Thoughts on Michigan State's win over Ohio State in B1G Championship

Well, I thought MSU would win, but I didn’t think the game would play out quite like it did.

The fast start wasn’t all too surprising, but Connor Cook throwing for the two long TD passes was. Ohio State answering wasn’t surprising, but the Buckeyes dominating the battle on the ground was.

MSU showing some heart and fighting back wasn’t surprising, but it still was surprising that the Spartans won and are going to the Rose Bowl. I mean, it has been 25 years. The words Rose Bowl and Michigan State just don’t go together.

But, in the end, the better team won and I truly believe that. I think Ohio State out-thought itself a little bit at times. I think the Buckeyes got away from what was working when they got ahead. Braxton Miller was solid on the ground, not with his arm. Carlos Hyde was a beast, yet the Buckeyes didn’t turn to him when it counted.

Hyde had 18 carries for 118 yards, a 6.6 average. Yet, on a 3rd and 4, he wasn’t on the field. On 4^th and 2 late in the game, he wasn’t given the ball. I know Miller is a playmaker, but Hyde was the sure thing on Saturday. Michigan State couldn’t stop his forward momentum. Was he racking up 20-yard runs? No, but he was as consistent a force as there was in the game. Ohio State shouldn’t have gotten too cute and just run the ball down MSU’s throat.

Aside from that, Michigan State deserves its share of credit. The defense faced some tough moments and still came up with key stops.

Offensively, Connor Cook had a great game. He had some bad throws, but he didn’t lose his cool and made some tremendous throws in the fourth quarter.

Jeremy Langford and the offensive line started off slowly, but really put the exclamation point on the game in the fourth quarter with the game-sealing touchdown drive.

It was a team win for Michigan State and the coaching staff made some great play calls and made some good adjustments along the way.

Mark Dantonio couldn’t get the smile off his face after the win, and for good reason. He really has built Michigan State into something it hasn’t been in a long time. Aside from this season’s Big Ten title, the Spartans have had a very impressive four-year run, winning three Big Ten titles and reaching at least 11 wins three times.

The 2012 season was disappointing for Dantonio and MSU, and many (myself included) thought the Spartans were going to go back to being a mediocre program. Instead, they learned from the 2012 season and all the tough losses and carried into this year, when they played with poise and found ways to win instead of finding ways to lose.

Pat Narduzzi deserves a lot of credit and if he isn’t a head coach next season, then a lot of programs are missing out. It will be interesting to see just how much Narduzzi impacted the defense’s performance, but I think it was a pretty large amount. Dantonio should get some credit for what the defense has become, but certainly Narduzzi makes the right calls at the right time for the unit.

MSU goes on to Pasadena for a meeting with Stanford. It should be a physical football game, but I don’t see any reason that MSU can’t beat the Cardinal. The key will be for MSU not to get lost in the moment of being in the Rose Bowl, and take care of business.

Big Ten Championship Game Prediction

This game is a contrast of many things.

Ohio State and Michigan State couldn’t be much more different when it comes to their football programs.

Ohio State is the flashy, brand new, high-priced car. Michigan State is the weathered, rusted-out, used mid-90s Chevy Nova that takes a few tries to start.

Even this season, Ohio State was expected to be where it is. The Buckeyes were the preseason No. 2 team and many were handing them (including myself) the Big Ten Championship before the season even began. They were, and are, considered the jewel of the Big Ten conference.

Michigan State, on the other hand, wasn’t expected to be quite so successful. While there was some potential, the Spartans weren’t expected to go unbeaten in the Big Ten this year, largely due to their less-than-impressive offense.

Still, despite their differences, both teams have found their way to Indianapolis tonight.

However, the Spartans have taken the road less traveled to get there.

Ohio State may look better and perform better, but in my eyes, Michigan State is the team that will win this game.

The Spartans have been scratching and clawing their way up the hill to respect in the Big Ten. The numbers are there, but the final piece to the puzzle is still missing. That piece is an outright title and an appearance in the Rose Bowl.

Michigan State knows adversity and it knows what grinding out a win is all about.

Ohio State has won with flash and fireworks. The Buckeyes are all about style and winning with flare. They looked unbeatable against a light schedule and seemed well on their way to their destiny of an unbeaten season, until last week.

Perhaps I am putting too much stock into one game, but Ohio State exposed itself last week against a wounded Michigan team. The Wolverines actually took the fight to the Buckeyes, especially the OSU defense, and the Buckeyes didn’t respond too well.

Sure, the offense put up 42 points, but did so on a defense that can’t match what Michigan State has in any area. Conversely, the Buckeyes allowed 41 points to an offense that couldn’t post positive rushing yards against the Spartans.

Make no mistake, Michigan State is going to punch Ohio State right in the face today. The question is, how will the Buckeyes respond? This will be the first time this season Ohio State may not be able to push around its opponent. The bullies may find themselves getting bullied, and most bullies don’t respond well to that.

Ohio State has the talent to win this game, but I truly think Michigan State has the right team at the right time to win this game. This is the Super Bowl for MSU, while Ohio State still has its sights set on a BCS Championship Game.

I think Michigan State established the physical tone early and let

Ohio State know they are in for a fight. The offense will put up some early points and the defense will post some early stops. I expect Ohio State to adjust, as Urban Meyer is a great coach, but ultimately, he can’t make his players tougher over 48 minutes of football.

It will be the toughness and grit that will carry Michigan State to this win tonight. It won’t be pretty all the time – it never is – but that is the way the Spartans like it.

Michigan State 27, Ohio State 20

Why Ohio State can beat Michigan State

1. Carlos Hyde/Braxton Miller – I will be hesitant to say these two are the best players that will be on the field on Saturday night, because I have a lot of respect for some of the defensive talent MSU has. However, these two are clearly the top players on offense on either team and that is a big strength to have in college football. Hyde is a load to bring down and the Spartans have shown some struggles dealing with big, physical running backs in recent weeks. Hyde is every bit of his 6-foot, 242-pound l

isting and if he gets going early, it could be a long night for the MSU defense. Miller rushed for 136 yards and threw for 179 last year against Michigan State, but this defense is more dynamic. Still, he is a game breaker and doesn’t need much of an opening to break a big run or throw a big pass.

