New Year's Day! Definitely the best time of the year for college football fans. We've got 6 great looking games to day and an absolutely sexy Rose Bowl game. I can't remember a more compelling match up than this Rose Bowl right here. Let's jump in.
Saturday January 1st
#1 Northwestern vs Texas Tech in the TicketCity Bowl
(1/1) Noon ESPNU
The battle of the 7-5's. This makes back to back New Year's Day bowls for Northwestern. This one is being played in the Cotton Bowl, and it should be a doosy for Texas Tech. Persa is out for Northwestern and he's the heart & soul for that squad. So goes Persa so goes Northwestern. Tubs gets a bowl win for his first year in Lubbock.
#2 Florida vs Penn State in the Outback Bowl
(1/1) 1:00 PM ABC
Now we're talking! It would not be New Year's without JoePa. We get crusty old JoePa, a living legend, and a Coach leaving the game before his time. Story lines abound in this one. I'm curious how Florida will play against a Penn State team that made great strides in righting the ship this year. It was a bumpy road, but if they can find a way to get the ball to #6 Derek Moye, they should be able to move the sticks. Who knows what Florida will do with their QB rotation. Its a circus back there, and its so maddening to watch that Urban had to step back from the program. They say if you got 2 quarterbacks, you don't have 1. I guess, if you got 3 quarterbacks, start shopping for a new coach. Think JoePa will snag a W, and then step aside? Don't hold your breath. He's coaching forever. God bless him. He's press conferences have become the most surreal experiences I can recall. Gators pull out the W, and Urban goes out with a W...for now.
#3 Alabama vs Michigan State in the Capitol One Bowl
(1/1) 1:00 PM ESPN
A great match up. I am curious which BAMA team will show up. I have a feeling Alabama is frustrated from this year, and I have a feeling the Spartans are walking into a beat down. How will Greg McElroy respond to being body slammed in that Auburn game? He did not look good walking off the field that day, but I think he'll bounce back and be able to hand off to Ingram and Richardson. Hitting Julio on the slant should be open on that D too. Saban is not wanting to go into the off season with a loss. While 9-4 is not too bad, you know he's eyeing 10-3. MSU has won a ton of close games this year, and they done so on grit, hard work, and some good old fashioned trickery. Don't be surprised if the Spartans fake a punt or field goal to stay in the game. Saban gets another bowl victory in the books. I have to send out a Coach of the Year nod to Coach Dantonio. He guided the Spartans to one of their best seasons in the modern era, and he suffered from heart attack after the Notre Dame game victory. Great year, Coach!
#4 Mississippi State vs Michigan in the Gator Bowl
(1/1) 1:30 PM ESPN2
If Rich Rodriquez can pull this one out, Michigan fans and alum might cut him some slack. Nah. They'll be calling for his head rain or shine because he's not a Michigan man. Well let me ask you this Michigan, if he's not a Michigan Man, then why did you hire him in the first place? Seems a bit odd that you'd bring him in, if he did not fit your Primary Job Hiring Criteria. Coaching aside, the kicking game is awful for Michigan. The defense is awful for Michigan, and those are 2 critical components to the game of football. Look for Mississippi State to run it all over this Michigan Swiss cheese defense. Dan Mullen is off to great start.
#5 Wisconsin vs TCU in the Rose Bowl
(1/1) 5:00 PM ESPN
Talk about good looking day of football. This is a the T-Bone Steak you've been waiting for. What a great matchup. Wisconsin is 11-1 and TCU is 12-0. If this game does not get you pumped, something is up. I'm curious how John Clay will run on TCU. I've said all year Wisconsin has one of the best Offensive Lines in the country and how they square up against TCU's outstanding defense is where the game will be won. Andy Dalton and company have an opportunity to go 13-0 and ask "Why not us". That's a debate for another, but this game could be huge in the national historic debate of post season college football. Let's say TCU does win. The "Plus 1" crowd will be chirping. And if TCU does win, I'll be chirping too. More football? Hey I'm in. Badgers style football is what its all about, but I have to say I'm rooting for TCU. Bring on the Plus 1. Remember '04 when Auburn was left standing. If we go back and drop in the Plus 1, we would have had the luxury of seeing undefeated Southern Cal vs undefeated Auburn. How in the world can you not like that match up? Yeah, go horned frogs.
#6 UCONN vs Oklahoma
(1/1) 8:30 PM ESPN
Thank the automatic bowl tie-in's for this one. UConn rolls in with an 8-4 record, and the Sooners are 11-2. Not much to say here, except that the Sooners, if they come like they should, will roll big.
Happy New Year!!!
