Michigan at Wisconsin Breakdown & Prediction

Michigan at No. 3 Wisconsin

Time: 6PM ET

Venue: Kohl Center

TV: ESPN

Records:  Michigan 12-4, 4-0 Big Ten; Wisconsin 16-1, 3-1

Michigan stat leaders: Points – Nik Stauskas (17.7 ppg); Rebounds – Jon Horford (5.1 rpg); Assists – Stauskas (3.7 apg); Steals – Glenn Robinson III/Caris LeVert (1.1 spg).

Wisconsin stat leaders: Points – Sam Dekker (14.0 ppg); Rebounds – Dekker/Frank Kaminsky (6.1 rpg); Assists – Traevon Jackson (4.2 apg); Steals – Dekker/Kaminsky/Jackson (0.8 spg).

Current Streaks: Michigan W6, Wisconsin L1

Point Spread: Wisconsin -8

Prediction: This marks Michigan’s third straight trip to the Kohl Center in this series and the other two games have resulted in a loss. Making matters worse, Wisconsin is coming off a loss at Indiana on Tuesday, its first loss of the season. The Wolverines will have their hands full in this one. Michigan is really going to have to make the most out of each possession and shoot the ball well if it hopes to win. Wisconsin will be aggressive on both sides of the ball and be motivated to make a statement following the loss. Wisconsin looks to be a matchup problem on paper with its size, so the Wolverines will need Morgan and Horford to stay out of foul trouble. Ultimately, I think Wisconsin has too much size for Michigan and needs this win much more than the Wolverines. Wisconsin 71, Michigan 60

Michigan vs. Wisconsin Breakdown & Prediction

No. 6 Michigan vs. No. 22 Wisconsin

Time: 2:25PM ET

Venue: United Center

TV: ESPN

Records: Michigan 26-6, 12-6 Big Ten; Wisconsin 21-10, 12-6

Michigan stat leaders: Points – Trey Burke (19.2 ppg); Rebounds – Glenn Robinson III (5.5 rpg); Assists – Burke (6.8 apg); Steals – Burke (1.6 spg).

Wisconsin stat leaders: Points – Jared Berggren (11.5 ppg); Rebounds – Ryan Evans (7.5 rpg); Assists – Traevon Jackson (2.8 apg); Steals – Jackson (1.0 spg).

Current Streaks: Michigan W1, Wisconsin W1

Point Spread: Michigan -3

Prediction: Similar to the win over Penn State, I would expect Michigan to play a highly-motivated game against Wisconsin on Friday. The Badgers gave the Wolverines one of their toughest losses of the season in Madison. Michigan clearly has more talent than the Badgers. The only way for Wisconsin to win is to out-work the Wolverines and dominate the glass, which is possible. However, I think Michigan will build off its strong second half against Penn State and match Wisconsin’s defensive intensity. It won’t take a ton of points to beat the Badgers, so Michigan just needs to be aggressive and create open looks on the perimeter through dribble penetration. In the end, I see Michigan winning by double digits. Michigan 66, Wisconsin 55

Who is going to win the Big Ten Tournament?

It’s finally time for postseason play.

The Big Ten Tournament kicks off on Thursday and runs through Sunday at the United Center.

This year’s tournament field is as good as the Big Ten has ever had.

Though it feels like Indiana is the favorite, it feels as if any of the top 5 teams (Indiana, MSU, Michigan, Ohio State and Wisconsin) could potentially win this thing. Wisconsin may be a stretch, but the Badgers have some big wins throughout the year and are capable of putting a run together.

I don’t feel that the Hoosiers are going to win this week. It seems that Indiana has the No. 1 seed in the Midwest region locked up, so it doesn’t need to really push itself to win this tournament.

The other four teams all could really use this championship. The difference between a title this week and an early exit could mean a lot for NCAA Tournament seeding and location. Michigan, MSU and Ohio State are all contending for a No. 2 seed and each have a slim chance at the fourth No. 1 seed if a lot of early upsets take placing during the week.

Wisconsin could probably make a run to a No. 3 seed if it wins the tournament.

Of the top contenders, Ohio State is the hottest team. The Buckeyes are coming in on a five-game winning streak with wins over MSU and Indiana.

Michigan State has the program pedigree to win this week, but we haven’t seen much consistent play out of the Spartans lately.

Michigan has the talent, but winning big games away from Crisler has been an issue. The Wolverines can either learn from the loss to Indiana and become a stronger team, or they can lick their wounds and continue to struggle in big games.

My pick to win the tournament will be later this week, but what is your pick to win this week?

Who will win the Big Ten Tournament

Wisconsin at Michigan State Breakdown & Prediction

No. 22 Wisconsin at No. 10 Michigan State

Time: 9 p.m.

