Why should this MSU game be any different? Stats!!!

Landlord of Memorial Stadium said:
devnet said:
BIGREDIOWAN said:
I have to wonder, why should this MSU game be any different than the past games we've had with MSU? They've had a stout defense since we've come to the B1G and we've beat them the past two years.

2011-2012: MSU is ranked 9th in the nation, we were ranked 13th in the nation: We win at our house 24-3, we absolutely dominated them from what I remember.

2012-2013: MSU isn't ranked, we're ranked 21st in the nation: Martinez leads a comeback late in the game and we win at their house 28-24.

MSU total defensive ranking: finished 6th in the country in 2011.

MSU total defensive ranking: finished 4th in the country in 2012.

MSU total defensive ranking: currently 1st in the country in 2013 they are ranked 16th in the nation through the BCS

Our offensive ranking at the time of playing them:

2011-2012: Total offense 35th in the nation

2012-2013: Total offense 15th in the nation

2013-2014: Total offense 42nd in the nation

Their defensive ranking at the time of playing them:

2011-2012: 2nd in the nation.

2012-2013: 5th in the nation.

2013-2014: 1st in the nation (Game yet to be played)

Our defensive ranking at the time of playing them:

2011-2012: 42nd in the nation

2012-2013: 26th in the nation

2013-2014: 41st in the nation

Their offensive ranking at the time of playing them:

2011-2012: 66th in the nation

2012-2013: 96th in the nation

2013-2014: 86th in the nation

So please................someone tell me why I care that they are the #1 defense in the nation? I completely agree that it will be a close game and a hard fought game. But, from what I can see the 2011-2012 game is the closest comparable to our current game coming up on Saturday and I fail to see why I should get wrapped up in their defense. I'm not trying to be a kool-aid drinker, I'm not, the stats are what they are. This was all taken from the NCAA website. Someone could probably break things down more than I've done, but I didn't want to go through all that work about rushing defense, passing offense, etc. etc. Thoughts?
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Honestly, MSU has utterly dominated the following ranked offenses in the nation:

  • Western Michigan - 111th
  • South Florida - 123rd
  • Youngstown State - FCS No rank
  • Notre Dame - 69th
  • Iowa - 77th
  • Indiana - 8th
  • Purdue - 122nd
  • Illinois - 56th
  • Michigan - 86th

So they've faced a single offense that was even in the top 50 of the entire country. That number 8 offense of Indiana is 12th in the nation in passing and 33rd in the nation in rushing. Nebraska is 14th in the nation in rushing and 42nd in the nation in total offense.

In other words, they have not seen a rushing offense yet like the Huskers will bring to them...they haven't even come close...and they've dominated vastly less talented teams.

I like the Huskers chances...
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A few of those offenses were good rushing offenses, until they played Michigan State.

For some reason our offense, with three starting linemen lost, Martinez done, and hobbled receivers, with Ameer Abdullah as the only explosive threat lately, just does not seem to me the kind of product to make MSU quake in their boots.

We're 42nd in the nation in total offense. A lot of that is growing pains with new quarterbacks and hopefully (I think) we are better and more capable than the statistics say we are, and we take another step forward Saturday, but man. We are seriously beat up and having a tough time.
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Good. I hope they aren't afraid. I hope they take our offense lightly. And I hope they pay dearly because of it.

 
Nice jab by Sip:

The Spartan Dawgs allow only 43.4 rushing yards per game, and a measly 1.6 per carry. Do that, and a defense can call itself whatever it pleases.The Spartans must have vulnerability somewhere, right?

<snip>

Those thinking the Huskers' beat-up offense has no chance against the Spartan Dawgs should consider at least two critical factors:

* Michigan State generally has bullied the dregs of the Big Ten (Iowa, Indiana, Purdue, Illinois and Michigan). Combined conference record: 7-19. By the same token, Nebraska's league foes to this point have a record of only 6-20.
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Two years ago, I recall MSU coming out as flat as I've ever seen them and sleep-walking through the entire game. Check me if I'm wrong, but Cousins threw terribly, which was not normal so don't take 2011 at face value. Last year, of course, the O struggled all year and never really pulled it together but a lot of that has been corrected. I'm not going to judge this game by the last couple and I'm feeling even more confident than I did two years ago (see what that got me).

