MSU vs Notre Dame
- Thread starter FlintTown
- Start date
Why not? They've been in fights with some lower tier teams with a loss to 5-6 Nebraska. PSU is 7-4 and not exactly horrible. Plus they know they have a great chance to knock off a top 5 team and play spoiler to an in-conference foe.
PSU weakest area is OL. MSU strength is DL and OL. I know it was early, but Temple just destroyed PSU's line. Feel MSU will dominate line of scrimmage and control the game. Finally, Dantonio was done a wonderful job of taking advantage of opportunities. Saturday is MSU's best opportunity to see a championship in football since the 60's. In my opinion, I just can't see MSU losing this game. Or the following game with Iowa.
To be clear, I am a ND fan, but living in Michigan, the fans of that team in ann arbor have made me a closet Spartan fan.
I haven't watched them so maybe my perception is off.
Looking at the box scores, they were only down by 5 against Michigan with 5 minutes to go. They lost to Northwestern by two -- NU kicked a FG to take the lead with 13 seconds left. How about Michigan State...won by a field goal against Purdue. Won by 7 against Rutgers. Indiana was right in it until the 4th (although Indiana is improving). LOST to 5-6 Nebraska.
PSU has more than a puncher's chance to win this game.
I guess we'll see. I wouldn't write off PSU. MSU's defense isn't the same defense as the last five years they've been there.
Don't worry about being a closet Sparty fan. I kind of like them actually.
Temple had a sack of Hackenberg with a two man rush in the final minute when they were playing prevent. Two guys rushing against five o-linemen.
Being from PA I've seen Penn State play a number of games. They do have a solid defense but offensively they struggle. Almost everybody points to the offensive line as the source of their troubles. Their QB honestly looked better as a freshman but that could be because he's under constant pressure. They do have an excellent freshman running back in Barkley. If the game were in State College I'd give them a chance. On the road I just can't see it.
I think in that case Iowa still has a strong case beating a 1 loss MSU.
Iowa & ND still have 1 loss and Iowa has the conference championship for the conference with the highest ranked teams to boot.
Plus in comparing wins Iowa would have beat Northwestern who beat Stanford and have beat MSU who beat Oregon who beat Stanford and USC. I'll admit I really don't like all the comparison scores but until we get this thing down to 4 leagues where only the conference champions go thats what will happen.
I think in that case Iowa still has a strong case beating a 1 loss MSU.
Iowa & ND still have 1 loss and Iowa has the conference championship for the conference with the highest ranked teams to boot. Plus have the extra win with the same number of losses.
Plus in comparing wins Iowa would have beat Northwestern who beat Stanford and have beat MSU who beat Oregon who beat Stanford and USC. I'll admit I really don't like all the comparison scores but until we get this thing down to 4 leagues where only the conference champions go thats what will happen.
For some reason, this Iowa team reminds me of the 2003 team that got exposed in post season against USC.
The 2002-03 team was a much better team than this Iowa.
That game with USC was not reflective of that Iowa team, they had a 6 1/2 week layoff between the last game of the year and the bowl game. USC only had a 4 week layoff. This was huge and people never mention that.
That Iowa team had an NFL all pro tight end in Dallas Clark, NFL all pro and probably future hall of famer in Eric Steinbach at guard. Robert Gallery at Tackle who was the outland trophy winner next year and long time NFL career. Jonathan Babineaux who still plays in the NFL and starts for Atlanta at DT, DT Colin Cole who played until this year in the NFL. Bob Sanders NFL defensive MVP who had his career cut short by injuries but was a great player. Kicker Nate Kaeding Lou Groza Award winner and played in the NFL 9 years.
Bruce Nelson 1st team all American center who had NFL career cut short, Peter Mcmahon OL 3 years in NFL. Derek Pagel safety who had 3-4 yr career in NFL.
Finally, Brad Banks who was Heisman runner up which I will give you was no where near the 2nd best player in the country but that once in a generation offensive line made him appear to be. They also had really good skill players although not NFL players.
Iowa reminds me more of the 2012 Notre Dame team. A bunch of narrow wins against decent opponents only to be humiliated in a bowl game. Iowa still has time to change the script.
it's all tomorrow for the big 10 if Iowa and Mich State win it has a spot locked up.
ND will be stuck if ND beat Stanford. If MSU lost to Penn State. OSU will play Iowa for Big 10 championship game.If OSU beat Iowa then OSU will in final 4 for playoff. ND will get high BCS game if beat Stanford.
Clemson
Alabama
Oklahoma
OSU
5.ND
Clemson
Alabama
Oklahoma
OSU
5.ND
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