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

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

Grade MSU's 2012 football season

The 2012 regular season is complete for Michigan State, and the final record is 6-6.

I am sure I am not alone when I say I didn’t expect that.

Coming into the season, the Spartans had some questions, but none of them seemed worrisome enough to keep MSU from having a winning record.

Despite the new quarterback and young receivers most expected MSU to be carried by its strong defense and be a contender in the Big Ten race.

To a degree, the expectations played out on the defensive side of the ball. The Spartans led the Big Ten in points and yards allowed per game and were 10^th nationally in defensive scoring, allowing just 16.3 points per contest.

Where things all went wrong was on offense. The Spartans averaged just 20.3 points per game, which was down nearly 11 points from last year’s average (31.0).

Early on, the receivers were dropping passes. Midseason, the offensive line was banged up and not providing enough running lanes for Le’Veon Bell and pass protection for Andrew Maxwell. At the end of the year, Maxwell looked like he wasn’t progressing as he should.

The Spartans never really clicked as an offense outside of a lopsided win at Central Michigan. It will be a concern heading into next season with a defense that can’t be expected to be as strong as it has been the last two years.

It’s not a big surprise to call this year a disappointing one for Michigan State. It’s not just about a 6-6 record, or a 3-5 Big Ten record, or even an 0-5 conference record at home. The Spartans took more than a step back. They completely fell flat on their back.

The momentum MSU built the previous two seasons to be recognized as a legit program in the national spotlight has been lost. It will take some work to get back to that point.

For all those reasons, I give Michigan State a D for the season. The only reason I don’t given them an F is because they did manage to make a bowl. A losing record would have been the absolute failure in my eyes.

What are your thoughts on this season for MSU?

What grade would you give MSU this season in football?

Final thoughts on Michigan's win over Northwestern

Northwestern is a name doesn’t bring out a lot of fear in college football fans, but the Wildcats have been a pretty good team this year and I had a feeling that Saturday’s game would be a tight one.

I predicted Michigan winning 31-24, so I am happy with that as my predictions have been way off lately.

I certainly didn’t see the game coming down to a miracle at the end of regulation, but that seems to be something Northwestern lets happen.

The thing that was lost in the finish was the importance of Roy Roundtree finding a way to make that amazing catch. Sure, there was a penalty on the play, but in college pass interference is just a 15-yard penalty. Had Roundtree not made the juggling catch, the ball would have been put at the Northwestern 47 with eight seconds left. It would have been very tough for Michigan to get enough yards while stopping the clock to get a lengthy field goal.

Roundtree’s catch was clutch and he and Jeremy Gallon made some great plays during the game. That catch by Roundtree could go on to define the season if Michigan is able to get to a possible 10 wins (including a bowl victory).

The defense struggled on Saturday, but they aren’t the first to do so against Northwestern. Colter made some great plays for the Wildcats. It’s okay to expect the Wolverines to do better, but they are still going to have some down performances during the season.

As high as the win was for Michigan fans, I am sure they have to be disappointed about Nebraska’s win over Penn State.

An upset seemed to be brewing with the Nittany Lions up 20-6 at halftime, but Nebraska found a way to win. The Cornhuskers were the benefit of a big call on the McGloin “fumble” at the goal line, but that is how it works when you don’t control your own destiny.

Michigan has two games left and it appears that Denard Robinson’s injury may be more serious than the coaches either thought or let on. Devin Gardner has played well at quarterback, so well that some Michigan fans want him starting the rest of the season regardless of Robinson’s status.

I think Robinson deserves the right to be the quarterback if healthy, but certainly you have to keep Gardner prepared.

In fairness to Robinson, Gardner hasn’t faced impressive defensive units in his two games as a starter.

Michigan gets Iowa next week and I would think the coaches don’t want Robinson to face Ohio State without playing for three weeks, so I would expect to see him in action to some capacity if he is ultimately expected to play against the Buckeyes.

Michigan vs. Northwestern Prediction

I haven’t posted in a few days but I wanted to get up my prediction for Saturday’s lone game. Here is my take on what to expect for Michigan vs. Northwestern.

