MSU @ NU Prediction Thread

[cousinofsparty]

MSU is superior at every offensive position ,comparing offense to offense.
Thorne vs Johnson is no match for the Cats and we have 3-4 running backs that are really good behind a very improved OL.

MSU D line is strong and deep.

MSU negates NU's home field edge with its own fanbase.

MSU once more, this time , 28-14 for the Spartans.

 

[DaCat]

MSU is superior at every offensive position ,comparing offense to offense.
Thorne vs Johnson is no match for the Cats and we have 3-4 running backs that are really good behind a very improved OL.

MSU D line is strong and deep.

MSU negates NU's home field edge with its own fanbase.

MSU once more, this time , 28-14 for the Spartans.

Gee, maybe we shouldn't even play the game, it sounds like MSU is going to match to the NC.

 

[cousinofsparty]

Gee, maybe we shouldn't even play the game, it sounds like MSU is going to match to the NC.

Not really.
28-14 isnt a blowout, at all.

 

[eastbaycat99]

MSU is superior at every offensive position ,comparing offense to offense.
Thorne vs Johnson is no match for the Cats and we have 3-4 running backs that are really good behind a very improved OL.

MSU D line is strong and deep.

MSU negates NU's home field edge with its own fanbase.

MSU once more, this time , 28-14 for the Spartans.

No homerism with this one! Good to know Sparty’s All Sunbelt transfer left tackle is better than NU’s All B1G, preseason PFF All-American, though!

I guess NU must have at least one player on defense better than his MSU counterpart, or Cousin would have asserted that, too. I guess Thorne must be playing defense, since Johnson is on offense for NU.

 

[cousinofsparty]

No homerism with this one! Good to know Sparty’s All Sunbelt transfer left tackle is better than NU’s All B1G, preseason PFF All-American, though!

I guess NU must have at least one player on defense better than his MSU counterpart, or Cousin would have asserted that, too. I guess Thorne must be playing defense, since Johnson is on offense for NU.

You misread my post, but that's ok. As I noted I was comparing offense to offense and both Thorne and Johnson are qbs, last I checked.

BTW I did not say you did not have good players. I made a general statement about our OL.

 

[stpaulcat]

MSU is superior at every offensive position ,comparing offense to offense.
Thorne vs Johnson is no match for the Cats and we have 3-4 running backs that are really good behind a very improved OL.

MSU D line is strong and deep.

MSU negates NU's home field edge with its own fanbase.

MSU once more, this time , 28-14 for the Spartans.

Recent history indicates that NU's defense is really good at stopping really good running backs, even multiple ones. No reason that will change, unless we've somehow forgotten how to tackle, especially with an even better defensive line.

 

[Turk_rivals223269]

Either way, I think there are alot of unknowns about these teams. I don't think MSU finishes in the top 4 of their division, not saying they suck, but the program isn't what it used to be. This may be a down year for us, but I can't imagine us being behind Iowa or Purdue. Illinois and Nebraska suck balls so unless Minny surprises us, I think we pretty much finish in the top 3, with upward movement.

 

[SpartanJD_rivals19842]

Who are some defensive players in your front 7 MSU should know about? Your defense got gutted on paper but just like Dantonio you can always count on Fitz to typically have a stingy defense

 

[SpartanJD_rivals19842]

Either way, I think there are alot of unknowns about these teams. I don't think MSU finishes in the top 4 of their division, not saying they suck, but the program isn't what it used to be. This may be a down year for us, but I can't imagine us being behind Iowa or Purdue. Illinois and Nebraska suck balls so unless Minny surprises us, I think we pretty much finish in the top 3, with upward movement.

So the unknowns for MSU are a handful of good portal additions. Walker at RB rushed for 10 TDs last year at Wake and rates one of the top returning RBs by PFF. Horst our new left tackle was first team all sun belt. Russo may start at QB, he was okay to decent at Temple. Put up yards and TDs but threw a bunch of picks as well. Thorne may also start. He started like 4 games last year, he is a dual threat guy. Flashed some real potential but also looked like a rs frosh at times at QB. At the very least, MSU should have adequate QB play between these guys.

