Will CJ continue his eye-popping performances against Michigan State? Let's hope so!GAME 6 - Northwestern (NR/#22) (5-0, 1-0) vs Michigan State (#23/#19) (5-1, 2-0)
GAME INFO
October 11, 2008
Ryan Field (47,130): Evanston, IL-Natural Grass
Series Since 1995: NU:5-4
Kickoff: 2:45 pm CT
TV: ESPN2- PXP - Pam Ward, Color - Ray Bentley, Game also broadcast on ESPN360. Big Ten Network Gameday crew is in Evanston as well
Radio: WGN 720-AM PXP-Dave Eanet, Color - Ted Albrecht
WNUR -89.3 FM; PXP - Andrew Gothelf, Color - Aaron Morse, Sidelines: Matt Murray
Point Spread: MSU - 3
Coaching Info: NU - Pat Fitzgerald - 3rd season - 15-14 (6-11), Mark Dantonio - 2nd season
12-7 (5-5)
2-Minute Drill:
After a long two weeks of build-up and lots of banter about lack of attendance it is time for the Cats to get down to business. Iowa was a perfect warm-up for Sparty as they are similar style teams, yet Sparty is simply better. Yes, Shonn Greene chewed up the MSU "D" much like he did the Cats, but the offensive line of Michigan State will be a much bigger test. Yet, like NU, Sparty bends but doesn't break and yields only 16.2 ppg. The Cats have the blueprint for stopping Ringer thanks to Iowa, which is simply winning the line battle and getting off their blockers quickly, but hopefully they don't do it at the expense of giving up the big play on play action like Iowa did. Mike Hankwitz has his most challenging test to date and I'm excited to see how he schemes this game. While the Cats scoring defense numbers are impressive - 12. 4ppg (13th in NCAA), anyone closely following the team knows our run defense is our weak link. Enter the #2 rusher in the nation, Javon Ringer. Ringer is averaging 164.7 ypg and 35 carries. Expect him to be north of 40 today. Will we stuff the box and put our DBs on a 1-on-1 island? Will we concede some yards but simply eliminate big plays?
Look for Michigan State to attempt to limit the number of times we touch the ball by milking long drives. The best way to frustrate our offense is to stop us early and then dominate the TOP game which seems to make us press. Thus, an opening scoring drive is key for us. There are some question marks about how close to 100% Tyrell is and the same goes for Michigan State's secondary. Look for CJ to stretch and test the "D" early. This game has the potential for a shoot-out, but I'm just not buying it. It is crucial for Amado Villarreal to have a short memory and get back to his pre-Iowa form. Michigan State is automatic on FGs as their kicker Swenson was Big Ten POW last week.
With a national TV audience and a late start, the atmosphere should be electric, despite not being close to a sell-out. The Cats have several key recruits in attendance and the prospect of a 6-0, 2-0 start is so intoxicating it is hard to temper my excitement. Somehow I have a quiet confidence when facing Sparty. I had it last year and I have it again this year. Regardless of what happens you can expect no one, and I mean no one to leave early in this one based on the past couple of years. The Spartans are talking "payback" for last year's OT loss and the Cats don't need to be reminded the last time they faced Sparty at Ryan Field they coughed up the biggest lead in NCAA history watching a 38-3 second half lead turn into a loss.
Lake The Posts Factor: 7. Yes, that high. While Michigan State is no Penn State or even Ohio State, the stakes are climbing with each passing week. I don't need to tell you how exciting October could get IF we could manage to pull this one out.
Prediction: LTP was nearly spot on in the Iowa game as I predicted a 20-17 win (Cats won 22-17 as you know). I'm staying in the same general area as I see the Cats staving off a late Sparty drive to cling to a 24-21 win. For what's it worth, the 30+ Big Ten bloggers had about a 60/40 NU win over Iowa prediction. This week? I haven't seen anyone other than LTP pick the Cats.
Pick to Click:
Ross Lane. The senior WR has had streaks of brilliance, yet seems to be overlooked and almost forgotten during big stretches of game. Ross is my pick to have a big game for NU.
Survey Says: Wildcat Nation claims the Michigan State game is no bigger than any other week -they're all big. Or at least that is what 39% of you say. Here is the breakdown:
-No bigger than any other week - 39%
-Biggest game since 2005 (Michigan) - 28%
-Biggest game since 2000 (Michigan) - 21%
-Biggest game since 1995 - 11%
BIG TEN PICK EM
The Daily Gopher and host of the pick em seems to have this thing rigged (he's in first!). But here are my picks anyway. NU opponents are in bold:
Iowa vs Indiana
The Hawkeyes are in danger of having their season slip away after two nailbiting heartbreak losses. However, the Hoosiers are just what the doctor ordered and Shonn Greene will continue to prove to be the most underrated back in America as he eclipses 200 yards in this rout.
Iowa 31 Indiana 10
Michigan vs Toledo
Talk about a must-win. The Wolverines are 2-3 and starting to schedule hawk to see how they get bowl eligible. The 16-point favorites will struggle as usual, but pull away in the second half.
Michigan 35 Toledo 17
Purdue at Ohio State
A blowout loss here, which I'm rooting for, and the Boilers' wheels could be falling off as they limp to Evanston next week. The defense has looked downright bad, but Painter and what I thought would be explosive offense have been mired in mediocrity. A trip to the Shoe won't be the cure.
Ohio State 41 Purdue 24
Minnesota at Illinois
This is the second most intriguing match-up of the weekend to me. I believe Minnesota is becoming the Cats "trap game" and I believe they're going to give the Illini all they can handle. LTP has the Illini on upset alert in this one, but I think the home field makes the difference.
Illinois 27 Minnesota 21
Penn State at Wisconsin
0-3 in Madtown? Can't be can it? I picked the Badgers to upset the Buckeyes and the near miss might be too much for them to rally from. The nation's second longest home winning streak will quickly turn into a 2-game losing streak. Cats fans should have this one TIVOed and be rooting for the Badgers.
Penn State 20 Wisconsin 16
Other Opponents In Action
Syracuse (1-4) at West Virginia (3-2)
Duke - bye (10/18 vs Miami (FL)
Southern Illinois (2-2) vs Indiana State (0-5)
Ohio (1-5) at Kent State (1-5)
10 comments:
Ooops - Point Spread: Iowa - 3 - should be MSU. And I believe enough money has been coming NU's way it's now MSU -1!
Watch out for Bucky to upset the aged one. I took WI and the points.
Go U!
It's 10 AM Central and the band is roaming North Campus playing the fight song.
I don't think the very hungover fraternity quads appreciate it, but it's great.
Let the countdown begin...
It is 5:44 p.m. and the 'Cats have been thumped, 4 minutes of pain left.
I blame it ALL on Pam Ward.
They never gave themselves a chance thanks to field position. That was not fun.
They should and have to win these next two games. The schools from Indiana are not good and if special teams doesn't implode, the defense should be able to take care of things.
By the way, attendance is going to be quite bad next week. And that includes the student section.
We kicked your ass. It was fun. Your game schedule strength showed -- you didn't play jack shit before you played the Big Green.
Shirko, I'm sure we'd all love to hear about the good teams that Michigan State played and beat going into this game.
you stay classy shirko
Shirko, STFU. Show some class in victory. Sincerely, fellow Spartan.
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