Northwestern at Michigan, Noon

No matter who is at quarterback, Michigan should be able to move the ball. Northwestern is allowing just under 400 yards per game on defense this season. This is a defense that Denard Robinson should be able to carve up with his legs or Devin Gardner should be able to carve up with his arm. Where Michigan will have to be sharp is on defense, as Northwestern is fourth in the Big Ten in scoring at 30.4 points per game. The Wildcats are very quick on the ground and Michigan will have to contain running back Venric Mark, who has posted over 1,000 rushing yards this year. I don’t see Michigan being able to really dominate this game. Northwestern has had its two losses come by a combined 12 points. Look for this game to be more of a shootout than a defensive battle. Ultimately, Michigan will make enough plays to win, but it will be a battle.

Michigan 31, Northwestern 24

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.

News on Nebraska/Wisconsin heading into this week's games

The ninth week of the season is just a few days away for both Michigan and Michigan State. Here is a look at what their opponents (Nebraska/Wisconsin) are saying about Saturday’s games.

Michigan vs. Nebraska

The big news surrounding Nebraska is the status of starting running back Rex Burkhead.

The senior running back aggravated a lingering knee injury on Saturday against Northwestern. The injury has been a problem for him all season but seemed to be cleared up heading into last week’s game.

His status for Saturday’s game is undecided and his durability for the rest of the season is uncertain.

Tommy Dahlk, of the Lincoln Journal Star has some info on Burkhead from Bo Pelini.

When asked Tuesday in the Big Ten's weekly coaches teleconference how the nagging injuries have affected the running back mentally, Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said no one on his staff is too worried about Burkhead’s psyche, and the focus is just getting him back to full strength.

“Rex is a strong-minded kid,” Pelini said. “That’s the last thing we’re worried about what his mind-set is. He’s a strong young man and doesn’t let a lot of things bother him.”

Burkhead has rushed for 405 yards and three touchdowns this season. He also has a receiving touchdown.

In Burkhead’s place, Ameer Abdullah has rushed for 615 yards and seven touchdowns. Abdullah has been a very solid performer for Nebraska, but the Huskers would prefer to have Burkhead back on the field, as he is averaging 8.6 yards per carry.

MSU vs. Wisconsin

The coach had his weekly press conference transcribed on UWBadgers.com. Here are a few thoughts he had on Michigan State.

“I don't know how many times I heard last year, if you didn't care who won those games, they were really fun games to watch. From that standpoint, they're fun. It really gets down to always you got a couple of key plays offensively that go for scores, and a huge factor, special teams has been a factor, really positively or negatively for us in every game. Playing Michigan State, you've got to be on the unexpected, whether it be fake opportunities in the special teams arena or blocks on their punts. So really got to be on top of our toes in every aspect.”

Pat (Narduzzi)’s always been aggressive in nature. No doubt in my mind that they'll bring pressure. Depending on the situation depending on our personnel groupings. The good news is Joel (Stave) is a guy that's been through some situations. Everybody has been bringing pressure on us. Got to have a great plan for him, not just prior to the snap but also during the snap itself. We saw last week where he needs to get rid of the football in certain situations.

Obviously, we built up a nice little tradition. We even played them twice in one year, which had never been done in Big Ten play. At least to my knowledge. Yea, respect Michigan State. Respect Mark Dantonio and his staff a great amount. There's certain things that, when we split the divisions, that were going to go away, and unfortunately, this is a by-product of that. But on the flip side of it, you've got really neat things popping within.

That's the way I spin it. I look at it as every year we get a chance to play Penn State and Ohio State, and for us recruiting-wise, that's very, very important. We do our fair share of recruiting in Michigan, but really probably traditionally do more recruiting against Ohio State and Penn State nationally than Michigan State itself.

The Michigan State-Wisconsin game has developed into a little rivalry as of late. It will be interesting to see what kind of intensity both teams bring into this game. Michigan State is at a crossroads for the program with its 4-4 record. Will it give up on the year or will it fight to have a winning season?

Wisconsin should be able to win the Leaders Division by default with Ohio State and Penn State out of the running, but the Badgers are probably motivated to hand the Spartans another loss based on last season’s MSU victory in Spartan Stadium.

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.

Prediction for MSU vs. Michigan

I have had a pretty good feeling about my prediction for a week now.

