Being undefeated and at the top of the polls this year has truly been a scary spot to be in. Just ask Bama, Ohio State, and Oklahoma, where all three were undefeated, holding onto the lead spot and ended up losing. With Halloween weekend approaching, the casualties are piling up, and I don't see this weekend being any different.
Michigan State is currently undefeated and 5 in the nation, but they got into a back alley fist fight last week against Northwestern. They barely got out alive. It took some late stops and completely turning things around with an unbelievable 4th Quarter where they ended up putting 21 points to win. This week they face Iowa in Iowa City.
Let's take a closer look:
MICHIGAN STATE (8-0) AT IOWA (5-2)
3:30 PM - ESPN/ABC
It has been said that it is better to be lucky than good. MSU is both. They showed some serious resolve this past weekend as they stayed calm and collected on the road against Northwestern. They trailed all game, but MSU put up 21 points in the 4th Quarter and rallied to win. Some might look at it and say Northwestern choked, but anyone watching the game would clearly say that Michigan State rose up and took it.
The fake punt, dubbed "The Mouse Trap" by Coach Dantonio was another thing of beauty. With just over 14 minutes to go in the game, MSU was down by 10 points, on Northwestern's 31 yard line and facing a 4th and 6, Coach Dantonio sends out the punt team, takes the delay of game to push it back 5 yards and give their punter a better angle to punt...or so we thought. After they mark off the 5 yards, the ball is now at the NW 36 yard line, the punter gets the snap, takes a step and rears up to complete the 4th and 11 to #13 Bennie Fowler. Northwestern never saw it coming. No one did, and the very next play was a touchdown. The come back was alive and Northwestern could not get it together. The Spartans remained undefeated for another week, but this week coming up is a tough road game in Iowa.
MSU has been living on the edge. They have also been playing a hard fought but somewhat charmed season. They just left the state of Michigan for the first time this season last week. I think another road game does them in. I think the luck runs out in Iowa City. That front 4 for Iowa is going to shutdown MSU's run game and make them 1 dimensional. Iowa was given the blue print on how to slow down MSU by Northwestern -- excluding the 4th Quarter of course. This week I think Iowa closes the deal and recovers from last week's heartbreaking loss to Wisconsin. This game will be close the whole way, but Iowa wins by a late field goal.
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