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Showing posts with label Coach Dantonio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Coach Dantonio. Show all posts
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
GAME PREVIEW: MICHIGAN STATE AT IOWA (10/30/2010)
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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Thursday, October 14, 2010
GAME PREVIEW: ILLINOIS AT MICHIGAN STATE
There are a couple of unbeaten teams playing in early games this coming Saturday (10/16). Most notably the 6-0 Michigan State Spartans host The Fighting Illini. MSU, led by Coach Dantonio, has been playing some inspired ball this year. Illinois is coming off a a close game with Ohio State which they ended up losing and a big time win in Happy Valley over Penn State.
Let's take a closer look.
Illinois (3-2) @ Michigan State (6-0)
Noon - Big Ten Network
Michigan State is undefeated. They have taken down Notre Dame, Wisconsin, and Michigan. This team has some big wins under their belt, but are they due for an emotional let down? QB Kirk Cousins has been playing lights out this year. He's completing almost 70% of his passes, and he's been putting up the yards: 1416 with 10 TDs so far in 2010.
Cousins has been getting some great support from the O Line, and his young running back duo: Edwin Baker and Le'Veon Bell. Combined the pair has put up 1232 yards and 14 TDs. They will continue to put up great yards on Saturday, as the Illinois defense is improved from last year, but still not all the way there. This Michigan State team has seen their share of excitement both good and bad, as they beat Notre Dame in a thriller back in Week 3 on a fake field goal. The play called, "Little Giants" is definitely in the running for Play of the Year, but later that night, Coach Dantonio had a mild heart attack. He's been easing back, but that is some serious stuff, and The Spartans have answered the call by ralling around their coach. They are playing inspired football this year.
Illinois lost to Missouri in the season opener. They did not have enough to beat Missouri, who is currently undefeated at 5-0. Illinois' plan of attack will center around their Junior, Mikel Leshoure. He's been having a good year. He came up big against Penn State, where he rushed for 116 yards on 27 carries, and he caught a big time play that ended up going for 32 yards. He was instrumental in Illinois' first win in Happy Valley. Illinois' receivers will have to continue to play hard. Jenkins and Fayson will have to be ready for one of the tougher more inspired defenses they have seen all year. But let's be honest, no one is scared of Illinois' passing attack which currently ranks 114th in the country. It's all about the ground game which ranks 19th nationally. Be sure keep an eye on Michigan State's star linebacker, Greg Jones (#53). He's the real deal. As for Illinois, they have a star in cornerback Terry Hawthorne (#12).
Coach Ron Zook has been teetering on the hot seat, but he has a way of quieting the masses. I like Michigan State at home on this one. MSU will move to 7-0 and Illinois moves to 3-3. Look for the Spartans to win by 10.
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Let's take a closer look.
Illinois (3-2) @ Michigan State (6-0)
Noon - Big Ten Network
Michigan State is undefeated. They have taken down Notre Dame, Wisconsin, and Michigan. This team has some big wins under their belt, but are they due for an emotional let down? QB Kirk Cousins has been playing lights out this year. He's completing almost 70% of his passes, and he's been putting up the yards: 1416 with 10 TDs so far in 2010.
Cousins has been getting some great support from the O Line, and his young running back duo: Edwin Baker and Le'Veon Bell. Combined the pair has put up 1232 yards and 14 TDs. They will continue to put up great yards on Saturday, as the Illinois defense is improved from last year, but still not all the way there. This Michigan State team has seen their share of excitement both good and bad, as they beat Notre Dame in a thriller back in Week 3 on a fake field goal. The play called, "Little Giants" is definitely in the running for Play of the Year, but later that night, Coach Dantonio had a mild heart attack. He's been easing back, but that is some serious stuff, and The Spartans have answered the call by ralling around their coach. They are playing inspired football this year.
Illinois lost to Missouri in the season opener. They did not have enough to beat Missouri, who is currently undefeated at 5-0. Illinois' plan of attack will center around their Junior, Mikel Leshoure. He's been having a good year. He came up big against Penn State, where he rushed for 116 yards on 27 carries, and he caught a big time play that ended up going for 32 yards. He was instrumental in Illinois' first win in Happy Valley. Illinois' receivers will have to continue to play hard. Jenkins and Fayson will have to be ready for one of the tougher more inspired defenses they have seen all year. But let's be honest, no one is scared of Illinois' passing attack which currently ranks 114th in the country. It's all about the ground game which ranks 19th nationally. Be sure keep an eye on Michigan State's star linebacker, Greg Jones (#53). He's the real deal. As for Illinois, they have a star in cornerback Terry Hawthorne (#12).
Coach Ron Zook has been teetering on the hot seat, but he has a way of quieting the masses. I like Michigan State at home on this one. MSU will move to 7-0 and Illinois moves to 3-3. Look for the Spartans to win by 10.
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