WRs--Reed and Nailor are one of the top returning WR duos on the league. TEs are meh.

Defensively the DL is a strength. MSU adds former Duke starter Drew Jordan at DE to gives the Spartans a good third guy in the rotation. LBers are Harvey (slow-ish but thumper at MLB) and Crouch--a Tennessee transfer whos a physical freak at LBer but still learning the position after his pandemic year last year was his first year playing. MSUs top returning corner, Grose, moves to FS and Bama transfer Williams will take over the number 1 corner duties.

Our other corner is either a returning senior whos ok or Florida transfer Kimbrough.

As Fitz has even stated, MSU has had such roster turnover in Tuckers first full off season its hard to get a feel on what we will look like. Says hes watched film of the guys at their former school.

MSUs starting 22 has a big talent upgrade over last year including having much better QB whoever it is that wins the job.

 

[TerraCat]

Cats 38
Spartans 14

 

[eastbaycat99]

Thanks You misread my post, but that's ok. As I noted I was comparing offense to offense and both Thorne and Johnson are qbs, last I checked.

BTW I did not say you did not have good players. I made a general statement about our OL

Gee, nice backpedal! When you said MSU was “better at every offensive position”, I should have known when you said position you meant position group!

You also completely missed my point that the question isn’t who is the better QB per se, it is which QB is likely to succeed against the other’s defense.

oh, well.

 

[OblioCat]

Having the same Unknowns feeling I had last year with Maryland, hoping for a pleasant surprise.
Symmetry is always nice.

"Cats 41 MSU 14

 

[SpartanJD_rivals19842]

Who's going to run the ball for you guys? No Bowser, Porter or Anderson anymore.

 

[iskaboo]

Purple Passion - 20
Guys of Green - 13

 

[wicker]

is there haiku thread
For NU game predictions?
I only join those.

 

[DaCat]

Who are some defensive players in your front 7 MSU should know about? Your defense got gutted on paper but just like Dantonio you can always count on Fitz to typically have a stingy defense

The NU defense did not get gutted. D line will not lose a beat with Samdup Miller (four year starter) replacing E Brown after opting out last year, while adding grad transfers Pooler and Meiser. In fact that unit is probably improved over last year. 2/3 attrition at LB will be more difficult to replace, but in good hands with returning starter Chris Bergin, senior P McIntyre, and junior K Jones or soph B Gallagher. Secondary is in great shape led by returning All American Brandon Joseph.

 

[DaCat]

Who's going to run the ball for you guys? No Bowser, Porter or Anderson anymore.

The only real loss is Porter out of the three that you mention. Hull, Clair, and Tyus will be more than adequate. Johnson is also a mobile QB and can make plays with his feet.

 

[eastbaycat99]

Who's going to run the ball for you guys? No Bowser, Porter or Anderson anymore.

Evan Hull (70 career carries @ 7 yards per carry, mainly against weak opponents)
Andrew Clair, transfer from Bowling Green, (360 carries @5.2 per carry, twice third team All MAC)
Anthony Tyus, four star true freshman.

Porter is a horse and will be missed. Bowser was hampered by injury last two years, and Anderson didn’t have strength to be more than a niche back. Group should be adequate. I would like more downhill strength, but it could be worse.

 

[SpartanJD_rivals19842]

The NU defense did not get gutted. D line will not lose a beat with Samdup Miller (four year starter) replacing E Brown after opting out last year, while adding grad transfers Pooler and Meiser. In fact that unit is probably improved over last year. 2/3 attrition at LB will be more difficult to replace, but in good hands with returning starter Chris Bergin, senior P McIntyre, and junior K Jones or soph B Gallagher. Secondary is in great shape led by returning All American Brandon Joseph.

