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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Minnesota at Michigan State, Noon

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

Michigan State 27, Minnesota 10

Ohio State at Michigan, Noon

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

Ohio State 48, Michigan 14

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reaction to Michigan's 28-24 win over Akron

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gardner wasn’t the only problem, however.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Akron at Michigan, Noon ET

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

Michigan 41, Akron 6

Youngstown State at Michigan State, 2PM ET

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

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

Who should Michigan State's starting QB be?

The MSU offense is a mess.

That’s not really breaking news.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Who should be MSU's starting QB

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

South Florida at Michigan State

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

Michigan State 34, South Florida 13

Notre Dame at Michigan

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

Michigan 27, Notre Dame 17

Week 2 Odds for Michigan and Michigan State

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

Michigan State –18.5 vs. South Florida

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

Michigan -3 vs. Notre Dame

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

Reaction to Michigan's 59-9 win over CMU

It was a 59-9 win for Michigan, so what is there to complain about?

Maybe nothing, but the Wolverines’ victory on Saturday sure didn’t quite feel like a 50-point win.

But, perhaps that is a good thing for Michigan.

Both Brady Hoke and quarterback Devin Gardner felt there was plenty to still work on and I can’t disagree. I wrote a column for The Oakland Press on Gardner being the one that will make or break this team.

The Michigan offense came out a bit rusty, especially Gardner. The junior quarterback made some questionable throws early, but once he settled in, he played a strong game (10-for-15 162 yards 1TD, 2 INT; 7 rushes, 52 yards 2TD). It is clear that Michigan does have the ability to make plays in the passing game with the current roster. Jeremy Gallon (4 receptions, 47 yards) had a number of difficult catches and tight end Devin Funchess (2 receptions, 47 yards) has all the potential in the world.

The running game was steady, but none of the handful of running backs that were used put a real stamp on being “the man”. I thought freshman Derrick Green (11 carries, 58 yards) looked solid and has potential to be a great back. He seemed to earn himself more carries next week against Notre Dame.

The Michigan defense only allowed 210 total yards and was flying to the ball. Granted, the Wolverines faced an offense that lost its starting quarterback and starting running back in the first quarter, but Michigan was going to limit Central Michigan regardless.

The Wolverines got some big plays from all three units, including special teams right off the bat. There are plenty of reasons to nitpick and point out what went wrong, but you have to remember this was a season opener and mistakes will take place. The key for Michigan was, it was still able to score a lot of points and allow very few despite those mistakes. That’s not something the Michigan State offense could say for itself against a similar opponent on Friday.

Michigan obviously faces a tough test next Saturday and that game will provide more of a picture as to what fans can expect from the Wolverines in 2013.

Reaction to MSU's 26-13 win over Western Michigan

It was the start of the 2013 college football season for Michigan State Friday night, but it looked more like a replay of the 2012 season.

Sure, the Spartans picked up a 26-13 win over Western Michigan at Spartan Stadium, but Michigan State did little to calm the concerns many have had about this team.

First off, of the 26 points MSU had on the night, 17 were from the defense. The Spartans had two defensive touchdowns and the defense handed MSU three points with an interception inside the red zone that the Spartan offense failed to punch into the end zone.

Michigan State’s offense really didn’t look any different than it did a year ago. Jeremy Langford rushed for 94 yards, but still only averaged 4.7 yards per carry against a Western Michigan defense that probably isn’t going to set records this season. When it comes to the passing game, Michigan State didn’t attack downfield, averaging just 3.1 yards per pass. When MSU did try to make some plays through the air, the Spartan receivers (mainly Bennie Fowler) dropped passes.

Both Andrew Maxwell and Connor Cook did little to plant themselves in as the clear starting quarterback of this team. Each struggled with accuracy. Cook made some plays with his legs but was also lucky to not have had a few interceptions to his credit. Maxwell continued to throw short of the sticks on third down and didn’t show much presence in the pocket when the opportunities were there for him to scramble.

