Michigan State Preview

desmoinesregister.com

Time: 12:00
Location: Spartan Stadium
Weather: 46 and 50% Rain
TV: Fox
Stream: Fox Go
Line: Michigan -7

I just don't understand Michigan's State's program at all.  I thought they would be a complete train wreck last year and had a decent season.   This year many thought they were a top 10-15 team and have lost games to Arizona State and Northwestern, but upset Penn State on the road last week with a team that was kept together with bubble gum and duct tape.

Maybe Dantonio is some type of wizard?  Remember when he disappeared from the sideline a few years ago?

Wait a minute, where did you go Coach Dantonio? https://t.co/85MtwFdHIl

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) September 24, 2016

Tale of the Tape

Michigan D vs. MSU O = Michigan
Michigan Run Game vs. MSU D = MSU
Michigan Pass Game vs. MSU DB = Michigan
Intangibles = MSU
Health = Michigan
Coaching = Rivalry Game

MSU has the #1 running defense in the country and of course Michigan loves to run the ball.   I expect Pep and Jimmy understand this and will have some type of game plan that doesn't have Higdon, Evans, and Tru running non-stop into a brick wall.

Michigan is also pretty good on defense and will have to stop the 4 yards passes and QB runs from Lewerke and MSU.   This will be a game, where Michigan will need to spy on Lewerke because him running on 3rd and 6th is pretty much the Spartans Offense.   Just a reminder to Hudson, this means waiting at the LOS and stopping Lewerke for a one yard gain vs. blitzing for a sack.

Sneak out of East Lansing with a smile on your face if...…………..

• Michigan plays really hard with the thoughts of last years game on their mind
• Michigan's Defense can turnover MSU and stop their offense
• Michigan's offense has a great game plan to run and pass for 400 total yards 
• The Wolverines play well on the road 
• Defense gets the Michigan's offense short fields and lots of points 

Yell,  WTF is it with Dantonio! if...…………..

• Michigan gets caught with one of MSU's trick plays 
• MSU is stopping the Michigan run all day 
• MSU all of sudden gets healthy for this game 
• The game is too close for comfort all day and in the 4th 

MSU prepares for this game like no other on their schedule.  It's their Super Bowl, National Championship, and Big Ten Championship every year.   MSU as won way more then they should have lately including the last two out of three, which included a dropped punt/score and a hurricane at the Big House.  

If you wonder if that luck can continue?  It did last week, MSU fumbled 4 times and didn't lose any, ran a fake punt for a 26 yard gain, Lewerke hit PSU defenders with passes 16 times, and they only picked of one.    That is some Wizard Bleep right there.  

So how do you pick this game?  It's not an easy task, let me take you into a scary journey into my brain:

Noon Kick - Good 

On the road - Bad 

Michigan has last years memory of a loss - Good 

Gary is questionable - Bad 

Lewerke is struggling - Good 

Lewerke is a mobile QB - Bad 

MSU is injured at key positions on the Oline & WR positions - Good 

MSU will do anything to win this game - Bad 

Shea Patterson is still going to be the difference in this game.   If he can play well,  get first downs with his legs and hit open WR's/TE's for TD's, Michigan will win.   If he struggles, Michigan kicks field goals and keeps MSU in the game which could be trouble.  The rain could be an issue which keeps this a very low scoring game.   I also expect the MSU field to look like US Open rough.  

Michigan 23 MSU 13

Big Ten Preview Week 8 and Drew Singleton Transfers

The biggest Big Ten game of the week is happening in East Lansing, so we have to pick another one.  I picked Penn State at Indiana in a game that is very interesting for a number of reasons.   Indiana is a program on the rise and Penn State has lost 2 straight with a trip to Ann Arbor coming up in two weeks (IU in 3 weeks).

