I hope that all Sparty fans understand that they had a pretty decent season last year, made it to a January 1 bowl game and they might be even better this year. I just get sick thinking of Spartoonies thinking their team is ‘closing the gap’ on Michigan. If beating Michigan once every five to ten years is considered ‘closing the gap,’ then consider the basketball programs at these two schools dead even. Here goes my season preview for the Spartans:
September 5 – Montana St.
In the much anticipated MSU vs. MSU game, the Spartans come out swinging. They feel that they have to show the Maize and Blue that they are for real every game and there is no better way to do this than to run up the score on the Bobcats. With the crowd fired up and dancing around to Zombie Nation, the Spartans kick off to the wrong person, as Bobcat WR Derek Green returns the kick for six. This will be the only joy that Bobcat nation will have as the Spartans roll.
Final Score: MSU 51 MSU 6
1-0
September 12 – Central Michigan
Sparty fans remember 1991 and 1992 when the Chippewas came in and took over Spartan Stadium. Central has been the class of the MAC recently and has dominated most except for EMU. This will prevent the Chips from sneaking up on MSU. The Spartans should roll here, but the game will be close at the half.
Final Score: MSU 31 CMU 13
2-0
September 19 @ Notre Dame
In a game matching two of my favorite teams, this should be a good one. With the Irish reeling from a loss at Michigan (oops, did I just give away one of my future picks?), this is a must win game for the Irish if they want to go back to Hawaii on Christmas Eve again. With this win, they should go undefeated as they realize that they only play one more team that can give the full amount of athletic scholarships and should be BCS bound. Sparty on the other hand, historically owns the Irish. Do you remember the flag planted at midfield after the MSU victory a few years back? Not this time Sparty.
Final Score: Notre Dame 30 Michigan St. 23
2-1
September 26 @ Wisconsin
I have already let the cat out of the bag for this one, as you know Wiskey wins. Tough way to start the Big Ten season. I guess all of that great in-state recruiting Dantonio has been doing isn’t paying off.
Final Score: Wisconsin 20 MSU 17
2-2 (0-1)
October 3 – Michigan
The Spartans are coming into this game on a one game winning streak against Michigan. Many a couch were sacrificed last year on that October evening. Michigan will be much better this year, but they will still struggle with a young QB. Michigan St will be just good enough to win this game and it is official….they have closed the gap!!! Two consecutive wins where the clock operator didn’t cheat.
Final Score: MSU 27 Michigan 24
3-2 (1-1)
October 10 – Illinois
The Juice is loose!!! How long has this guy been there? I don’t know how he has fared against the Spartans, but I know he has killed Michigan. For the Spartans to get back to another New Year’s Day bowl, this game is rather large. Michigan St got a big transfer in Oklahoma QB Keith Nichols and he will be the difference. He is no Jeff Smoker and they might not have Charles Rogers, but as much as I don’t really like to say it, Sparty does have a nice team.
Final Score: MSU 24 Illinois 17
4-2 (2-1)
October 17 – Northwestern
Northwestern is a middle of the pack team. Sparty is not, they are in the upper tier. This is a classic game for the Spartans to lose. With every reporter high on the green and white, a let-down would be par for the course. But I don’t know if the cornbread is being eaten in Michigan, but I think this year will be different. Sparty wins, but close once again.
Final Score: MSU 31 Northwestern 20
5-2 (3-1)
October 24 – Iowa
Iowa is my sleeper team in the Big Ten. Just like NC St being my sleeper team in the ACC, I can’t explain why. Maybe it has something to do with the way the Hawkeyes whipped up on the Gamecocks in the bowl game last year. But again, the cornbread is tasting good down here. Coach Dantonio has something special going on in East Lansing and everyone is loving him. Get out while you can coach.
Final Score: MSU 20 Iowa 13
6-2 (4-1)
October 31 @ Minnesota
No Ohio St on the schedule this year? Michigan would never be so lucky. No more Metrodome for football and the Twinkies are getting a new stadium as well. Playing in late October in Minneapolis can be very, very, very cold. The Spartans will be visiting TCF Bank Stadium (which looks very nice, take a look at it on their website if you can) for a 7:00 clip. The college students will have their costumes on, the girls will be all slutty and drunk and the fans will be primed for an upset. Look out Sparty.
Upset Special: Minnesota 30 MSU 17
6-3 (4-2)
November 7 – Western Michigan
After six straight Big Ten games, this game comes at a perfect time. But Sparty party beware, don’t sleep on the Broncos. They are no pushover. With that being said, the Spartans will have to play pretty bad to lose to WMU and I don’t see that happening. Look for a Sparty bounce back.
Final Score: MSU 34 WMU 20
7-3 (4-2)
November 14 @ Purdue
I’m not sure that Purdue is going to be any good this year, but they are usually tough at home. It seems that they always have a QB that lets it fly 40 or so times a game with many going to a white WR. And as some CMU fans might remember from the Motor City Bowl in 2007, the sound of the train goes off constantly when the Boilermakers are on the move. But Sparty fan, don’t worry. Purdue isn’t very good this year.
Final Score: MSU 37 Purdue 17
8-3 (5-2)
November 21 – Penn St
No team (other than Michigan) has dominated the Spartans like the Nittany Lions. Penn St has won 13 of the last 15 games against MSU and most times the games haven’t been close. The 61-7 game in 2002 is my favorite. I don’t see this game being as bad, but I don’t see the Spartans winning on senior day. Look for Penn St to lead this game from start to finish. Penn St will be a solid play against the book.