The longest play from scrimmage for MSU was a 26-yard pass to Fowler that was 23 yards of running after the catch. Michigan State lacked in explosive plays and if the Spartans can only average 3.9 yards per play against the Broncos, what are they going to do against good defenses?

On the other hand, MSU proved it once again has an elite defense. The Spartans will be in every game this season because of their defense. They can blitz, they can tackle and they can make plays in the secondary. Pat Narduzzi once again has put a great group together and knows what buttons to push.

The problem for the defense is it has this offense to work with. If Michigan State had any ability to consistently score, it could certainly contend for the Big Ten title.

As good as the defense can be, it will still give up the occasional big play or score. It’s very difficult to pitch a shutout in college football.

It is just the first game of the season, but it was the first game against a weak opponent. I don’t think anyone on MSU’s football team or in the Spartan fan base feels very good about this performance.

Predicting Michigan's 2013 season game-by-game

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Week 1 Odds for Michigan State and Michigan

Kickoff week has officially arrived. Both Michigan and Michigan State face in-state opponents this week to start the season. Here is a look at the odds for both games:

Michigan State -27 vs. Western Michigan

The Spartans kickoff the season at home against the Broncos on Friday night at 8 p.m. MSU has done pretty well against the Mid-American Conference the past few seasons, beating Central Michigan 41-7 in 2012, Central 45-7 in 2011 and Western Michigan 38-14 in 2010. I have plenty of doubts about how strong the MSU offense will be, but I do think the Spartans will look good on offense against the Broncos. Western Michigan is breaking in a lot of new parts, including a new head coach. It will take some time for all pieces to come together for the Broncos. Also, the Michigan State defense will probably be very stingy this season, so I can see WMU struggling to score points. In the end, 27 points is a lot to cover, but I think the Spartans will be able to do it in this instance.

Michigan -31.5 vs. Central Michigan

The Wolverines will host the Chippewas for their first meeting since 2006 on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Michigan has plenty of buzz coming into the season with Devin Gardner firmly planted as the team’s starting quarterback. The Michigan offense shouldn’t have too much trouble moving the ball on the Chippewas, who allowed 432 yards per game last season. Central Michigan will probably have its own problems on offense as well, as it breaks in a first-time starter in the Big House. While the Chippewas have a talented group of running backs, they no longer have Eric Fisher at left tackle to anchor the offensive line. Michigan should win comfortably, but the question is, can they win by at least 32 points? The Wolverines come into the game 5-1 against the spread in their last 6 games against MAC opponents, but CMU comes into the game 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games against the Big Ten. If Michigan is going to cover, it is going to need at least one defensive or special teams touchdowns, which is entirely possible.

How many wins will Michigan State have in 2013?

Michigan State enters the 2013 season coming off a disappointing 7-6 record in 2012.

The Spartans had a defense capable of a much better record, but the offense struggled with consistency all season.

This year, the Spartans seem to have the same question marks they did throughout last season. While the defense looks as if it should be pretty strong again, the offense looks like it could be a continual work in progress.

Can running backs like Riley Bullough, Nick Hill, Jeremy Langford and others combine to produce what Le’Veon Bell did last season?

Can Andrew Maxwell take a step forward as a quarterback, or will Mark Dantonio be forced to hand the ball over to Connor Cook?

Will the receivers improve their pass-catching ability?

The only area the MSU offense seems to be secure in is on the offensive line, but injuries could change that quickly.

When you look at the schedule for Michigan State, there isn’t a lot of challenging home games this season. The year starts with games against Western Michigan, South Florida and Youngstown State all at home. A 3-0 start has to happen.

In conference play, MSU gets to host Indiana, Purdue and Minnesota. Those three home games should be enough to get the Spartans bowl eligible.

MSU also hosts Michigan, which I think is a toss-up right now with the game at home. It will likely be another physical battle like the 2012 game in Ann Arbor.

When it comes to road games, the schedule isn’t too easy for MSU. The Spartans head to Notre Dame, Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and Northwestern.

MSU’s season will come down to how it plays on the road. While Illinois should be a win, the remaining road games will all be very challenging.