Venue: Breslin Center

TV: ESPN

Records: Wisconsin 20-9, 11-5 Big Ten; Michigan State 22-7, 11-5

Wisconsin stat leaders: Points – Jared Berggren (11.6 ppg); Rebounds – Ryan Evans (7.6 rpg); Assists – Traevon Jackson (2.7 apg); Steals – Jackson (1.1 spg).

Michigan State stat leaders: Points – Gary Harris (13.3 ppg); Rebounds – Adreian Payne (7.4 rpg); Assists – Keith Appling (3.8 apg); Steals – Branden Dawson (1.7 spg).

Current Streaks: Wisconsin L1, Michigan State L3

Point Spread: Michigan State -4

Prediction: Michigan State has gotten rid of that stigma that Wisconsin had over it. The Spartans have won four straight over the Badgers and I think it will be five after tonight. Wisconsin can be a dangerous team and will challenge MSU with its defense, but the Spartans will also pose a problem defensively for Wisconsin. The Badgers don’t have enough solid outside shooting to keep pace with Michigan State’s athleticism. With MSU knowing it needs to win out to potentially get a share of the Big Ten title, I see the Spartans taking care of business. It may not be pretty, and it rarely is against Wisconsin, but MSU gets the nod. Michigan State 57, Wisconsin 50

Is Oladipo the clear Big Ten Player of the Year?

A lot of the debate following Indiana’s win over Michigan State on Tuesday night has been more about “is Victor Oladipo the Big Ten Player of the Year” as opposed to the importance of the win for the Hoosiers.

In regards to the win, it was huge for Indiana. The Hoosiers are now the clear favorite to win the Big Ten, and likely have at least a share of the title.

But, this blog is about the B1G Player of the Year and if Oladipo is in fact the deserving winner right now.

Here is a look at the guys that appear to be the leading candidates:

Victor Oladipo, Indiana – Oladipo isn’t the top scorer on his own team, or even the leading rebounder, but he does so many things that impact the game. Right now he is averaging 14 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.4 steals per game. He is also shooting 63.9 percent from the field and an impressive 51.1 percent from 3-point land. He leads the Big Ten in steals by a significant mark. He ranks in the top 15 of the Big Ten in points, rebounds and blocks. He is a great on-the-ball defender and has tremendous instincts when it comes to making plays on either side of the ball. Though he wasn’t spectacular in the two conference losses, he has come up big in Indiana’s biggest wins. He had 19 points last night against MSU, 26 at Ohio State, 15 against Michigan and 21 at home against the Spartans. He has also had 15 steals in those four games.

Trey Burke, Michigan – Burke is likely the best overall offensive player in the conference. He averages 18.6 points per game, which is second in the conference. Burke is also leading the conference in assists, as 6.9 per game, which is more than 2 assists per game better than any other player in the conference. Burke is also tied for eighth in the Big Ten in steals while shooting 48.9 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from 3-point land. Despite all the impressive numbers, Burke lacks the big victories that Oladipo has. Burke hasn’t been disappointing in Michigan’s losses, but he also hasn’t been able to get Michigan a big win on the road. It’s not necessarily his fault, but it will likely cost him the Big Ten Player of the Year Award.

Cody Zeller, Indiana – Zeller is going largely unnoticed due to the buzz surrounding Oladipo. However, Zeller leads the Hoosiers in points (16.6 ppg), rebounds (8.1 rpg) and blocks (1.3 bpg). Zeller is also shooting 58.8 percent from the field. It would be interesting to find out just how much Zeller impacts what Oladipo can do, but the fact is he lacks the flash that Oladipo has. Zeller can make some big plays, but the perception is that he is a bland player that you sometimes forget is on the floor. There is a belief that he is soft, and he just doesn’t appear to be as impactful on a game as his teammate.

Deshaun Thomas, Ohio State – Thomas isn’t going to win this award, but he is worth noting as a candidate. He is leading the conference in scoring at 20.1 points per game and he also pulls down 6.2 rebounds per game. He essentially all the Buckeyes can rely on when things get tough. Aaron Craft is a great defender, but can’t score consistently. Thomas hasn’t disappeared in games this year either. He has scored in double figures in every game. If his point totals get low, it is more likely because he isn’t getting the ball as opposed to he is afraid of the challenge.

I didn’t list anyone from Michigan State or Wisconsin on here because neither has a clear-cut candidate. I would have said Keith Appling prior to him disappearing against Indiana for the second time this season. I’d also argue that Gary Harris has surpassed him as MSU’s top player.

When it comes to the Badgers, they just do it all as a team. You really can’t look at their stats and roster and say that they have one individual that truly dominates the others.