2. Connor Cook – Hyde and Miller can win the game for Ohio State, but it would be hard to imagine either one losing the game for the Buckeyes. The same can’t be said for the Michigan State quarterback. Cook has done a nice job of avoiding turnovers this year (4 interceptions) but he has been less than accurate on his fair share of passes. In a game like this, where MSU may have to score more than its 29.4-point average, Cook can’t afford to miss on a lot of throws, especially the ones that could lead to touchdowns. If MSU is unable to win, it wouldn’t surprise me if a couple of misthrows from Cook are a big reason as to why.

3. Urban Meyer – Like him or not, Urban Meyer is a darn good coach. I have respect for what Mark Dantonio has accomplished at Michigan State, but Meyer has won multiple national championships and has yet to lose as head coach of Ohio State. He can be out-coached in a single game, but it is likely that he will have some tricks up his sleeve for MSU. If Ohio State is to lose, I can’t imagine it will be because Meyer didn’t have his team ready to play.

Why Michigan State can beat Ohio State

1. Defense – Michigan State has an incredible defense and the toughest defense that Ohio State has seen this season and probably has seen in the two years with Urban Meyer as coach. This year’s unit is better than last season’s group that held the Buckeyes to 17 points in East Lansing. MSU has the ability to match Ohio State’s physicality up front and control the Buckeyes’ running game.

2. The offensive line – Though the Spartans had some questions about the front line entering the season, they have performed well above expectations this season. Opponents have just 12 sacks on the Spartans this year and the line has consistently opened up running lanes for Jeremy Langford, who has gotten better as the season has went along. MSU has the potential to control the pace of this game if the offensive line can win the line of scrimmage against Ohio State.

3. No pressure – While it is clear Michigan State wants to go to the Rose Bowl, the pressure is off the Spartans in this game. MSU is coming in the clear underdog (-6 in most sportsbooks) and the Spartans can play with the mindset of having nothing to lose. Ohio State has not only the pressure to win, but to win convincingly enough to keep the SEC champion behind it in the BCS standings. Also, MSU has been in this very environment and knows what to expect when it comes to game-day atmosphere. Ohio State is in this game for the first time and playing in the biggest game Urban Meyer has faced as its head coach.

This is Michigan.....or is it?

Brady Hoke has often spouted out three words when reporters ask him about his program and its reputation.

“This is Michigan.”

Is it?

Is this Michigan?

This isn’t the Michigan I grew up watching.

As a kid, Michigan was synonymous with success. It was everything Michigan State fans have always hated about the program. The Wolverines were arrogant, but they usually backed it up.

Lloyd Carr, despite all the criticism toward him at the end of his tenure, led Michigan to a national championship and won his share of conference titles. He also did it by being tough up front and physical at the line of scrimmage.

For the second consecutive week, Michigan has finished a game with negative rushing yards as a team. That should be unacceptable to the fan base and the coaching staff.

It is one thing to have Michigan State, one of the top defenses in the country, push you around. It is another thing to have Nebraska, the fifth-worst defense (in terms of yards per game) in a mediocre conference, push you around at home.

If you want to blame Rich Rodriguez for his recruiting of offensive linemen, go ahead, but you’d be taking the easy way out.

Brady Hoke has long been given praise for his recruiting classes since he stepped foot in Ann Arbor. That means he is bringing players into the program that should be capable of playing right away, let alone three years in.

Make all the excuses you want, but the blame falls on Hoke.

This program is regressing despite the great recruiting.

Michigan brought in Rich Rodriguez to make it a national contender. That didn’t happen.

Michigan brought Hoke in to restore its name in the Big Ten Conference. That has yet to happen.

Will Michigan ever get back to the “glory days” it once had? Maybe not.

But, I do know that Michigan can be and should be better than it is right now and I don’t see a lot of optimism that things are going to be better next season.

Michigan can’t overlook anyone right now, and with trips to Northwestern and Iowa the next two weeks, it is no longer a crazy thought to think the Wolverines could walk into its season finale against Ohio State looking to avoid a .500 record for the season.

SPOILER ALERT – Michigan isn’t beating Ohio State.

The best the Wolverines can hope for this regular season is 8 wins. Given the schedule this year, that should have been a worst-case scenario, not a best-case scenario.

Then again, maybe 8 wins and not competing for a conference title has become what “Michigan is.”

Michigan vs. MSU recap: Hoke has to be gaining some detractors

Brady Hoke has always said the right things and has been largely revered by the Michigan fan base.

He is a “Michigan man.”

Hoke embraces everything that Michigan fans want in a head coach and the rivalries that the Wolverines have.

Along with that, he has been a strong recruiter nationally.

Despite all those things, Michigan isn’t doing

what it hired Hoke to do, and that is win Big Ten titles.

On Saturday, Michigan State physically manhandled Michigan’s offensive line, as the Spartans beat Michigan 29-6.

The loss drops Michigan to 2-2 in the Big Ten and essentially eliminates the Wolverines from contention in the Legends Division.

Michigan seems to be regressing each season under Hoke, which is really the bigger issue.

Hoke took Michigan to 11 wins in 2011 and a win in the Sugar Bowl, but did so largely with Rich Rodriguez’ roster.

Last season, the Wolverines went just 8-5 overall and 6-2 in the Big Ten, once again falling shy of even a division title.

This year, Michigan already has two conference losses, one of which came against Penn State. That loss just can’t happen to a program of Michigan’s caliber.

Saturday’s loss wasn’t surprising, which in turn makes it surprising. It was surprising that all week, those that looked at the game on paper felt Michigan was going to get physically manhandled, and was.

Michigan is a program built on black-and-blue football and “bullying” the opponent. On Saturday, the Wolverines were bullied into silence by the Spartans.

Where is the talent that Hoke was bringing into this program? If it is there, why isn’t it developing?

