Sept 23 | Michigan State

[condoms SUCk]

If anyone's still looking for tickets, I know the ND Club of Lansing is still selling. Their president's email is Lansing.President@alumni.nd.edu

Thank you!

 

[connor_in]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Even sections wear Green, Odd sections wear White. Be ready!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StripeTheStadium?src=hash">#StripeTheStadium</a> <a href="https://t.co/6LHRWEDn9a">pic.twitter.com/6LHRWEDn9a</a></p>— Michigan State Gear (@MSUGear) <a href="https://twitter.com/MSUGear/status/908366020192194560">September 14, 2017</a></blockquote>
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[GrangerIrish24]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Even sections wear Green, Odd sections wear White. Be ready!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StripeTheStadium?src=hash">#StripeTheStadium</a> <a href="https://t.co/6LHRWEDn9a">pic.twitter.com/6LHRWEDn9a</a></p>— Michigan State Gear (@MSUGear) <a href="https://twitter.com/MSUGear/status/908366020192194560">September 14, 2017</a></blockquote>
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At ND stadium, we wear red!

 

[Buster Bluth]

ND has 13 rushing touchdowns through three games. That's equal to or more than ND had in a whole season in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2013.

2017's current 992 rushing yards are more than all of 2007's 903.

 

[irishff1014]

ND has 13 rushing touchdowns through three games. That's equal to or more than ND had in a whole season in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2013.

2017's current 992 rushing yards are more than all of 2007's 903.

Nice stat!

 

[edgesofsanity]

Nice stat!

More fun stats!

-through 3 games, ND is #3 in the nation in total rushing yards behind only Army and Tulsa.
-through 3 games, ND is #3 in the nation in rushing yards/attempt behind only Miami(FL) and Maryland(!)
-through 3 games, ND is #3 in the nation in rushing touchdowns behind only Oregon and Tulsa.

 

[wizards8507]

More fun stats!

-through 3 games, ND is #3 in the nation in total rushing yards behind only Army and Tulsa.
-through 3 games, ND is #3 in the nation in rushing yards/attempt behind only Miami(FL) and Maryland(!)
-through 3 games, ND is #3 in the nation in rushing touchdowns behind only Oregon and Tulsa.

This is the best timeline.

 

[IrishFanJMercy]

Am I the only one not really worried about this game? If we are on our A game we should win this by 14+

 

[KPENN]

Am I the only one not really worried about this game? If we are on our A game we should win this by 14+

More than likely.

 

[calvegas04]

More fun stats!

-through 3 games, ND is #3 in the nation in total rushing yards behind only Army and Tulsa.
-through 3 games, ND is #3 in the nation in rushing yards/attempt behind only Miami(FL) and Maryland(!)
-through 3 games, ND is #3 in the nation in rushing touchdowns behind only Oregon and Tulsa.

what about our passing stats?

 

[Fbolt]

MSU has played 2 MAC teams and the final scores do not represent a dominant performance by them.

Sept 2 vs Bowling Green-W, 35-10
Sept 9 vs W Michigan-W, 28-14

Western Michigan vs. Michigan State - Game Recap - September 9, 2017 - ESPN

Michigan State: After beating Bowling Green 35-10 in their opener, the Spartans added another win against a Mid-American Conference school. There will be tougher challenges to come, but the defense has been a bright spot so far for an inexperienced team coming off a 3-9 season.

 

[koonja]

Line -4 ND.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Am I the only one not really worried about this game? If we are on our A game we should win this by 14+

From a personnel perspective, ND is easily the better team and should win handily.

But in the immortal words of the Arbiter, "Were it so easy".

 

[koonja]

It's a night game at MSU. And BK is our coach. Anyone with supreme confidence in this one is being foolish.

 

[Crazy Balki]

MSU has played 2 MAC teams and the final scores do not represent a dominant performance by them.

Sept 2 vs Bowling Green-W, 35-10
Sept 9 vs W Michigan-W, 28-14

Western Michigan vs. Michigan State - Game Recap - September 9, 2017 - ESPN

Michigan State: After beating Bowling Green 35-10 in their opener, the Spartans added another win against a Mid-American Conference school. There will be tougher challenges to come, but the defense has been a bright spot so far for an inexperienced team coming off a 3-9 season.

Bowling Green looks to be the worst team in the MAC this year by a wide margin. They're 0-3 and right now, their game against Michigan State may have been their best overall performance. Their other two losses were an 8 point loss to South Dakota, an solid but not good FCS program and a 42 point loss to a bad Northwestern team.

Western Michigan may not be bad per say, but they're definitely not the same squad that Fleck led to the Cotton Bowl last year. They had to replace the best QB and WR in program history in Zach Terrell and Corey Davis. They're much like Temple in that respect, though I think Temple is a bit better.

 

[Crazy Balki]

It's a night game at MSU. And BK is our coach. Anyone with supreme confidence in this one is being foolish.

I suppose, though the last time ND played a night game at MSU and BK was our coach, the result was 20-3 good guys.

 

[IrishLax]

Line -4 ND.

MSU = total bitches taking their bye week in week 3 to prep for ND. I'm not sure what to think about this game, but MSU has looked stout on defense so far with a vanilla O that we're used to seeing. I think it should terrify people how bad we've been throwing the football as MSU is built to stop the run, and our defense wasn't exactly world beaters last week against a very mediocre BC team. We are certainly going to miss Stepherson in this contest.

