Tag: msu spartans

Michigan State football No. 40 in ESPN’s latest SP+ rankings

The Spartans don’t move much after a pretty neutral win over Rutgers.

A win over Rutgers didn’t do much for Michigan State in the eyes of Bill Connelly’s computer.

The Spartans are at No. 40 this week in Connelly’s SP+ rankings. Michigan State ranks 86th in offense, 12th in defense and 114th in special teams. MSU is a projected 7.6 points better than an average college football team on a neutral field.

MSU’s upcoming opponent, Maryland, is rated 88th in SP+, although the Terps have been in a bit of a free fall lately. They’re ranked No. 73 on offense, No. 82 on defense and No. 127 on special teams. They’re a projected 5.7 points worse than an average college football team on a neutral field.

SP+, according to Connelly, is “(A) tempo- and opponent-adjusted measure of college football efficiency.”

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Halftime thoughts: Michigan State sloppy, leads Rutgers

Michigan State’s quest to get back in the win column is going about as well as the rest of the season has gone. The difference today is the team on the other side of the field. Michigan State leads Rutgers 17-0 at the half. Here are some thoughts: …

Michigan State’s quest to get back in the win column is going about as well as the rest of the season has gone. The difference today is the team on the other side of the field.

Michigan State leads Rutgers 17-0 at the half. Here are some thoughts:

  • Cody White has 57 catches in the first half. Don’t look it up. There’s no need. It’s true.
  • It’s really nice to have Speedy Nailor back. He’s so obviously a different level runner than anyone else MSU has on offense. He absolutely cooked his man on a dee shot and might have had a long TD had the Rutgers defender not grabbed him for an obvious PI.
  • It’s pretty easy to see why Rutgers hasn’t won a Big Ten game in more than two years. Woof. The talent just isn’t even near where it needs to be.
  • Matt Coghlin back? It’s not much, but Coghlin has kicked the ball well the last three weeks, going 4/4 in field goals. He easily hit from 46 yards in the first half. In a lost season, it’d be nice for Coghlin to get his confidence back down the stretch.
  • Coghlin hit the upright from 33 yards after MSU returned an INT to the Rutgers 15 and proceeded to do nothing with it.

  • Not great, Bob.
  • Michigan State has been stopped twice on 4th-and-1 well into Rutgers territory.

  • The two-minute drill looks good again and results in a late touchdown. It’s really too bad MSU can’t take some of their two-minute principles and infuse them into the regular offense.
  • Above all else, Michigan State has just been so sloppy today. Beyond even what they’ve done in previous games. In week 11 it just reeks of a team being unprepared and unfocused.
  • The defense has been solid so credit them for that. We must keep in mind the opponent. Rutgers has been very unimpressive on offense.

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Jalen ‘Speedy’ Nailor back for MSU against Rutgers

The explosive wide receiver finally makes his return from injury

Michigan State will have the services of its most explosive receiver for the first time in a long time.

After going out with an undisclosed foot injury, sophomore wide receiver Jalen “Speedy” Nailor is in uniform for the Spartans as they prepare to take on Rutgers (noon, FS1). Mark Dantonio announced the news on the pregame radio show. Nailor was injured in practice after the first game of the season.

Nailor’s return could be a boon for an MSU offense that has severely lacked explosion on offense.

Elsewhere with injuries, MSU will start three true freshman on the offensive line. JD Duplain and Nick Samac have started the last two games at left guard and center. They will be joined by true freshman Devantae Dobbs as Dobbs will be getting the nod at left tackle.

Luke Campbell, Tyler Higby and Kevin Jarvis are all inactive for MSU today as is wide receiver Darrell Stewart Jr.

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Pick ‘Em: Staff picks for MSU vs. Rutgers, other college football games

Can MSU get back in the win column this week?

Michigan State football is in need of a victory in the worst way.

The Spartans have lost five straight and need to win out just to make a bowl game. Well, luckily for them, they’ve got two very winnable games left on the schedule, starting with a road trip to lovely Piscataway, NJ to take on Rutgers. Can the Spartans get back to winning or with the Scarlet Knights get their first conference win in more than two years?

Let’s get to the picks.

Wil Hunter (48-18)

Michigan State 27 – Rutgers 14

They’ve got to win this one, right? Right?! I mean it’s Rutgers. They haven’t won a B1G game since November 4, 2017! And they, most of the time, aren’t anywhere close to winning. They’re truly a bad group of five team playing in a power five conference. There’s a reason MSU is favored by 20+ points in this game: Rutgers is epically terrible! Michigan State just can’t lose this game.

If they do it will be the worst loss in the modern era of MSU football.

No. 8 Penn State 17 @ No. 2 Ohio State 38

No. 10 Minnesota 17 @ Northwestern 13

Illinois 20 @ No. 17 Iowa 28

No. 13 Michigan 27 @ Indiana 28

Texas 31 @ No. 14 Baylor 35

UCLA 35 @ No. 23 USC 38

No. 6 Oregon 31 @ Arizona State 24

TCU 28 @ No. 9 Oklahoma 42

Andrew Brewster (48-18)

Michigan State 35 @ Rutgers 7

Rutgers is the worst team in the Big Ten. Michigan State is better than them. Even with all the injuries, and the suspensions, and the losses, and the disappointments, Michigan State is a better football team than Rutgers. With Nailor and Scott back in the fold, I’m expecting this to be a beatdown that starts to restore a slight bit of optimism to what has become a putrid mess of a season.

