The Blue Board

Absolutely.

A few thoughts

1- MSU's D seems pretty good to me. I'm not basing that on stats, just on the eyeball test from the ND game. They looked like they were generally in the right place, tackled pretty well, and just got beat by a good offense when they did give up yards. That said, I do think ND took the foot off the gas pedal when they went up 18, so I wouldn't take too much stock in stats right now.

2- Still think the MSU DL is a bit overrated. I don't think they are bad, but I'm not seeing the OMG THEY ARE SO HUGE AND POWERFUL meme that emerged from MSU fans this summer.

3- Cousins seriously reminds me of Navarre. Lethal when he has time, but when there is a hint of pressure he becomes erratic. And that endzone throw was inexcusable btw.

4- Michigan has been disappointing on the lines. Not bad, but certainly not as good as I hoped. I am hoping Roh and Campbell continue to step up- that would pay real dividends.

5- I've actually thought UM's secondary has been pretty good. Even against ND Rees made some good throws and Floyd is just uncoverable.

6- Denard is definitely struggling. Think a lot of it is mental at this point. He clearly has the arm and has made a few amazing throws. And I partly disagree with the MSU meme of shotputting the ball for WR's to catch, etc. A few of his passes were bad, but his endzone passes were the kind QB's make all the time and that WR's get all the time.

8- UM's backs need to step up. I do think Denard is ironically running the read option better this year. I think Toussaint is the guy if he stays healthy.

9- Overall, I think MSU still has the better roster and should win at home. But I also think their OL is by far the worst unit between the two teams and gives UM a legit shot. All those shiny skill position players look a lot worse with a bad OL.

Nice rhetoric, framing the issue so that any point contrary to your own assertion (that MSU's chances of winning have decreased) is "delusional".

Respectfully disagree with your comments.

My reasons for thinking MSU will be UM haven't changed. I never said I was expecting a blowout W for MSU, and the chances of such have certainly decreased.

I remain confident in Michigan State coming out the victor because UM "outperforming expectations" is based solely on your W over ND, something that Michigan did last season. From your actual play on the field, I see little difference between your team last year and this year, expect that Dennard has regressed as a passer and that your D is more aggressive. Even if Michigan has taken a step forward, and MSU a step backwards from 2010, I still believe that the Spartans remain the better team. Add in the fact that it's a home game for MSU (and Michigan's first 'true' road game, since @Northwestern will have half the stands Blue) and I don't see a reason, as of right now, to change my feelings on that game.

For those reason, I remain confident in an MSU victory on October 15. Of course, UM could win their next 3 games by an average of 42-3 and MSU could lose to CMU and tOSU. If that happens, then I'd revise my prediction.

Lol, I was in the teens at one time, before tBB got started and the only place I posted was at trcmb.

If the chance of a MSU blowout has decreased, then the likelihood of a MSU victory has also decreased. If it's a close game, it can come down to a bounce or who has the ball last.

Michigan has also done better defensively than the last couple of years. They are 4th in points allowed in the B10. I don't think that has been the case at ANY POINT for the last 3 years.

Anywa, you are now saying that is more likely to be a close game which means more likely UM wins according to you. That is all I can hope to squeeze out of a Sparty at this point. A Sparty, that is, who thought MSU was a better team than ND before they played too.

Never a truer word spoken. On the home board they don't treat guests well at all. A UofM guy could show up offering free beer and they'd get neg bombed.

Plus, so what if a Spartan fan picked MSU to win over ? You ever hear of being a homer? It's part of the fun. Even through the 0-16 year of the Lions I watched every game hoping for a win. I always thought no way they lose every single one of them.

That peterklima dude has issues. I think that guy only has that name to rip on MSU. Strange way to live life.

Don't get me wrong, I love throwing jabs at UM but at the end of the day I have to go to work and finish up school. Man... I almost feel bad for that guy.

Meh, I come here randomly to chat it up, but I pretty much stay on tRCMB. You guys only know me as the guy that likes to rip on UM (which I do). Sometimes I forget this board is all you guys have, my bad.

I don't use the term scUM. I do use the term Wal*Verines though. It's fitting and aesthetically pleasing.

Can you explain this one (the last sentence)?

Is this a sarcastic joke? I have no idea, and if it is a joke you swung and missed, more then Brandon Inge.