Quick Thoughts on UM Game

Well, the game played out about as I expected, except that I wasn't expecting the MSU defense to score a touchdown.  This was a huge victory for the Spartans, of course.  It puts the Spartans in first place in the Legends division, it makes it 4 in a row over UM, and it should help the Spartans with recruiting.  Perhaps most important to the rest of this season, it indicates that MSU are good enough to beat everyone left on their schedule, except Wisconsin (though I now believe the Spartans will have a good shot at beating them--more on that later). 

Some quick points:
- The Spartans actually played better than the score reflects.  The defense was stellar and the offense could have blown this game wide open if the receivers had been more reliable. 

- Speaking of receivers, Keshawn Martin really struggled.  He dropped a sure touchdown pass and he dropped a backward pass that should have been ruled a fumble.  He also had a terrible fumble.  I know he scored two touchdowns, but there were times when I felt like he needed to be pulled out of the game.

- The O-line played pretty well for much of the game and really wore Michigan's D-line down by the fourth quarter.  They played well against a pretty good defense, so I hope that bodes well for the rest of the season.

- With the O-line's improved play, the running game also improved.  Baker is back.  He looked fast and powerful.

- Kirk Cousins was more than good enough.  He didn't make major mistakes and his stats should have been much better, except that his receivers failed him much of the game.

- This defense is very good.  They held a high-scoring Michigan offense to just 14 points.  The D-line was penetrating, the linebackers sniffed out everything, and the secondary left few openings and even scored the final touchdown. 

This performance gives me the confidence that MSU's defense will be able to considerably slow down Wisconsin.  I think they keep Wisconsin under 30 points.  That should be enough to give the offense a chance to win the game.  If the offense plays like they did today, I think they will score enough points to make the Wisconsin game a toss-up.  But more on that in a few days.

For now, let us savor a great victory that I think most strongly signifies that MSU's football program is nearing eliteness.