Prediction for the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl

Michigan may have had a tough time beating Kansas State with Devin Gardner under center.

Now that Gardner is out, the Wolverines’ odds to win seem much worse.

The good thing for new quarterback Shane Morris is he has had about a month to prepare for the game, so he should feel ready. The problem is, this is still his first start and is against a pretty good Kansas State defense.

However, the Wildcats probably have prepared more for Gardner than Morris, which could lead to some coverage breakdowns. If Morris can be on point, the Michigan offense could actually find some success. However, I don’t feel strongly that Morris will come out and play a perfect game.

Kansas State brings a physical football team to the field on Saturday, something Michigan has not handled all too well. The Wildcats have the ability to move the ball on the ground and also can defense the run respectably well. The opportunity will be there for Morris to make a few plays, but he will have to make the most of those opportunities.

If the Michigan defense brings its best to the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, the Wolverines have a shot, but I see this being another ugly football game for Michigan and Kansas State slowly pulling away. A disappointing season is likely to end with a disappointing performance on Saturday night. 

Kansas State 23, Michigan 13

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.

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