The MSU loss to Iowa combined with the Michigan win over Purdue solidified my belief that Michigan puts an end to the losing streak to the Spartans today.

The problems for Michigan State aren't something I see being solved in a week. The key issue is with the offensive line. The injuries and lack of depth on the line has caused MSU to struggle to execute what it would like to on offense.

Le'Veon Bell is a great player, but he doesn't get the holes to really rack up the impressive numbers he is capable of.

The Michigan defense has been improving and I expect it to be able to contain the run.

The Spartans will have to win this game on the arm of Andrew Maxwell and/or the creativity of offensive coordinator Dan Roushar. I don’t believe either will happen.

Sure, the MSU defense should still pose a problem for Denard Robinson. But, the Spartan defense won’t be able to pitch a shutout.

If Michigan is smart, it will stick with the run, even if it doesn't succeed at first. Eventually some holes will open and Robinson will be able to break off a few big gains.

Michigan won’t put up the points it has in recent weeks, but it will be able to put up enough points to out-score the Spartan offense.

An inspired and physical outing for the Wolverines will end the four-game losing streak to the Spartans and keep them in line to compete for a Big Ten Championship.

Prediction: Michigan 24, Michigan State 7

Little Brother Scale after Week 7

I am conflicted this week.

Everything I have seen from Michigan and Michigan State this season tells me the Wolverines are, 1. not only better this season, but 2. built to be better in future seasons as well.

That is what the Little Brother Scale is meant to indicate. Not just who is better now, but what program has more credibility than the other in the eyes of the national media.

I didn’t think there was a way Michigan could get ahead of MSU before Oct. 20.

The Spartans had won four straight in this series, won a Big Ten title in 2010 and the Legends Division title in 2011.

However, the Spartans have been a shell of themselves this year.

The offense has been a mess and the Spartans are finding ways to lose this year as opposed to finding ways to win, which they did in previous seasons.

Michigan, on the other hand, is getting better. The Wolverines have looked very impressive in Big Ten play, mainly on defense. After getting out to a slow start defensively, the Wolverines have improved each week and seem primed to be one of the best in the Big Ten.

With all that said, I am ruling the scale a tie this week, simply because Michigan needs to win on Saturday for me to put it ahead on the scale.

You can’t claim superiority over another program when you have lost four straight. You just can’t do that.

So, we enter this week’s game with an even scale, but a win for the Wolverines will put them ahead. It’s all up for grabs this week, and I am sure that means much more to the players than the Paul Bunyan Trophy (I am kidding, of course).

LITTLE BROTHER SCALE: Michigan 16, MSU 16

Week 7 Recap: Wolverines look ready to thrash Spartans

Michigan is getting better, Michigan State is getting worse.

I said it last week, and I will say it again today.

The proof is in the pudding.

The numbers from both games point to that very statement.

Michigan absolutely dominated Illinois in all areas of the game and looked like a solid team. Certainly the Wolverines are clicking on all cylinders heading into this week’s meeting with Michigan State.

The Spartans, on the other hand, looked awful.

I was on hand for the overtime loss to Iowa and shared my thoughts on the mess that was their performance. (I also had a sidebar on MSU OC Dan Roushar)

MSU actually embarrassed itself with its debacle at halftime and then proceeded to find a way to lose a close game against a lesser opponent.

The Spartans were known for their resiliency and ability to finish games over the last two seasons. This year’s team seems to be on the opposite end.

There will be plenty of talk going on this week about Saturday’s game, but the Spartans need a lot of work if they hope to beat the Wolverines.

I don’t care what the streak is or what the MSU defense has done to Denard Robinson in the past. The Spartans of the past are nowhere to be found right now.

For the Wolverines, this is a must-win on Saturday. If Michigan can’t beat this wounded MSU team, when will the Wolverines beat the Spartans again?

Little Brother Scale After Week 6

When the Little Brother Scale started just a few weeks before the season began, there wasn’t much hope for Michigan to get ahead of Michigan State short of a win on Oct. 20.

That still stands to be the case, but Michigan State is making it harder to stand by that with each passing week.

MSU had another underwhelming performance last Saturday against Indiana, while Michigan put on an impressive showing against Purdue.

If you asked me today who I thought the better team was, I would have to say Michigan.

