Scouting Report and Prediction: #9 Michigan State (2-1 0-0) vs. Wyoming Cowboys 3-1

A look at this week’s opponent… The Wyoming Cowboys come into the High Cathedral of the Spartan Nation: Spartan Stadium blessed beyond measure to have

A look at this week’s opponent…

The Wyoming Cowboys come into the High Cathedral of the Spartan Nation: Spartan Stadium blessed beyond measure to have Craig Bohl as their head coach. After winning three straight FCS National Titles, he had his pick of BCS jobs, but chose Wyoming. A non-BCS job that he told me this week, “It was a fit.”

Bohl is all coach. More importantly, he likes to build. He thinks Wyoming can be special and he wants to prove that. A hallmark of his programs when he is the head man is that they play smart, disciplined football. They don’t beat themselves. At Wyoming, these aren’t all of his recruits. Critics who saw the MSU vs Oregon game and didn’t actually watch it would look at the score and assume MSU got blown out. We all know that wasn’t the case.

The same is accurate for Wyoming. They certainly were NOT in command like MSU was, but they were punching the Ducks and only suffered from their mistakes. Bohl will get this team going in one direction and you can see the foundation already, but they aren’t where they will be.

They have been to MSU numerous times to learn the schemes and thought processes, so much so that there is immense respect between the two staffs. WR Coach Terrence Samuel has worked at North Dakota State. When he interviewed here, Dantonio raved how when he went to the grease board to teach for the coaches. It appeared like “He had read our play book and strategies,” according to Dantonio at the time.

Dantonio talked about them “sharing” with Bohl and his staff. “Coaches tend to share. North Dakota State has been here. Spent time with us. I can't remember exactly what date it was or anything like that. But people evolve. We've changed, things of that nature. In the end it comes down to players making plays on the field. You can draw them all up anytime you want. If you get your guys playing hard, they tackle, block well, catch the ball well, good things are going to happen.”

Dantonio said this earlier in the week. “We have a lot of respect for what Coach Bohl has been able to do at North Dakota State. You can see some of the things starting to happen already at Wyoming. Found a way to win last week. Very exciting game at the end of the game. I think when you look at them offensively, I think their tailbacks are excellent. Outstanding wide receiver that is on the Biletnikoff list, streak of 41 games where he's caught a pass. Going to try and play physical defensively, collectively run very well, a lot of different things they do.”

When MSU has the ball…

The Spartans must fight to remain balanced. This is a game MSU should win, but this is NOT EMU and the Spartans won’t roll over them. I expect a lopsided final score, but that is because MSU has way too many horses for it to stay close.

Dantonio sounded the bell against mediocrity, “I think Wyoming is a very well coached football team. I think they play hard. They've got good players. They played Oregon. They played some other teams tough. We're going to find out a little bit more about ourselves, then get into the Big Ten season the following week.”

MSU wants to continue to build on the QB running game we finally saw last week and to continue to see their aerial attack to develop. If there has been a negative on the MSU passing scheme, it has been a lack of TE involvement. That means look for more Jamal Lyles and Josiah Price for sure.

On the rushing side, MSU needs to continue to see Jeremy Langford get more reps, but in his defense he didn’t play much in two of the first three games. Delton Williams will almost certainly NOT be listed as the #2 back, but let’s make this clear. If God forbid Langford would go down in a tight game, I was told this week, “We would ride Delton.”

The Spartans offense must approach this once again as a business trip and unless for some reason the Cowboys fold early (I do not expect that), I don’t want to see subs early. The MSU offense needs time together for the next week and this is business.

When MSU is on defense…

The Spartans get a nice power team to attack. This will almost be like playing their own offense minus all of the weapons. MSU will get a full dose of the running game, and they will cherish that. Watch the DBs close because I want to see how they move up in run coverage.

Just like JSU was a perfect test before they played Oregon, Wyoming is a perfect test before Nebraska next week. I want to see the MSU defense dominate and frankly, whereas I want to see more from the offensive starters, multiple subs on this side of the ball would encourage me.

Dantonio likes the aspect of playing someone that passes the Michigan State eye test. “They are probably more like us than anybody we've played actually. So I think that's a positive for us. They run the power. They're going to keep it tight in the A gap, be a downhill run team, they run the G play, truck play, outside, pulling people.

They want to be a two back team. They have a good fullback. They got two good tailbacks. They want to run the football. A lot of what they do is similar to us in that respect.”

Intangibles…

I love what Craig Bohl is serving. MSU will face at least 13 teams this year and potentially 14. In at least ten of those games, he will be a better head coach than what MSU faces. He is that good. I have tremendous respect for rugged individualism that comes free of feeling entitled and empowered by the process. All of that screams Bohl.

Just like Oregon and unlike JSU and EMU, the Cowboys will take their lumps and keep coming. In watching all of their games so far, Bohl has taken a group of players he didn’t recruit, and although clearly inept at some positions, they fight and play hard already. They have will, they have guts, and they have character. That is fun.

Wyoming is really a less talented MSU 2.0. The guts and never say die mantra that isn’t on a poster, but in their hearts makes them formidable. I want to see MSU come out again and compete NOT against Wyoming, but against themselves. A top ten team at home with national title aspirations that are still ahead of them will do that. This game is another rung on the ladder back to Pasadena and a rematch with the Ducks. Take the step and handle your business.

Prediction…

You will see a tough game with a score that doesn’t reflect it because of the leadership of Bohl, but I like the mindset of the Spartans and their business approach. They come in, they conquer, and they take zero time to celebrate. The Huskers are on the clock. The most talented team they will face in the Big Ten, but one of the worst coached. Make it 41-10 MSU wins!