M vs MSU vs COVID. Prediction

M 37
MSU 13

Game Week Countdown - MSU #1

16 years ago today, October 30, 2004, the M-MSU game started with beautiful, warm weather and ended several hours later in the cold and dark.

Michigan had trouble stopping MSU's zone-read option game for most of the day.

DeAndra Cobb started the scoring for MSU with a 72 yard touchdown run and appeared to ice the game when his 64 yard scamper put MSU up 27-10 with less than 9 minutes to play.

Garrett Rivas answered with what would now be thought of as a sad field goal to cut the lead to 14. His next kick was much more important - a successful onside kick. 

Then the Henne to Edwards magic started. They finished off a 15 second drive from 36 yards out to cut the lead to 7 with 6:12 left.

MSU was able to get one first down o ntehir next possession but punted the ball back to Michigan with 3:24 left.

Mike Hart burst throught the Spartan line on the first play of the drive, then Edwards scored on the second - another ~15 second drive tied the score.

Back-to-back possessions lead to a poor Michigan punt and a pass interference call meant MSU had a field goal chance to win, but Dave Raynor was short form 51 yards.

Overtime went field goal-field goal, touchdown-touchdown, touchdown, 2-point conversion and finnally M got the stop in the 3rd overtime - Meechigan wins 45-37!

Game Week Countdown - MSU #2

 I guess most of the close games against the Spartans have happened up in East Lansing, because we're back at Spartan Stadium again for the #2 game I've attended vs. MSU, November 3, 2007.

Michigan had suffered two humiliating defeats to start the season, but had won 7 straight, MSU was sitting at 5-4.

Michigan had the better of the action in the first half, leading 14-3 at the break. MSU dominated the 3rd and early 4th quarter, imposing their will on the Wolverines to take a 24-14 lead.

About half way through the 4th Chad Henne banged up his knee and had to come out. Freshman Ryan Mallet came in and was strip sacked - somehow, Mike Hart came up with the ball and scrambled for a first down and maybe some here-we-go-again doubts entered the Spartans heads..

Henne came back in and finished the drive, dropping a perfect pass into the waiting arms of Greg Mathews to cut the lead to 24-21, with just under 7 minutes to go.

The M defense held and gave the ball back to Henne with about 4:30 remaining. On 3rd and 12 from the Spartan 31 yard line, Henne found Mario Manningham in the back of the end zone to put M in front 28-24.

The infamous "Little Brother" quote from Mike Hart came up in the post game press conference.

Game Week Countdown - MSU #3

The #3 game vs. the Spartans is another road game. The 2005 match-up featured higher ranked MSU and 2-2 Michigan. 

It was a back and forth game. Mike Hart put M into the lead early in the 4th quarter 31-24. Late in the quarter M seemed to driving to the game sealing score when Domata Peko picked up a controversial "fumble" and rumbled 70+ yards for the tying score.

Michigan drove down for a short field goal attempt, but Garrett Rivas missed the 27 yarder and the game was headed for overtime.

The Spartans had the ball first and went 3 and out and then they missed their own field goal keeping the game tied.

Michigan only ran 2 plays then let Rivas redeem himself for the 34-31 win

Game Week Countdown - MSU #4

 For the number 4 game I'll go with a defensive battle where "The tougher team won".

October 14, 1989 - again at Spartan Stadium. This time tickets were compliments of my cousin Barry Dehlin - the Flushing Flash.

One of the dynamic duo of Tripp Wellborne and Vada Murrayblocked an MSU field goal attempt.

Leroy Hoard punched in from the wishbone on 4th and goal and JD Carlson added a field goal for 10-0 lead in the first half.

Wellborne and the M stuffed Blake Ezor on 4th and goal at the start of the 4th quarter to keep the score at 10-0.

The Spartans finally scored on a short pass with just under 5 minutes in the game to make it 10-7.

A Lance Dottin interception ended the Spartans hope to seal the 10-7 win.

Michigan State Prediction

 Michigan 46

Michigan State 17

Fun Fact about Michigan State University:  MSU has over 12 miles of bike paths. 

Game Week Countdown - MSU #5

I've seen M face MSU more than any other school. M is 18-10 against the Spartans. 

For the #5 game I'll go with the first game I attended vs. MSU, October 12, 1985 - also my first road game.