No. 8 Penn State 14 @ No. 2 Ohio State 35

No. 10 Minnesota 17 @ Northwestern 10

Illinois 13 @ No. 17 Iowa 20

No. 13 Michigan 24 @ Indiana 21

Texas 24 @ No. 14 Baylor 31

UCLA 7 @ No. 23 USC 28

No. 6 Oregon 27 @ Arizona State 20

TCU 21 @ No. 9 Oklahoma 49

Lawson Robinson (35-22)

Michigan State 17 – Rutgers 14

There is no way I can give MSU more than two touchdowns. The offensive has not produced before, why would they produce now? Yes, Rutgers should be an easy game, but, I just cannot trust this offensive lineup nor coaching staff. The Spartans will surely walk away with a victory. It will not be a blowout game.

No. 8 Penn State 21 @ No. 2 Ohio State 28

No. 10 Minnesota 35 @ Northwestern 7

Illinois 7 @ No. 17 Iowa 14

No. 13 Michigan 10 @ Indiana 7

Texas 14 @ No. 14 Baylor 21

UCLA 7 @ No. 23 USC 12

No. 6 Oregon 28 @ Arizona State 14

TCU 14 @ No. 9 Oklahoma 42

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Locked On Spartans Podcast: Joey Hauser’s waiver denied, MSU vs. Rutgers preview

What to make of the NCAA denied Hauser’s request to play and getting ready for MSU vs. Rutgers this weekend.

Wil and Matt discuss how crappy the NCAA is and the implications of them denying Joey Hauser’s waiver to play immediately. Then Matt tries to guess if Rutgers stats are real or fake. Also, a MSU vs. Rutgers “preview”.

You can find the episode on iTunes, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

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Young MSU fan pens heartfelt note about Mark Dantonio, the football team

Kids. They’re smarter than all of us.

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Kids say the darnedest things.

It’s amazing how in life seemingly wild contradictions can occur. Like a nine-year-old boy displaying the wisdom and perspective of someone many years his senior.

Dr. Ben Hartnell posted to Twitter a letter his young son Fraser penned about what it means to him to be a fan. It’s addressed to Mark Dantonio, Brian Lewerke, MSU football and Spartan fans.

The letter swashes back and forth between to-be-expected comments from a nine-year-old, “My favorite uniform is the all white,” and stunningly poignant pieces of wisdom, like “There are a lot of things sadder than losing a game,” or, “I know it hurts to throw interceptions, but I have done it too. We all throw interceptions. I did not give up, because you can’t be a good QB if you quit when you do that.”

Smart kid.

Take a minute out of your day to read the entire thing.

Cheers to you Fraser–even though you’re a ways away from actually being able to “cheers”–and thanks for the dose of perspective.

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Locked On Spartans Podcast: Cassius Winston is special

Michigan State takes down Charleston Southern

Wil and Matt talk about MSU beating Charleston Southern, even though neither of them saw the game. Then they talk about Cassius Winston addressing the Breslin Center crowd after the game.

You can find the episode on iTunes, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

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Locked On Spartans Podcast: A sad sandwich: Seton Hall, Michigan, Charleston Southern

Wil and Matt talk about the weekend that was for MSU sports

Fresh off a busy sports weekend Wil and Matt make a sad sandwich with happy, sad, and happy segments in that order.

  1. Seton Hall.
  2. Michigan
  3. Charleston Southern

You can find the episode on iTunes, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

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Michigan State basketball offers top 2021 prospect Charles Bediako

Tom Izzo is looking north of the border for his next recruit. Michigan State has offered 2021 big man Charles Bediako out of St. Catherines, Ontario. After talking with Coach Izzo, l am blessed to have received an offer from Michigan State …

Tom Izzo is looking north of the border for his next recruit.

Michigan State has offered 2021 big man Charles Bediako out of St. Catherines, Ontario.

The photo of Bediako is from his unofficial visit to campus on August 30 this year.

Bediako is a 6′ 11, 215 lbs. center and is rated as a four-star prospect by the 24/7 Sports composite rankings. Bediako is the No. 6 center in the class of 2021 and No. 40 overall prospect.

Bediako is very athletic for his size and fits the mold of a modern center with the ability to run the floor, shoot the three and block shots at the rim.

Michigan State currently doesn’t have any players committed for the 2021 class.

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MSU Football crushed by Michigan 44-10: Twitter Reactions

MSU football was absolutely pummeled by the Michigan Wolverines, 44-10. Here are a handful of Twitter reactions to this game.

Well, here we are. The worst possible outcome of the MSU vs. Michigan game is now a reality. Michigan absolutely pummeled Michigan State, 44-10. The game was close for less than one quarter before the Spartans lost control. Shea Patterson and the Michigan offense carved up Michigan State’s defense.

Here are a handful of Twitter reactions to this game:

Michigan State faces Rutgers next Saturday on Nov. 23. The game starts at 12 P.M. and you can catch all of the action on FS1.

Stay locked on SpartansWire for more football coverage to come.

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