Northwestern makes me crazy. Their quarterbacks have a weird knack for completing ridiculous percentages of their passes. Then on 3rd and 8, they'll scramble for 10 yards. This year's Northwestern squad will be no different. I will need my foam bricks to throw at the TV and my beer foam for this game. For MSU, this game really only holds any postseason value in terms of determining a consolation bowl if they lose the Big Ten Title Game. Should they lose both this week and in the BTCG, it's no better than Outback for us, if they win this week and lose the BTCG we could land the Capital One Bowl, but it might still be the BTCG.
Northwestern on the other hand has a bit more to play for. At 6-5 they're already bowl eligible, but they're currently in a 3 way tie with Ohio State(6-5) and Purdue(5-6) for seventh in the Big Ten at 3-4 in-conference. With eight bowl tie-ins, things get a lot more comfortable for Northwestern if they win on Saturday even if comfort is the Pizza Pizza Bowl.
MSU's Passing Defense vs NW's Passing Attack
Dan Persa blew up his Achilles tendon at the conclusion of last year's MSU/NW game, he's since PersaStrong'ed his way back as the starter, but he's still playing as a percentage of what he was last year prior to injury. Filling in for him admirably this year has been Kain Colter. Colter leads Northwestern in Rushing on the season. Last week Persa tossed up 216 yards and 2TD's to Minnesota who is all of a sudden not as bad as their record looks.
Obviously, they'll be playing against our pass defense, which is pretty damn solid. We'll get dinged on Wheel Routes, Drag Routes and TE Throwbacks whenever the pass rush doesn't get home in time. Denicos Allen will have a good day against the more mobile QBs as he usually does. I think a healthy Persa gives MSU fits, but a still ailing Persa will struggle against MSU's Pass D even with the things Northwestern does that make me nuts.
Advantage: MSU
MSU's Rushing Defense vs NW's Rushing Attack
Northwestern's rushing offense ranks 5th in the Big Ten thanks to the fact that when Colter is in the game they run a lot. Their Yards Per Carry has been 4.01 which is higher only than MSU and Indiana which is sad. MSU by comparison has been holding their opponents 80 yards below their season average in Big Ten play. Will 100 rushing yards be enough for Northwestern to win this game. Not very likely.
Advantage: MSU
MSU's Passing Attack vs NW's Passing Defense
Kirk Cousins stats against Northwestern in 2009 and 2010? 5 TD's, no picks, 68 percent passing completion and 612 yards. You know, Playstation numbers. Couple that with playing the Big Ten's 10th rated Passing Defense and well.
Cousins Uber Alles.
Advantage: MSU
MSU's Rushing Defense vs NW's Rushing Attack
Our run game has looked much healthier in recent weeks. The only team who has held Northwestern to under 24 points this year? Army. Army runs the triple option and had a Time of Possession of 40 minutes! in their game earlier this year. MSU will not control the clock for 40 minutes and this is the one area where NW has bested us.
Advantage: NW
Intangibles
MSU goes to the BTCG either way, this is an away game over thanksgiving weekend with virtually no consequence for losing for MSU and a Pizza Pizza bowl berth for NW if they lose. What does this spell? Trap game.
Advantage: NW
Overall
The Wildcats make me crazy because they're feisty. They're not always better than you, but they can get the better of you with their trickeration and majesty. This MSU squad is too talented and NW too tired. MSU wins this one and prepares for the winner of PSU-Wisconsin.
Go PSU!
MSU 34 NW 21
Northwestern on the other hand has a bit more to play for. At 6-5 they're already bowl eligible, but they're currently in a 3 way tie with Ohio State(6-5) and Purdue(5-6) for seventh in the Big Ten at 3-4 in-conference. With eight bowl tie-ins, things get a lot more comfortable for Northwestern if they win on Saturday even if comfort is the Pizza Pizza Bowl.
MSU's Passing Defense vs NW's Passing Attack
Dan Persa blew up his Achilles tendon at the conclusion of last year's MSU/NW game, he's since PersaStrong'ed his way back as the starter, but he's still playing as a percentage of what he was last year prior to injury. Filling in for him admirably this year has been Kain Colter. Colter leads Northwestern in Rushing on the season. Last week Persa tossed up 216 yards and 2TD's to Minnesota who is all of a sudden not as bad as their record looks.
Obviously, they'll be playing against our pass defense, which is pretty damn solid. We'll get dinged on Wheel Routes, Drag Routes and TE Throwbacks whenever the pass rush doesn't get home in time. Denicos Allen will have a good day against the more mobile QBs as he usually does. I think a healthy Persa gives MSU fits, but a still ailing Persa will struggle against MSU's Pass D even with the things Northwestern does that make me nuts.
Advantage: MSU
MSU's Rushing Defense vs NW's Rushing Attack
Northwestern's rushing offense ranks 5th in the Big Ten thanks to the fact that when Colter is in the game they run a lot. Their Yards Per Carry has been 4.01 which is higher only than MSU and Indiana which is sad. MSU by comparison has been holding their opponents 80 yards below their season average in Big Ten play. Will 100 rushing yards be enough for Northwestern to win this game. Not very likely.
Advantage: MSU
MSU's Passing Attack vs NW's Passing Defense
Kirk Cousins stats against Northwestern in 2009 and 2010? 5 TD's, no picks, 68 percent passing completion and 612 yards. You know, Playstation numbers. Couple that with playing the Big Ten's 10th rated Passing Defense and well.
Cousins Uber Alles.
Advantage: MSU
MSU's Rushing Defense vs NW's Rushing Attack
Our run game has looked much healthier in recent weeks. The only team who has held Northwestern to under 24 points this year? Army. Army runs the triple option and had a Time of Possession of 40 minutes! in their game earlier this year. MSU will not control the clock for 40 minutes and this is the one area where NW has bested us.
Advantage: NW
Intangibles
MSU goes to the BTCG either way, this is an away game over thanksgiving weekend with virtually no consequence for losing for MSU and a Pizza Pizza bowl berth for NW if they lose. What does this spell? Trap game.
Advantage: NW
Overall
The Wildcats make me crazy because they're feisty. They're not always better than you, but they can get the better of you with their trickeration and majesty. This MSU squad is too talented and NW too tired. MSU wins this one and prepares for the winner of PSU-Wisconsin.
Go PSU!
MSU 34 NW 21
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