When all is said and done, I still feel Oladipo is the best player in the conference, and maybe the nation. He does all the little things that you don’t often see from top players. He also is still improving as a player, which is why Indiana is getting stronger as the season moves on. He may have a better cast of teammates around him, but that is always likely the case when it comes to Player of the Year awards.

So, who do you think is the top player in the B1G this season?

Who should be the B1G Player of the Year

Who deserves the most blame for Michigan's losses?

It’s been a tough stretch for the Michigan basketball team.

The Wolverines have now lost three of their last four and have four losses in the Big Ten.

Granted, Michigan played a gauntlet of top teams in their last four games, but an “elite” team finds ways to win some of the games the Wolverines have lost.

Tuesday’s loss at Michigan State was clearly embarrassing for the Wolverines. Not only did they lose, they were never in the game. Michigan State owned Michigan from the tip and all of the Wolverines’ flaws appeared at once.

Michigan is a better team than it showed on Tuesday, we all know that. But, in order for the Wolverines to reach the Final Four, they are going to have to beat a top-level team in an environment away from home. The NCAA Tournament may not be quite as hostile as the Breslin Center or Assembly Hall, but the games will have just as much, if not more, pressure.

Is Michigan choking in these loses? I don’t think the whole team is, but some clearly are.

John Beilein – It’s tough to take credit away from the coach, because he has recruited well and built the Wolverines into what they currently are. But, Beilein needs to pick up some marquee wins away from home to solidify that he is the guy that can take Michigan to a Final Four or more. Big Ten titles are good, but I think we all want to see Michigan reach a Final Four before we give them credit in the national picture.

Glenn Robinson III – Robinson has been a complete disappointment in the last three losses. He has a combined eight points in those games on 4 of 16 shooting. He also has just nine combined rebounds. He did have eight points in the loss to Ohio State and was more aggressive, taking eight shots. On Tuesday, it was like Robinson wasn’t even at the Breslin Center. It’s one thing to have a rough night shooting, it is another thing when you seemingly give up. Michigan is going to need Robinson to contribute come March Madness.

Nik Stauskas – Stauskas hasn’t been nearly as bad as Robinson in my opinion. He has bounced back from his scoreless effort at Ohio State, though that was pretty bad. Stauskas had 10 points on Tuesday and 10 at Indiana, but just five in the loss to Wisconsin. He has struggled with his 3-point shooting in defeat, as he is just 4 for 17 from beyond the arc in Michigan’s four losses.

Trey Burke – I know, I know. Burke has been amazing this season and the Wolverines would be half the team they are without him. I can’t say Burke deserves a lot of blame in these losses, but I do think he can play better than he has. Tuesday was his best showing in a loss, as he went 7 of 11 with 18 points, but he had just four assists, which is well below his average of 7. He also spent more time than Michigan can afford on the bench, due to foul trouble. At Wisconsin, Burke was just 8 of 21 shooting and also had just four assists. At Indiana, Burke was 9 of 24 shooting, but did dish out eight assists. At Ohio State, Burke was only 4 of 13 shooting with four assists and four turnovers. Burke is at his best when he has a balance of scoring and facilitating. He makes his teammates better most nights, which is why Michigan has been as strong as it has been this season. Sometimes Burke looks like he feels he needs to put the whole game on himself, and that leads to lapses in scoring for the whole team. Granted, his teammates need to step up to help him, but he also has to play at a higher level in these games. He’s an incredible talent, but he needs to lead this team to a big win away from home.

So, who deserves the most blame for Michigan’s losses? I say it’s Robinson, but it’s not 100 percent on him. What are your thoughts?

Who deserves the most blame for Michigan's 4 losses

The top 5 road wins in the Big Ten this season

Road games are tough.

Coming into the start of conference play, most of us knew that road wins in the Big Ten would be at a premium, but I honestly didn’t think it would be this bad.

I thought by now that some of the teams would have separated themselves from the rest of the pack. However, that has not happened, and it is largely due to teams being unable to win on the road.

Coming into Sunday the combined record of Big Ten teams on the road is 25-39. When you also consider that 10 of those 25 wins are against Penn State and Nebraska, it is clear to see that the team that is most likely to win the Big Ten is the team that wins the most games on the road.

There haven’t been many “big” road wins in conference play yet. There are a few, which I will get to, but trying to come up with the top 5 road wins in the Big Ten this season wasn’t easy.

Right now, Indiana has the best road record at 4-1. But, their four wins come against four teams in the bottom half of the Big Ten.

Michigan State is next at 4-2, and is one of three teams with a unique win (i.e. a win that no other team has in the conference).

So, as hard as it may be to do, here is my attempt to rank the top 5 road wins in the Big Ten this season.

