By bold predictions...

[tarun262]

for the season that starts in 5 days. I am sure Eric and tnakfoofoo as well as Nittany Clueless are going to make some random barbs but the ignore feature works wonders and personally I don't care what they think this is purely my opinion and it'll be fun to hear what others things versus trying to find flaws in "opinions"

• Michigan will do better then most folks think. Our supposed ceiling is 8, but I think we will end up with 10 wins and the 2 losses will be a not-so-close game to BYU and a loss against OSU. Other then that, I think Michigan wins every game including a home game against MSU. As a result Michigan also ends up with the #1 recruiting class (primarily based on the fact that they take 28 players but get a couple 5-stars on board). Michigan makes it back to a BCS game.
• Peppers, Kalis, Wormley, and Bolden make the All BIG team with Kalis making All American team as one of the best O-linemen in the country.
• Michigan State will still have a great but not as great as many believe. I think MSU goes 9-3 with losses to Oregon, Michigan, and Nebraska. Cook gets touted as the first QB taken in the draft.
• Ohio State has a great season, makes it to the playoffs again but does lose to MSU in a very very close game, but a shootout. They lose to TCU in the first round of the playoffs. Braxton Miller makes the All American team as a punt/kick-off returner.
• Ohio State and Wisconsin for the BIG championship again with yet another blowout and talks of future realignment again.
• Penn State will start out the season 8-1 (only loss to Ohio State) but will end the season losing 3 straight (to NW, Michigan, and Michigan State). Still a great season for them.
• PAC team wins the National Championship this year - likely USC. Somehow they end up making it despite being in a tough conference. I know this is a stretch but I think this is their year.
• Florida State losses 4 games after 15 players get arrested and their coach still decides to start them all because hey, it's about football for them only.
• Arizona under Rich Rod continues to scare the crap out of teams as they light up the scoreboards, but they still lose 3 games.
• Notre Dame goes 8-4 again and fans blame Michigan not being on the schedule as a distraction during those 4 losses and how they will the next 18 national championships in a row with Brian Kelly (kidding about the last part but they will lose 4 games).
• BYU - who handily beats Michigan is the cinderella team of the season. I think they lose to Mizzu and finish 11-1 but they still don't make it to the playoffs...BCS bound however with a stud QB.

Those are my wild-n-wacky opinions. I am sure I am wrong on all fronts but either way, should be a fun season. My first prediction may fall flat on it's face by Thursday evening but I hope not - GO BLUE!

 

[michnittlion]

A few comments and thoughts:

1. I'm not nearly as high on TCU (or Baylor) as most. Not as strong on defense as I like to see. I think all the Big XII teams lose 1-2 games in-conference (TCU may get Baylor at home but they play at all of OU, OK State, and K-State), and the Big XII misses the playoffs altogether for a second consecutive year.

2. My playoff teams are (a) Ohio State, (b) Alabama (again), (c) the Pac-12 champion, and (d) and my bold pick, ACC champ Georgia Tech (they could get the nod even at 12-1, as long as they win the ACC, they have a very tough schedule).

3. I agree with you that it's a "Pac-12 wins the National Title" year. Best conference out there, but I am taking UCLA over USC.

4. Big Ten teams that will over-perform the general pre-season predictions: Nebraska, Indiana, Penn State. Teams that will under-perform: Michigan State, Wisconsin, Minnesota. Michigan I'm down the middle on: 7-8 wins, which is the median projection.

 

[scfanblue]

Interesting points. I'm picking Auburn to win it all this. I also think Georgia Tech will be in the playoff mix with OSU. PSU, MSU and Michigan will have very good seasons as well

 

[ruff90]

Click your heels and you will be back in Kansas, it's just a dream Dorthy.

 

[ChicagoBlueFan]

Click your heels and you will be back in Kansas, it's just a dream Dorthy.

Or Dorothy...

