowballing. He'll get progressively more and more animated and make more and more odd calls. The team will start to shutdown because they don't know what to do to please the guy and then before you know it, the team is down by 20. The wheels fall off and we get buried. You may see another heroic come from behind effort by Tate or even DRob, but just like the Cowboys last night, it won't mean anything. The final score won't be indicative of the actual game. Or RichRod grows a spine and a brain and turns out to not be the Hack that I think he is. Who knows? Critical game for Mr. Rodriguez this Saturday.

ChelseaBob

Tue, Oct 26, 2010 : 8:20 a.m.

GoBlue in NE PA, how do you see that meltdown manifesting itself? I've been thinking along the same lines, but wonder how it will play out.

lawrencelaundry

Tue, Oct 26, 2010 : 12:47 a.m.

Yeah I heard that story last yr folks. Penn states Kevin newsome wont be able to handle the pressure on his first start. Do u remember purdue last yr. 2nd string qb ran all over us and we lost. RR will be lucky to win 1 more game with the slop fest fundamentals he teaches. I hope im wrong but its sucks getting beat on 3 yrs in a row by Msu and the bottom dwellers in the big ten.

michboy40

Mon, Oct 25, 2010 : 11:07 p.m.

I have to believe that our D will be able to handle Kevin Newsome in his FIRST START EVER. I expect us to hold on first and second down, as we always do, but then blitz A LOT on third down because Newsome won't be able to deal with it. We usually rush three on third down and play 10 to 15 yrds. off on the corners, but that won't happen Sat. night. Michigan 35 PSU24

MetricSU

Mon, Oct 25, 2010 : 10:56 p.m.

azwolverine: Have you noticed that U-M fans such as Ted Bundy sound exactly like Spartan fans of years past? "U-M might by 8-1 but xxx" where "xxx" is "they haven't really played anyone" or "they almost lost a couple of those games." A team is its record.

aarox

Mon, Oct 25, 2010 : 9:45 p.m.

agree az. 45-3 is silly on both ends of the score. Penn State is the team that will hold the vaunted RR offense to 3 points? That is real parallel-universe stuff. And anybody should be able to get 31 against us, but Penn State won't get to 45. And your 'lame hypotheticals' comment resonates. That is my new phrase of the week. MSU came back from way down early against NW. Shame on them but they came back. Which oh by the way OSU couldn't do against Wisky. Next week will be their biggest test and probably will define their year. Their schedule has been relatively soft with Wisky being their only real test, but they are showing a tenacity and a spark that we aren't using to seeing. It's hard to admit that they have gotten that good and we have gotten that bad. They are the new big house in Michigan. Crud, first basketball, now this.

azwolverine

Mon, Oct 25, 2010 : 9:13 p.m.

Sparty, Penn State couldn't score 45 if they played the whole game without a defense up against them. As for your comments, Ted Bundy, laugh all you want, but the fact of the matter is the Spartans DID get their trick plays and ARE 8-0. Maybe if Michigan had beaten them when we had our shot, we wouldn't have to come up with lame hypotheticals. The Spartoons have earned their time in the sun...they beat us in our house. Again.

Sevans68

Mon, Oct 25, 2010 : 8:24 p.m.

I think with 2 weeks to prepare and get healthy Michigan better be ready. But the coaching staff hasn't given me the confidence to think they will prepared. But this is Michigan, and I still believe in the program and the team. I don't usually do predictions but I'll go with UofM 35 Penn State 31 Rich wants to keep his job and gets it done over a Penn State team that has some problems.

GoblueinNE_PA

Mon, Oct 25, 2010 : 7:19 p.m.

I agree 3 and out, but I'm not optimistic we'll actually pull it off. I think RichRod will meltdown this Saturday, taking the team with him.

3 And Out

Mon, Oct 25, 2010 : 5:11 p.m.

This game and possibly the Purdue game, even though both are on the road...may very well be our best chances of winning games the rest of this season.

Sean T.

Mon, Oct 25, 2010 : 4:01 p.m.

Denard Robinson looks so much like Desmond Howard to me.

Ted Bundy

Mon, Oct 25, 2010 : 3:55 p.m.

haha if you really knew your college football than you'd know UM doesnt have much of a kicking game buddy. Without your trick plays MSU would be 6-2.