Still probably going to take ND -4 though.

 

[Irish Insanity]

Am I the only one not really worried about this game? If we are on our A game we should win this by 14+

Count me as worried.

 

[BobbyMac]

Line -4 ND.

ND -4.5 in Vegas. Oddshark had an early -4 on it in May. Pretty good forecast.

Also, Purdue a +10 dog at home. I think I want some of that Kool-aid Brohm's making but I'll hold off till the dummies get me to 12.

 

[BGIF]

Dropped from -4.5 to -3.5

 

[BGIF]

Sagarin Predictor model has ND -4.34

 

[irishff1014]

Am I the only one not really worried about this game? If we are on our A game we should win this by 14+

I am extremely worried about our 1 demensional offense. They load the box stop the run BW has no shown me we can count on his arm. I know nothing about MSU's defense either.

 

[FDNYIrish1]

Sticking to my usually positive outlook, I really think BW can turn it around. We suspect from spring and summer camp that he can throw the ball, he just needs to settle in and get his feet set. Something isn't right with our routes. Every ball is contested tightly, which shouldn't really be happening with the running success we've had outside Georgia. I would expect some openings on play action, time will tell. At this point I would also love to see Dexand Adams interchangeable. I love Dex's more north south decisive style, which complements Adams more methodical seam running. There's a lot of talent there.
On defense, I think it was pretty clear that Elko was playing more conservative in his game calling against BC and Temple. We let up some yards, but seemed to dial up a lot less stunts and blitzes. I was kind of surprised he played that way against a freshman, but I think our talent is able to beat some of these guys straight up.
Looking forward to MSU, I hope we lump them up. They ruined my annual pilgrimage to South Bend last year. Here's to seeing much better throwing this week from Brandon. I really like the kid, I hope he settles in.

 

[stlnd01]

It's Michigan State. It's never easy. It's also our (skittish) QB's first game in a hostile stadium (BC doesn't count). Our O Line and running backs had better come to play.

 

[Luckylucci]

It's a night game at MSU. And BK is our coach. Anyone with supreme confidence in this one is being foolish.

Literally the last time this happened, we beat them. Haha.

 

[Onemanwolfpack]

I am extremely worried about our 1 demensional offense. They load the box stop the run BW has no shown me we can count on his arm. I know nothing about MSU's defense either.

Agree this and Lax's comments. We are on the road (our road record is not good) and fully expect MSU to do everything they can to take away our running game.

ND defense was far from dominant against a weak BC offense. MSU offense isn't impressive, but it is more talented than BCs. Expect MSU to copy some of the misdirection TE drags, bootlegs that worked well for BC. We need to stop the overpursuit and the LBs need to clean up some tackling and run fits. Given what we have seen from Elko, I expect our defense to be up to the task and play well.

Can our line deliver to help us run against a physical team that will load up to stop us? Temple and BC have solid defense fronts and we still delivered big running plays. This defense will likely be a cut above them but it isn't Georgia quality. If we establish some running consistently or even get a few big running plays, I think it will be hard for MSU to beat us.

Only we win big is if we can throw the ball downfield to keep them honest and we haven't shown that capability...for all the reasons everyone noted above and in other threads. I expect a physical and close game and the line feels right to me.

This win would be big and set us up for two easier matchups before USC. Huge game for us and gives us a sense of what to expect when we play Stanford (similar opponent). Worried about this game and hopeful we can get the W.

 

[SonofOahu]

Georgia's DTs were consistently penetrating 2-yards deep. This caused all kinds of problems for our OL on their pulls. That, combined with the blitzing safeties and linebackers, shut down our running game. There were no lanes to run through, and Georgia ended up chasing Wimbush wide on many plays.

BC's DTs were getting crushed by the wash. They had almost no penetration, and as a result, our OL could pull laterally along the LOS. BC's LBs and Safeties also tended to sit back and absorb everything. This is why our running game operated so well (besides the fact that Georgia's athleticism is far superior to BC's.) Our O worked exactly as you draw it up on the whiteboard.

How is Michigan State's defensive line? If they have their usual stout line, it could be a long day.

 

[Irish Insanity]

It's Michigan State. It's never easy. It's also our (skittish) QB's first game in a hostile stadium (BC doesn't count). Our O Line and running backs had better come to play.

The Georgia game was in a hostile stadium. He's got a bit of experience now.

 

[Johannes]

This win would be big and set us up for two easier matchups before USC. Huge game for us and gives us a sense of what to expect when we play Stanford (similar opponent). Worried about this game and hopeful we can get the W.

Agree with most of what you said, but I'm more concerned about the matchup at North Carolina than I am about MSU. The Tarheels may be 1-2, but they played Cal and Louisville close. From what I watched of the Spartans first two games, this will be a battle between two inexperienced mobile QBs. I'll take Wimbush over Lewerke, who is even less of a down-field threat, in that matchup. They have some talent on the DL, but they're not Georgia. Never mind the Bulloughs, they've all graduated.

 

[stlnd01]

The Georgia game we sin a hostile stadium. He's got a bit of experience now.

Didn't see that one coming
True that there were probably more Georgia fans in our stadium than BC fans in theirs though.