7UP isn’t just a soda, it’s where the Michigan State Spartans meet for the first time since 1966.
Count them. There’s western Michigan, Florida Atlantic, Notre Dame, northern Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan and, with its win over Illinois, Michigan State is undefeated 7-0 and now ranks eighth nationally in AP polls and Coaches Top 25.
This is heady territory for the state of Michigan. In 1966, Michigan State was 9-0 and ranked second when the Spartans hosted No. 1 Notre Dame. The game, dubbed the Game of the Century by the media, ended in a 10–10 draw when Irish manager Ara Parseghian decided to play for a draw rather than risk winning or losing. In the end, both teams earned national championships due to the tie, leaving both teams with 9-0-1 records.
Time has changed the current landscape, as there are no ties in football: both college and professional teams now play periods of overtime to determine a winner.
Against Illinois, the Illini went into halftime with a 6-3 lead as the Spartans played a really flat first half.
That all changed when the Spartans won the second half 23-zip, scoring a 3rd-quarter field goal followed by Kirk Cousins’ 48-yard field goal to BJ Cunningham and another field goal.
Another field goal was added in the fourth quarter and the game was stopped when running back Larry Caper rushed 15 yards for the final touchdown and the 26-6 win.
Spartan QB Kirk Cousins went 13-for-24 (54%) for 201 yards and 1 TD pass. Perhaps even more important was the foot of Dan Conroy, who had shots from the field of 37, 34, 32 and 18 yards.
Unlike many games this season, Michigan State didn’t produce impressive stats. This was probably due to the fact that Illinois has a very good team. Illinois trampled Penn State 33-13 in a road game and played hard against Ohio State in a 24-13 loss.
Illinois also entered the game with a schedule strength rating (SOS) of 22 nationally and a rating of 31 by Sagarin. Michigan State’s SOS was ranked 95th and the Spartans were ranked 13th in the AP Top 25 poll.
With 7 wins in their pocket, the question begs: Can the Spartans, now ranked 8th, who will then travel to Evanston to take on the Northwestern Wildcats, pull off an 8th-place finish in a row?
Northwest is 5-1. Michigan State averages 34 points per game, Northwestern 27. Both teams accumulate yards on offense, the Spartans averaging 447 and the Wildcats 425, only 22 yards apart.
Both teams are stingy on scoring defense. Michigan State gives up 16 points per game, Northwestern only 18. And the total defense? The Spartans give up 325 yards per game, and the Wildcats 356, just 31 more yards.
Bottom line: Northwestern will get a few points, but Michigan State should score a few more.
And the X-factor? Ask Florida, Alabama, Ohio State and Texas: They know all about the X factor. Anything can happen in college football on any Saturday at any stadium, including Ryan Field in Evanston.
Copyright © 2010 Ed Bagley