Recruiting rankings are great, but championships are what matter and Michigan is not winning those.

I am not saying Hoke should be fired, but certainly the fanbase needs to stop treating him like he can do no wrong.

This is serious gut-check time for Hoke. Michigan has to show something the rest of the year, and the Wolverines certainly have to show more in 2014.

It is not like Hoke walked into a challenging Big Ten conference. Outside of Ohio State, the conference is pretty weak. Michigan State has a great defense, but the Spartans’ offense keeps it from being a great team.

The Wolverines are a mediocre team surrounded by a fan base looking for greatness. Perhaps the fans should temper their expectations, or perhaps Hoke just isn’t getting the job done. I find it hard to believe this is the best product he can put on the field.

Predicting Michigan's 2013 season game-by-game

Michigan has emerged as the preseason favorite to win the Big Ten Legends Division by many publications. The Wolverines have the talent, it is just a matter of if they can put it together in 2013. Here are my game-by-game picks for U-M.

Aug. 31 vs. Central Michigan – The Chippewas are breaking in a new quarterback in the Big House. Good luck with that. (1-0)

Sept. 7 vs. Notre Dame – If not for so many turnovers, Michigan would have won at Notre Dame last year. I think the Fighting Irish are in for a rough night in Ann Arbor this time around. (2-0)

Sept. 14 vs. Akron – Another MAC opponent, another lofty win. (3-0)

Sept. 21 at Connecticut – The first road game always poses some challenges, but this should be a win without too much trouble. (4-0)

Oct. 5 vs. Minnesota – The Golden Gophers just won’t have the athletes to keep up with Michigan (5-0)

Oct. 12 at Penn State – The Nittany Lions will make this tough, but the NCAA penalties will start to be felt. Look for Michigan to grind out this win. (6-0)

Oct. 19 vs. Indiana – Take the over. (7-0)

Nov. 2 at Michigan State – I think this is the year Michigan gets a win in East Lansing again. It will probably be “bowling-shoe ugly,” but I think Michigan stays unbeaten. (8-0)

Nov. 9 vs. Nebraska – The Cornhuskers have struggled on the road in previous seasons and I suspect that will continue. Michigan gets the win here in an entertaining game. (9-0)

Nov. 16 at Northwestern – It’s not entirely that I think Michigan will lose to Northwestern, but I feel this final five-game stretch is too tough to go unscathed. I will say the Wildcats avenge last year’s loss to the Wolverines at home. (9-1)

No. 23 at Iowa – Another tricky road game late in the season. Iowa isn’t what it used to be, but it still isn’t easy to get a win in Iowa City. Michigan will win this game, but it won’t be pretty. (10-1)

Nov. 30 vs. Ohio State – Ohio State will probably have a lot to play for and can play spoiler to Michigan’s Big Ten title hopes. Despite my picking a loss to Northwestern, I see the Wildcats dropping a few games along the way as well. If Michigan wins, it will play for the Big Ten title. Ohio State could play conservative and play for the following week, but an unbeaten season could be on the line too. Urban Meyer is building a national power in Ohio State, but the Buckeyes aren’t quite that dominant force yet. The Wolverines don’t need to take a backseat to Ohio State right now and I think they get a win over the Buckeyes at home. (11-1)

Dec. 7 vs. Ohio State (Big Ten Championship) – As good as the win was for Michigan the previous week, the loss this time around will have a greater impact. Ohio State will pull out all the stops and find a way to win on a neutral field. (11-2)

If my predictions hold up, this will still be a strong season for Michigan. Brady Hoke says winning the Big Ten is always the expectation, but reaching the title game is still a good accomplishment as he continues to build up the program again. The schedule isn’t too difficult, but it also ends with a very tough stretch. Winning the Legends Division won’t be easy, but Michigan seems equipped to do so if it can keep its stars healthy.

Michigan's final five may keep it from a Big Ten title in 2013

The college football season is just around the corner and the anticipation for the 2013 season is great for both Michigan and Michigan State.

The Wolverines have high hopes to make a run at the Big Ten title and the Spartans are hopeful to get back in the mix after a disappointing 2012.

Putting MSU aside for today, one thing that really looks like it could stand in the way of Michigan’s chances to win the Big Ten this season is its schedule, mainly its final five games.

The Wolverines will play five consecutive weeks of challenging games to end the season, then have to play the following week in the Big Ten Championship, if it hopes to win a conference crown this year.

Here is what the final five games look like for Michigan:

Nov. 2 at Michigan State

Nov. 9 vs. Nebraska

Nov. 16 at Northwestern

Nov. 23 at Iowa

Nov. 30 vs. Ohio State

Let’s start with the first game against MSU in East Lansing. The Wolverines have lost their last two meetings with the Spartans on the road and Michigan hasn’t won by more than a touchdown at Spartan Stadium since 1997. Win or lose, this game will be a physical battle and the Spartans will be treating it like their biggest game of the year. It will be a very tough start to a tough stretch.

Then Michigan heads home to face Nebraska. The Cornhuskers are arguably right there with Michigan in regards to winning the Legends Division in 2013. This will be the toughest game Nebraska has on its schedule. The home team has dominated both meetings, but the Cornhuskers come in with a veteran offense and one of the top playmakers in the Big Ten, quarterback Taylor Martinez.

Next up is Northwestern. The Wildcats will be coming off a bye week and eager to get a shot at Michigan after last season’s 38-31 loss in overtime at The Big House. Northwestern hasn’t exactly been a problem for Michigan in the past, but the Wildcats look to have a promising team this season. Beating the Wildcats at home could be a problem.

Following that tough road game, Michigan then heads to Iowa the following week. The Hawkeyes have won three of their last four against the Wolverines, and winning in Iowa City hasn’t been an easy task for the Wolverines as of late. Iowa may be the worst team on paper in the group, but beating the Hawkeyes in Kinnick Stadium is no small feat. Prior to last season, Iowa was 23-5 at home from 2008-2011.