1. Wisconsin 64-59 at Indiana (Jan. 15) – This is the clear winner on this list. I didn’t expect the Hoosiers to lose at home at all this season, let alone to Wisconsin. The Badgers made Indiana look very human and the Hoosiers have since lost their mystique and are now struggling to win on the road, just like everyone else in the B1G.

2. Michigan State 49-47 at Wisconsin (Jan. 22) – Following the Badgers’ impressive win, Michigan State soon had to walk into the Kohl Center to attempt to get a victory in a place it has often struggled in. The Spartans dealt with the Badgers’ hassling defense and grinded out a win that looks very impressive right now, and is the biggest reason they are in first place in the conference. MSU is the only team to have won at Wisconsin this season.

3. Michigan 83-75 at Minnesota (Jan. 17) – Minnesota has been somewhat disappointing in conference play, but the Wolverines are the only team to beat the Gophers on their home court. With the Wolverines already having three losses in Big Ten play, this win against Minnesota is looking like a lifesaver right now.

4. Indiana 97-60 at Purdue (Jan. 30) – Yeah, it’s getting that tough already. Beating Purdue doesn’t mean much, as Ohio State and Michigan State have already done the same. But, the Hoosiers made an impressive statement in this win, throttling their in-state rival by 37 on their home court. This makes the list because of margin of victory.

5. A 21-way tie between the rest – I could have picked Michigan’s manhandling of Northwestern or Michigan’s/Wisconsin’s/Minnesota’s win over Illinois, but they all don’t have much value. At this point, every other win in the Big Ten on the road came against a team in the bottom half of the conference.

As you can see, it’s been slim pickings on the road for the Big Ten. As much as we thought Indiana and Michigan might be elite, it’s becoming clear that there isn’t an elite team in the Big Ten, or in college basketball in general.

Indiana has a lot of tough road games ahead and Michigan and Michigan State still have to tangle a few times before the champion will emerge. The winner must take care of its home court and manage to sneak out a few wins on the road.

Michigan at Wisconsin Breakdown & Prediction

No. 3 Michigan at Wisconsin

Time: Noon

Venue: Kohl Center

TV: ESPN

Records: Michigan 21-2, 8-2 Big Ten; Wisconsin 16-7, 7-3

Michigan stat leaders: Points – Trey Burke (18.1 ppg); Rebounds – Mitch McGary (6.0 rpg); Assists – Burke (7.2 apg); Steals – Burke (1.3 spg).

Wisconsin stat leaders: Points – Jared Berggren (11.8 ppg); Rebounds – Ryan Evans (7.7 rpg); Assists – Ben Brust (2.7 apg); Steals – Brust/Traevon Jackson (1.0 spg).

Current Streaks: Michigan W1, Wisconsin W2

Point Spread: Michigan -2

Prediction: The Kohl Center has proven to be a tough place to play for most Big Ten teams, Michigan included. This game is a big one for the Wolverines, as they can’t really afford to come up short against the Badgers with some big games against Michigan State and Indiana still on the horizon. Wisconsin also badly needs this game to avoid a fourth loss in conference play. The key to this contest is simply talent. Michigan clearly has more talent. While I don’t doubt that Wisconsin will do well defensively to keep Michigan from piling on the points, I don’t see Wisconsin shooting the lights out to stay ahead of the Wolverines. Michigan may not have a great day scoring, but it doesn’t need to to win this game. Michigan 58, Wisconsin 54.

Updated Big Ten Power Rankings

We are now in the thick of Big Ten play and the clouded picture that was the conference outlook is starting to clear up a little bit.

Here are my updated Big Ten college basketball power rankings:

1. Michigan (19-1, 6-1) – I still feel that the Wolverines and Indiana are the top two teams in the Big Ten, but both teams have to show they can win some big games on the road. Michigan has three of its next four on the road against Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan State.

2. Indiana (18-2, 6-1) – The Hoosiers don’t have that same image they had coming into the start of the regular season. Though it still has tremendous talent, Indiana has looked average at times and has appeared very beatable at home. Though their toughest road games are still later in the season, the Hoosiers host Michigan on Saturday in a huge game.

3. Michigan State (17-4, 6-2) – Michigan State looked impressive in a loss at Indiana. The Spartans have been the most surprising team to me, in a good way. I didn’t expect MSU to have the talent to compete night-in and night-out in the Big Ten. MSU has competed, and it showed at Indiana that it can possibly win this conference.

4. Ohio State (15-4, 5-2) – I still have my doubts about the Buckeyes, especially when it comes to winning on the road. Ohio State still has to head to Ann Arbor and Bloomington, and they still have to host the Hoosiers on Feb. 10.

5. Wisconsin (14-6, 5-2) – The Badgers have established themselves as a contender thanks to a big win at Indiana. Despite that, Wisconsin still lacks a lot of scoring, which sets up losses to teams like Iowa. If the Badgers can find more consistent scoring, they can be a tough team to beat going forward.