Final Score: Penn St. 27 MSU 10
8-4 (5-3)
In most years Michigan State fans would be happy with 8-4, especially when they beat Michigan in that 8-4 season. The Spartans will go to a mid-level bowl game and probably lose again.
Up Next: The Fightin Irish
:cripwalk:
September 5 – Montana St.
In the much anticipated MSU vs. MSU game, the Spartans come out swinging. They feel that they have to show the Maize and Blue that they are for real every game and there is no better way to do this than to run up the score on the Bobcats. With the crowd fired up and dancing around to Zombie Nation, the Spartans kick off to the wrong person, as Bobcat WR Derek Green returns the kick for six. This will be the only joy that Bobcat nation will have as the Spartans roll.
Final Score: MSU 51 MSU 6
1-0
September 12 – Central Michigan
Sparty fans remember 1991 and 1992 when the Chippewas came in and took over Spartan Stadium. Central has been the class of the MAC recently and has dominated most except for EMU. This will prevent the Chips from sneaking up on MSU. The Spartans should roll here, but the game will be close at the half.
Final Score: MSU 31 CMU 13
2-0
September 19 @ Notre Dame
In a game matching two of my favorite teams, this should be a good one. With the Irish reeling from a loss at Michigan (oops, did I just give away one of my future picks?), this is a must win game for the Irish if they want to go back to Hawaii on Christmas Eve again. With this win, they should go undefeated as they realize that they only play one more team that can give the full amount of athletic scholarships and should be BCS bound. Sparty on the other hand, historically owns the Irish. Do you remember the flag planted at midfield after the MSU victory a few years back? Not this time Sparty.
Final Score: Notre Dame 30 Michigan St. 23
2-1
September 26 @ Wisconsin
I have already let the cat out of the bag for this one, as you know Wiskey wins. Tough way to start the Big Ten season. I guess all of that great in-state recruiting Dantonio has been doing isn’t paying off.
Final Score: Wisconsin 20 MSU 17
2-2 (0-1)
October 3 – Michigan
The Spartans are coming into this game on a one game winning streak against Michigan. Many a couch were sacrificed last year on that October evening. Michigan will be much better this year, but they will still struggle with a young QB. Michigan St will be just good enough to win this game and it is official….they have closed the gap!!! Two consecutive wins where the clock operator didn’t cheat.
Final Score: MSU 27 Michigan 24
3-2 (1-1)
October 10 – Illinois
The Juice is loose!!! How long has this guy been there? I don’t know how he has fared against the Spartans, but I know he has killed Michigan. For the Spartans to get back to another New Year’s Day bowl, this game is rather large. Michigan St got a big transfer in Oklahoma QB Keith Nichols and he will be the difference. He is no Jeff Smoker and they might not have Charles Rogers, but as much as I don’t really like to say it, Sparty does have a nice team.
Final Score: MSU 24 Illinois 17
4-2 (2-1)
October 17 – Northwestern
Northwestern is a middle of the pack team. Sparty is not, they are in the upper tier. This is a classic game for the Spartans to lose. With every reporter high on the green and white, a let-down would be par for the course. But I don’t know if the cornbread is being eaten in Michigan, but I think this year will be different. Sparty wins, but close once again.
Final Score: MSU 31 Northwestern 20
5-2 (3-1)
October 24 – Iowa
Iowa is my sleeper team in the Big Ten. Just like NC St being my sleeper team in the ACC, I can’t explain why. Maybe it has something to do with the way the Hawkeyes whipped up on the Gamecocks in the bowl game last year. But again, the cornbread is tasting good down here. Coach Dantonio has something special going on in East Lansing and everyone is loving him. Get out while you can coach.
Final Score: MSU 20 Iowa 13
6-2 (4-1)
October 31 @ Minnesota
No Ohio St on the schedule this year? Michigan would never be so lucky. No more Metrodome for football and the Twinkies are getting a new stadium as well. Playing in late October in Minneapolis can be very, very, very cold. The Spartans will be visiting TCF Bank Stadium (which looks very nice, take a look at it on their website if you can) for a 7:00 clip. The college students will have their costumes on, the girls will be all slutty and drunk and the fans will be primed for an upset. Look out Sparty.
Upset Special: Minnesota 30 MSU 17
6-3 (4-2)
November 7 – Western Michigan
After six straight Big Ten games, this game comes at a perfect time. But Sparty party beware, don’t sleep on the Broncos. They are no pushover. With that being said, the Spartans will have to play pretty bad to lose to WMU and I don’t see that happening. Look for a Sparty bounce back.
Final Score: MSU 34 WMU 20
7-3 (4-2)
November 14 @ Purdue
I’m not sure that Purdue is going to be any good this year, but they are usually tough at home. It seems that they always have a QB that lets it fly 40 or so times a game with many going to a white WR. And as some CMU fans might remember from the Motor City Bowl in 2007, the sound of the train goes off constantly when the Boilermakers are on the move. But Sparty fan, don’t worry. Purdue isn’t very good this year.
Final Score: MSU 37 Purdue 17
8-3 (5-2)
November 21 – Penn St
No team (other than Michigan) has dominated the Spartans like the Nittany Lions. Penn St has won 13 of the last 15 games against MSU and most times the games haven’t been close. The 61-7 game in 2002 is my favorite. I don’t see this game being as bad, but I don’t see the Spartans winning on senior day. Look for Penn St to lead this game from start to finish. Penn St will be a solid play against the book.
Final Score: Penn St. 27 MSU 10
8-4 (5-3)
In most years Michigan State fans would be happy with 8-4, especially when they beat Michigan in that 8-4 season. The Spartans will go to a mid-level bowl game and probably lose again.
Up Next: The Fightin Irish
:cripwalk:
