Dantonio's new salary another step toward MSU being a destination job

It wasn’t a surprise to see Mark Dantonio get a contract extension and bump in pay following this past football season.

It also probably wasn’t a tough decision for Michigan State to make.

On Tuesday, details of Dantonio’s new deal came out and the Spartans’ head coach is now going to be making $3.64 million annually and his assistants are also seeing pay increases. Most notable of the assistants is defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi, who will now be the highest-paid assistant in the Big Ten at $904,583 per year.

Following MSU’s Big Ten Championship, Dantonio’s name popped up as a potential replacement for Mack Brown at Texas, but he quickly shrugged off those rumors. Now, Spartans fans shouldn’t have to worry about Dantonio leaving.

When Dantonio started in East Lansing, there wasn’t a lot to be excited about in terms of a national outlook. That has completely changed in his seven seasons with the Spartans.

It took some time, but Michigan State is now a Big Ten and Rose Bowl champion and Dantonio has turned East Lansing into a destination job, at least for him. Michigan State and Mark Hollis has also decided to make MSU a destination job, putting Dantonio near the top 10 in the country in terms of pay.

Pat Narduzzi sticking around is also a big key. The defensive coordinator passed up more money and a chance to lead his own program to stay with MSU for at least another season. Who knows what Dantonio and Narduzzi have discussed about future plans, but it is clear that Narduzzi recognizes something within the program. He doesn’t see the momentum train stopping anytime soon, thus damaging his chances to one day lead a program.

The success of the 2013 season was something Michigan State fans had been longing for for quite some time. Now the expectations have been raised and have changed in East Lansing. Time will tell if Dantonio can sustain this type of success, but the university has made it clear that it is going to do what it can to help him do just that.

Predictions for Minnesota vs. Michigan State/Ohio State vs. Michigan

Minnesota at Michigan State, Noon

Minnesota has finished the season strong despite the loss last week to Wisconsin. The Gophers held the Badgers to just 20 points last week, so I can see the MSU offense struggling in the early stages. The Spartan defense shouldn’t have too much trouble handling the Minnesota offense, which relies heavily on the run. While Michigan State may not feel an urgency in this game, I think the Spartans have plenty to play for and will come out looking to make a statement. Look for Jeremy Langford to continue his strong play and rush for over 100 yards while Connor Cook manages the game and avoids turnovers. Spartans win by pulling away in the second half

Michigan State 27, Minnesota 10

Ohio State at Michigan, Noon

You can make the argument about this being a rivalry game and Michigan is going to come out and play out of its mind, but that wasn’t the case when the Wolverines went to East Lansing and I don’t see it happening this weekend either. I don’t know how Michigan can win this game and I don’t even know how they can keep it close. The Wolverines are a mess on offense and Ohio State’s defense is one of the best in the conference. The Buckeyes have the best offense that Michigan has seen this season, so despite the defense showing some promise as of late, it won’t matter against the Buckeyes. Urban Meyer wants to send a message to Michigan fans and the pollsters, so it could get ugly. Michigan fans may want to avert their eyes.

Ohio State 48, Michigan 14

Predictions for MSU vs. Northwestern and Michigan vs. Iowa

No. 13 Michigan State at Northwestern

I don’t know that this will be a walk in the park for Michigan State, but the Spartans will get the win. Partly because the Spartans are the better team, and partly because Northwestern appears cursed this season. Michigan State should continue to ride the legs of Jeremy Langford and control the tempo of the game with its offense. Defensively, Northwestern isn’t likely to beat Michigan State’s one-on-one coverage. The Wildcats will have to run the ball to win, and I don’t seem them being able to do that consistently. Northwestern will go into the second half of the game within reach of MSU, but ultimately the Spartans will pull away and lock up the Legends Division.

Prediction: Michigan State 30, Northwestern 13

Michigan at Iowa

Some might think that Michigan’s win on the road last week might give the Wolverines a spark. I am not of that mindset. Michigan’s offense could only put up 9 points on Northwestern in regulation. The unit is still struggling and not able to win at the line of scrimmage. This week, the offense runs into a tough Iowa defense that will cause it all sorts of problems. Michigan may be able to win this game if its defense can dominate a below average Iowa offense, but the Hawkeyes are playing in their home finale. That’s not to say the Iowa offense will put up a lot of points, but they won’t need to. I see the Hawkeyes scoring just enough to beat Michigan, which will continue to struggle with the football.

Prediction: Iowa 17, Michigan 13

Predictions for MSU vs. Nebraska/Michigan vs. Northwestern

Michigan State at Nebraska

With Taylor Martinez out, I am not sure how Nebraska’s offense can consistently post points on Michigan State. The MSU defense should be able to contain Ameer Abdullah and the duo of Nebraska quarterbacks likely won’t be able to successfully hit the big throws downfield. The MSU offense isn’t anything special, but the Spartans have been stronger on the road than they have been at home. I think Connor Cook will play well enough to combine with the run game to produce some points. Michigan State has a lot to play for and should come out motivated. Look for the Spartans to win somewhat comfortably.

Michigan State 24, Nebraska 14

Michigan at Northwestern

I don’t feel great about this, but I am picking Michigan to win. The Wolverines eventually have to show some heart during this losing period and this would be a good game to do so. Northwestern’s defense isn’t very good, which should allow the Wolverines to move the ball again. Michigan’s defense will probably allow some big plays in the process, but not enough to win. Despite Michigan’s problems, Northwestern has been an even bigger mess this year. Look for the Wolverines to pick up a tough win. If they don’t, they may not see another win this season.

Michigan 27, Northwestern 24

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.”

Prediction for Nebraska vs. Michigan

Michigan has to be quite eager to get on the football field Saturday.

The Wolverines are coming off an embarrassing loss at Michigan State last week in which they were physically pushed around and outclassed.

Saturday, the Wolverines have a chance to move on when they host Nebraska in a key game in the Big Ten Legends Division landscape.

Just like I thought Michigan State was a tough matchup for Michigan last week, I think Michigan is a tough matchup for Nebraska this week.

The Cornhuskers have struggled defensively this year, and gave up 34 points to Minnesota on the road two weeks ago. Michigan shouldn’t have trouble moving the ball against this defense like it did last week. Look for Devin Gardner to have a big game and the Wolverines to establish a steady run game.

Defensively, Michigan doesn’t have to worry about Taylor Martinez, as he is out with a hip injury. Freshman Tommy Armstrong Jr. will be under center instead. Armstrong has four touchdown passes to six interceptions and is completing just over 54 percent of his passes.

While Ameer Abdullah is a tough running back to stop, the Michigan defense can stack the box and put this game on Armstrong, who doesn’t appear to be up to the challenge of winning a big game on the road.

Michigan may still give up some points, but ultimately the offense will score more and hand Nebraska its second loss in the Big Ten and get the Wolverines back on track heading into the final three games of the season.

Prediction: Michigan 41, Nebraska 27

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.

An early look at Michigan vs. Michigan State

Michigan-Michigan State week is finally here.

Like most hoped, there is a lot on the line in this game. Not as much as there could have been, as both weren’t far from being unbeaten entering Saturday’s clash, but this game will go a long way in determining the Big Ten Legends Division champion.

A win for MSU clearly puts it in the driver’s seat, as it will have two games on Michigan and one game on Nebraska with the Cornhuskers still on the schedule and Nebraska heading to Michigan down the line.

Michigan can even things up with MSU with a win, which it will need with games against Nebraska and Ohio State still ahead.

Despite Michigan winning last season’s game, 12-10 in Ann Arbor, the Spartans have controlled the recent series between these two. Michigan State has won four of the last five and covered the spread in five straight meetings with Michigan.

Coming into this game, Michigan State is a 4.5-point favorite, which I think is fair. I think on paper, this is a bad matchup for Michigan, largely due to Michigan State’s defense. Devin Gardner is going to have to play a smart game on Saturday for Michigan to win and avoid turning the ball over, which has been a big problem for him this season.

Conversely, Michigan’s defense has been shaky, but so has MSU’s offense. However, Michigan State’s offense has trended toward improvement in three of its last four games. You can’t say the same for the Michigan defense. It is entirely possible that Connor Cook could fold under the pressure and have an off day on Saturday, but it is also possible he could play like he did against Illinois and allow MSU to control the ball.

I’ll give my prediction later in the week, but this game certainly feels a bit bigger than I expected it to be when the season began. While I felt it would be an important game in the Big Ten race, I thought Michigan would be a much better team than it is at this point, and I didn’t expect the Spartans to be playing as well as they have on offense in conference play.

Reaction to Michigan State's 55-17 win over Youngstown State

I was at Spartan Stadium on Saturday and saw the Michigan State scoring outburst in person.

It was a good showing for Michigan State, and a much-needed breakout performance for its offense.

I wrote a column on the importance of Saturday’s performance for the offense and quarterback Connor Cook.

It’s easy to say Cook was the reason that Michigan State put up 55 points, but the performance was a collective improvement by all parts.

Receivers caught the tough passes and got separation from the defenders. The offensive line provided protection and created running lanes. Ball carries found open space and made tacklers miss. The quarterbacks didn’t turn the ball over. It all came together for the offense.

Now, the real question is, can Michigan State repeat its performance going forward?

If Michigan State is going to do anything this season, it will need Saturday’s offense to show up more often than not. The MSU defense is always going to give the Spartans a chance to win, but the offense will have to score some points from time-to-time.

Michigan State likely won’t play a defense as bad as Youngstown State’s for the rest of the season, but that doesn’t mean we should look past what the Spartans did on Saturday. It was a step in the right direction and it gave the Spartans some clarity about the quarterback position going forward.

Connor Cook is the guy, and the Spartans are going to win or lose with him under center.

Next week’s game at Notre Dame should give a clearer picture if Michigan State really has solved some of its issues on offense.

Reaction to Michigan's 28-24 win over Akron

I think most of us expected a letdown from Michigan on Saturday, but we couldn’t have expected what we got.

The Wolverines didn’t just have a letdown, they were fortunate to get a win at home over AKRON!

The Zips should have won that game. They arguably were the better team on Saturday in the 28-24 loss to the Wolverines at the Big House.

If it wasn’t for a pair of missed field goals, an INT in the end zone and a terrible play call on 3^rd and goal from the 1, the Zips would have won the game somewhat comfortably.

All the good that came from Michigan’s 2-0 start was essentially wiped away in Saturday’s win.

Devin Garnder, though he had not been perfect, had won over Michigan fans everywhere as “the guy.” On Saturday, Gardner looked lost and, even worse, was a turnover machine.

Gardner led Michigan to a win over Notre Dame. On Saturday, the Wolverines won in spite of him.

Gardner wasn’t the only problem, however.

The offensive line didn’t do much in the run game. Sure, Michigan had 185 rushing yards, but 112 of that came from Gardner. The Wolverines need to find a consistent running game with its collection of backs, especially with Big Ten play on the horizon.

Michigan’s defense has to be a concern as well. The Wolverines gave up 417 yards to an Akron team that averaged 303 yards per game after playing juggernauts like Central Florida and James Madison.

A letdown would have been an ugly 17-point win over the Zips. This was much more than that. This was concerning if you are a Wolverine fan. This had to put doubt, not only in the minds of Michigan fans, but in the minds of the players as well. Suddenly, next week’s game at Connecticut doesn’t look as appealing as it did a week ago.

Michigan still has a good football team, but it needs to progress, not regress. Devin Gardner is still a talented quarterback, but he has to learn from his mistakes.

Next week’s game will tell a lot about where this team is heading as it begins Big Ten play. If the Wolverines come out on the road and put a beating on the Huskies, then they got the message from Saturday’s mess. If the game is another nail-biter, it could be another disappointing season.

Predictions for Akron vs. Michigan/Youngstown State vs. MSU

Akron at Michigan, Noon ET

This should be a sizable win for Michigan at home. Coming off the emotional win against Notre Dame, the Wolverines could use a game like this, where it can afford to make some mistakes and still win. I don’t know that Michigan will look real crisp, as they could be looking past Akron, but the Wolverines should still win with ease. The Zips haven’t shown much ability to stop weaker offenses than Michigan, so look for Devin Gardner to put up impressive numbers. Michigan also should be able to work in a lot of running back options and the defense should hold Akron in check.

Michigan 41, Akron 6

Youngstown State at Michigan State, 2PM ET

MSU could spice this game up by having head coach Mark Dantonio spin a wheel prior to each offensive possession to determine which of the four quarterback options will take the field. The crowd would at least be on the edge of its seat for that. Youngstown State isn’t a bad FCS program and the Spartans would be foolish to come into this game overconfident for any reason, given its extreme offensive struggles. The Spartans need to find their offensive identity in this game, because it can’t go into the rest of the schedule not knowing who their quarterback is. I expect the MSU defense to continue to be impressive, but you can’t expect two more touchdowns this week. This one will be on the offense, and the unit better answer the call. If it can’t score against Youngstown State, just who are the Spartans going to score against?

Michigan State 20 (all from the offense), Youngstown State 10

Who should Michigan State's starting QB be?

The MSU offense is a mess.

That’s not really breaking news.

The real news is that heading into the third week of the season, the Spartans still don’t have a defined quarterback. In fact, Michigan State has four quarterbacks in the mix.

Andrew Maxwell – Maxwell is the one with all the experience (he’s a fifth-year senior) and is currently leading the team in passing yards (114), completion percentage (50 percent) and completions (15). Maxwell struggled throughout last season, going 234 of 446 passing for 2,606 yards and 13 touchdowns with nine interceptions. Maxwell has been notorious for throwing short of the sticks on third down and shows little mobility in the pocket. He has been most impacted by the drops of the receivers, but that could be due to the ball he throws.

Connor Cook – Cook, a sophomore, was given the opportunity to win the job last week against South Florida but he went just 6 of 11 passing for 32 yards. He also rushed for 10 yards on nine carries. There seems to be a belief among the coaching staff that he is the best man for the job, as he will be getting most of the reps with the first team in practice this week. Cook has the mobility that Maxwell doesn’t, but there has been no proof that he can consistently lead the MSU offense down the field. He is just 12 of 27 passing for the season for 74 yards.

Tyler O’Connor – The redshirt freshman got an opportunity last week against South Florida, but he apparently blew that chance with a questionable pass attempt in the red zone. O’Connor did lead MSU down the field and setup the Spartans for a field goal, which happened to be missed. However, a throw into triple coverage in the end zone frustrated the coaching staff and earned him the bench for the rest of the game and possibly the season. It seemed like a quick hook for O’Connor. While his throw was poor and was lucky not to be a turnover, he’s also a freshman that is going to make some mistakes. If anything, MSU is hurting his development by making him think he will get the hook if he ever makes a mistake.

Damion Terry – The true freshman out of Erie, Pa. appears set to make his MSU debut this week. He has been getting No. 2 reps during practice this week and likely would have been given a chance last week if not for an illness keeping him from practicing. The fan base seems to want to see what Terry can do, but just how much leeway would he be given when he steps on the field? Would he be pulled if he makes one questionable throw or fumbles the ball? Certainly a true freshman has to be expected to make some mistakes along the way.

No matter what Michigan State does going forward, it has to make a decision after this week’s game with Youngstown State. Notre Dame is on the horizon and then Big Ten play starts. You can’t go into these important games still playing up to four quarterbacks.

So who do you think gives MSU the best chance to win?

Who should be MSU's starting QB

Reaction to Michigan's 41-30 win over Notre Dame

Michigan got a big win at home Saturday night and Devin Gardner got a marquee win as starting quarterback of the Wolverines under his belt.

He almost let the game get away from him, but composed himself and helped lead the offense to finish the job in the fourth quarter.

There is reason for optimism at Michigan. It is now 2-0 and looking at a schedule that should allow the Wolverines to be 7-0 heading into the home stretch of the season.

The offense was great, racking up 460 yards of offense on Notre Dame. The Wolverines consistently moved the ball down the field and Devin Gardner took a step forward as a quarterback while Jeremy Gallon further improved his status as a playmaker.

Gardner finished with 294 yards and four touchdowns on 21 of 33 passing while rushing for 82 yards on 13 carries and a score. Gardner also overcame a bad situation in the game. Up 14 in the third quarter, he made a poor decision by trying to extend a play when it wasn’t necessary. He could have taken a sack and the game would have been in Michigan’s control, but instead he ran backwards into the end zone. From there, instead of take the safety that was inevitable, he tried to heave the ball away while being hit, but it ended up being caught by the Irish in the end zone for a touchdown, completely changing the complexion of the game.

Had Notre Dame went on to win and Gardner folded from that point forward, it could have changed the whole dynamic of the season and his career. Instead, he bounced back and threw another touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.

Gallon had a tremendous game, catching eight passes for 184 yards. He made play after play for Gardner. Some were ad-libbed, and some were not. He is clearly establishing himself as a top receiver in the Big Ten.

Where Michigan can be somewhat concerned is on defense. The Wolverines gave up 410 yards to Notre Dame, including 314 passing yards. Michigan had plenty of chances to keep Notre Dame from staying in this game, but the defense just couldn’t get the stops.

Michigan isn’t going to face any powerful offenses for at least a month, so the Wolverines have time to fix the problems, but Michigan will certainly face better offenses than Notre Dame as the season progresses. The Wolverines found themselves getting pushed around up front later in the contest. It could have been fatigue, but it’s something that will have to be addressed.

All-in-all, it was a good night for Michigan and a big win on national television.

Michigan and Michigan State are both 2-0, but both fan bases have to feel drastically different about the state of their current teams.

Reaction to Michigan State's 21-6 win over South Florida

There isn’t much for me to say other than what I said in my column for The Oakland Press.

Michigan State has an outstanding defense. It is a defense that is capable of winning championships.

Only problem is, that defense is attached to an awful offense.

Sure, it is only the second game of the season, but the problems the MSU offense has had thus far are nearly identical to the problems it had last season. Not to mention that the Spartans have faced to below average defenses and not been able to score. What is MSU going to do when it starts facing a defense that can actually play defense?

Mark Dantonio seems a little desperate. He is trying any combo of quarterbacks, receivers and running backs he can to get the formula right. The only problem is, it seems to be getting Michigan State further from finding the answer.

If Michigan State ultimately has a mediocre season, it will really be kicking itself. These past two seasons, Michigan State has had a defense that was one of the best in the nation. To not be able to accomplish more would be a shame. It’s not often a program is able to have a defense that can truly be dominant, but MSU has something very close to that. If the Spartans could just develop a mildly consistent offense, it could find itself going to Pasadena for the first time in a long time.

However, I don’t hold out much faith that that will happen. The MSU quarterbacks, receivers and offensive line don’t appear to be up to the task of taking Michigan State to the top of the Big Ten.

Predictions for MSU vs. USF and Michigan vs. Notre Dame

South Florida at Michigan State

Despite the offensive struggles Michigan State had last weekend, the defense still looked very strong. Now the Spartans face a South Florida team that had just 342 yards of offense against McNeese State while allowing 424 total yards to the Cowboys. If Michigan State can’t consistently move the ball against the Bulls on Saturday afternoon, then there should be some real concerns about the MSU offense. I expect the Spartan defense to make some big plays early on, maybe even score a touchdown, and allow the offense to play with less pressure. No matter who is under center for MSU, they should be able to lead the offense to multiple scores.

Michigan State 34, South Florida 13

Notre Dame at Michigan

The Fighting Irish and Brian Kelly have given Michigan every reason to be pumped up for this game. Kelly gave the Wolverines the bulletin board material by saying Michigan wasn’t a “historic” rival for the Fighting Irish. Brady Hoke has probably been beating his players over the head with that. Adding to it all is the fact that this game is on national television and under the lights at the Big House. The crowd should be electric and carry Michigan to a strong start. If Devin Gardner can avoid turnovers, Michigan should be able to win this game. The Wolverines’ defense will be able to apply pressure to Notre Dame quarterback Tommy Rees. From there, it will be up to Rees to make good decisions, which I don’t think he will. With an early lead, the Michigan offense can control the ball and have steady drives on the ground and through the air. I don’t think the Wolverines will run away with this one, but I do think they will lead for nearly all of the game.

Michigan 27, Notre Dame 17

Week 2 Odds for Michigan and Michigan State

The first week of the college football season is closing today and the second week is nearing. Here is a look at the odds for Michigan and Michigan State this week.

Michigan State –18.5 vs. South Florida

The Spartans remain in East Lansing to host South Florida this upcoming Saturday. Michigan State is coming off its 26-13 win over Western Michigan where the offense struggled and the defense looked strong. South Florida, on the other hand, looked awful, as the Bulls were hammered at home by McNeese State, 53-21. The Bulls gave up 424 yards of offense to McNeese State while amassing just 342 yards. One would think that the Spartans will be able to move the ball better against the Bulls and South Florida should struggle to move the ball against the MSU defense. The 18.5-point spread wouldn’t be much for MSU to cover, but the offense didn’t give us much faith that it can put up points.

Michigan -3 vs. Notre Dame

Michigan looked good in its 59-9 win over Central Michigan, but the Wolverines can play better. Notre Dame had a 28-6 win over Temple at home on Saturday in which the Fighting Irish amassed 543 yards of offense. Notre Dame gave up 362 yards of offense to Temple, so there is a sense that Michigan can move the ball against the Irish. The question will be can Devin Gardner make the key throws and avoid turnovers? Turnovers destroyed Michigan’s chances of beating Notre Dame last season and could tell the tale of this game. The Michigan defense will be tested by Notre Dame’s offense, but don’t look for the Irish to pile up 500 yards against the Wolverines. As the spread indicates, this should be a close game.

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.

Predicting MSU's 2013 season game-by-game

Michigan State has some high hopes to improve on its 7-6 record from 2012 and this year’s schedule sets up nicely for the Spartans to do that. Here are my game-by-game predictions for MSU this season.

Aug. 30 vs. Western Michigan – Give the Spartans a W here. Western Michigan has a lot of new things to incorporate and the Spartans will be eager to put on a show in the season opener. (1-0)

Sept. 7 vs. South Florida – This could be a close non-conference game at home, but I ultimately think the MSU defense will be too strong for the Bulls. (2-0)

Sept. 14 vs. Youngstown State – Not much needs to be said here. It’s a win. (3-0)

Sept. 21 at Notre Dame – I think this will be a low-scoring contest and the Spartans won’t be able to find enough points to come away with a victory. (3-1)

Oct. 5 at Iowa – Going on the road to face Iowa is always tricky, but the Spartans will be coming off a bye and should have a good game plan going in. Give MSU a win here. (4-1)

Oct. 12 vs. Indiana – MSU can’t sleep on the Indiana offense, as it will be dangerous. The Spartans will need to score some points to win, which they should be able to do against the Hoosiers. Despite a few tense moments late, I see MSU getting the win. (5-1)

Oct. 19 vs. Purdue – Michigan State gets to face another team with a new head coach here. The Boilermakers are probably going to have a long season. (6-1)

Oct. 26 at Illinois – The Illini should be better in their second season under Tim Beckman, but MSU should still pick up a road win if the defense shows up. (7-1)

Nov. 2 vs. Michigan – I know MSU has had Michigan’s number at home recently, but I think the Wolverines are the better team on paper. Barring injuries, I see the Wolverines grinding out a win. (7-2)

Nov. 16 at Nebraska – MSU will have to contain Taylor Martinez, which could be a problem. Martinez ate up the 2012 MSU defense, which I think was better than this year’s group. I don’t see Michigan State getting this road win. (7-3)

Nov. 23 at Northwestern – I think Northwestern is going to be very tough this year. The Wildcats offense should be very challenging to stop. The Wildcats may still be playing for the Legends Division title at this time, so I give them the nod at home. (7-4)

Nov. 30 vs. Minnesota – The Spartans will end the regular season on a positive, beating Minnesota at home. (8-4)

An 8-4 record isn’t too bad considering the question marks the Spartans have on offense. Mark Dantonio created new expectations with a pair of 11-win seasons in 2010 and 2011, but I just don’t think this team has that capability.

Urban Meyer is just what the Big Ten needs

When Urban Meyer was hired to be the head coach of the Ohio State football program, we all knew things were going to change in the Big Ten.

Meyer was bringing his brand of football, one that led to multiple national titles and SEC championships, to the B1G. What that meant was a cut-throat style of recruiting and a take-no-prisoners attitude on the football field. It also meant that the conference was getting a guy that was going to shoot from the hip and push his agenda when he saw fit.

This week, Meyer felt it was necessary to hold the other Big Ten coaches accountable for their lackluster recruiting.

