[NU Sports] MSU Game

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

I'm not sure Dantonio will do it ... but it would be the smart move if he did rest the starters and no one could really blame him.
 
MSU will be the fourth pick no matter what for Big Ten bowls (didn't know they could drop no lower than 4th, but that's a good rule to save the conference title game loser from falling while other bowls make their deals).
 
They win vs. Wisconsin and they're Pasadena bound.
 
If not, they won't get an at-large B(C)S berth anyways (fans/ratings below Michigan or UNL) and they Citrus would likely frown from having them as a repeat visitor - especially after that egg they laid against Bama last year.
 
Nebraska has the newness factor to Big Ten bowls and the reverse is true for their fans, who will have Orlando or Tampa as a new destination to add this year -- plus they bring ratings.
 
So this game has all the meaning of a preseason game for Sparty.
 
However, Dantonio strikes me as an old-school coach who won't let his players see this as a gimme or meaningless game ... plus Big Ten coaches are new to this playoff thing with the title game.
 
I expect NU will need its A-game to win. The good news is that MSU is largely a one-dimensional team and we do well against one-dimensional teams ... the bad news is that one dimension is passing. So Cousins could have a field day. Their defensive line is also the most physical in the league so it will be a test for our O to sustain drives and score, score, score some more.
 
If any of you have friends in common with Coach Dantonio, I suggest you explain to him that this game means nothing for MSU and could mean everything for NU -- I don't want to leave it to the 6-6 at-large choices.
 
GO CATS!!!
-SjT

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!! GEAUX SAINTS!!!
Super Bowl XLIV Champions! 


________________________________
From: Mike Nolan <nolan at tssi.com>
To: jleonard518 at yahoo.com 
Cc: "nwu-sports at tssi.com" <nwu-sports at tssi.com> 
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2011 12:36 PM
Subject: Re: [NU Sports] MSU Game

> Is there any motivation for MSU to rest players? The game is essentially 
> meaningless to them but next week matters a lot. 

Back to back losses (assuming they also lose the conference championship
game) might affect their bowl placement, though they're guaranteed to 
drop to no further than 4th pick by virtue of being in the conference 
championship game.  

But if Wisconsin goes to the Rose Bowl, and Michigan goes to the Sugar
Bowl, what team would a bowl want next if not Michigan State?  Nebraska
is the only one that comes to mind. (Husker fans have the reputation of
travelling well to bowl games, I don't know if that's really the case.)

If Penn State beats both Wisconsin and Michigan State, then things could 
get tricker.

A loss to the Cats would definitely affect their standing in the polls.
I think they'll be reasonably motivated against us.  Which would make
a Northwestern win just so much sweeter!  (My wife is still getting 'hey,
you guys beat us!' comments on the UNL campus.  She just smiles.)
--
Mike Nolan

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