Heading into the season, most people pointed to Michigan State’s treacherous October schedule and thought that if the Spartans could win two, or maybe three, of the four games, they’d do well. But here the Spartans are at the end of the month and MSU is three-for-three.
And they haven’t just been ordinary ho-hum wins. They’ve been outstanding wins against the conference’s past and present elite, in which the Spartans have done everything imaginable on both sides of the ball. Sacks and Interceptions dominated the headlines against Ohio State and Michigan, while a stellar interception, safety, field goal block and punt block for a touchdown sequence highlighted last week's win over Wisconsin - until the hail-mary made most of us forget the early game heroics.
And because of this, the team’s emotions are probably wearing down a bit. Naturally, it's easy to think that the Spartans may not be as emotionally charged as they have been the last two weekends.
"It's a tough slate, this October schedule," quarterback Kirk Cousins said after practice on Tuesday. "We knew that going in and we knew [..]
This week all of the attention surrounding this game - besides the Will Gholston drama - has been about Wisconsin Quarterback Russell Wilson and the vaunted Badger offense. And rightfully so.
But finally, it seems as if MSU quarterback Kirk Cousins and his offense are ready to step into the spotlight as well.
After the 31-13 loss to Notre Dame back on September 17th, many Spartan fans felt as if the sky was falling after an already inexperienced offensive line became exposed – allowing 2 sacks and numerous QB hits – and decimated thanks due to injury.
But thanks to a dominant MSU defense and a bye week sprinkled in between, the offensive line has been given the opportunity to gel. After rushing for over two hundred yards and not allowing a single sack, last week’s win over Michigan was most likely the unit’s best game of the year.
“Collectively, as an offensive line I think it was,” said right guard Joel Foreman. “I think, not only were we fundamentally strong and physically strong, but I think our young guys showed a level of toughness that we’re going to need thru the rest of the [..]
It’s simple, yet easy to say that the Badgers are a great team. All you have to do is look at their sterling 6-0 record, #6 BCS ranking and say, “Wow, they’re a special team”.
When you look a little deeper, you discover that they have a Heisman candidate playing quarterback in Russell Wilson – who leads the world is pass efficiency -, a shifty but explosive tailback in Montee Ball, and a receiver who is finally coming into his own with Nick Toon (447 yards, 6 TD).
A glance at Bucky’s (Had to call ‘em that since just about everyone else calls MSU “Sparty”) schedule and you see that they have yet to win a game by less than 35 points, while averaging a nation’s best 50.2 points per game.
But if that’s all you’ve read or heard, I’m going to pull a Lee Corso on you and say “Not so fast!”
I know that Wisconsin is a good/great team, but I’m not going ready anoint them just yet. After all, it seems like all of the experts were doing that prior to MSU’s bout with them last year - and look what happened.
SCHEDULE
Do you think that MSU should feel extra threatened because the Badgers are beating the [..]
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Broadcast Host and Producer Adam Ruff updates Michigan State football all season long.