6. Minnesota (15-5, 3-4) – The Gophers have been the most disappointing team in the conference so far. They had a big win over MSU to go with a great non-conference performance. Yet, Minnesota has lost four straight. Three of the losses have been on the road and three have been to three of the top five teams on this list. With the schedule getting a little lighter going forward, look for Minnesota to work its way up the standings.

7. Purdue (11-9, 4-3) – The Boilermakers are young and have had trouble keeping pace with the high-scoring teams in the conference, but they still have beaten the lesser teams in the Big Ten. It’s possible Purdue could make the NCAA Tournament if it continues to beat the bottom half of the conference.

8. Illinois (15-6, 2-5) – The Fighting Illini had a great non-conference season, beating the likes of Butler and Gonzaga, but Illinois has not been very good in conference play. The Illini have some talent, but it isn’t translating into wins right now. Illinois has MSU, Wisconsin and Indiana in its next three games.

9. Iowa (13-7, 2-5) – The Hawkeyes have been a team that have been pesky for the top teams in the conference. Only Michigan was really able to blow Iowa out of the water, as the Hawkeyes lost to Indiana by four and MSU by three. Iowa has beaten the likes of Northwestern and Wisconsin and now have a stretch of winnable games.

10. Northwestern (12-9, 3-5) – The Wildcats have been hot and cold. They have beaten the likes of Illinois and Minnesota but suffered a 20-point loss at home to Iowa and a 15-point loss at Nebraska. If Northwestern can find some consistency, it can perhaps play spoiler for a few Big Ten teams in the second half of the conference season.

11. Nebraska (11-10, 2-6) – Not much was expected of Nebraska in basketball when it joined the Big Ten, and the Cornhuskers haven’t provided much. But, they can be happy they are not Penn State.

12. Penn State (8-12, 0-8) – There really is nothing positive to say about the Nittany Lions right now. Penn State can’t even get past Nebraska. Seven of the eight conference losses have been by at least nine points.

So, now that you have seen my rankings, who do you see as the favorite to win the Big Ten right now?

Which team is most likely to win the Big Ten

MSU defense making the Spartans a true contender

As I have watched Michigan State throughout the basketball season, I have been strong in my feelings that the Spartans aren’t a legit contender to win the Big Ten title.

When you watch their games, you just don’t see that “it” factor. I can’t say I can recall too many times where I have said out loud “that is some good basketball” when watching MSU.

However, the Spartans still find themselves 17-3 overall and 6-1 in the Big Ten. Michigan State may even be a top-10 team in the nation by the end of the week.

So, how are they doing it?

While the offense hasn’t always been stellar, the defense has been for the most part.

Michigan State is currently ranked in the top 25 in the nation in points allowed (57.8 ppg) and defensive field goal percentage (37.8%).

The defense has made up for the lack of offensive fire power and allows Michigan State to essentially be in the hunt to win every game it has played.

Outside of the loss to Minnesota, the Spartans have had a chance to win every game this season. They lost by eight to Miami (Wednesday night will tell us just how good the Hurricanes can be), and the loss to Connecticut to open the season was by just four points and could have easily been a win.

Michigan State still owns the top win of any Big Ten team this season in its win over Kansas. You could argue Wisconsin’s win at Indiana is bigger, but the Jayhawks are currently higher in the rankings.

Along with giving Kansas its lone loss, Michigan State held the Jayhawks to just 64 points, its third-lowest scoring total of the season.

On Tuesday night, Michigan State out-Wisconsined Wisconsin. The Spartans held the Badgers to a season-low in points in order to pick up a 49-47 victory, just the second win for MSU at Wisconsin in the Bo Ryan-era.

Since Big Ten play, the Spartans have held three opponents to their lowest or second-lowest total of the season (Wisconsin, Ohio State, Iowa). MSU also held Purdue to its fourth-lowest point total of the season and lowest total in Big Ten play.

Assuming the defensive effort will continue, if Michigan State can find its offense, the Spartans can be a very dangerous team in the Big Ten and nationally.

The Spartans’ biggest test comes on Sunday with a trip to Indiana. The Hoosiers struggled against the defense Wisconsin brought to the table, and Michigan State has better athletes than the Badgers.

Michigan State at Wisconsin Breakdown & Prediction

No. 13 Michigan State at Wisconsin

Time: 7 p.m.

Venue: Kohl Center

TV: ESPN

Records: Michigan State 16-3, 5-1 Big Ten; Wisconsin 13-5, 4-1

Michigan State stat leaders: Points – Keith Appling (13.8 ppg); Rebounds – Adreian Payne (7.2 rpg); Assists – Appling (4.5 apg); Steals – Branden Dawson (1.8 spg).