 

[ArrowheadBlue]

why all the love for UCLA? Starting a kid out of high school for 6 months. And Cutty Sark (that's what the loyal Trojans are calling him) can only hurt his school. Arizona St. looks strong and Oregon has a great transfer QB.

 

[eric2015]

A few comments and thoughts:

1. I'm not nearly as high on TCU (or Baylor) as most. Not as strong on defense as I like to see. I think all the Big XII teams lose 1-2 games in-conference (TCU may get Baylor at home but they play at all of OU, OK State, and K-State), and the Big XII misses the playoffs altogether for a second consecutive year.

2. My playoff teams are (a) Ohio State, (b) Alabama (again), (c) the Pac-12 champion, and (d) and my bold pick, ACC champ Georgia Tech (they could get the nod even at 12-1, as long as they win the ACC, they have a very tough schedule).

3. I agree with you that it's a "Pac-12 wins the National Title" year. Best conference out there, but I am taking UCLA over USC.

4. Big Ten teams that will over-perform the general pre-season predictions: Nebraska, Indiana, Penn State. Teams that will under-perform: Michigan State, Wisconsin, Minnesota. Michigan I'm down the middle on: 7-8 wins, which is the median projection.

I guess if MSU finishes the AP poll in 6th place, they will have under achieved. When a teams preseason rank is 5th, it's pretty tough to over achieve. Hell, if OSU loses one game, in the regular season, most will think they have under achieved.

 

[eric2015]

for the season that starts in 5 days. I am sure Eric and tnakfoofoo as well as Nittany Clueless are going to make some random barbs but the ignore feature works wonders and personally I don't care what they think this is purely my opinion and it'll be fun to hear what others things versus trying to find flaws in "opinions"

• Michigan will do better then most folks think. Our supposed ceiling is 8, but I think we will end up with 10 wins and the 2 losses will be a not-so-close game to BYU and a loss against OSU. Other then that, I think Michigan wins every game including a home game against MSU. As a result Michigan also ends up with the #1 recruiting class (primarily based on the fact that they take 28 players but get a couple 5-stars on board). Michigan makes it back to a BCS game.
• Peppers, Kalis, Wormley, and Bolden make the All BIG team with Kalis making All American team as one of the best O-linemen in the country.
• Michigan State will still have a great but not as great as many believe. I think MSU goes 9-3 with losses to Oregon, Michigan, and Nebraska. Cook gets touted as the first QB taken in the draft.
• Ohio State has a great season, makes it to the playoffs again but does lose to MSU in a very very close game, but a shootout. They lose to TCU in the first round of the playoffs. Braxton Miller makes the All American team as a punt/kick-off returner.
• Ohio State and Wisconsin for the BIG championship again with yet another blowout and talks of future realignment again.
• Penn State will start out the season 8-1 (only loss to Ohio State) but will end the season losing 3 straight (to NW, Michigan, and Michigan State). Still a great season for them.
• PAC team wins the National Championship this year - likely USC. Somehow they end up making it despite being in a tough conference. I know this is a stretch but I think this is their year.
• Florida State losses 4 games after 15 players get arrested and their coach still decides to start them all because hey, it's about football for them only.
• Arizona under Rich Rod continues to scare the crap out of teams as they light up the scoreboards, but they still lose 3 games.
• Notre Dame goes 8-4 again and fans blame Michigan not being on the schedule as a distraction during those 4 losses and how they will the next 18 national championships in a row with Brian Kelly (kidding about the last part but they will lose 4 games).
• BYU - who handily beats Michigan is the cinderella team of the season. I think they lose to Mizzu and finish 11-1 but they still don't make it to the playoffs...BCS bound however with a stud QB.

Those are my wild-n-wacky opinions. I am sure I am wrong on all fronts but either way, should be a fun season. My first prediction may fall flat on it's face by Thursday evening but I hope not - GO BLUE!

All fans should be optimistic in August. Nothing to rip about your post.