My Uncle Lefty (yellow hat, black jacket) had worked with the MSU athletic department for several years and was in charge of the sideline officials - the chain gang at Spartan Stadium and was the unofficial "King of the Tunnel." 

He got me, and a few cousins field passes to sit on a folding chair in the endzone near the tunnel. My uncle and cousin got to work the orange pylon first down lines.

MSU had beaten Michigan the year before - with the help of Harbaugh's broken collar bone. George Perles was getting a lot of hype and had just lost a heartbreaking shootout to Iowa 35-31. M was undefeated, but Musberger and crew were expecting a close match-up. They didn't get one.

Michigan's defense dominated - winning 31-0.

jiMpossible-sarcasMike Trophy changes hands again

 The jiMpossible-sarcasMike Trophy is back where it started - in Baton Rouge as the LSU Tigers dominated South Carolina 52-24.

The South Carolina loss makes it 7 straight losses by the Trophy-holder. 

LSU goes to Auburn this weekend. Auburn had of course won the Trophy from Arkansas before losing to South Carolina

 

M vs Minnesota vs COVID prediction

Any outcome seems possible. 

Michigan 34

Minnesota 27

COVID-19

 

Game Week Countdown - Minnesota #1

 My top game vs. Minnesota was homecoming 2004. 

It was back and forth game with, Michigan made a 4th quarter stop and started the determining drive  down 24-20 from their own 13 yard line.

Chad Henne hit 5 out of 6 passes, culminating in a 31 yard TD to Tyler Eckert. Michigan's defense closed out the 27-24 win.

Perhaps even better than the outcome was the amazing group of family and friends that spent time with us after the game - this was our first homecoming game in our new house. 

I think the headcount was over 60 people snacked with us after the game!

Go Blue - Beat Minnesota!

Game Week - Minnesota Countdown #2

 For the #2 game, we look at my only trip to the Twin Cities to see Michigan play. It came down to the last play and Michigan prevailed 29-26.

 

 

But about the stadium experience...

It was a night game at what is somewhat of a commuter school in a big midwestern city. There was a lot of people going to the game to just talk to each other. I felt like I was watching the game at a sports bar.

Outstanding food stand choices - fresh made mini donuts and fried cheese curds 

Go Blue!

Game Week - Minnesota countdown #3

 For the 3rd game, I'm going with the most recent battle. A night game in the rain at Michigan Stadium, November 4 of 2017.

Michigan's defense - led by Khaleke Hudson and the ground game were the story in the 33-10 victory.

 

Minnesota Prediction

 Minnesota 28

Michigan 26

By mistake, on my last post I listed an interesting fact about the University of Minnesota.  I should have actually done that on this post, and should have posted an interesting fact about The University of Michigan on that post.  But, I didn't.  So, here it is.

Interesting Fact About The University of Michigan:

There are six miles of tunnels under the Diag. 

Game Week - Minnesota Countdown - #4

 To show I don't play favorites, I'm going to clock in a Michigan loss here at number 4. 

November 15, 1986, Jim Harbaugh's senior day. 

Rickey Foggie and and the Gophers hung around, Michigan just couldn't put them away. Too many turnovers and just enough scrambling from Foggie put the game on the leg of Chip Lohmiller. He hit the short field goal at the end to make it a 20-17 final for the Gophers. This was the first time I had seen Michigan lose in Michigan Stadium.

Game Week - Minnesota Countdown - #5

I'll try to count down the top 5 games I've attended against each opponent this season. 

We start today with the opener against Minnesota - and an opener for me. The first Michigan game I attended in person, October 30,1976 - homecoming.

I'll be completely honest, I don't remember too much of the actual game play. 

I have myself convinced I remember walking through the tunnel to the seats for the first time. And thinking that 20 Gladstones could sit inside the stadium.

I remember it rained and we were not fully prepared for the weather. We got tickets through a family friend who worked in the athletic department and we were in Row A - right behind the bench. This was before the field was lowered and it was basically impossible for a 9 year old to see over the players. 

As the crowd thinned out due to the weather and the score, we moved back and could better see the action.

MEEchigan 45 - Minnesota 0

Clear sighted predictions for 2020

 At Minnesota - W

MSU -W

At Indiana - W

Wisconsin - W

At Rutgers - W

Penn State - W

Maryland - W

At OSU - L

Match-up Saturday - vs. Iowa - W

Bowl loss to Georgia 8-2

2020 Michigan Season Prediction

2020 Michigan Season Prediction

6-3 (6-3 in Boneg)

Loss in a bowl (because that is what M does)

Interesting Fact about the University of Minnesota:  The Honeycrisp Apple was developed there in 1974.