The Wolverines and Spartans both have two losses, but MSU’s losses have come at home against slightly lesser competition while Michigan’s losses have come on the road.

The Wolverines look better suited to contend for a title right now as their defense is playing well and the offense has the ability to move down the field when not turning the ball over.

The Spartans still have a strong defense, but it isn’t good enough to overcome the issues on offense. The biggest problem facing MSU is its offensive line, and that isn’t likely to change with two starters out for the rest of the year.

Despite my take on Michigan being better right now, it doesn’t change that the Spartans have had the Wolverines’ number for the last four years. It also doesn’t change that MSU has been closer to the Big Ten title in recent seasons.

Until Michigan beats Michigan State, I can’t put the Wolverines ahead of the Spartans. That could happen in two weeks, but two weeks isn’t today.

LITTLE BROTHER SCALE: MSU 16 ¼, Michigan 15 ¾ 

Week 6 Predictions for MSU, Michigan

It is the Saturday of Week 6 of the college football season. It’s time for both Michigan and Michigan State to put up, or shut up. Here are my predictions for today’s games.

MSU at Indiana

Indiana is on par with Mid-American Conference programs. The Hoosiers have already lost to the likes of Ball State at home. Michigan State shouldn’t have any issues winning this game.

But, the Spartan fans don’t just want a win. They want dominance.

Unfortunately for them, I don’t see a dominant performance coming. The Spartans we have seen in recent weeks are likely to be the Spartans we see going forward, as their injuries up front will be an issue the rest of the season.

Look for the offense to grind out some touchdown drives and the defense to largely hold the Hoosiers in check. Indiana will get the occasional big play and score some points, but never be in control of the game.

Michigan State will let Indiana hang around before pulling away late and getting its first Big Ten win, in unimpressive fashion.

Michigan State 27, Indiana 13

Michigan at Purdue

Purdue is coming into Saturday’s game with big hopes. Michigan comes into the game with a lot of pressure.

A loss on Saturday likely means a long season for the Wolverines and would put them below .500.

Purdue wasn’t expected to really be in the Big Ten race, so a win would be icing on the cake to a decent start.

Michigan just needs to stay within itself and not get too risky on either side of the ball.

The Wolverines have shown improvement on defense and should be able to play well enough against Purdue to give the offense a chance to win the game.

If Denard Robinson holds true to his promise, he should have a solid game and play largely mistake-free.

Ultimately, I see this being a fight to the finish, with Michigan coming out on top. I expect Denard Robinson to rebound and make a number of big plays with his legs while making smart decisions with his arm. The defense will be good, but not great. They had to be great against Notre Dame, but today, good will be enough.

Michigan 31, Purdue 24

What Indiana, Purdue are saying about MSU, Michigan

As always on Thursday, I turn the focus on the opponents of Michigan and Michigan State. Here is a look at what is going on in Indiana with the Hoosiers and the Boilermakers.

Indiana

We thought Michigan State had issues.

It has been a tough three-week stretch for the Spartans, but that doesn’t compare to the issues in Bloomington.

The Hoosiers are 2-2, having lost to Ball State and Northwestern in their last two games.

Head coach Kevin Wilson is now 3-13 in his career at Indiana, with two wins coming against FCS opponents.

Things are going so well, that this week Henry had to receive a “vote of confidence” from Indiana Athletic Director, Fred Glass.

Terry Hutchens, of the Indiana Star, has more.

“We absolutely have the right guy and absolutely have the right staff," Glass told The Star. “I gave him a seven-year contract and we’re going to stick with him. For a variety of reasons, both voluntarily and involuntarily, we haven’t stuck with a football coach since Bill Mallory.
“Our goal was to find the right guy, give him the resources to be successful and then stick with him so we get the benefit of building something. And I absolutely believe we have the right guy in Kevin Wilson."
Some may see that as the dreaded vote of confidence. Many more coaches seem to lose their jobs than keep them after similar comments from their boss. Wilson has provided reasons for those concerns.

Hutches then lists some of those reasons, which includes cursing in an IU dorm and getting into an argument with the hosts of a nationally syndicated radio program on the air.

Needless to say, the Hoosiers appear to be the right team for Michigan State to be facing this week.

