If you’re a Michigan State fan, sponsor, or alumni, watching the Spartans play can be hazardous to your health.
A rabid Spartans fan is emotionally invested and watching them go through the first half of their last two games is harrowing at best and depressing at worst. When you look at the opposition’s 6-3, 17-7 lead in the first half, bad things can happen.
First it was a 3-3 Illinois team that went to the locker room with a 6-3 halftime lead only to be outpaced by the 23-zip Spartans in the second half. Last week, Northwestern jumped out to a 17-0 lead and went into the locker room with a 17-7 lead before the Spartans put together a 28-point second half performance and a 35-27 victory.
So what about the Michigan State players? I dont know. One thing is for sure: When a sportscaster says he was in the locker room at halftime at the Illinois game and wouldn’t do it again because of what he witnessed being said, you know the players heard a scolding from Coach Mark. Dantonio and his staff.
The bad news is that the Michigan State players aren’t starting games fast. The good news is that they are waking up in the second half and still winning anyway.
That can all come to a standstill against Iowa. The Hawkeyes (5-2) currently sit 18th in the AP Top 25 poll after losing to the eighth-ranked Wisconsin Badgers (7-1), 31- 30. The Spartans (8-0) rank fifth. Ohio State (7-1) is ranked 10th, so the Big Ten Conference is alive and well.
Iowa is not a pushover.
The Hawkeyes can score: 33+ points per game to Michigan State’s 34+ points per game. Worse yet, Iowa’s defense is only allowing 15+ points per game, better than Michigan State’s 17+ points per game average. Iowa’s total defense ranks 13th nationally, Michigan State’s ranks 32nd.
The Spartan run offense ranks 28th (allowing 193+ ypg), but Hawkeye’s run defense is 7th nationally (allowing only 92+ ypg). Michigan State’s and Iowa’s passing offenses are about even, 34 to 38, and their pass defenses are pretty close, 52 (Iowa) to 62 (MSU).
Passage efficiency? Iowa wins, ranking third nationally, while Michigan State ranks 11th.
The Hawkeyes have built their national reputation on hard-hitting defense that takes no prisoners and practices scorched-earth tactics—in other words, smash and burn the opposition. The Spartans are more of a finesse team, with better balance on offense than on defense.
Michigan State must travel to Iowa for this game. Could this be the week the Spartans lose their first game? It’s very possible, though the Hawkeyes have been beaten by both Arizona (15th) and Wisconsin (9th).
It’s really hard for me to watch the Spartans. I’m a Michigan State University graduate – Class of 1966, before the advent of the internet and technological cues when the biggest deal was an IBM Selectric typewriter with the ball, it was at least an upgrade to my old Underwood typewriter left over from the 1940’s
In Illinois’ game with Michigan State down 6-3 at the half, I left at halftime and went to the YMCA to work out for an hour and a half on the treadmill. I decided that I would not see them lose; if they won, that was fine, if they lost, I didn’t want to see it. That day I was lucky, they won with a great comeback in the second half that I missed.
I might not even turn on the TV when they’re playing in Iowa. I’d hate to put a spell on them right now; after all, they are 8-0. Not to mention the fact that Halloween is right around the corner.
Copyright © 2010 Ed Bagley