Final Pregame Thoughts on UCLA-Michigan State
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Even though UCLA took down Penn State last week, Michigan State should be the stronger team on Saturday when the Spartans (3-2 overall, 0-2 Big Ten) take on the Bruins (1-4, 1-1). That's why I predicted a 31-21 MSU victory on Friday.
UCLA started 0-4 and fired its head coach for a reason. The Bruins' upset victory over Penn State is considered the largest of the year for a reason. Statistically, all signs say UCLA is a lesser team in comparison to Michigan State.
For this pregame edition of the Michigan State Spartans Insider Podcast, let's break down all the different statistics in this one that favor the Spartans and dive deeper into why I think MSU will win this game.
Watch the Michigan State Spartans Insider Podcast here:
In addition, a partial transcript of Jonathan Smith's press conference from this past Monday, which recapped the team's 38-27 loss to Nebraska and previewed the UCLA game, has been provided.
Jonathan Smith
SMITH: After watching the tape, kind of recapping some things. Obviously, we'll start with special teams. A lot that hurt us in that game. If you think about punt, obviously you give up a punt block for a touchdown. It can be tough to overcome. And so you look at it, we missed identification, really, out of three guys, and so the three guys are misidentified, and that starts with our preparations.
Coaches, schematically, you know, looked at some things. Didn't probably emphasize, on the road, crowd noise on the punt play, we got a lack of communication that way. So that hurt. And then it continued on the punt side in the coverage aspect.
And so there's a couple things that go with that. One is that when you get protected, and now you kick it and it's about placement. We've got a big-time punter, and he's got a big-time leg in this old adage, and kind of out-kicking your coverage. Well, yeah, he kicks it deep, but also the placement of it. We've got to get it closer to the sideline and use the sideline as help.
In coverage, at the same time, wherever he kicks the thing, we've got to be able to cover better than we did. Out of the lane or two. Good athlete returning it, but that did not help us.
You think about field position throughout, that's a problem. So we've got to get better there. Which has been a strength for us.
Let's face it, the first four games the punt unit have been a strength. Was not last Saturday.
Kickoff return, we've got the unfortunate one in the ball. You know, we've got to be able to field the ball. They're kicking off to us. However, the wind made be tough. The communication between the two (Sam Edwards and Jay Coyne). Got deep trust in the two that are trying to field it. They've got to communicate better.
But that was a huge momentum play for them, in regards to the game. They came back. We took the lead, came back (from down 14-0), the game's tied (21-21), and they get the ball with an extra possession. So special teams-wise, a lot to clean up that we need to do. Especially when you play on the road.
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A 2025 graduate from Michigan State University, Cotsonika brings a wealth of experience covering the Spartans from Rivals and On3 to his role as Michigan State Spartans Beat Writer on SI. At Michigan State, he was also a member of the world-renowned Spartan marching band for two seasons.
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