Ah. Just a quick preview said you lost your leading sacks guy and Newsome/Fisher/Gallagher your best players. Seems like some new faces but talent is there.

 

[ricko6543211]

Ah. Just a quick preview said you lost your leading sacks guy and Newsome/Fisher/Gallagher your best players. Seems like some new faces but talent is there.

I think LB is the biggest question area. DL as the above poster noted we get Samdup Miller back plus transfers so we should be better. We lost Newsome at CB but we had pretty decent depth behind him which should be good enough to cover most WR groups in the conference ex-OSU (though problem is we chronically seem to have an issue keeping our CBs healthy). Safety should be solid. Biggest question on the Defense is whether we can replace Fisher and Gallagher at LB - we have McIntyre and Khalid Jones and Gallagher's younger brother, all of whom Fitz has spoken well of, but because we had been steady with a consistent leading 3 at LB for I think 3 straight years they haven't seen much time on the field yet - will be interesting to see how that position group plays out.

On offense I am strangely optimistic about Hunter Johnson at QB - mostly because in the past when Fitz has named a starter early it's been because they are pretty solid. Our OL also is shaping up to be decent I think, though the loss of Franks at RT hurts a bit. What worries me is the lack of playmakers at RB (after the loss of Porter I think another poster said it correctly that we are "adequate" at that position but don't see a plus guy yet, maybe Tyus the Fr or Clair the transfer can become that) and also at WR (some potential decent ones but we lost a lot there, and most of the potential decent ones are small to mid-sized possession receiver types with maybe 1 deep threat in Stephon Robinson).

Can't wait for Friday night's game. I will be there and plan to be cheer loudly (after an appropriate amount of pregame tailgating).

 

[stpaulcat]

So the unknowns for MSU are a handful of good portal additions. Walker at RB rushed for 10 TDs last year at Wake and rates one of the top returning RBs by PFF. Horst our new left tackle was first team all sun belt. Russo may start at QB, he was okay to decent at Temple. Put up yards and TDs but threw a bunch of picks as well. Thorne may also start. He started like 4 games last year, he is a dual threat guy. Flashed some real potential but also looked like a rs frosh at times at QB. At the very least, MSU should have adequate QB play between these guys.

WRs--Reed and Nailor are one of the top returning WR duos on the league. TEs are meh.

Defensively the DL is a strength. MSU adds former Duke starter Drew Jordan at DE to gives the Spartans a good third guy in the rotation. LBers are Harvey (slow-ish but thumper at MLB) and Crouch--a Tennessee transfer whos a physical freak at LBer but still learning the position after his pandemic year last year was his first year playing. MSUs top returning corner, Grose, moves to FS and Bama transfer Williams will take over the number 1 corner duties.

Our other corner is either a returning senior whos ok or Florida transfer Kimbrough.

As Fitz has even stated, MSU has had such roster turnover in Tuckers first full off season its hard to get a feel on what we will look like. Says hes watched film of the guys at their former school.

MSUs starting 22 has a big talent upgrade over last year including having much better QB whoever it is that wins the job.

MSU has typically had great talent, and likely does now, as well. Also, typically, molding that great talent into a great team has been problematic, and while you have a new coach, who may be very good, this "gap" between talented players and team may be endemic to your program, for whatever reason. We'll get a look at that Friday, but in the mean time, I'm not sure I would do any prognosticating based on your great talent alone.

 

[SpartanJD_rivals19842]

I think LB is the biggest question area. DL as the above poster noted we get Samdup Miller back plus transfers so we should be better. We lost Newsome at CB but we had pretty decent depth behind him which should be good enough to cover most WR groups in the conference ex-OSU (though problem is we chronically seem to have an issue keeping our CBs healthy). Safety should be solid. Biggest question on the Defense is whether we can replace Fisher and Gallagher at LB - we have McIntyre and Khalid Jones and Gallagher's younger brother, all of whom Fitz has spoken well of, but because we had been steady with a consistent leading 3 at LB for I think 3 straight years they haven't seen much time on the field yet - will be interesting to see how that position group plays out.

