Spartans Will Bounce Back and Win This Football Game

Guess what, I expect the Spartans to bounce back and win this football game against the hated Wolverines and there are several good reasons to expect this. I don’t believe this current edition of the Spartans will let a slip turn into a fall. They are too talented.

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First, Brandon Graham and his buddies have not only guaranteed a victory, but in doing so are essentially not only calling out Dantonio after last years comments, but his staff and the entire football team. Do the Spartans have any pride at all in protecting their coach and their own reputations? I think they do and they will show up or forever be mocked. I really believe MSU is the better football team and I have never said that in past years.

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Unless you are Joe Namath, guaranteeing any victory usually ends up going south for that team. I can even remember a couple of defensive linemen for MSU a few years ago running their mouths about the speed or lack there of regarding UM’s offensive tackles. That plan for MSU didn’t work out either. As Coach Narduzzi likes to say, everyone has a plan until you hit them in the mouth. To me, it looks like some desperate plea by a UM football player trying to pull the team together. I don’t think they know if they can be MSU or not. If fact, I believe MSU is the better team and will win.

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Next, if the Heisman is gone for Ringer, and possibly a Big Ten Championship, that takes a lot of pressure off this team. No longer do they have to worry about enough yards or carries for Ringer. Also, I have experienced other teams falling on their face before a big game, only to rebound and win that big game they were originally looking at. Michigan is the team that they have really been aiming at ever since Mike Hart spent time running his mouth about MSU being the “little brothers”.

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Plus, this is a different football team than years past. Last year or even years before that, they would have lost to Northwestern or Iowa given similar circumstances, too very good football teams by the way. This year, they have the mental toughness to overcome a bump in the road and they have beaten some good teams along the way. I think Ohio State just shell-shocked them early and then guys tried to do too much or were in the wrong position.

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Next there is Brian Hoyer. I think he will come back and have a great day throwing the ball. The pressure is off him as well. No longer does he have to be the perfect compliment to Ringer. He knows that if he doesn’t play according to expectations, that Kirk Cousins can come in and be productive. I believe this actually relieves some pressure off Brian instead of the other way around. Had their been no one behind him on the depth chart, it forces him to stay in the game and maybe try to do too much.

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If weather becomes a factor as expected, that also favors the physical football of MSU over the spread attack of the Wolverines and their penchant for turning the ball over. I believe that MSU turning the ball over against OSU is also an aberration and won’t be repeated. I don’t believe Michigan can say the same. Also, the “quiet house” isn’t much of an advantage for the home team, and MSU played very well on the road against Northwestern.

Getting away and being on the road can unite a team, and this game comes at the right time for the Spartans. Plus, you have an angry Spartan team embarrassed by last week. Anger in this context cannot hurt as long as it’s focused, one play at a time, for a complete 60 minutes.

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Plus, there is plenty to play for. Victories in the three of the last four games will give them

ten victories this season. Which happened only in 1999, and before that you have to go back to the sixties to reach that accomplishment. This Spartan team can do some big things and always be remembered as the team that turned around the Spartan football program.

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How can MSU win? I was able to check out a lot of tape and some stats are very interesting.

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Michigan has been beaten by the pass all year, and when you throw in a balanced attack, it doesn’t read well for UM. Notre Dame went up 21-0 against the Wolverines with two big TD’s passes early, and the Irish forced UM into seven miscues, recovering four.

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Utah had 305-yards of passing and forced three turnovers. Nick Moore had a whopping 20-receptions and the defense chipped in with three interceptions in Toledo’s win. Juice Williams had 305-yards of passing and Illinois also forced two fumbles.

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Wisconsin forced five turnovers but were stymied through the air in what usually is considered more of a potent run attack. Only Penn State reached the nirvana state of a true balanced offense with 231-yards rushing and 251-yards passing.

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Therefore, MSU must come up with some big plays on offense, especially in the passing game, and force as much turnovers as they can get. Additionally, they cannot give up big plays as they have been doing lately. The Spartan offensive line will especially have to be stout against a really good front seven of Michigan. Plus, there are plenty of receivers getting open, especially on crossing patterns on the UM defensive backs.

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A couple of other things that will be of importance will be time of possession and third down conversions in favor of MSU. This means MSU must do a good job on first down. Brandon Minor has been hot for UM and must be stopped.

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For MSU, believe and confidence has as much to do with winning as anything. I can remember the movie “Pumping Iron” with Arnold Schwarzenegger and the mind game he played with big Lou Ferrigno. At one point he tells Ferrigno just before the bodybuilding contest, “Guess, what Lou, I just called my mother and told her that I already won, and she told me ‘congratulations son’.” Well, I am calling up the Spartan nation right now and telling you all one thing, “Congratulations fellow Spartans, we are going to win this game.” Fight, fight, rah team fight! Victory for MSU!