  • The Spartan D has improved each of the last two years and now have 2 NFL caliber corners that will play man-to-man all day, allowing for strong run support and a creative pass rush.
  • The offense is much better than last year and the start of this year - on the verge of being good. The skill players seem to be playing well and the line looks strong.
  • Nebraska is pretty nicked up.


This had better be our year because I'm driving up from St. Louis and I have no intention of spending 14 hours on the road just to watch us lose again to Nebraska.

 
stlspartan said:
Two years ago, I recall MSU coming out as flat as I've ever seen them and sleep-walking through the entire game. Check me if I'm wrong, but Cousins threw terribly, which was not normal so don't take 2011 at face value. Last year, of course, the O struggled all year and never really pulled it together but a lot of that has been corrected. I'm not going to judge this game by the last couple and I'm feeling even more confident than I did two years ago (see what that got me).

  • The Spartan D has improved each of the last two years and now have 2 NFL caliber corners that will play man-to-man all day, allowing for strong run support and a creative pass rush.
  • The offense is much better than last year and the start of this year - on the verge of being good. The skill players seem to be playing well and the line looks strong.
  • Nebraska is pretty nicked up.

This had better be our year because I'm driving up from St. Louis and I have no intention of spending 14 hours on the road just to watch us lose again to Nebraska.
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I don't think there is any arguing that MSU is probably the better team. The thing that pisses me off to no end is NO ONE outside the State of Nebraska is giving us a chance........................that's fine, we play better with a chip on our shoulder.

 
stlspartan said:
Two years ago, I recall MSU coming out as flat as I've ever seen them and sleep-walking through the entire game. Check me if I'm wrong, but Cousins threw terribly, which was not normal so don't take 2011 at face value. Last year, of course, the O struggled all year and never really pulled it together but a lot of that has been corrected. I'm not going to judge this game by the last couple and I'm feeling even more confident than I did two years ago (see what that got me).

  • The Spartan D has improved each of the last two years and now have 2 NFL caliber corners that will play man-to-man all day, allowing for strong run support and a creative pass rush.
  • The offense is much better than last year and the start of this year - on the verge of being good. The skill players seem to be playing well and the line looks strong.
  • Nebraska is pretty nicked up.

This had better be our year because I'm driving up from St. Louis and I have no intention of spending 14 hours on the road just to watch us lose again to Nebraska.
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MSU was also coming off two emotional games vs. Michigan and Wisconsin (the latter being an always physical and gritty matchup, and that one in particular ended in the hail mary). The team was physically and emotionally exhausted. Injuries were a much bigger issue in that game on our end. Also, our retarded monkey OC Roushar decided that Bell getting 5 YPC against you guys was no fun and it would be more fun to throw at the teeth of the cover 2 instead.

We're coming off a bye and have been relatively healthy, other than losing co-starter at weakside LB since the ND game (he's done for the season).

 
SpartanMacks said:
MSU was also coming off two emotional games vs. Michigan and Wisconsin (the latter being an always physical and gritty matchup, and that one in particular ended in the hail mary). The team was physically and emotionally exhausted. Injuries were a much bigger issue in that game on our end. Also, our retarded monkey OC Roushar decided that Bell getting 5 YPC against you guys was no fun and it would be more fun to throw at the teeth of the cover 2 instead.
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Hey, hey, hey. Let's slow down here. He wasn't getting 5 YPC.

It was only 4.8.
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Mavric said:
SpartanMacks said:
MSU was also coming off two emotional games vs. Michigan and Wisconsin (the latter being an always physical and gritty matchup, and that one in particular ended in the hail mary). The team was physically and emotionally exhausted. Injuries were a much bigger issue in that game on our end. Also, our retarded monkey OC Roushar decided that Bell getting 5 YPC against you guys was no fun and it would be more fun to throw at the teeth of the cover 2 instead.
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Hey, hey, hey. Let's slow down here. He wasn't getting 5 YPC.

