Lets talk about the big game this weekend. I realize you guys want to try and inject some sort of importance into the O$U/$cUM game, but its just not that big of a deal. UM has already lost the most games in a single season in the history of the program and don`t have a snowball`s chance in hell of winning in Columbus. Therefore, the bottom has been reached. Well done, RR.

MSU is a 14.5 underdog. Although I think PSU wins I think the game will be closer than that. PSU`s run defense will put a lot of pressure on Hoyer. He will be serviceable, but not up to winning the game for the Spartans. Obviously, the home crowd will be a big plus for the Knitting Lions. All in all, just too much for a game MSU team.

9-3 in Dantonio`s second year with a squad that is not suited for his power-running approach. Not bad. RR can only dream of such an accomplishment.

PSU 11 MSU 10. Or, maybe PSU 31 MSU 24.

PSU wins. Or, maybe MSU wins.

Seriously bukdow, are you claiming that Dantonio is winning with someone else's players? That he doesn't yet have "his" guys in there to run "his" system? And yet, he somehow has MSU on the verge of earning a trip to Pasadena after improving on his first season of coaching someone ele's players to a bowl game in his first year?

And really now, just try and tell me that you don't see Rodriguez turning this thing around and going 9-3 or 10-2 next year after building up all this momentum in Year 1.

Wow, I didn't know you were capable of picking a Michigan State loss.

I want to believe in Dantonio, but take Ringer off this team and MSU wins 4 games. If he brings this kind of success next year, I'll believe he's a helluva coach.

I want to believe in Dantonio, but take Ringer off this team and MSU wins 4 games. If he brings this kind of success next year, I'll believe he's a helluva coach.

It's not over. It will never be over.

I just realized Michigan State hasn't beaten a ranked team all year.

Even Michigan managed to win one of those (#9 Wisconsin).

Not to mention they've lost every game in which they've been the underdog.


Daryll Clark > Brian Hoyer

Evan Royster < Javon Ringer

Derrick Williams > Mark Dell

Deon Butler > BJ Cunningham

Jordan Norwood > Blair White, Deon Curry, Fred Smith, Chris D. Rucker, Keshawn Martin

Penn St O-Line > MSU O-Line

Penn St Defense > MSU Defense


Penn State wins...

There is a big difference between OSU and PSU and the rest of the Big Ten.

PSU`s D-line is just too much. Especially for Jesse Miller (RT). MSU needs a QB that can take a game into his hands rather than just be serviceable.

A disappointing game, thus far, but, nonetheless, a very positive season for the Green and White.

I just realized Michigan State hasn't beaten a ranked team all year.

Northwestern was ranked when we beat them.

Northwestern was ranked when we beat them.
Disregard Willy. That kid is a complexed mess striving to convince himself and everybody else of something that will constantly be just over the horizon.

Wow, did Joe Pa offer up some lube before this ass raping?

I still can't believe people thought this game was going to be close, let alone those who thought MSU could win and get into a BCS game.
I've given State credit all year for being opportunistic and beating bad teams, and they've played several, but it's been an illusion. State will lose to teams that are great and probably teams that are pretty good. All 9 wins have come against teams that are basically jokes. Yes, I realize that includes UM, and if you think it's the first time I've admitted that they're a joke this year clearly you haven't been paying attention.
I think State will probably get beaten up in a bowl game unless they luck out and get a cupcake team, but more than likely they'll get an SEC team that will wipe the field with them.
It's sad just how bad the Big Ten is this year. Truly only two teams worth talking about and every Big Ten team who makes a bowl game might very well lose the game.

MSU proved to be a complete fraud.

The best 3 teams they played---Cal., Ohio State, Penn State---completely obliterated them.

They're going to get destroyed in their bowl game, finish unranked, and fade back into Oblivion for another 10 years.

FRAUDS!

MSU proved to be a complete fraud.

The best 3 teams they played---Cal., Ohio State, Penn State---completely obliterated them.

They're going to get destroyed in their bowl game, finish unranked, and fade back into Oblivion for another 10 years.

FRAUDS!

I don't want your sarcasm to make it seem like that's what I'm saying.

But it is clear MSU played two really good teams, and they were never in the game against either, absolutely smoked.
They played a Northwestern team that is equally fraudulent and came out on top. Cal is above average, and they lost that game. A bad choice by Ferentz and an unbelievable comeback against a laughable Wisconsin team helped them in beating 8 bad teams.

As for the outlook, they'll likely get to the Outback Bowl. If they play Georgia they'll die on the field. LSU would come out on top, South Carolina or Mississippi might actually be a game.

Next year many believe they'll be this "good" again. They'll beat Montana State, but depending on who comes back Central, Western, and Notre Dame might be bigger challenges than most teams they faced this season. However, while they lose doormat team Indiana from the schedule, they also get the blessing of not having to play Ohio State. Minnesota and Illinois (without Juice) will return to their schedule.

There may be 9 wins in there, but having to replace offensive linemen, Wiley, and Ringer won't be easy. They've got good backs coming in, but the performance of the line will be crucial in them running well, and it's not safe to assume they'll have the type of impact Ringer did this season. As for QB, whoever takes the snaps will almost certainly be more consistent than Hoyer, but don't pretend he wasn't good enough to help you in a handful of games. Nichol and/or Cousins will almost certainly be better, but the experience of Hoyer helped more than once when teams committed to Ringer.

So State will go to their 3rd consecutive bowl game and fans should be happy with it. But they are nowhere near elite, they shouldn't be in the preseason top 25 next season, and they've got a few more season of productivity to go before the nation takes them seriously.

We have a couple stud linemen who have verballed already. I like that we don't play OSU but picking up Minny scares me. They are sneaky good.

I think 8-4 is realistic next year.

looking ahead to next year at MSU, I think they'll be a far better team with Cousins under center than they ever were with Hoyer...

they're losing alot of talent though...Jesse Miller, RoMart, Ringer, Otis Wiley...

7-5 sounds about right

Good win by state over Texas.