Penn State @ IU (PSU -15.5):  Penn State hasn't played well this year, even though they spent a good amount of time in the top 10.   Their best performance was the loss against Ohio State.   They struggled against App. State and Illinois on the road.   IU has something in common with Penn State, their best game of the year was probably the loss at OSU as well.  Both teams are reeling a bit as IU has lost back to back games as well, giving up 49 points to OSU and 42 to Iowa.   Penn State is the better team but will they play like it?   I feel an upset here:  IU 28 Penn State 24


Illinois @ Wisconsin (Wisc-25)  Poor Lovey, he is going to run into a pissed off Badger program looking to forget that bad loss in the Big House.   Wisconsin 42 Illinois 14

Northwestern @ Rutgers (NW-20):  Northwestern is doing the thing they do every year, they lose a heartbreaker against Michigan and roll off 9 wins in a row.   NW 38 Rutgers 17

Maryland @ Iowa (IA -9):  Iowa is sneaky good folks.  Nobody is really talking about the Hawkeyes but they maybe playing the best football in the Big Ten West Division.   Iowa 24 Maryland 17

Minnesota @ Nebraska (Neb -4):  The Cornhuskers haven't won a game yet and they are favored over a team that all most upset OSU in Columbus last weekend.  I agree with Vegas and Frosty the Snowman gets his first Big Ten W.   Nebraska 20 Minnesota 14

Ohio State @ Purdue: (OSU -13):  How is this the ABC Primetime game?  OSU is 7-0 and Purdue is 3-3.  Purdue always plays OSU tough at home and this will be close midway through the second quarter and then OSU will do what they always do, win the game.   Purdue 17 OSU 34

--------

Former Michigan LB Drew Singleton has decided to transfer

Drew came from NJ to Michigan after tearing his ACL his senior year.  He was a highly ranked LB and many expected him to have a role in Michigan's defense after Devin "the Missile" Bush heads to the NFL Draft this off season.  Drew had been playing only on special teams this season.

It seems Drew didn't want to wait and leaves the #6 ranked Wolverines mid-season and is looking for his next school.   This decision is a bit of head scratcher but like all transfers we wish him good luck at his new school!

Wolverine Wednesday: Goes Barney

barney.wikia.com

Jimmy was asked on Stoney & Wojo/Jamie this morning about Coach Warinner coaching style: "He breaks it down Barney style" what's Barney style? "Barney is the purple dinosaur. He teaches life lessons to the kids they can understand.... Tell me like i'm in the 4th grader so I can understand this" from Angelique's twitter.
"I love the offensive line, you love me , if you use the proper blocking technique, --- we will be one happy family" The above photo is Ed Warinner running a kids camp and showing that holding is a penalty. The green dinosaur is clearly throwing the flag. - There continues to be rumors that Tarik Black is close to be back and playing in games. There were rumors for Wisconsin and now that continues for MSU. The Wolverines have a bye week after MSU and that might be the best guess for a return to the field. -If When Michigan wins the Paul Bunyan Trophy this weekend, I hope they spend a few dollars on it and get it refurbished. The last time I saw the trophy, it was looking pretty rough. - Nick Bosa decided to not return to Ohio State and focus on his recovery and prepare for the NFL Draft. I don't have a problem with it, since he had surgery. If he was healthy, I would have a problem with it. He is also the Buckeyes most talented player, which won't hurt in November. - Rhett Rodriguez, who is the son of RR and was famously named during his opening press conference at Michigan, will start for Arizona on Saturday due to an injury to their starting QB. 

Michigan Tuesday: Jimmy Is Not Having It

Jim Harbaugh has never been 100% forthcoming when it comes to injuries or game plan.   He does let things slip every once in awhile, like when he said that Rashan Gary has an AC joint issue.

Not this week, asked is Gary will be back this weekend: "I don't know if he will be back this week," Harbaugh said. "Past that, I won't be talking about any injuries ... I am not talking about any participation, gameplan-specific this week."

On billboard material? "I think we could all use a break from the clichés that have been plowed so thoroughly on both sides"

Love the focus.  A fun stat:  Jimmy has never lost in East Lansing as a player or head coach.

• There continues to be a quiet confidence in Michigan's recruitment for 5 star DE Zach Harrison out of Columbus.  He has visited Michigan now 3 times, with the latest being this past weekend's win over Wisconsin.  Most believe its a Michigan - OSU battle with Penn State running a close third if he can't pick between the two.   The sun won't rise for 10 straight days in Columbus if a hometown 5 star player heads to Ann Arbor. 

• Walk-on News: Michigan received a PWO commitment from QB Andy Maddox from Kansas to the 2019 class.  Welcome Andy!  

• In what I consider the best college football booth, Fox will have Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt call the Michigan - MSU game. 

• Is Ben Mason hurt?  We didn't see him much on Saturday.  The rumor is he has a foot injury

• The guy that takes the Washington State flag to Gameday each week, finally gets his big payoff as the ESPN show will be hosted at Washington State on Saturday morning.