The schedule closes with the big rivalry game against Ohio State at home. Certainly anything can happen in this game and Michigan will definitely be ready, but there isn’t much arguing that Ohio State comes into the season as the Big Ten favorite. Braxton Miller looks to be the Big Ten’s top player and quarterback this season and Urban Meyer has the most success of any coach in the conference. It will take everything Michigan has to win this game, and even if it does, can it possibly have anything left to win another game the following week, especially if the Wolverines face the Buckeyes again?

I think when you look at each game on paper, you can argue that Michigan can win each game. But winning all five in consecutive weeks seems like too great of a challenge.

How do you think Michigan will do in its final five games of the season?

What will Michigan's record be over its final five games?

My Christmas wish

It’s Christmas time and I want to start by wishing everyone a happy holiday. I hope you are getting a chance to enjoy some good food with your families, and maybe even getting that Christmas wish of yours.

I have already had a great holiday, but to be festive, I thought I would share my wish for the holidays, and it relates to the MSU-Michigan rivalry.

My wish is that the rivalry hits a new level in 2013.

In the ideal world, I would like to see both football teams and both basketball teams playing at their highest levels, with both contending for national recognition and Big Ten titles.

Whether you are on the side of the Spartans, or the side of the Wolverines, the games between these two teams are so much better when they mean something.

Some of the greatest games in the history of this rivalry are when both teams are ranked and battling it out on the football field or basketball court.

In football, Michigan State had a nice run over the past few seasons, but Michigan was in a funk.

This season, the Wolverines were still solid, but a little disappointing. Michigan State was a complete disaster. This year’s game between the two had no real meaning when it came to competing for a Big Ten title.

It would be nice in upcoming years to have this game mean a lot, with both teams possibly being unbeaten. It makes the game that more passionate and emotional. It brings out the best (or worst, depending on how you look at it) of both fan bases.

In basketball, we might be there already. Michigan looks like a legit national title contender and MSU is strong, but a little inconsistent. By the end of the season, both could be primed for a run in the NCAA Tournament. Their meetings on the court this season should also be very competitive and feature great environments, and they could also determine who wins the Big Ten title.

I mean, how great would it be to see the Spartans and Wolverines tipoff in the championship of the Big Ten Tournament with a possible 1 or 2 seed on the line in the Big Dance?

I know Michigan fans say Ohio State is their biggest rival, and that is fine. I won’t argue that. But, as a neutral party to both, it is a lot better when both teams are flourishing and worrying about each other.

Grade Michigan's 2012 season

Brady Hoke set a high standard for Michigan when he took the job, indicating that anything less than a Big Ten Championship is a disappointment.

While that is the right thing to say to the fan base, I can’t say I agree with the mindset.

Certainly Michigan is a team that should go into each season expecting to contend for the Big Ten title and be among the favorites to win it. But last season saw the Wolverines get 11 wins with no title. That is not a failure.

This season, Michigan again finds itself out of the running for the Big Ten title, but the season wasn’t a complete wash.

Unlike last year, I would say this season has been somewhat disappointing.

The Wolverines went 8-4, but three of their losses seemed like very winnable games.

Michigan could have beaten Notre Dame had it held on to the football.

It seemed that Michigan could have beaten Nebraska had Devin Gardner been prepared to backup an injured Denard Robinson. I wouldn’t say that the Wolverines definitely would have won that game, but the offense clearly would have been more productive than it was with Russell Bellomy at quarterback.

Against Ohio State, the game seemed to be Michigan’s for the taking, but a lack of adjustments on offense allowed the Buckeyes to squeak out a victory.

You can read more into Michigan’s season by the four losses than the eight wins. Truth is, Michigan failed to beat the good teams it faced this year. Of the eight wins, the best win seems to be against Northwestern (9-3), but it took a late miracle to get the win, and I don’t think many view the Wildcats as a nationally respected program.

Michigan did end the losing streak to Michigan State, which it needed to do, but the Spartans’ 6-6 record takes a little steam away from what that victory meant for the season outlook.

Overall, the offense wasn’t as explosive this season and the defense was just a shade worse than it was a year ago.

An 8-4 record is okay this year, but if Brady Hoke wants to live up to the standards he set when he took the job, things have to get better next year. The Big Ten was not that strong this season. There is no telling that it will be this weak again in the future.

Given the record and the quality of victories Michigan had, I give them a grade of a B-. I am hesitant to say C because Michigan still won eight games and could get a solid bowl victory. I don’t think the Wolverines deserved a B because of the lack of quality wins and the failure to make the Big Ten Championship Game.

What are your thoughts on Michigan’s season?

How would you grade Michigan's season

Final thoughts on Michigan/OSU, MSU/Minnesota

I expected there to be plenty to talk about following Saturday’s games, and there is. There were interesting developments for both Michigan and Michigan State in their regular season finales. Here are my thoughts on both team’s performances on Saturday.

Michigan 21, Ohio State 26

This is a game that looked to be Michigan’s for the taking at halftime, but an awful second half on offense kept the Wolverines from getting a big win in Columbus.

The fumbles are one thing. They happen. Denard Robinson and Devin Gardner could have tried to do a better job of protecting the ball, but ultimately, I thought it was the play calling that cost Michigan in this one.

Throughout the game, especially in the second half, I kept saying to myself: “Denard has to throw one of these times, right?”

But the clock kept ticking, and each time Robinson took the field, it was a run play. Not only was it a run play, it wasn’t a real creative run play.

Eventually Ohio State figured out what everyone in the world had figured out, that if Robinson is taking the snap, it is a run. The Buckeyes could commit their entire defense to stopping the run, which it did. The Wolverines couldn’t convert third downs because they were essentially giving away what they were doing based on who took the snap.

I know Robinson broke the big 67-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, but he was unable to do anything in the second half because Ohio State adjusted to the way Michigan used him.

I had no problem with Robinson being on the field, but Michigan needed to have him on the field with Gardner to keep the Ohio State defense honest. Michigan showed those looks in the first half, but went away from them in the second half.

Michigan needed to have Robinson throw a short pass or two to not make it obvious what was coming when he was taking the snaps.

If Robinson was still not healthy enough to throw a slant or even a bubble screen, then why put him under center at all?

I expected the defense to play worse than it did. Ohio State still had nearly 400 yards, but I thought the Wolverines did a good job of containing Miller’s running ability and they also held strong in some tough spots when the offense turned the ball over.

I was surprised Brady Hoke decided to go for it on 4^th and 3 from the Michigan 48 to open the second half. It may have been a different game had it worked out, but I thought there was more risk than reward in that case. I don’t think it cost Michigan the game, but it certainly gave a big momentum swing to the Buckeyes to open the second half.

Saturday’s loss certainly puts a negative on the season perspective for the Wolverines. An 8-4 season is clearly not bad, but no Legends Division title and a loss to Ohio State has to be considered a disappointment, especially when the conference was so up for grabs this year.

Three of Michigan’s four losses this season seemed to be games they could have won with a few changes here or there. The Wolverines controlled their destiny for the most part and couldn’t find their way to a championship when it was there for the taking.

Michigan State 26, Minnesota 10

A win to go 6-6 doesn’t turn MSU’s season from awful to good, but the Spartans came out and put on one of their best performances of the season.

The defense was dominant again, allowing just 99 yards of offense from the Gophers. It doesn’t matter who you are playing, it is difficult to hold a team under 100 yards of offense.

Le’Veon Bell was once again a work horse, pounding out 265 yards on 36 carries.

Andrew Maxwell struggled with accuracy, going just 13 of 29 passing. That has to be concerning at this stage of the season. Maxwell has not taken many strides throughout the course of the season that would give MSU fans much confidence for next season.

But, getting back to the overall point on this game, Michigan State fans should be happy that their team didn’t quit. It would have been easy to.

The Spartans came in with high expectations this season and missed them all by a wide margin. Making a bowl isn’t something that players can often get up for when they had hopes for a conference championship.

I give credit to the Spartans for not wanting to end their season on Saturday. A bowl victory can still salvage a little something to build on for next season.

But, make no mistake, this season has still been a step back for the program.

Devin and Denard - what could have been

Last Saturday saw another sizeable win for the Michigan football team, but it came in a little different style.

After missing the last two games with an injury to his elbow, Denard Robinson returned to the field against Iowa and was creatively used alongside backup quarterback Devin Gardner.

Robinson didn’t throw a pass in the game. He was instead used as a running back and a receiver.

Defenses still had to respect Robinson for his speed and his quickness while Gardner remained the quarterback. Gardner finished with 314 yards passing and three touchdowns while running for two more scores.

The Michigan offense totaled over 500 yards and looked as good as it has all season, but the real question is, why now?

Obviously the answer for Saturday was to get Robinson on the field for his final home game with Michigan.

But, when you see what this offense is capable of with Gardner at quarterback and Robinson used as a running back/receiver, you have to scratch your head at why this wasn’t implemented earlier. Last season saw Gardner take some occasional snaps at quarterback with Robinson, but it wasn’t anything like what we saw on Saturday.

Could this combination have helped in games against Alabama, Notre Dame and Nebraska?

Digging up this kind of success this late in the season doesn’t do much good for Michigan outside of possibly beating Ohio State, but even a win over the Buckeyes won’t get them a Big Ten title unless Nebraska loses.

Is it fair to say that Brady Hoke and the Michigan coaching staff missed the boat here?

Coaches always say they have to put their best 11 on the field each week.

It is starting to appear that the Wolverines haven’t had their best lineup on the field most of the season.

What are your thoughts on how Michigan used Robinson/Gardner against Iowa

Is a win for MSU on Saturday worth celebrating?

As Michigan still fights for a potential spot in the Big Ten Championship on Saturday against Iowa, Michigan State finds itself with an important game as well, though the rewards are not nearly as sweet.

A win over Northwestern at home on Senior Day will make the Spartans bowl eligible.

I think it is fair to say that few expected it to take to Game 11 for Michigan State to get bowl eligible this year.

Coming into the season, expectations were high for the Spartans. Whether it be a Big Ten Championship or a 10-win season, few saw MSU doing all it could to have winning record at the end of the year.

Saturday will be telling for Michigan State for a few reasons.

The first will be if the Spartans can beat an above-average Northwestern team.

The Wildcats proved last week that they aren’t to be overlooked and certainly Michigan State hasn’t proven it can look past anyone. If you can’t beat Iowa at home, you can’t just step on the field at Spartan Stadium and expect to walk through Northwestern.

However, if Michigan State wants to remain a program that has some high expectations, it has to win this game.

The second reason this game will be telling is on how the Spartans (players and fans) celebrate if they do win.

Is getting bowl eligible a big enough accomplishment for the program?

Mark Dantonio has led MSU to a bowl in each of his five seasons as coach. That is an accomplishment to be proud of given the Spartans were shutout of the bowl season three straight years before his arrival.

However, Dantonio had been building Michigan State into something more than just a bowl team, as MSU had been at the forefront of the Big Ten title picture the last two seasons.

As an outsider, I consider this to be a disappointing season for Michigan State. The Spartans should have expected more and shouldn’t be satisfied with a 6-or-7-win season.

When you consider the talent on the defensive side of the ball, this was a prime opportunity for Michigan State to contend for the Big Ten title.

Ohio State is unable to contend for the title and Michigan, Nebraska and Wisconsin have all arguably played below expectations.

You can also expect all four of those teams to keep getting better, which may leave the Spartans as the odd team out in the Big Ten picture for the future.

It’s not crazy to think most of the top talent on MSU’s team this year could be gone next year. Le’Veon Bell and William Gholston have to consider moving on to the NFL when you think of the injury risks that come with going through another season.

Should Spartan fans just be happy with making a bowl game year-in and year-out, or should it expect to win a Big Ten Championship and play in the Rose Bowl once every handful of years?

MSU needs to define its expectations and decide if it wants to be an average program or if it wants to be a force in the Big Ten.

Last year when the Detroit Lions made the playoffs, head coach Jim Schwartz said “There's going to come a time when we don't celebrate going to the playoffs, or getting into the playoffs. It's not going to be tonight.”

Tomorrow (if MSU wins) will not be a time for celebrating. If the Spartans really want to be considered in the same discussion as Michigan as a football program, you don’t celebrate just making a bowl.

Making a bowl should be the first in a long list of goals and expectations each year if you are going to be a great program.

The Wolverines have already locked up a bowl win, but their fan base is still largely upset with the season because Michigan doesn’t control its own destiny in the Big Ten race with two games left.

I know this comes off like a Michigan fan belittling Michigan State, but it’s not.

The Wolverines were awful during the Rich Rodriguez era and I wasn’t sure Michigan’s expectations would ever get back to where they were when Lloyd Carr was coach.

But, Brady Hoke arrived, won 11 games last year and is in contention to win 10 this season if it wins out.

Hoke has essentially created his own monster because now Michigan fans won’t tolerate a letdown season. He must get to nine wins or more each year, and even some won’t accept that.

So, to get back to my point, will MSU fans accept this season? Is it okay for Mark Dantonio to have this team win just six or seven games? Should he feel some pressure going into next season if he can’t get MSU back to 8-to-10 wins?

It’s a thin line, but what side you stand on in this argument defines your expectations for what the MSU program should be.

Is becoming bowl eligible an accomplishment in college football

What's the news coming from Nebraska and Minnesota this week?

As I do each Thursday, let’s take a look at the stories coming from the opponents of Michigan and Michigan State this week.

Nebraska

Though it may not seem like it, Bo Pelini has been head coach of Nebraska for five seasons already.

Pelini has led the Cornhuskers to at least 9 wins every season thus far, but he is lacking in much hardware to show for his efforts. That has not been lost on the local media covering Nebraska.

Sam McKewon, of the Omaha World-Herald, wrote a column this week saying it is time for Nebraska to close out the season and win the Big Ten title.

Pelini’s teams have struggled as the front-runners. They battle their way off the wall after an ugly loss, and their backs seem to instinctively seek out the wall again. The Huskers’ maturity should guard against a letdown. Of course, that maturity hasn’t exactly guarded against penalties and turnovers. NU can occasionally play like a team at odds with its self-interest. Like the offense did on those three plays inside Michigan’s 5-yard line.

But the road to Indianapolis won’t get much clearer or cleaner than this. I know: Four games left, good opposing defenses, breaks of the game. But let’s not make any of the remaining opponents out to be something they’re not. Nebraska has a significantly better offense than all of them. A better kicker than all of them. More team speed than all of them. More momentum than all of them.

That MSU and Iowa’s offenses would struggle to pitch coins in a fountain. That Penn State has an immobile quarterback who played poorly at home vs. the Huskers last year. That Minnesota’s quarterback just turned 19. That it’s closing time for Bo and the Blackshirts.

Nebraska went 2-2 to end the regular season last year, keeping it from making a trip to Indianapolis despite a win over the Legends representative, Michigan State.

The Cornhuskers dropped two of their final three games in 2010 in their final season as part of the Big 12.

Will the trend continue this year for Nebraska? Will Michigan State get the nod over the Cornhuskers, who have had problems winning on the road consistently?

If Nebraska sputters in the final four games, will Pelini start to feel some pressure from the Nebraska fans and administrators?

Minnesota

Playing on the road is never easy, especially when you get into conference play.

However, the Golden Gophers are lacking in much of a home-field advantage these days.

Phil Miller, of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune, talks about Minnesota’s current issues with filling their stadium.

Only 41,062 tickets were sold to the Gophers' game against Purdue last Saturday, already the smallest crowd in TCF Bank Stadium's four-year history, and it looked like there were several thousand no-shows, too. It's a shame that so many Gopher fans missed the most impressive victory of the season so far.

But Jerry Kill said Tuesday he knows who is to blame for such a dispiriting turnout: He is.

Well, sort of. It's not really his fault that the Gophers don't draw well, but it is his responsibility, he said, for making sure that changes.

"If we continue to win, that place will be packed out and we'll have to build on to it," Kill said at his weekly news conference. "If you don't win, that's the way it is. ... It's our job. It's not our fans -- I'm not going to blame anybody. We've got to put a good product out there. That's what I was hired to do a year and a half ago, and that's what we'll do."

TCF Bank Stadium has a listed capacity of 50,805, which isn’t much for a Big Ten program.

The fact that the Gophers are having troubling filling the stadium is somewhat surprising considering Minnesota is 5-3 this year and just one win away from being bowl eligible for the first time since 2009.

Perhaps last week’s win over Purdue at home will inspire more Gophers fans to get out to TCF Bank Stadium this week.

What legacy will Denard Robinson leave at Michigan?

Back in August, I asked the question is Denard Robinson the most valuable player in college football?

Certainly Russell Bellomy’s play for the Wolverines in last Saturday’s loss to Nebraska made the argument look even stronger.

But the question now needs to be asked, just what will Robinson’s legacy with Michigan be?

Clearly he has the statistics to be remembered as an all-time great. But numbers are numbers.

What stands out for quarterbacks through history are team accomplishments.

That is what Michigan has been lacking under Robinson.

Until last season, Robinson didn’t have a win over Ohio State.

Until this season, Robinson didn’t have a win over Michigan State.

He still has yet to get Michigan a Big Ten Championship.

His poor performances tend to stick out more than his good ones because his poor performances have come with the most on the line.

That’s not to say Robinson’s lack of accomplishments are solely his fault. He dealt with a poor defense until Hoke’s arrival and hasn’t had a large dose of playmakers around him to work with.

Despite that, the quarterback is always the one that gets the most praise and the most criticism.

If Robinson is unable to lead the Wolverines to a conference title this year, just what will he be remembered for?

To many Michigan fans, I think he will be labeled a disappointment and over-hyped.

To some, they will always label him one of the greats in Michigan history.

The truth is probably somewhere in the middle.