Wisconsin stat leaders: Points – Jared Berggren (12.7 ppg); Rebounds – Ryan Evans (7.6 rpg); Assists – Ben Brust (3.0 apg); Steals – Brust/Traevon Jackson (1.1 spg).

Current Streaks: Michigan State W5; Wisconsin L1

Point Spread: Wisconsin -6

Prediction: The Kohl Center has not been an easy place to play for any team, let alone Michigan State. Bo Ryan has always played Michigan State tough, but the Spartans have won three straight in this series, including one in OT at the Kohl Center. I think MSU would have had a better chance in this game had Wisconsin not been coming off a loss to Iowa. The Badgers should be pumped up and ready for this rivalry game. I think the Spartans will be up to the challenge, but I see the Badgers sneaking one out in a typical, ugly MSU vs. Wisconsin basketball game. Wisconsin 58, Michigan State 56

News and notes from Mark Dantonio's weekly press conference

Michigan State football coach Mark Dantonio held his weekly press conference on Tuesday where he discussed the win over Wisconsin and this week’s game with Nebraska. Here are the notes from what he had to say.

(Just a FYI, the Dantonio pressers last much longer than Hoke’s, that’s why his notes tend to be longer. I have had complaints about that. It’s not a bias thing, it’s a time thing)

- Dantonio said the team “just kept playing” against Wisconsin and showed a lot of composure. Felt the team grew a little bit on offense and it was good to see Andrew Maxwell win the game in overtime.

- He wouldn’t call the Wisconsin win a “season saver.” He thought it was a good win and it sent a message to keep playing and to finish. Said focus has to turn to Nebraska.

- Dantonio feels Maxwell is getting more comfortable as the season has progressed. He felt Maxwell “cut it loose” on the final drive in regulation and became confident in his abilities. He feels Maxwell has done a tremendous job but you are always asking for more out of your players and team and Dantonio feels Maxwell is growing. He feels he has the demeanor and the tools to do what the coaches want him to do.

- Dantonio called Max Bullough an overachiever, but said it with the greatest respect. Said he is very self driven and will always look to get better.

- Dantonio felt linebacker Taiwan Jones made a step forward in the Wisconsin game and had a great game.

- When asked about playing in close games Dantonio said that the big element is finishing. Against Ohio State, he felt they didn’t finish by not getting the ball back. Against Indiana, the team finished by playing very well in the second half. Against Iowa, the defense didn’t finish the game on a 5-minute drive by the Iowa offense. Against Michigan, the offense had a chance to finish late with a first down or a touchdown when they settled for a field goal. Against Wisconsin, Dantonio said the team just kept its composure and made the plays late when they needed to.

- When asked about MSU’s play in November, he has been proud about his team’s ability to finish the season strong in previous seasons. He said that’s when championships are won, in November.

- Said the team was “having fun” even when down 7-3 in the third quarter against Wisconsin and that was what helped them comeback. After the game, Dantonio apparently joined the team in a dance. He said that was the first time he had done that.

- When asked about Nebraska’s success, Dantonio attributed it to manufacturing the “Big Red Machine” and being able to create a style and mindset where they would run the football.

- Dantonio feels Taylor Martinez is similar to Braxton Miller and Denard Robinson. He is a big part of the offense and can produce a lot of yardage.

- Dantonio said last year, MSU didn’t play well against Nebraska. It was the one game he felt the team didn’t play well. He said his players want to atone for that this week.

- Dantonio said Dion Sims was about 80 percent against Wisconsin. They weren’t sure how much they would be able to use him in the game, but they were surprised about how much he did play. Dantonio expects him to play in full this week.

- Dantonio said the team is as healthy as it has been in the last three weeks. MSU has its first bye of the season after this week’s game with Nebraska.

- When asked about Rex Burkhead, Dantonio said he is a tough-minded football player and a complete football player. Even without him on the field, Nebraska is still moving the ball well.

- On the issues running the ball, Dantonio said they have a big, physical back (Le’Veon Bell) that needs to run downhill. Said MSU needs to strive for balance on offense and they need to avoid the penalties on the offensive line.

- Dantonio said Aaron Burbridge had a tough game (went without a catch). Said that comes with being a young guy. He was out of sync during the game but Dantonio said that he will bounce back.

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.

Predictions for Michigan/Nebraska and MSU/Wisconsin

Michigan and Michigan State each have big games today. Here are my picks for both contests.