Here is what Meyer had to say following National Signing Day on Wednesday (from Yahoo! Sports):

“We do need to as a conference need to keep pushing that envelope to be better,” Meyer said to 97.1 The Fan, via Larry Brown Sports. “Our whole conversation [at the Big Ten coaches meeting] needs to be about ‘how do we recruit?’ When you see 11 of the SEC teams are in the top 25 that’s something that we need to improve.”

According to Rivals.com, Ohio State had the second-best recruiting class in the nation, with Michigan coming in fifth. The Big Ten had just three teams (Nebraska the third) in the top 25 while the SEC had six in the top 10 and all 14 members in the top 39. Michigan State came in at 38^th nationally, which put them fourth in the B1G.

It’s easy for Meyer to point the finger at the other teams in the conference, especially when he isn’t afraid to go after recruits that have already verbally committed to other Big Ten teams. Meyer has the recruiting budget that many other teams in this conference don’t and he also has the success on the field that many don’t.

Make no mistake, Meyer is a bully. He is a loud-mouth, narcissistic bully.  But, he is just what this conference needs.

Meyer, in just one year as coach of Ohio State, has become the identity of the conference. Meyer is the lone coach in this conference that knows what it takes to win a national title and what it is going to take for the conference to gain national respect.

It would be easy for Meyer to not say anything about the lackluster recruiting for the Big Ten. He could continue to recruit well and pick apart the conference most years, earning BCS bowl bid after BCS bowl bid.

Instead, he knows that to truly contend for a national title, he needs the Big Ten to be competitive and play at a high level. Meyer needs his team to be challenged by some of the best in the country during the regular season to know he can compete on the field with the best the SEC has to offer.

A stronger Big Ten from top to bottom means a stronger Ohio State.

Meyer is going to force the rest of the conference to play up to his level, like it or not. If teams aren’t able to keep pace with him, they are going to drown. Those that can keep pace will be much better for it and play at a higher level than they have in recent years. I’m looking at you Michigan.

I think we all can admit that the Big Ten has been down in football in recent years. That’s not meant to be an insult at Michigan State or Wisconsin, but it’s the truth. Neither team could truly lineup with the national champion that year and put up a fight.

Meyer wants that to change and is willing to do what it takes to make sure Ohio State is better than anything the Big Ten has recently produced. It appears that Brady Hoke feels the same, but time will tell if he can truly accomplish great things on the national stage.

Love him or hate him, Urban Meyer is the best thing going for the Big Ten, and he knows it.

*NOTE: Speaking of recruiting, I saw this tweet the other day from MSU 2014 verbal, Drake Harris (@drizzygetbusy01): Got the chance to talk to coach Meyer at Ohio state, coach hoke at Michigan, coach jones at Tennessee, and coach muschamp at Florida today!

It can’t make Mark Dantonio, or the Spartan fans, too excited to see Harris getting all this attention from some of the biggest programs in the nation. It will take a lot of work to keep this kid’s commitment.

Is Urban Meyer good for the Big Ten

What was disappointing about Michigan's football season

The 2012 season is now completely finished with last night’s BCS Championship Game.

Michigan finished the season No. 24 in the AP Poll and completely out of the USA Today Poll. The Wolverines were behind teams like San Jose State and Northern Illinois in both polls. While you can argue that Michigan isn’t worse than those teams, the point is that Michigan didn’t live up to expectations this season.

The potential was there all season. Outside of the loss to Alabama (which was only strengthened by the Tide’s performance against Notre Dame), the Wolverines could have won all of the other games they lost.

Each loss had a different story. One loss was about the offense turning the ball over. Another loss was about the defense struggling. Other losses were about injuries and preparation.

Coming off an 11-win season, it was clear that an 8-5 record wasn’t expected this fall. It could have been expected, but Brady Hoke has set a high standard for himself and the program, and this year didn’t live up to that standard.

It’s hard to really point the blame in any one direction. The offense, defense and special teams all had high points and low points. Ultimately, the blame probably falls on the coaching.

It’s not that I think Michigan has bad coaching, quite the contrary. But, when a team has a letdown and there is no single reason why, that tends to fall on the coaches.

I think Michigan will improve on this season and Brady Hoke seems to be the right man for the job, but Wolverine fans didn’t like 8-win seasons when Lloyd Carr was around, so they probably won’t accept many of them from Hoke.

So, where does your blame fall for the season?

What was the most disappointing aspect of Michigan's season?