Look I know we havent faired terribly well in this game the past decade, but if you're Sparty right now I dont see how you could possibly ask for a worse matchup for what you're good and not good at thus far in the season. All the most significant mismatches are in our favor, and all their strengths are directly counteracted by our best strengths.
MSU Passing Game vs UM Passing Defense: This is Sparty's only chance for a win in my opinion. Lewerke and Felton Davis both put an S on their chest and produce like 14-21 points between the two of them. Davis is the real deal. But if you've watched Sparty this year they really arent that reliable in the passing game. Lewerke makes mistakes and forces the ball more than he should, and outside of Davis there just isnt anyone else to be scared of. That win at PSU was basically one or two good drives all game, plus a very fluky drive with a faked punt and a 40 yard half back pass. The one thing that we have had trouble with is the running QB, so if they hurt us in this matchup its going to come from a combo of Lewerke's legs (converting some long 3rd downs) and the Lewerke/Davis combo, but the way we've been playing on the backend, combined with a very scary pass rush, I just feel pretty good about where we stand here. Best case for Sparty this is a PUSH, and I could easily see this being a significant UM advantage if we lock down Davis. Btw they are going to be passing in 15-20 mph winds.....with no running game. Good luck with that.
MSU Running Game vs UM Rush Defense: They flatout suck at running the ball. Their OL is a mess and their starter the past few games is probably our third string RB. Any sparty that plays the "LJ Scott finally steps up" card, good luck with that - theyve been waiting for that for years - doesnt feel like its happening. And btw - there's this stat out there regarding win % for whoever runs the ball better in this game.....I can't even comprehend a world where we don't win the rushing yards in this game given what they are working with. HUGE Advantage for us here.
UM Running Game vs MSU Rush Defense: Before last week I would have said this was a clear MSU advantage, and I'll still give them the benefit of the doubt here, but its not as one-sided after seeing us put up 300+ against Wiscy. Our running game is clicking and PSU put up 200 rush yards last week. Would love to see our QB run game get loose a little bit, could be a game changer. Regardless, our deficit here is definitively lower than MSU's run game deficit vs our rush D.
UM Passing Game vs. MSU Pass Defense: Their pass D sucks. Got toasted against Utah St, ASU, and just have to think our mouths are watering on how to attack their back four. Weather permitting, should be a HUGE UM advantage here.
Special Teams: We have the best punter in the Big Ten. Their starting punter is hurt. Our K has missed a couple but he's still got a much stronger leg than theirs and overall hitting at close to an 80% clip. Yeah - they run a fake now and then, but I flatout disagree with anyone that says we should sacrifice the punt return game - just play sound assignment football and we'll be ok. No reason to completely take a weapon like DPJ out of the game on the punt return.
Bottom line - we are playing a very single-faceted MSU offense and defense. I'm sorry but we should roll, rivalry or not. There just isnt a whole lot that this MSU team does well.....and I've given them a lot of credit in the past when they have.
The only remaining piece is the intangibles, and they punched us in the mouth last year with better effort and a massive turnover advantage and earned that win, but it aint happening this year. Not with this group and not with this QB (you arent getting five turnovers again Mark).
Michigan rolls. 31-10.
MSU Passing Game vs UM Passing Defense: This is Sparty's only chance for a win in my opinion. Lewerke and Felton Davis both put an S on their chest and produce like 14-21 points between the two of them. Davis is the real deal. But if you've watched Sparty this year they really arent that reliable in the passing game. Lewerke makes mistakes and forces the ball more than he should, and outside of Davis there just isnt anyone else to be scared of. That win at PSU was basically one or two good drives all game, plus a very fluky drive with a faked punt and a 40 yard half back pass. The one thing that we have had trouble with is the running QB, so if they hurt us in this matchup its going to come from a combo of Lewerke's legs (converting some long 3rd downs) and the Lewerke/Davis combo, but the way we've been playing on the backend, combined with a very scary pass rush, I just feel pretty good about where we stand here. Best case for Sparty this is a PUSH, and I could easily see this being a significant UM advantage if we lock down Davis. Btw they are going to be passing in 15-20 mph winds.....with no running game. Good luck with that.
MSU Running Game vs UM Rush Defense: They flatout suck at running the ball. Their OL is a mess and their starter the past few games is probably our third string RB. Any sparty that plays the "LJ Scott finally steps up" card, good luck with that - theyve been waiting for that for years - doesnt feel like its happening. And btw - there's this stat out there regarding win % for whoever runs the ball better in this game.....I can't even comprehend a world where we don't win the rushing yards in this game given what they are working with. HUGE Advantage for us here.
UM Running Game vs MSU Rush Defense: Before last week I would have said this was a clear MSU advantage, and I'll still give them the benefit of the doubt here, but its not as one-sided after seeing us put up 300+ against Wiscy. Our running game is clicking and PSU put up 200 rush yards last week. Would love to see our QB run game get loose a little bit, could be a game changer. Regardless, our deficit here is definitively lower than MSU's run game deficit vs our rush D.
UM Passing Game vs. MSU Pass Defense: Their pass D sucks. Got toasted against Utah St, ASU, and just have to think our mouths are watering on how to attack their back four. Weather permitting, should be a HUGE UM advantage here.
Special Teams: We have the best punter in the Big Ten. Their starting punter is hurt. Our K has missed a couple but he's still got a much stronger leg than theirs and overall hitting at close to an 80% clip. Yeah - they run a fake now and then, but I flatout disagree with anyone that says we should sacrifice the punt return game - just play sound assignment football and we'll be ok. No reason to completely take a weapon like DPJ out of the game on the punt return.
Bottom line - we are playing a very single-faceted MSU offense and defense. I'm sorry but we should roll, rivalry or not. There just isnt a whole lot that this MSU team does well.....and I've given them a lot of credit in the past when they have.
The only remaining piece is the intangibles, and they punched us in the mouth last year with better effort and a massive turnover advantage and earned that win, but it aint happening this year. Not with this group and not with this QB (you arent getting five turnovers again Mark).
Michigan rolls. 31-10.