Purdue

The focus in West Lafayette isn’t too surprising.

It is on stopping Denard Robinson and the Michigan offense.

LaMond Pope, of the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, has thoughts from Purdue coach Danny Hope on this week’s challenge.

“They’re a lot to defend, and Denard is a big piece of that equation,” Purdue coach Danny Hope said during his weekly teleconference Tuesday. “He’s a great athlete, great player, great competitor, but he’s surrounded by a ton of good players and a fantastic scheme.”

Robinson leads the Big Ten in total offense, averaging 319.5 yards per game. He is third in the league in rushing (110.2 yards per game) and fourth in passing (209.2 yards per game).

“Obviously you have to do some things, you have to be smart with your rush lanes. If you get out of your rush lanes and he sees a big opening, he sees the seas to part, then he’s going to take off with the ball and then he’s really hard to catch,” Hope said. “He adds a whole new dimension to the ballgame. You have to do some things to make sure that you can try to minimize his production some, but if everything is geared just to stop him, then you disregard their other great players on their offensive football team, and that can really get you in trouble.”

Purdue currently ranks eighth in the Big Ten defensively, as the Boilermakers are giving up 353.3 yards per game. However, Purdue has given up the fewest rushing yards in the conference, allowing only 105.25 yards per game. Purdue also leads the conference in interceptions with eight.

Little Brother Scale After Week 5

It seems like with each passing week, Michigan State and Michigan are losing their appeal in the national football picture.

The impression of Denard Robinson’s performance against Notre Dame still lingered on in the bye week and Michigan State once again looked flat in a loss to Ohio State.

With both teams now sitting outside the top 25 rankings, the season already feels like a disappointment.

But, due to the struggles of the Big Ten, both the Spartans and the Wolverines have the ability to win the conference title.

It is going to take some work and a lot of improvement, but the possibility is still there.

MSU is making some changes to its offense in hopes to create a spark. The Spartans are currently last in the Big Ten in scoring at just 20 points per game.

The MSU defense does lead the Big Ten in scoring (12.8 ppg) and yards (266.4 ypg), but the Spartans have been susceptible to the big play and it has cost them in both of their losses.

For Michigan, the defense started slow but has been showing improvement. The Wolverines actually have the top passing defense in the Big Ten, but have the second-worst rushing defense in the conference.

Offensively, Michigan has the ability to score and score often. It also has the ability to turn the ball over often. Denard Robinson has been hit-or-miss, as he has eight interceptions this year, which sits third in the nation for most INTs.

This week, both teams have what would be considered “easier” games on their Big Ten schedule.

Michigan State goes to woeful Indiana and Michigan heads to Purdue.

The Spartans should have no difficulty in this game, but stranger things have happened. If this game in any way resembles MSU’s recent performances, it is going to be a very long year in East Lansing.

Michigan has a tougher opponent, as the Boilermakers look like a possible contender. Winning on the road isn’t always easy, but if Michigan expects to contend for the Big Ten title, this one is a must.

The Wolverines have had two weeks to prepare for this game and Denard Robinson said he would be “re-focused” following his performance at Notre Dame. This game is a statement game for Michigan, but it is yet to be seen what that statement will be.

When it comes to the weekly scale, I still feel like Michigan is gaining on the Spartans. Michigan has lost to tougher opponents and lost both games on the road. MSU has been in a three-week funk and their issues keep piling up, as the Spartans lost center Travis Jackson for the season.

I don’t know that MSU can do anything to improve its offensive line going forward. Michigan can correct its issues on offense by limiting turnovers and the defense should keep getting better.

MSU still has the edge in the scale due to their four-year hold on the rivalry, but things are shaping up for a change in power if the Spartans don’t get their act together.

Little Brother Scale: MSU 16 ½, Michigan 15 ½

MSU season on the brink of disaster

It has been a long three weeks for the Michigan State football program.

In that time, the expectations for this season went from being a dark horse to win the national championship to being an outsider in the Big Ten race.

The Spartans suffered their second loss in three weeks, falling 17-16 to Ohio State at home on Saturday.

It was another ugly showing for Michigan State, and another game where the Spartans had an opportunity to win, but failed to make the plays it needed to to get the job done.

