4 Common Opponnents
- Thread starter OnceAhawk
- Start date
I realize that we had some common opponents, but that means nothing come Saturday night.
I think this could be a good game, with special teams playing the difference.
I think this could be a good game, with special teams playing the difference.
Yeah I guess our kicker has missed lately (mostly due to windy/cold conditions). How are MSU specialists?
Not good. Punter is solid. Kicker struggles. Kickoff team is probably worst in the Big Ten. Kick return is probably average. Punt return is average at best. Not good.
STs is easily the main area of weakness for MSU. Defensive back 7 is #2. Pretty solid everywhere else.
MSU scares me. They are healthy now in the OL and DL. Iowa will have to have its best game of the year by far
These common opponents certainly don't mean much, but it is interesting to look at season stats for the two teams. All of the comparisons I've seen show that both teams are at least statistically very similar. I consider MSU the favorite, but the fairly even stats would seem to indicate that the two teams have performed quite similarly over the course of the season. . . yet MSU is considered to be a huge favorite by many. Stats do have their limitations, but I think they do suggest that the two teams are more evenly matched than many in the media and elsewhere seem to believe.
At this point, everyone will be motivated & everyone we face will be really good. Time to prove the critics wrong!
I believe these comparisons are important. Tells me not much separates these two teams. I feel we are slight underdog in name only.
I thought your special teams looked pretty good against Michigan. ;-)
I sure as hell don't want the game to go down to a last-second special teams play! You guys have scary ST ju-ju when you need it most.
Game was tight until the 4th quarter. Then Indiana fell to pieces - MSU scored 24-0.
Good stuff. Slight advantage to Iowa. But in my gut, it's a coin toss. I'm excited for this game knowing it won't be a 59-0 blowout like last season. Should have good ratings.
i agree; the ratings should be tremendous
its basically a Midwest regional final where the winner advances to the Final 4
From the Gazette:
The teams have played four common opponents and the results are somewhat similar. Both teams beat Purdue, Indiana and Maryland. Iowa’s margin of victory in those games was 44 points, while Michigan State’s was 46. The teams also played Nebraska, which rallied from a 12-point deficit to beat Michigan State 39-38. Iowa stopped Nebraska 28-20 on Friday.
Iowa beat Maryland 31-15, and MSU stopped the Terrapins 24-7. Both teams had interception returns for touchdowns. Iowa led Maryland 21-0 at halftime; Michigan State scored the last 17 points against the Terrapins. Iowa outgained Maryland 293-241, while Maryland outgained Michigan State 289-262.
Michigan State led Purdue 21-0 at halftime. The Hawkeyes led the Boilermakers 20-0 in the second quarter. Purdue outgained Iowa 405-387, while the Spartans outgained the Boilermakers 406-301. Iowa outscored Purdue 20-7 in the final 20 minutes to win 40-20. The Boilermakers rallied to cut Michigan State’s lead to 24-21 and had the ball past midfield in the final three minutes before the Spartans thwarted Purdue’s upset hopes.
In the early fourth quarter, Iowa led Indiana 21-20 before pulling away 35-27. MSU led the Hoosiers 28-26 early in the fourth quarter before scoring three touchdowns in the final five minutes for a 52-26 win. Iowa outgained Indiana 467-407, while the Spartans held a 540-389 edge in yards.
http://www.thegazette.com/subject/sports/b1g-rewind-sunday-bloody-sunday-20151130
The teams have played four common opponents and the results are somewhat similar. Both teams beat Purdue, Indiana and Maryland. Iowa’s margin of victory in those games was 44 points, while Michigan State’s was 46. The teams also played Nebraska, which rallied from a 12-point deficit to beat Michigan State 39-38. Iowa stopped Nebraska 28-20 on Friday.
Iowa beat Maryland 31-15, and MSU stopped the Terrapins 24-7. Both teams had interception returns for touchdowns. Iowa led Maryland 21-0 at halftime; Michigan State scored the last 17 points against the Terrapins. Iowa outgained Maryland 293-241, while Maryland outgained Michigan State 289-262.
Michigan State led Purdue 21-0 at halftime. The Hawkeyes led the Boilermakers 20-0 in the second quarter. Purdue outgained Iowa 405-387, while the Spartans outgained the Boilermakers 406-301. Iowa outscored Purdue 20-7 in the final 20 minutes to win 40-20. The Boilermakers rallied to cut Michigan State’s lead to 24-21 and had the ball past midfield in the final three minutes before the Spartans thwarted Purdue’s upset hopes.
In the early fourth quarter, Iowa led Indiana 21-20 before pulling away 35-27. MSU led the Hoosiers 28-26 early in the fourth quarter before scoring three touchdowns in the final five minutes for a 52-26 win. Iowa outgained Indiana 467-407, while the Spartans held a 540-389 edge in yards.
http://www.thegazette.com/subject/sports/b1g-rewind-sunday-bloody-sunday-20151130
I suspect it may come down to ST. I, however, have the utmost confidence in our guys. Koehn is a proven game-winner. Kidd has been very good at flipping the field under good weather conditions. As others have stated, the teams are closely matched elsewhere, but not in ST. I think we have a decided advantage.
The story of Indiana final scores isn't fully reflective. If you'll recall, IU got a late TD to make it an 8 pt game against IA, while MSU had several late scores to take a 28-26 game to a blowout in the last 7 minutes or so. It's worth noting, but I don't think it really gives us any insight.
I can't wait, this is going to be solid big boy football, just how both teams like it.
Special teams was the only reason Michigan was in the game. Ironic that it took a ST miracle for MSU to salvage a victory. I can see Iowa pulling the upset Saturday if MSU continues to give up great starting field position due to crummy kick coverage.
I like the sound of this. Iowa's STs have been pretty darn good this season, minus extra points. Iowa's coverage teams have been solid and King is as good of a returner that Iowa has had in a long time.
I've watched a bit of Sparty this year and this is one thing that has stood out to me. No disrespect, but your kick coverage has seemed to be a bit of a train wreck. Would be nice to see us capitalize and break a big one or two. Of course, this will require Sparty to score, at least once, if not more. Hopefully all FGs.
I know, I watched the game, and you're right, Michigan outplayed MSU in ST until the final play. I just had to point out that the Spartans made the most spectacular special teams play of the year. Granted, it was primarily Michigan shooting itself in the foot, but still. I don't like going up against weird-end-of-game mojo like that. On the other hand, Iowa did have Marvin McNutt catching a TD pass on the last play of the game to win a few years ago so ... I don't know. I think this will be a stressful game for both fan bases because both Iowa and MSU are tough, tough, tough football teams.
Oh, I think so, too. Just had to bring up the most bizarre special teams fluke I have ever seen. Watching Michigan have their heart ripped out of their chest was priceless. I've been cheering for MSU every game since then. That's over now, though. Now they shall be destroyed! Nah, it's gonna be a very tough game for both teams. I can hardly wait.
How are MSU fans to drink with? I have a couple of people that I know who are MSU fans are who are awesome to drink beers with and watch football with. I hope their whole fan base is like that! I am hoping everyone has a good day/night in Indy. Regardless of the outcome I hope we can all agree that we want the BIG TEN to win it all!
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