Michigan at Nebraska

Nebraska is a very good team at home and not so strong on the road. Unfortunately for Michigan, the Wolverines have to face the Cornhuskers in Lincoln. If Michigan is to win this game, I see it having to grind out the victory in a relatively high-scoring contest. Michigan should be able to move the ball consistently on offense but I do see Nebraska picking up some big plays on the Wolverines’ defense. I don’t necessarily feel good about this pick, but I do feel Michigan will get the victory. I see Denard Robinson having a big day on the ground and hitting enough passes to keep the Wolverines ahead. I also feel that Brady Hoke is a better coach than Bo Pelini, which gives Michigan a slight edge, even on the road.

Michigan 34, Nebraska 27

MSU at Wisconsin

I think Michigan State can win this game, but I don’t think the Spartans will win this game. The Badgers aren’t the same team they were a year ago, but neither is MSU. I think the offensive struggles will continue, mainly due to the offensive line issues. Wisconsin won’t light up the scoreboard, but I do think the Badgers have started to gel enough to put some scoring drives together. It won’t take many points to beat the Spartans on Saturday and I expect Wisconsin to be motivated to pick up a win over MSU in the regular season after losing at Spartan Stadium the last two years.

Wisconsin 20, Michigan State 13 

Keys to victory for MSU/Michigan against Wisconsin/Nebraska

A pair of big games for Michigan and Michigan State are just a day away. Here are my keys to victory for each contest.

MSU at Wisconsin

Survive the early storm – Wisconsin will be very up for this game and look to make an early statement. The Badgers have started to find their groove on offense, having scored at least 31 points in their last three games against struggling defenses. The MSU defense will need to come out fast and contain Montee Ball. Offensively, MSU needs to be able to convert third downs and put a drive or two together to take the loud Madison crowd out of the game.

Turn The Tables – Most defenses have been stacking the box against MSU and forcing Andrew Maxwell to have to beat them. In this case, MSU needs to take the same approach against Wisconsin. The Badgers rank110th in the country in passing and have already went through two quarterbacks. I am not overly impressed with Joel Stave and think the Spartans would be wise to play one-one-one coverage against the Wisconsin receivers while putting all their focus on stopping Ball. Stave has five touchdowns to three interceptions and is completing 57 percent of his passes. He is bound to make some freshman mistakes if put under pressure.

Finish Drives – Michigan State seemed to make some positive strides in its passing game last week, but the Spartans once again settled for field goals instead of touchdowns deep in the red zone. This week, Michigan State needs to make the most of each opportunity. If Dion Sims is able to play, that should help in both the passing game and the run game. In order for Maxwell to take the next step as a starting quarterback, he has to make the big throws in the red zone.

Michigan at Nebraska

Get back to what works – Michigan struggled on offense last week and I know part of that had to do with the MSU defense, but I felt that the Wolverines played right into the Spartans’ hands. Michigan didn’t do much attacking outside the tackle box with Denard Robinson. It ran right into the MSU trap. For this game, Nebraska isn’t as talented on defense and Robinson should be able to find open space and rack up the yards. But, Michigan still needs to show some creativity and mix things up by getting Fitzgerald Toussaint, Vincent Smith and Thomas Rawls involved as well.

Take your chances with Martinez’ arm – Taylor Martinez has made strides as a passer this year, but Nebraska’s strength is its run game, including Martinez. Even if Rex Burkhead is out for the game, the Cornhuskers are more than capable of moving the ball on the ground. Like the Wolverines did against MSU, Michigan needs to stack the box and challenge Martinez to throw deep. Michigan may give up the occasional big play with that game plan, but I don’t see Martinez being able to consistently beat Michigan through the air.

Finish – Similar to MSU, Michigan needs to finish drives in this game. That hasn’t been much of a problem for the Wolverines this year, but Nebraska is a feisty team at home. If/when the Wolverines have a chance to put this game out of reach, it must do it because Nebraska can rally in a hurry. Just ask Wisconsin. Field goals won’t get the job done in this one.

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.

Big Ten hitting bottom without a ranked team in USA Today poll

We all knew coming into this season that the Big Ten wasn't high on the conference power rankings list.

But did you think it was going to be this bad?

After another rough Saturday for the conference, it finds itself without a single team ranked in this week’s USA Today Top 25 poll.

Now, Ohio State can’t be included in the poll due to its 1-year postseason ban. The Buckeyes are No. 8 in the AP Top 25, but to not have another team be capable of earning a ranking is pretty sad.

Is it a sign of parity in the conference, or just a sign of bad football?

Right now, Michigan, Northwestern, Michigan State, Nebraska and Wisconsin are all earning votes, but all have had their embarrassing moments during the season.

Michigan State certainly doesn't look like a top 25 team with its recent play.

Michigan has been getting better, but the sloppy look of the offense against Alabama and Notre Dame has hurt its national credibility.

Wisconsin came into the season with high hopes, but the Badgers have been a mess and a shell of what they were a year ago.