On offense I am strangely optimistic about Hunter Johnson at QB - mostly because in the past when Fitz has named a starter early it's been because they are pretty solid. Our OL also is shaping up to be decent I think, though the loss of Franks at RT hurts a bit. What worries me is the lack of playmakers at RB (after the loss of Porter I think another poster said it correctly that we are "adequate" at that position but don't see a plus guy yet, maybe Tyus the Fr or Clair the transfer can become that) and also at WR (some potential decent ones but we lost a lot there, and most of the potential decent ones are small to mid-sized possession receiver types with maybe 1 deep threat in Stephon Robinson).

Can't wait for Friday night's game. I will be there and plan to be cheer loudly (after an appropriate amount of pregame tailgating).

Sounds like your defense will be solid again. I just see a glaring lack of playmakers for your offense right now.

 

[SpartanJD_rivals19842]

MSU has typically had great talent, and likely does now, as well. Also, typically, molding that great talent into a great team has been problematic, and while you have a new coach, who may be very good, this "gap" between talented players and team may be endemic to your program, for whatever reason. We'll get a look at that Friday, but in the mean time, I'm not sure I would do any prognosticating based on your great talent alone.

We don’t have great talent. It’s just that we went from subpar to at least decent.

 

[TheC]

I think LB is the biggest question area. DL as the above poster noted we get Samdup Miller back plus transfers so we should be better. We lost Newsome at CB but we had pretty decent depth behind him which should be good enough to cover most WR groups in the conference ex-OSU (though problem is we chronically seem to have an issue keeping our CBs healthy). Safety should be solid. Biggest question on the Defense is whether we can replace Fisher and Gallagher at LB - we have McIntyre and Khalid Jones and Gallagher's younger brother, all of whom Fitz has spoken well of, but because we had been steady with a consistent leading 3 at LB for I think 3 straight years they haven't seen much time on the field yet - will be interesting to see how that position group plays out.

On offense I am strangely optimistic about Hunter Johnson at QB - mostly because in the past when Fitz has named a starter early it's been because they are pretty solid. Our OL also is shaping up to be decent I think, though the loss of Franks at RT hurts a bit. What worries me is the lack of playmakers at RB (after the loss of Porter I think another poster said it correctly that we are "adequate" at that position but don't see a plus guy yet, maybe Tyus the Fr or Clair the transfer can become that) and also at WR (some potential decent ones but we lost a lot there, and most of the potential decent ones are small to mid-sized possession receiver types with maybe 1 deep threat in Stephon Robinson).

Can't wait for Friday night's game. I will be there and plan to be cheer loudly (after an appropriate amount of pregame tailgating).

For what it's worth, and I don't know what that is yet, we also lost our longtime defensive coordinator. How big of a factor that will be is unknown and may be difficult to suss out in just one game. But there are plenty of reasons to be a little nervous as an NU fan heading into this season.

At the same time, we have generational talent in the defensive backfield and on our OL, plus we trust in Fitz! Something tells me this team will win their share of games this year. And, we usually tend to come out well in our openers.

 

[TheC]

Sounds like your defense will be solid again. I just see a glaring lack of playmakers for your offense right now.

You could say that pretty much every year.

 

[stpaulcat]

We don’t have great talent. It’s just that we went from subpar to at least decent.

I said typically (in the past/typically, but not always). So now you've inverted the formula, having a great team without great talent? Or just good enough to beat the current B1G West Champs, who granted are a bit of an unknown? Personally, I think it is currently a toss up.

 

[TheC]

I said typically (in the past/typically, but not always). So now you've inverted the formula, having a great team without great talent? Or just good enough to beat the current B1G West Champs, who granted are a bit of an unknown? Personally, I think it is currently a toss up.

Both teams are extremely unpredictable at this point, so I have no idea what to expect Friday night. Hope for the best, but be prepared to control my temper. But that's what this board is for!