Unlike recent seasons, Michigan State has failed to show a lot of composure and come-from-behind ability in the fourth quarter.

The blame for Saturday’s loss goes on the whole team.

The defense gave up too many big plays and couldn’t get the stops it needed to against a one-man offense.

The MSU offense continued to have struggles moving the ball. When the Spartans did put a drive together, it settled for field goals instead of getting touchdowns.

On special teams, another missed field goal from Dan Conroy could have made the difference between a win and a loss.

Ohio State wasn’t overly impressive, but quarterback Braxton Miller did enough to lead the Buckeyes to a win. Ohio State had nearly 400 yards of offense against the Spartan defense, which is losing its credibility as an “elite defense” more and more with each game.

The ultimate disappointment for Spartan fans had to come on the final offensive play for the Buckeyes. Facing a 3^rd and 4, Ohio State was able to run for a first down right up the middle of the Spartan defense. An elite, or even very good defense makes that stop.

When it comes to the offense, the same issues keep coming up. Receivers dropped passes again. Andrew Maxwell missed open receivers again. The offensive line failed to open up running lanes again.

Le’Veon Bell was held to just 49 yards on 17 carries. In past weeks, when Bell has rushed for big yards, it seemed as if he had to do a lot of the work himself. In both losses, he hasn’t been very visible in the game and that is because the line is losing the battle up front. Now add to that another big injury, with center Travis Jackson out for the rest of the year due to multiple leg injuries in Saturday’s game. The MSU line has been struggling when healthy, one can only assume those struggles continue with key pieces missing.

The only saving grace for the Spartans right now is that this was not a Legends Division game. MSU still controls its own destiny to get to the Big Ten Championship Game. However, based on what we have seen, can we really expect that to happen?

The Spartans head to Indiana next week and then return home to host Iowa. Those have to be wins.

Then, a rough three-week stretch awaits that will determine if this season is a complete failure. Those games are at Michigan, at Wisconsin, and then home against Nebraska.

Michigan State needs to find some solutions over these next two weeks, or the Spartans are going to find themselves back in the murky waters of mediocrity.

Prediction for Ohio State vs. Michigan State

The Big Ten season is going to start off really well for one team and really poorly for the other as Michigan State hosts Ohio State at 3:30 p.m. today.

This game could really go a number of ways, as both teams have looked bad in recent weeks.

However, this game looks to be shaping up well for Michigan State in my opinion.

This is not an easy task for Ohio State, as it plays its road opener against one of the top teams in the Big Ten. Regardless of what the Buckeyes have done on offense or defense this season, you don’t truly know about your team until you play on the road.

Look at Nebraska. The Cornhuskers are like night and day when it comes to playing at home or on the road.

Ohio State can win this game if it can manage to make big plays on offense and special teams. I don’t see the Buckeyes being able to sustain drives against the MSU defense, but there will be opportunities for a big play here and there. Braxton Miller will need to be aggressive and accurate when he attacks the MSU secondary. Turnovers are likely to happen, but that can’t discourage him from taking chances later in the game. If the Buckeyes can get a few big touchdown plays, that could be enough to win the game.

Michigan State can win if the defense keeps Miller in check and the offensive resolves some of its issues of recent weeks. Expect the Buckeyes to stack the box on defense and dare Andrew Maxwell and the Michigan State receivers to beat them. If the Spartans can avoid drops and Le’Veon Bell can continue to be a consistent presence on the ground, Michigan State shouldn’t have much trouble putting drives together on this Ohio State defense, which is giving up nearly 400 yards per game.

The potential is there for this to be a 6-3 game. The potential is also there for there to be some scoring. Expect somewhere in between. The Spartans should have gotten a wake-up call from last week’s performance against Eastern Michigan. If MSU can’t get up and play well for this game, then it’s going to be a long season in Spartan country.

Ohio State is still far from a finished product. Urban Meyer will probably do big things with the Buckeyes, but not this year. Look for Michigan State to pick up another win over OSU in a hard-fought, grind-it-out game.

Prediction: MSU 20, Ohio State 10

Keys to victory for MSU against Ohio State

The Big Ten season kicks off in a big way on Saturday with Michigan State hosting Ohio State. Here is a look at the keys to the game for the Spartans.