Nebraska seems unbeatable at home, but they turn into a completely different squad on the road.

Northwestern has been a surprise, but a loss to Penn State won’t help it earn many votes from pollsters.

Ultimately, the Big Ten will get its ranked teams as the season progresses, but the conference has a very big uphill climb to ever get back in the national title picture.

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.

Three Big Questions facing MSU in 2012 season

The offseason of college football is like one long debate.

There are plenty of “ifs” and “buts”, however none of them really matter until kickoff of the opening game.

Still, debate and conversation is what makes football so popular.

Over the next two posts I will look at what are the big question marks entering the season for both Michigan State and Michigan. Today, I look at the Spartans.

BIG QUESTION NO. 1 – Can Andrew Maxwell lead MSU to success?

Maxwell comes into a nice situation as a first-year starting quarterback. He has a top-level defense that should keep the scores low and he has a veteran offensive line in front of him. His big concern has to be inexperienced receivers to throw to. But, he has probably developed some chemistry with these guys as backups last year during practice. Maxwell doesn’t need to be great, he just needs to be smart. Maxwell will be more likely to bring MSU down than to push them up. If he avoids turnovers and can make the short, accurate throws, he gives the Spartans a chance for a great season. If tries to do too much, he could make it a long year for Mark Dantonio.

BIG QUESTION NO. 2 – Can the MSU defense be as good as advertised?

I just said that the MSU defense should give Maxwell some ease, but what if they don’t? I think most everyone expects the Spartans to be one of the best defenses in the country, and with good reason. But things don’t always work out that way. Injuries could play a role or players could simply regress. The Spartans do lose a few key pieces on the defensive line, including defensive tackle Jerel Worthy, who helped the performance of someone like end William Gholston. The 2011 MSU defense did give up some big numbers to the likes of Minnesota and Northwestern last year, so it’s not out of the question they could struggle at times. If the MSU defense isn’t as dominant as many expect, it puts a lot of pressure on Maxwell. Conversely, if Maxwell struggles, it puts the MSU defense in a tough spot to have to be as dominant as expected.

BIG QUESTION NO. 3 – Can MSU stay at the top of the Big Ten?

The last two years have been an impressive run for Michigan State. But, it is clear that many (looking at you Michigan fans) expect the Spartans to drop back to the middle of the Big Ten pack with Brady Hoke and Urban Meyer in the picture. I am not so sure. I think the Spartans are still fighting for respectability and this season will go a long way in terms of getting it or losing it. Wisconsin should be strong, Ohio State should be improved and Michigan claims to have their man in Hoke. There are no excuses left on the table. If the Spartans find a way to win the Legends Division, or even the Big Ten Championship, I would expect them to be a factor for many years to come. If they stumble and go just 7-5, it may be back to the “Same Old Spartans” routine.

Michigan, MSU not my preseason Big Ten favorite

I can’t be the only one that was a little surprised to see Michigan as the preseason favorite to win the Big Ten Championship this year when the poll came out at Big Ten Media Day.

It’s not to discredit Michigan, as they clearly have a team that should contend for the title. But, to me, the favorite seems obvious. And no, I am not talking about Michigan State either.

In my OPINION, Wisconsin is the front runner in the Big Ten. Not necessarily because they have the most talent, but because their road to the championship is far easier than Michigan’s or Michigan State’s.

Considering that Ohio State and Penn State are unable to compete in the Big Ten Championship Game due to ongoing sanctions, that leaves Wisconsin, Illinois, Purdue, and Indiana to contend for the right to represent the Leaders Division in the title game.

Illinois is in its first year with a new coach (Tim Beckman) and Indiana is Indiana. The Boilermakers showed improvement last year and return eight starters on offense, but I don’t see them ready to take that next step quite yet.

Even if Ohio State was eligible for postseason play, the Buckeyes still might not be able to beat Wisconsin. The Badgers won’t be as impressive offensively this season, but Danny O’Brien is still a viable quarterback and Montee Ball and James White are more than capable of racking up a combined 2,500 rushing yards.

The fact is, Wisconsin basically needs to play average just to make the title game, and then it is a one-game shot to win it all.

Consider the roads that Michigan and MSU have.

The Wolverines have road games at Nebraska and Ohio State and still have to try to get over this losing streak to the Spartans at home. We have all seen what the MSU defense is capable of doing to Denard Robinson.

For the Spartans, winning in Ann Arbor this year will be a huge challenge, but they also have to head to Wisconsin while hosting Ohio State and Nebraska. They also have to do this with a new quarterback and a brand new group of receivers.

Sure, both the Spartans and Wolverines have great potential. But, in any championship season, you need a few breaks.

Wisconsin already got those breaks by Ohio State and Penn State being eliminated from the equation.