 

[24to12]

for the season that starts in 5 days. I am sure Eric and tnakfoofoo as well as Nittany Clueless are going to make some random barbs but the ignore feature works wonders and personally I don't care what they think this is purely my opinion and it'll be fun to hear what others things versus trying to find flaws in "opinions"

• Michigan will do better then most folks think. Our supposed ceiling is 8, but I think we will end up with 10 wins and the 2 losses will be a not-so-close game to BYU and a loss against OSU. Other then that, I think Michigan wins every game including a home game against MSU. As a result Michigan also ends up with the #1 recruiting class (primarily based on the fact that they take 28 players but get a couple 5-stars on board). Michigan makes it back to a BCS game.
• Peppers, Kalis, Wormley, and Bolden make the All BIG team with Kalis making All American team as one of the best O-linemen in the country.
• Michigan State will still have a great but not as great as many believe. I think MSU goes 9-3 with losses to Oregon, Michigan, and Nebraska. Cook gets touted as the first QB taken in the draft.
• Ohio State has a great season, makes it to the playoffs again but does lose to MSU in a very very close game, but a shootout. They lose to TCU in the first round of the playoffs. Braxton Miller makes the All American team as a punt/kick-off returner.
• Ohio State and Wisconsin for the BIG championship again with yet another blowout and talks of future realignment again.
• Penn State will start out the season 8-1 (only loss to Ohio State) but will end the season losing 3 straight (to NW, Michigan, and Michigan State). Still a great season for them.
• PAC team wins the National Championship this year - likely USC. Somehow they end up making it despite being in a tough conference. I know this is a stretch but I think this is their year.
• Florida State losses 4 games after 15 players get arrested and their coach still decides to start them all because hey, it's about football for them only.
• Arizona under Rich Rod continues to scare the crap out of teams as they light up the scoreboards, but they still lose 3 games.
• Notre Dame goes 8-4 again and fans blame Michigan not being on the schedule as a distraction during those 4 losses and how they will the next 18 national championships in a row with Brian Kelly (kidding about the last part but they will lose 4 games).
• BYU - who handily beats Michigan is the cinderella team of the season. I think they lose to Mizzu and finish 11-1 but they still don't make it to the playoffs...BCS bound however with a stud QB.

Those are my wild-n-wacky opinions. I am sure I am wrong on all fronts but either way, should be a fun season. My first prediction may fall flat on it's face by Thursday evening but I hope not - GO BLUE!

These forecasts are as good as any out there. There are big surprises every season. Your BYU pick is definitely against the grain, but within the realm of possibility. This points to one factor working against the Wolverines: They face a tough out of conference schedule. Utah, Oregon State, and BYU are no pushovers by any stretch of the imagination. Big Ten teams don't often see opponents from this part of the country; to face three of them in a row is definitely unusual. All three are possible losses; if the Wolverines run the table against these teams, they could definitely contend against OSU and MSU. Not sure who put this schedule together; and definitely not sure if it was wise.

 

[Spartan Glory]

Desmond Howard picks Michigan State: http://www.mlive.com/spartans/index.ssf/2015/08/desmond_howard_picks_michigan.html#incart_river

I guess his end zone stumble in the 1990 game knocked some sense into him.

 

[michnittlion]

I guess if MSU finishes the AP poll in 6th place, they will have under achieved. When a teams preseason rank is 5th, it's pretty tough to over achieve. Hell, if OSU loses one game, in the regular season, most will think they have under achieved.

I just don't think Michigan State is a "slam dunk" for a Top-2 finish in the B1G East --- which is the general consensus opinion. I'm not as high on Cook as most, and the secondary will allow some points, so 3-4 losses and finishing tied with either U-M or PSU (or even behind one of those two) --- I wouldn't be shocked.