Defense lives up to the hype – The Michigan State defense has been very good, but not quite as good as many expected. The Spartans are still leading the Big Ten in points allowed (11.8) and yards allowed (237.3) per game. Ohio State has impressive offensive numbers, with a lot of that due to Braxton Miller. Last year, the Spartans held Miller in check in just his second start for the Buckeyes. MSU will see a better Miller, but I don’t think he has the weapons to put up a lot of impressive stats. Ohio State will get the occasional chunk of yards, but the Spartan defense needs to contain Miller. So far, of the four games Ohio State has played, they have went against defenses that rank 93^rd or worse in points allowed in three of those contests. When you combine that with this being the first road game for the Buckeyes, it should shape up well for the MSU defense.

Make the most of the opportunities on offense – I could have just titled this one “CATCH THE BALL.” The Ohio State defense is giving up just 17.3 points per game, but it is allowing close to 400 yards per contest. That means the plays are there for the taking against the Buckeyes, but the Spartan receivers and quarterback Andrew Maxwell will have to step up. MSU can’t afford early drops, because they seem to get in Maxwell’s head and cause him to become inaccurate. The Buckeyes will probably look to stack the box and challenge Maxwell to beat them, as they hope to contain Le’Veon Bell. When the opportunity comes for 1-on-1 coverage down field, Maxwell and his receivers need to make plays.

Win the line of scrimmage – Despite the struggles in giving up yards, Ohio State has been able to get after the quarterback. The Buckeyes have 10 sacks this year, and that could pose a problem for a banged-up MSU offensive line that has underperformed at times this year. While Andrew Maxwell needs to step up, so does the offensive line. The Spartans have to still be able to establish a steady running game with Bell to keep the offense balanced and they have to give Maxwell time to throw. If Maxwell faces a lot of pressure, like he did against Notre Dame, it will be another long day for the offense.

What Ohio State is saying about MSU

The only game featuring MSU or Michigan this week is the Spartans hosting Ohio State. Here is a look at the news coming out of Buckeye camp heading into Saturday’s contest.

Ohio State

Quarterback play will be key for both teams on Saturday, as MSU hopes to find a spark from Andrew Maxwell and his receivers while Ohio State is hoping that Braxton Miller will continue to play as well as he has.

That could be an issue against this MSU defense, which limited Miller in last year’s meeting. In only his second start as the starting quarterback for the Buckeyes, Miller was just 5 of 10 passing for 56 yards and was credited with -27 rushing yards due to four sacks.

Bill Rabinowitz, of The Columbus Dispatch, has some thoughts from Miller heading into this year’s game, noting that Miller feels like a completely different player.

“I looked at my body,” Miller said last night. “I was like 190 (pounds). I was skinny. I’m more developed as a quarterback, and I’m trying to learn each day.”

Miller has gained 26 pounds of muscle since that game, but the biggest transformation has come between his ears. He has gone from hoping for success as an unready freshman to expecting success as a burgeoning sophomore.

“Absolutely,” he said. “I have a lot of confidence.”

With good reason. Miller is the nation’s 15th-leading rusher, averaging 110 yards. He’s 25th in all-purpose yards with an average of 299 a game.

“He’s a lot different now than he was,” coach Urban Meyer said. “It’s typical (progress) from year one to year two.”

Miller has currently rushed for 441 yards and seven touchdowns this season and he is 60 of 98 passing for 754 yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions. He is currently 10^th in the nation in rushing yards.

Miller has led the offense to 37.8 points and 427 total yards per game, but Saturday will be his first road start of the season.

Along with his thoughts on Miller, Urban Meyer also offered some thoughts on the MSU defense.

“This is a force-you-to-go-over-the-top defense,” Meyer said. “This is a defense that’s very physical. They’re going to devote a lot of people to stop the run. (Miller) is a big part of our run game, so there aren’t going to be as many seams.”

Michigan State currently ranks sixth in the country in yards allowed at 237.3 per game.

By comparison, the Ohio State defense is holding opponents to just 17.3 points per game, but the Buckeyes are giving up nearly 400 yards per contest. Ohio State has given up the second most passing yards (1,109) of any team in the Big Ten.