Right now, the “winnable” games give the Spartans 7 wins. However, MSU showed it can lose the “winnable” games last year. Regardless of what it does at home, Michigan State will need to grind out some big road wins if it hopes to contend for a championship or New Year’s Day bowl game.
What are your expectations for Michigan State in 2013?

How many wins will MSU have in the regular season?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nov. 2 at Michigan State

Nov. 9 vs. Nebraska

Nov. 16 at Northwestern

Nov. 23 at Iowa

Nov. 30 vs. Ohio State

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Drake Harris commits to Michigan, making plenty of enemies at MSU

It’s not like Michigan State fans needed more reasons to hate Michigan, but the last month probably hasn’t helped matters.

First the Wolverines make a run to the national championship game in basketball. Now the Spartans watched Drake Harris, one of their former verbal commitments for the 2014 season, make a new commitment to Michigan on Sunday.

The junior receiver from Grand Rapids Christian is currently rated as a 4-star recruit by Rivals.com and has the potential to move up to being a 5-star recruit by the time his senior season is over.

Harris was already a highly-touted recruit when he committed to Michigan State prior to the start of the 2012 season. He grabbed national attention for his performance in the Division 3 state football championship game when he caught eight passes for 243 yards and a touchdown, leading Grand Rapids Christian past Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, 40-37.

It was after that game that the heat really picked up on Harris’ recruiting, despite his commitment to MSU. Talk of Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan and many others courting Harris seemed to be a reality, and in early March, Harris decided to walk away from the Spartans.

Harris originally committed to MSU when he was planning on playing both football and basketball for the Spartans. With his focus turning to just playing football, he decided to decommit and cited his desire to play for a national title contender.

It didn’t take Harris too long, just over a month, to commit to Michigan. He did so on Sunday, a day after the Wolverines’ spring game.

Harris’ commitment has certainly sparked a lot of back-and-forth between the fan bases and it is clear that Harris has made himself one of the biggest enemies in the eyes of the Spartans.

There are really three things to acknowledge with this whole situation.

First, Harris is allowed to do what he wishes. I can’t blame a kid for wanting to make the best decision for his future. The big problem with recruiting is that there is not an early signing period for football players to help keep the flip-flopping from happening. It’s tough for a teenager not to be tempted to break a commitment with all these other coaches and programs coming after him. I can’t say I wouldn’t do the same thing had I been in Harris’ situation (in terms of breaking the commitment to Michigan State).

Second, when I look at Drake Harris and his abilities, I can’t blame him for wanting to play for a national title contender. No offense to Michigan State, but the Spartans aren’t at that level. If Harris is truly as good as he is rated, he has the chance to play anywhere in the country. Michigan State doesn’t register as one of those five programs that a recruit of his caliber should be targeting if they really want to contend for a national title and have the chance to be a top draft pick in the NFL. Sorry Spartans fans, but it’s the truth.

With that said, Harris himself stated that he wanted to contend for national titles. If that is truly the case, I have to question his decision to commit to Michigan (the third issue). I know this will upset some Wolverine fans, but you can’t argue that Michigan is close to winning a national title right now. The only programs that can say they have consistently been in the title picture recently are Alabama, LSU and Oregon. You can probably throw Ohio State in that mix with last year’s unbeaten season and Urban Meyer’s coaching accomplishments.

I think Brady Hoke is doing a good job in recruiting and there is potential there for Michigan to get into the national title picture down the road, but last season’s opener with Alabama proved that the Wolverines aren’t ready for that discussion yet.

If Harris didn’t want to go to Michigan State and preferred to go to Michigan, that’s fine. He has the right to make that decision. But, if he is looking to win a national title, he may not have made the right choice. Either way, he certainly painted a big target on his back when he heads to East Lansing while sporting the maize and blue.

Then again, who knows if Harris will stand by this commitment either.

Urban Meyer is just what the Big Ten needs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Is Urban Meyer good for the Big Ten

What was disappointing about Michigan's football season

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So, where does your blame fall for the season?

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