But for Robinson to cement a positive legacy with Michigan, he needs to bring some Big Ten hardware back to Ann Arbor.

News and notes from Hoke's weekly press conference

Michigan coach Brady Hoke held his weekly press conference on Monday where he talked about the Wolverines’ loss to Nebraska. Here are some of the notes coming from what Hoke had to say.

- Michigan has Denard Robinson listed as its starting quarterback for Saturday’s game with Minnesota. Hoke said he should be fine and ready to go and he is expecting Robinson to practice all week.

- He said it was a nerve issue with Robinson and that his arm was tingly from the hit and that’s why he couldn’t play on Saturday. He was having trouble gripping the football. If Michigan played today Denard would be "close" to playing. They are looking into possibly adding some padding or protection for the arm.

- Hoke will give Devin Gardner more snaps during practice this week at quarterback just as a precaution. But the plan is still for Gardner to be at receiver this week. He said Gardner and Russell Bellomy will “compete” for the backup spot.

- When it came to Bellomy, Hoke said the team could have done a better job of picking up blitzes to help him out. He felt the experience Bellomy gained of playing in that environment on Saturday will help him greatly.

- Hoke said the team needs to do a better job from a football standpoint and that starts with him. He said the Wolverines need to play better in the red zone and they have to be able to run the ball in that area.

- Hoke called the Minnesota game important for many reasons. One, it is a division game. Two, to move past the loss. Three, because of the Little Brown Jug.

- Hoke said that Michigan has a lot to play for. They have four “guarantees” left.

- Hoke gave praise to Minnesota coach Jerry Kill. Said he respects him as a coach and even more as a man.

Final thoughts on Week 9 for Michigan, MSU

Nebraska 23, Michigan 9

Well, looks like Michigan State isn’t the only team having trouble on offense. Michigan found out what life might be like without Denard Robinson on Saturday, and it wasn’t pretty.

With Robinson on the sidelines with an elbow injury, freshman quarterback Russell Bellomy took over in the second half and was just 3 of 16 passing for 37 yards and three interceptions. Bellomy looked lost and the offense as a whole couldn’t get in any sort of sync with Robinson on the sidelines.

Robinson didn’t exactly light up the Nebraska defense when he played in the first half, but Michigan was in the game and showed signs of being able to move the ball down the field.

Nebraska’s defense isn’t exactly a juggernaut either. I fully expected the Wolverines to score more than six points in the first half with Robinson under center.

The Michigan defense played well enough against a good offense for Michigan to win, but the Wolverines’ just couldn’t find any magic on offense.

Despite the loss, the Wolverines can still win the Legends Division. Unfortunately for Michigan, they will have to root on the Spartans next week as MSU hosts the Cornhuskers.

Aside from Saturday’s loss, the performance of the offense without Robinson has to be concerning about the future of the program.

Just who is going to be the quarterback next season? If it is Bellomy, can he improve enough to make Michigan a contender? If it is Gardner, is he going to be able to transition back to the quarterback position and play at a high level? If it is a true freshman, will they be able to handle the pressure?

Those questions will loom over Michigan the rest of the season as the Wolverines still look to earn the Big Ten title.

Michigan State 16, Wisconsin 13, OT

In a year of disappointments, Michigan State had its high moment of the season thus far, picking up an unlikely overtime win at Wisconsin.

The MSU offense was a mess again, racking up just 270 yards, but the Spartan defense had arguably its best performance of the season, holding Wisconsin to 190 total yards.

Despite three and a half quarters of offensive ineptitude, Michigan State put together a pair of big scoring drives when it mattered most with Andrew Maxwell getting two touchdown passes in the process.

Maxwell looked off a lot on Saturday, but his game-winning pass to Bennie Fowler in overtime was a great throw and could be a play that sparks his progression as a college quarterback.

Maxwell needed the marquee throw and victory to give him confidence, and this win could be it.

Michigan State is clearly a team that is not going to light up the scoreboard and play with great finesse, but it is a team that is going to have a shot to win in the fourth quarter each week, largely due to its defense.

The difference between winning and losing will be up to the offense. They haven’t come through very often this season, but today they did.

We can talk about the offensive line issues, but those will be an issue all year. It is something that MSU is going to have to try to overcome.

Michigan State is not going to be a finished product this season. It is going to be ugly football, but the Spartans can hang their hat on not quitting and perhaps still have an 8-win season if they manage to make a few plays.

The Little Brother Scale after Week 8

The Little Brother Scale is a trolling topic. I won’t argue that.

The term hits a nerve with both Michigan and Michigan State.

It bothers the Spartans for its meaning that their program is the little brother to Michigan.

It bothers the Wolverines for its meaning over recent years since Mike Hart uttered those words.

When I started the topic prior to the season, I expected both teams to have a strong year and keep the debate lively.

Michigan State hasn’t been able to live up to expectations.

Saturday’s game was hard fought and perhaps would have went the other way if it was played in East Lansing. But, in the end, Michigan snapped the streak and beat the Spartans, 12-10.

It is hard to hand the balance of power in the rivalry to the other team after just one win, especially a 2-point victory, but when you break it down, Michigan State has taken a step backwards this season no matter what it does the rest of the year.

Michigan has all its goals in place for this season. The Wolverines can win the Big Ten title this year and still beat Ohio State in the process. That would certainly send a message that it has regained control of the state and even the Big Ten as a whole.

The Wolverines are now leading my scale. They will lead the scale for the rest of the season as long as they don’t completely tank down the stretch.

What interests me now that Michigan is back on top is where this rivalry will go from here.

Mark Dantonio said he will be glad to see Denard Robinson go, but is that really true? Michigan State has been able to contain Robinson as well as anyone. Will a new Michigan quarterback with a new offensive scheme really make it easier for the Spartans?

Michigan will be a new team next season without Robinson and it yet to be known if the Spartans will be able to bounce back in Maxwell’s senior year, but MSU will lose key pieces on defense.

I expect Michigan to continue to be strong under Brady Hoke for his recruiting and solid coaching staff. Michigan State may not have the resources and depth to stay in the mix in the Big Ten year after year.

