Coming off a 2-1 day, nearly sweeping, winning one of our two teasers with GB/Balt but losing a heartbreaker with Ind/Minn. Our only side was a win in hoops with North Carolina. Today we turn to the Alamo Bowl with Nebraska vs Michigan State.
Nebraska plays in the Big 12 and brings to the game a team that has lost it's head coach following the regular season. The Huskers feature QB Jammal Lord who is a talented athlete that does more with his legs than his arm. He is a very capable runner but leaves a lot to be desired when throwing, as he completed only 48% of his passes with a 6-8 TD to interception ratio. The overall team rushing uses a multitude of backs and is decent though not outstanding and the wide receiving corp is capable but not spectacular. The defense is above average, particularly in the secondary, where they allowed only 50% completions with 29 interceptions. Special teams are very capable, particularly the punting game, but the place kicking can be a bit erratic at times. Returns are pretty solid.
Michigan State plays in the Big 10 and comes into the game featuring QB Jeff Smoker who completed 63% of his passes and had a 21-11 TD to interception ratio. The running game also uses a multitude of backs and is complimentary at best to the aerial game. The defense is solid against the run only allowing 3.1 yards per carry but the secondary has given up 55% completions with a 27-15 TD to interception ratio. Special teams are very good with quality punting and place kicking and an a exceptional return team.
In this game, each teams offensive strength is facing the other teams defensive strength. Nebraska will tend to try and move the ball on the ground which plays into the strength of Michigan States defensive line. Michigan State will try to throw the ball which will play into the strength of Nebraska's secondary. The special teams should offset, although an edge goes to the Spartans. The teams faced one common opponent in Penn State with both playing at home. Nebraska won 18-10 early in the season and Michigan State concluded its season winning 41-10. There are some indications that the Huskers are playing for their former head coach Frank Solich who was fired.
Feeling here is that QB Jeff Smoker will outperform his counterpart QB Jammal Lord. Lord has never really lived up to his potential and tends to make too many mistakes in judgment. The Spartans played the elite teams in the Big 10 very well losing to Michigan 20-27 and Ohio State 23-33 while beating Minnesota 44-38 and Iowa 20-10. The Huskers got wiped out by the Big 12 elite losing to Texas 7-31, Kansas State 9-38 and Missouri 24-41 while beating up on the weaklings decisively. Hence,
1* Michigan State +3.5
Overall Unit Record YTD (All Sports): (42-24.3) 63.35% 3*(5-1)(+11.7) 1*(27-19-2)(+6.0)
Overall W/L Record YTD (All Sports): (32-20-2) 61.54%
NCAAF Record YTD: (9-2)(+12.8) (Bowl Game Record 7-2 Included)
NFL Record YTD: (6-6-1)(-2.9)
NCAAB Record YTD: (12-9-1)(+4.1)
NBA Record YTD: (5-3)(+3.7)
Plays are rated 1*-5*
Good Luck All.
Nebraska plays in the Big 12 and brings to the game a team that has lost it's head coach following the regular season. The Huskers feature QB Jammal Lord who is a talented athlete that does more with his legs than his arm. He is a very capable runner but leaves a lot to be desired when throwing, as he completed only 48% of his passes with a 6-8 TD to interception ratio. The overall team rushing uses a multitude of backs and is decent though not outstanding and the wide receiving corp is capable but not spectacular. The defense is above average, particularly in the secondary, where they allowed only 50% completions with 29 interceptions. Special teams are very capable, particularly the punting game, but the place kicking can be a bit erratic at times. Returns are pretty solid.
Michigan State plays in the Big 10 and comes into the game featuring QB Jeff Smoker who completed 63% of his passes and had a 21-11 TD to interception ratio. The running game also uses a multitude of backs and is complimentary at best to the aerial game. The defense is solid against the run only allowing 3.1 yards per carry but the secondary has given up 55% completions with a 27-15 TD to interception ratio. Special teams are very good with quality punting and place kicking and an a exceptional return team.
In this game, each teams offensive strength is facing the other teams defensive strength. Nebraska will tend to try and move the ball on the ground which plays into the strength of Michigan States defensive line. Michigan State will try to throw the ball which will play into the strength of Nebraska's secondary. The special teams should offset, although an edge goes to the Spartans. The teams faced one common opponent in Penn State with both playing at home. Nebraska won 18-10 early in the season and Michigan State concluded its season winning 41-10. There are some indications that the Huskers are playing for their former head coach Frank Solich who was fired.
Feeling here is that QB Jeff Smoker will outperform his counterpart QB Jammal Lord. Lord has never really lived up to his potential and tends to make too many mistakes in judgment. The Spartans played the elite teams in the Big 10 very well losing to Michigan 20-27 and Ohio State 23-33 while beating Minnesota 44-38 and Iowa 20-10. The Huskers got wiped out by the Big 12 elite losing to Texas 7-31, Kansas State 9-38 and Missouri 24-41 while beating up on the weaklings decisively. Hence,
1* Michigan State +3.5
Overall Unit Record YTD (All Sports): (42-24.3) 63.35% 3*(5-1)(+11.7) 1*(27-19-2)(+6.0)
Overall W/L Record YTD (All Sports): (32-20-2) 61.54%
NCAAF Record YTD: (9-2)(+12.8) (Bowl Game Record 7-2 Included)
NFL Record YTD: (6-6-1)(-2.9)
NCAAB Record YTD: (12-9-1)(+4.1)
NBA Record YTD: (5-3)(+3.7)
Plays are rated 1*-5*
Good Luck All.