 

[eric2015]

I just don't think Michigan State is a "slam dunk" for a Top-2 finish in the B1G East --- which is the general consensus opinion. I'm not as high on Cook as most, and the secondary will allow some points, so 3-4 losses and finishing tied with either U-M or PSU (or even behind one of those two) --- I wouldn't be shocked.

Actually, the secondary is looking good. Dantonio is usually spot on with his evaluations when recruiting guys for the secondary, and he's brought in some really good ones. From all accounts, the secondary is just fine entering the season.

MSU is so strong in the trenches this year, I really don't see more than 2 losses.

Make no mistake, his is Dantonio's best team to date. The only question is, how much have other teams improved?

 

[Lake Tahoe Spartan]

I just don't think Michigan State is a "slam dunk" for a Top-2 finish in the B1G East --- which is the general consensus opinion. I'm not as high on Cook as most, and the secondary will allow some points, so 3-4 losses and finishing tied with either U-M or PSU (or even behind one of those two) --- I wouldn't be shocked.

We should learn a lot about Michigan State, and their defense, when Oregon comes to town. Oregon lost Mariota but they return all their skill players and quite a few starters.

 

[PharmD Blue]

I just don't think Michigan State is a "slam dunk" for a Top-2 finish in the B1G East --- which is the general consensus opinion. I'm not as high on Cook as most, and the secondary will allow some points, so 3-4 losses and finishing tied with either U-M or PSU (or even behind one of those two) --- I wouldn't be shocked.

Agreed. We won't know about their secondary until the games start, but to say it is fine right now would be absolutely ridiculous. They will be giving up a fair number of points this year.

 

[eric2015]

Agreed. We won't know about their secondary until the games start, but to say it is fine right now would be absolutely ridiculous. They will be giving up a fair number of points this year.

Gave up just over 20 last year. My guess is it's less than that in 2015. The DL is sick, and there is more than enough talent in the back seven.

 

[zwick99]

fo

• Penn State will start out the season 8-1 (only loss to Ohio State) but will end the season losing 3 straight (to NW, Michigan, and Michigan State). Still a great season for them.
• !

We will take 8-4 with no scholarship punters or kickers and and makeshift OL. THe juniors and seniors were signed during the sanctions. The sophomores were recruited during the sanctions. 8-4 and a bowl game will be fine during a rebuilding year.

 

[tarun262]

Gotta love Eric's comments. "Dantonio said..." When was the last time you heard a coach right before the season starts say - "you know what, our defense sucks, they are not good at all. I have never heard a coach say "our unit is not as good as it was 3 years ago, etc" You may say we need to improve but virtually every coach goes into every season with a level of excitement. Can you imagine how your athletes/kids would feel if you did not? Proof is in the pudding. On paper Alabama should beat everyone by 50 each and every year given their talent but the sum of all parts have to play together to really work - it's hard to gage in practice because you go up against the same guys over and over again. I think MSU will be good, but this "this is our best defense ever" business, I am not buying it. For you as an MSU fan - I hope it's the case, but you have lost some great DBs that are not that easy to simply replace.

 

[PharmD Blue]

Gotta love Eric's comments. "Dantonio said..." When was the last time you heard a coach right before the season starts say - "you know what, our defense sucks, they are not good at all. I have never heard a coach say "our unit is not as good as it was 3 years ago, etc" You may say we need to improve but virtually every coach goes into every season with a level of excitement. Can you imagine how your athletes/kids would feel if you did not? Proof is in the pudding. On paper Alabama should beat everyone by 50 each and every year given their talent but the sum of all parts have to play together to really work - it's hard to gage in practice because you go up against the same guys over and over again. I think MSU will be good, but this "this is our best defense ever" business, I am not buying it. For you as an MSU fan - I hope it's the case, but you have lost some great DBs that are not that easy to simply replace.

And the defense, honestly, was not anything to be all that excited about last year. Minus your stud defensive coordinator, a secondary that is suspect as best, and the big injury to their star LB, it is possible this unit could disappoint more than people want to believe.

 

[Spartan Glory]

Oh, yes. What a "disappointing" defense for MSU last year (aside from the overall # 1 ranking for a big chunk of the season, 11-1 record, Cotton Bowl victory, and Top 5 finish). Hope they keep disappointing us.

 

[tarun262]

http://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/22

You guys were not even Top 3 in the BIG...what site do you guys in East Lansing use to look at your stats? Must be the student journal that only looks at 10 mile radius? Your defense was indeed very good - I don't agree with the comment that it was average, your D has always been great - but it was NOT #1. You were #4 in the BIG. Your great season last year was not because of your defense, it was because your offense was very efficient and way better then it had been - you guys had a very well balanced team, versus the previous year where quite honestly your defense was what carried you single-handedly through the season for the most part.

Now in 2015 you should still be balanced, I think your O will be better then 2014 and you D slightly regressed but you will do well - I just think your schedule will be tough though...@Nebraska, @Michigan, Oregon, Ohio State - that's a tough slate for any team.

 

[PharmD Blue]

Oh, yes. What a "disappointing" defense for MSU last year (aside from the overall # 1 ranking for a big chunk of the season, 11-1 record, Cotton Bowl victory, and Top 5 finish). Hope they keep disappointing us.

Let's hope so. Because that defense was terrible in their three biggest games: Oregon, OSU and Baylor (despite winning that game, the D was non-existent). Again, sparty fans don't want to believe it but when the D was challenged by a team with an actual pulse it folded completely. And just out of curiosity, did msu have a loss overturned from last year? Last I looked they lost 2 games (which certainly isn't bad, but the D was terrible in all of them).

 

[tarun262]

PharmD Blue - Spartan Glory reads the East Lansing Journal I think - they make up stats over there. 11-2, 11-1 same thing right? #1 or #9, same thing - you just round it Good points on the D folding against very competent offensive teams. Don't forget they also gave up 31 points to Purdue.

 

[Lake Tahoe Spartan]

http://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/22

You guys were not even Top 3 in the BIG...what site do you guys in East Lansing use to look at your stats? Must be the student journal that only looks at 10 mile radius? Your defense was indeed very good - I don't agree with the comment that it was average, your D has always been great - but it was NOT #1. You were #4 in the BIG. Your great season last year was not because of your defense, it was because your offense was very efficient and way better then it had been - you guys had a very well balanced team, versus the previous year where quite honestly your defense was what carried you single-handedly through the season for the most part.

Now in 2015 you should still be balanced, I think your O will be better then 2014 and you D slightly regressed but you will do well - I just think your schedule will be tough though...@Nebraska, @Michigan, Oregon, Ohio State - that's a tough slate for any team.

MSU finished 4th in the big ten but 8th in the nation. The bowl game vs. Baylor is what bumped them out of the top 5 in the country. Are you really going to make fun of the team that finished 8th?


#2 PSU 278 yards
#4 Wisconsin 294 yards
#7 Michigan 311 yards
#8 MSU 315 yards

Since these 4 team are close let's look at turnovers gained last year.

#3 MSU 34
#57 PSU 21
#92 Wis 17
#123 UM 10

Most of the media thinks MSU will be 11-1. However, I agree with you that the road games are very hard this season. I see more of a 9-3 or 10-2 season.

 

[tarun262]

LTS - like I said, your success last year was more attributed to your offense versus your D - you gave up boat loads of points to Purdue, Oregon, OSU, & Baylor - if not for your adept O you would have lost all 4 of those games versus just 2. Your offense was the surprise last year, while your D was great against terrible teams (which UM was). I see your D be slightly worse this year - losing your DC and some of your secondary will be a big deal but I see your offense being very efficient - you have a very good O-line. You are likely more balanced under MD then you have ever been in his tenure but you do have a brutal schedule. @Neb, @Mich are not automatic wins anymore.