 

[stpaulcat]

Sounds like your defense will be solid again. I just see a glaring lack of playmakers for your offense right now.

It is not a glaring lack, it is a glaring mystery.

 

[SpartanJD_rivals19842]

It is not a glaring lack, it is a glaring mystery.

True. Every year new guys step up and guys you think will be good might not end up being so.

 

[GOUNUII]

Sounds like your defense will be solid again. I just see a glaring lack of playmakers for your offense right now.

We had a glaring lack of playmakers on offense last year and did pretty well other than in East Lansing. We'll have more playmakers this year. Still not what we would like to have, but better than last year.

GOUNUII

 

[cousinofsparty]

Gee, nice backpedal! When you said MSU was “better at every offensive position”, I should have known when you said position you meant position group!

You also completely missed my point that the question isn’t who is the better QB per se, it is which QB is likely to succeed against the other’s defense.

oh, well.

Look, I go position by position ,offense to offense and the same for defense to defense. Thats the way I do it.

I'm sticking with Sparty 28 Cats 14.

I wish I could make you feel better about it , but that's my final prediction after much contemplation.

 

[stpaulcat]

Look, I go position by position ,offense to offense and the same for defense to defense. Thats the way I do it.

I'm sticking with Sparty 28 Cats 14.

I wish I could make you feel better about it , but that's my final prediction after much contemplation.

Yes, but in spite of much contemplation, that may not be the FINAL score.

 

[eastbaycat99]

Look, I go position by position ,offense to offense and the same for defense to defense. Thats the way I do it.

I'm sticking with Sparty 28 Cats 14.

I wish I could make you feel better about it , but that's my final prediction after much contemplation.

As I said, the homerism is strong in this one. I don’t know what you mean about making me feel better about your prediction, as it has given me a good source of laughter!

 

[Alan Smithee_rivals156293]

I honestly have no idea

You are my people.

 

[Alaskawildkat]

Too lazy to look it up, but perhaps our Sparty visitors have this stat already at hand. Does either team in the modern era have a significant home field advantage? We lost at East Lansing last year so are we due to win in Evanston Friday?

 

[cousinofsparty]

As I said, the homerism is strong in this one. I don’t know what you mean about making me feel better about your prediction, as it has given me a good source of laughter!

My sense is you are not taking me seriously. That's ok.
Let's revisit our prognostications Saturday morning
Each season, I like to see the size of the standard deviation of my estimates for points both scored and given up.

Friday starts a new set of numbers. That's exciting, almost as much as the game

 

[PURPLE Book Cat]

Sounds like your defense will be solid again. I just see a glaring lack of playmakers for your offense right now.

Stephon Robinson was one of the leading receivers in the Big12, expecting nice production from him. Porter is a loss, but running backs and offensive line are likely strengths still. The Tyus kid from Kalamazoo could break out.

 

[stpaulcat]

Evan Hull (70 career carries @ 7 yards per carry, mainly against weak opponents)
Andrew Clair, transfer from Bowling Green, (360 carries @5.2 per carry, twice third team All MAC)
Anthony Tyus, four star true freshman.

Porter is a horse and will be missed. Bowser was hampered by injury last two years, and Anderson didn’t have strength to be more than a niche back. Group should be adequate. I would like more downhill strength, but it could be worse.

Tyus? As in Downhill Tony?

 

[DaCat]

Look, I go position by position ,offense to offense and the same for defense to defense. Thats the way I do it.

I'm sticking with Sparty 28 Cats 14.

I wish I could make you feel better about it , but that's my final prediction after much contemplation.

Garbage in, garbage out. You are clueless.

 

[eastbaycat99]

My sense is you are not taking me seriously. That's ok.
Let's revisit our prognostications Saturday morning
Each season, I like to see the size of the standard deviation of my estimates for points both scored and given up.

Friday starts a new set of numbers. That's exciting, almost as much as the game

But you didn’t give us your deeply contemplated analysis of how the defenses stack up! I’m dying to hear it.