Game Thread: Michigan State @ Notre Dame

[H2S]

game #77 this Saturday...

Notre Dame leads the series with Michigan State, 47-28-1, including a 28-13 record in South Bend.
Michigan State and Notre Dame have split its last 10 meetings with one another, but the Irish have captured three of the last four meetings. The Spartans had captured nine of the previous 12, including six straight at Notre Dame Stadium (1997-2007).
Over the last 13 meetings, the Notre Dame-Michigan State game has been decided by a touchdown or less on nine different occasions, with the game-winning score coming late in the fourth quarter or overtime in eight of the 13 meetings.

game #76 was the latest of gawd-knows how many embarrassments the Irish have laid on Sparty since I've been fanning this rivalry (1966) - popping #10 MSU's bubble 20-3 in East Lansing.

the line is -7...should probably add another -3 for home field...say -10. Both teams have concerns...both have a lot to prove. Will Sparty's anemic offense or ND's questionable defense come to play? dammit, I hope they both do! It might not be the game of the week but it's almost guaranteed to entertain several million fans, again.

Burning Sofa Homer Prediction: MSU 31 - ND 27

 

[Ironbreaker]

I would love to see a Sparty win. But the magic eightball says 'don't count on it'.

Sparty 20
ND 31

 

[H2S]

GAME THREAD ???
what the...is this ('prefix - thread or series') something new?
coo!

 

[TigerBait1971]

how did you make that mother green?

 

[H2S]

with envy, of course...

how did you make that mother green?

told her we'd be at the game...driving up Friday from ATL.



on your tools options: Text Colors

 

[H2S]

as seen throughout S. Bend on Sunday morning:

 

[olympicoscar]

I like ND by a field goal. Maybe 27-24.

 

[Innermind]

Spartans - 20
Fighting Irish - 17

 

[Sox33OSU]

MSU will pick-6 Rees 1 time and muster 17 points on offense.

MSU - 24
ND - 13

 

[BOTSLAYER]

how do you guys think MSU is going to score 20 points?

 

[Sox33OSU]

how do you guys think MSU is going to score 20 points?

With help from the defense.

 

[7Samurai13]

how do you guys think MSU is going to score 20 points?

The defense will probably get two TD's and get two more turnovers in field goal range for the other six. Lord knows the offense won't get them there.

 

[ericd7633]

Have no idea what to expect other than a low scoring game. MSU's offense shouldn't be able to move the ball on paper, but ND's D has been atrocious this year. I'll go 16-13 in favor of ND.

 

[Sox33OSU]

Have no idea what to expect other than a low scoring game. MSU's offense shouldn't be able to move the ball on paper, but ND's D has been atrocious this year. I'll go 16-13 in favor of ND.

Could also definitely see this.

 

[olympicoscar]

how do you guys think MSU is going to score 20 points?

They'll cross the goal line twice and kick two field goals.

 

[NDHoosier101]

It's a hard game to predict because state hasn't played anyone. It's cracking me up that everyone is saying they found their offense last week...against Youngstown st . They have the number one D, but again, stats earned against weak opponents mean little.

I'm hoping ND comes out hungry for a win, if they do, and we can stop the run, I think we can get some separation...

24-13 ND

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

I honestly think ND is going to win this one pretty big. I say ND scores in the low 30's may high 20's and MSU is luck to score 14. 31-10 ND.

 

[7Samurai13]

It's a hard game to predict because state hasn't played anyone. It's cracking me up that everyone is saying they found their offense last week...against Youngstown st . They have the number one D, but again, stats earned against weak opponents mean little.

I'm hoping ND comes out hungry for a win, if they do, and we can stop the run, I think we can get some separation...

24-13 ND

You sometimes see when a team sneaks away with a win one week, they have a let down game the next. See Alabama last year after LSU. Notre Dame may have a hard time getting up for this game. But who knows, Michigan State hasn't shown that they can have a real offense yet so take it with a grain of salt (no I don't count games against college teams who's mascot is the penguin.)

 

[H2S]

It's a hard game to predict because state hasn't played anyone. It's cracking me up that everyone is saying they found their offense last week...against Youngstown st. They have the number one D, but again, stats earned against weak opponents mean little. I'm hoping ND comes out hungry for a win, if they do, and we can stop the run, I think we can get some separation...

Yes, it is hard to predict because State hasn't played anyone...and Notre Dame lost the only game of consequence it's played so far (to the team who barely missed experiencing "APP State²" last week.)

It might crack you up, but MSU's 'finding an offense' of ANY sort was a real concern until the YSU game. At least MSU thinks it's found an offense now...I've noted no such confidence in South Bend that ND has found a defense yet.

And, fer sure, MSU's Defensive stats are against cupcakes...but you can bet your sweet bippy that they're hungry to prove another top-5 ranking and revenge themselves (for last year) on ND's vaunted offense (that stumbled all over the field in Lafayette last Saturday.)

Should be another fun-filled good old fashioned smashmouth football game.

 

[ericd7633]

You sometimes see when a team sneaks away with a win one week, they have a let down game the next. See Alabama last year after LSU. Notre Dame may have a hard time getting up for this game. But who knows, Michigan State hasn't shown that they can have a real offense yet so take it with a grain of salt (no I don't count games against college teams who's mascot is the penguin.)

If anything I think sneaking by Purdue is a good thing for ND. It's not like they beat a powerhouse team. It's only a letdown when they beat somebody of significance(see BYU and Pitt games from last year), Purdue just isn't that this year.

MSU hasn't played ANYBODY yet, they've played an FCS team, and two teams in the FBS ranked 139 and 152 in the computers respectively, out of the undefeated teams in the country, they've played THE worst schedule. It appears they have a good defense, but who knows, they've literally played 2 of the worst 5 teams in the country, and both of those 2 have lost to FCS teams themselves.