South Carolina takes the Trophy from Auburn

 South Carolina became the 6th consecutive challenger to win the jiMpossible-sarcasMike Trophy

The Gamecocks are now 8-12 in trophy games. 

This is their 3rd time as trophy holder. They reeled of 2 additional wins after defeating Georgia in 1989, before falling to NC State. And tacked on 3 more victories after taking the trophy from Florida in 2010 before Cam Newton and the national Champion Auburn Tigers took it over in the SEC Championship game.

South Carolina travels to Baton Rouge next Saturday giving the Tigers a chance to win back what they lost to Mississippi State to open the season.

This is longest streak of not defending the trophy in it's existence. Before Ohio State lost to Clemson to start this chain, the most consecutive challenger wins was 4 in the prior 1559 games.

The trophy holder is 1196-313-55 - an overall winning pct of 0.782

Controversy as Auburn holds on vs Arkansas

 Another week another transfer of the jiMpossible-sarcasMike Trophy. Auburn pulled out a 30-28 victory over Arkansas to take the Trophy. This is the 6th straight game that the Trophy has changed possession.

The finale was not without controversy. Auburn was winding down the clock for a game winning field goal attempt. To stop the clock they attempted the standard spike play, but first the quarterback, Bo Nix, dropped the snap. Then after gathering the ball spiked it, clearly, behind his feet. This makes it a lateral and a live ball.

The officials immediately blew the play dead and no one made an immediate recovery. The officials, after penalizing Auburn for intentional grounding, let them keep the ball and attempt the game winning field goal.

This is a backwards pass and a fumble. If you want to have a discussion about who recovered it (it was Arkansas) because the play was blown dead, then sure. But to rule this anything but a fumble is bull pic.twitter.com/N15xWCAt3E

— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) October 10, 2020

 Auburn is 29-15-2 in trophy games. Both ties preserved their hold on the Trophy. 

The Tigers travel to South Carolina this Saturday to take on the Gamecocks. South Carolina is 7-12 when vying for the Trophy.

Hogs upset the Dogs with the Tophy on the line

With Arkansas pulling off the upset over Mississippi State, there have now been five different winners in the last five games for the jiMpossible-sarcasMike Trophy 

 The victory moves the Razorbacks to 10-15 all time when vying for the Trophy.

The Razorbacks' longest run with the trophy was in 1965. They took it from Texas, then reeled off wins over pretty much the rest of the state. They defeated, North Texas, Texas A&M, Rice, SMU and Texas Tech before falling to LSU in the Cotton Bowl

 

 

 

 

Arkansas travels to the plains next Saturday to face Auburn. The Tigers are 28-15-2 in trophy games, both of their ties worked to their advantage, allowing them to keep possession.

Trophy Update - Clanga!

 The Mississippi State Bulldogs are holders of the jiMpossible-sarcasMike Trophy for the first time since 1989!

The Bulldogs upset the defensing National Champion LSU Tigers 44-34 to kickoff the SEC season delayed because of COVID-19. This is the 3rd straight Trophy game where possession has changed hands. Ohio State lost to Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl, Clemson lost to LSU in the CFP Championship Game.

The Bulldogs are now on their 3rd run as trophy holders. Tomorrow is the 64th anniversary of their win over Arkansas State to take the trophy for the first time in 1954. They held the trophy another week, defeating Tulane before losing to Miami on 10/15/1954.

They had chances to win the trophy back every year between 1957 and 1964, but couldn't take it home. After that their chances became more sparse. They lost to Trophy-holding Georgia in 1967 and 1971. Then they suffered losses to Alabama in 1977 and Florida in 1987.

Finally the Bulldogs broke through with a win over Southern Miss in 1989. Georgia ended their run at one-game the next week.

They suffered 3 more Trophy game losses until finally pulling it out last week against LSU.

That leaves the Bulldogs overall Trophy game record at 4-17-2 - both ties coming against bitter rival Ole Miss!

Mississippi State hosts Arkansas Saturday night. The Razorbacks are 9-15 in Trophy games, last holding the trophy for 2 weeks in 2016.