Only time will tell.

For now, Michigan can enjoy just being back in the driver’s seat.

LITTLE BROTHER SCALE: Michigan 16½, MSU 15½ 

Final thoughts on Michigan/MSU

Michigan got the win it was looking for.

It ended the four-game losing streak to Michigan State on Saturday, 12-10.

It wasn’t a pretty game and it was closer than some expected, but the Wolverines made the plays it needed to in order to win.

Is order restored? Has the balance of power shifted back to Ann Arbor? Perhaps. At least the bragging rights have returned to Michigan.

I wrote my column from the MSU angle of the game. Keep in mind, I was at the game with Pat Caputo. He covered the Michigan angle. I don’t want any accusations of favoritism because my column focuses on the Spartans.

Cleary Michigan State is having a disappointing year and needs to figure out if it is going to go back to being an average program or if it is going to be a Big Ten contender in future seasons.

The only way that the Spartans can lay claim to something in this rivalry is if it is accompanied by accomplishments that go outside of just beating Michigan.

The same can be said for the Wolverines this year.

Obviously Michigan has a lot of championships and prestige to fall back on throughout its history, but the Wolverines are still seeking to get back to a level of championship play.

The Rich Rodriguez era took the Wolverines back, which opened the door for Michigan State to move ahead and claim bragging rights. That was supported by more than just wins against the Wolverines, but also by the Big Ten title in 2010 and the Legends Division title in 2011.

For Michigan to really put a stamp on this season and leave the Spartans in the rear view mirror, it needs to make its way to Indianapolis and play for, if not win, the Big Ten Championship.

Brady Hoke and the Michigan players said that beating MSU was good but their goals are much greater than a win over the Spartans.

Winning championships is what has separated Michigan from Michigan State in the past and will be the only thing to separate the Wolverines from the Spartans in the future.

That’s the next big step for Brady Hoke and the program, to win a championship. This year seems to be Michigan’s best shot in a while to do just that.

Keys to victory for Michigan/MSU on Saturday

The time is almost here.

The game Michigan fans have been waiting for is one day away. It’s the Wolverines’ chance to end the streak. For the Spartans, it’s their chance to not only prolong the streak, but perhaps save their season.

Kickoff is set for 3:30 from Michigan Stadium in what will be a loud and electric environment. I will be covering the game for The Oakland Press if you want to voice your thoughts on the game, you can tweet me @ellisdrew.

Here is a look at the keys for each team to walk away with a victory on Saturday.

Michigan

Be stubborn – The Wolverines are a running football team. They are not a passing team. In previous years, Michigan State has been able to take the running aspect away from Michigan and force Denard Robinson to be a passer. If that happens again on Saturday, it could be another tough day for Michigan. The Wolverines have had a smart approach to the offense in recent games. It has been run, run, run, run, run and then pass. MSU still has the top rushing defense in the Big Ten, but Michigan has to stick with the run. If a drive needs to last seven minutes for a score, then let it go seven minutes. Even if the game plan doesn’t work early on, Michigan can’t give up on the run and try to air it out. This MSU defense has been susceptible to the big play and I expect Michigan to get a few big plays from Robinson throughout the game if they stick to what they do best.

Win on third down – That goes for the offense and the defense. The offense will need to sustain drives to win and the defense will help the offense by forcing MSU into three-and-outs. If the MSU defense is on the field the majority of the game, it will open up the big plays for the Michigan offense. Currently, the Spartans are converting just 37 percent of their third downs, which is the third-worst percentage in the Big Ten. Conversely, Michigan leads the conference with a 52 percent conversion rate. Third downs should be won by the Wolverines on Saturday.

Hidden yards – Michigan ranks third in the Big Ten in punt return average and fourth in kick return average. A big return on Saturday can go a long way in this game, as points could be at a premium with the way both defenses have played. Also, the Spartans have been notorious for making penalties this year. Michigan has to play with discipline and not retaliate to anything MSU might do after the play. Penalty yards could rack up quickly in this game and the Wolverines would be wise to let the Spartans make the mistakes. I don’t doubt that Michigan will be amped up for this game and want to take it to MSU, but the Wolverines need to win the game with their play, not their trash talk.

MSU

Don’t be stubborn – Unlike Michigan, I think the Spartans need to mix it up on offense. Le’Veon Bell is a great running back, but the offensive line for MSU is beat up and not opening up holes consistently enough for him to control this game. Despite that, the Spartans still feed him the ball 30 times a game and get stuck in a number of third-and-long situations. Offensive coordinator Dan Roushar needs to take chances in this contest. Really, what does MSU have to lose here? The Spartans have to win and get help in order to play for the Big Ten Championship and they come into this game as a 10-point underdog. If they don’t let it all hang out in this game, I question what they would be saving it for. Go with trick plays, jet sweeps, reverses or anything else you have in the playbook. MSU can’t win this game with a Bell-heavy offense.

Wake up William Gholston – I bought some milk this week at the local grocery store and there was a photo on the carton of William Gholston that said “Missing” under it. The junior defensive end has not had nearly the impact many were expecting this season, but Saturday would be a good day for him to change that. On the year, Gholston has just 28 tackles, 1 sack, 5 tackles for loss and 5 quarterback hurries. Gholston has to have a presence in this game. His speed and athleticism are a big reason why the Spartans were able to keep Denard Robinson in check last year. Certainly teams are keying in on him this year, but if he is the talent that many think he is, he has to overcome that and show up when his team needs him the most.

Play with discipline – MSU is averaging six penalties for just over 60 yards per game this season. In last year’s game with Michigan, the Spartans tallied 13 penalties for 124 yards. It is clear that the Spartans have a chip on their shoulder when it comes to trying to prove their superiority to Michigan on the football field, but the post-play penalties will not do them any good on Saturday. MSU was able to overcome the penalties last year, but I don’t see that being the case this time around. If the Spartans come out and play reckless, they will just be digging their own grave. With two losses in the Big Ten already, MSU needs to play as close to mistake-free football as it can.