It was only 4.8.
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I rounded.
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SpartanMacks said:
stlspartan said:
Two years ago, I recall MSU coming out as flat as I've ever seen them and sleep-walking through the entire game. Check me if I'm wrong, but Cousins threw terribly, which was not normal so don't take 2011 at face value. Last year, of course, the O struggled all year and never really pulled it together but a lot of that has been corrected. I'm not going to judge this game by the last couple and I'm feeling even more confident than I did two years ago (see what that got me).

  • The Spartan D has improved each of the last two years and now have 2 NFL caliber corners that will play man-to-man all day, allowing for strong run support and a creative pass rush.
  • The offense is much better than last year and the start of this year - on the verge of being good. The skill players seem to be playing well and the line looks strong.
  • Nebraska is pretty nicked up.

This had better be our year because I'm driving up from St. Louis and I have no intention of spending 14 hours on the road just to watch us lose again to Nebraska.
Click to expand...
MSU was also coming off two emotional games vs. Michigan and Wisconsin (the latter being an always physical and gritty matchup, and that one in particular ended in the hail mary). The team was physically and emotionally exhausted. Injuries were a much bigger issue in that game on our end. Also, our retarded monkey OC Roushar decided that Bell getting 5 YPC against you guys was no fun and it would be more fun to throw at the teeth of the cover 2 instead.

We're coming off a bye and have been relatively healthy, other than losing co-starter at weakside LB since the ND game (he's done for the season).
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Didn't work out so well when they gave him 36 carries either....

 
worldsworstoutdoorsman said:
SpartanMacks said:
stlspartan said:
Two years ago, I recall MSU coming out as flat as I've ever seen them and sleep-walking through the entire game. Check me if I'm wrong, but Cousins threw terribly, which was not normal so don't take 2011 at face value. Last year, of course, the O struggled all year and never really pulled it together but a lot of that has been corrected. I'm not going to judge this game by the last couple and I'm feeling even more confident than I did two years ago (see what that got me).

  • The Spartan D has improved each of the last two years and now have 2 NFL caliber corners that will play man-to-man all day, allowing for strong run support and a creative pass rush.
  • The offense is much better than last year and the start of this year - on the verge of being good. The skill players seem to be playing well and the line looks strong.
  • Nebraska is pretty nicked up.

This had better be our year because I'm driving up from St. Louis and I have no intention of spending 14 hours on the road just to watch us lose again to Nebraska.
Click to expand...
MSU was also coming off two emotional games vs. Michigan and Wisconsin (the latter being an always physical and gritty matchup, and that one in particular ended in the hail mary). The team was physically and emotionally exhausted. Injuries were a much bigger issue in that game on our end. Also, our retarded monkey OC Roushar decided that Bell getting 5 YPC against you guys was no fun and it would be more fun to throw at the teeth of the cover 2 instead.

We're coming off a bye and have been relatively healthy, other than losing co-starter at weakside LB since the ND game (he's done for the season).
Click to expand...
Didn't work out so well when they gave him 36 carries either....
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Boy I am still so salty on that loss, not against Nebraska but against Bill Lemmonier. That bs call on Adams during Dennard's INT return, and then the pass interference flag at the end of the game. I need to stop thinking about it before I have an aneurysm...

 
SpartanMacks said:
Boy I am still so salty on that loss, not against Nebraska but against Bill Lemmonier. That bs call on Adams during Dennard's INT return, and then the pass interference flag at the end of the game. I need to stop thinking about it before I have an aneurysm...
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Eh, they were just evening out the calls from earlier in the game.
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Mavric said:
SpartanMacks said:
Boy I am still so salty on that loss, not against Nebraska but against Bill Lemmonier. That bs call on Adams during Dennard's INT return, and then the pass interference flag at the end of the game. I need to stop thinking about it before I have an aneurysm...
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Eh, they were just evening out the calls from earlier in the game.
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Officiating was pretty suspect the whole game. MSU just got the bad calls late while NU got them earlier.

 
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