The weather in East Lansing today is beautiful for November 2nd. It's 65 degrees with a nice breeze. With the Golden Gophers (previously known as the Golden O-fers) on their way to town and a beautiful Saturday on tap it's time to think of what lies ahead of the team for this upcoming month.
Currently, the Spartans are sitting well at 6-2, having run through an October gauntlet that included three straight weeks of top 15 opposition. The schedule for this month is far more forgiving with Minny and Indiana at home, Iowa and Northwestern away this month's schedule looks significantly easier. Why do I bring up a schedule of which you are all aware?
Two of our opponents, Minnesota and Indiana, are trainwrecks and we have them at home. Look for us to re-establish our running game against them. Northwestern has the friendliest fanbase of any opposing stadium in the Big Ten, because you'll be joined by all MSU fans. Then, there's Iowa. Kirk Ferentz seems to have Mark Dantonio's number, compiling a 4-1 record against him in the series including soul-crushing losses in 2009 and 2010. Their November schedule includes UM, MSU and Nebraska at home and away at Purdue. MSU hasn't won in Iowa City since 1989, etc. Frankly, this game scares me, history is on their side, they play the Cover 2 just like Nebraska.
Still, if Denard Robinson is Mr. September, Mark Dantonio is Mr. November. Dantonio has compiled a 9-3 record in November since coming to Michigan State, good for a .750 winning percentage. His career winning percentage at MSU is .650 percent. Prior to last year MSU hadn't won at Happy Valley since 1965 back when JoePa had been coaching the team for only about 45 years or so. Mark Dantonio can flat out win when the northern winds are blowing.
There are many interesting bowl scenarios that could play out this month. MSU currently sits 4th in the Big Ten in the BCS rankings and 17th overall. Spots 15 and 16 are currently occupied by Michigan and Penn State. It's unlikely Penn State makes it through the rest of the season without a loss, how they've made it this far is frankly staggering. If Nebraska wins out Michigan falls below us. If Michigan State wins out and so does Nebraska, it is difficult to see Michigan State not making a BCS at-large game. If Nebraska stumbles and MSU wins out, they will play in the Big Ten title game. Either way win out and great things will happen.
So why am I excited? Our defense is astoundingly good. Mark Dantonio is a proven winner in November and should Michigan State win out the odds of them being the second-highest BCS rated Big Ten team or HIGHER are fantastic. This is Mark Dantonio's time of year, this is when he feasts on the opposition. All I know is I'm excited to watch.
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