Say there, pal, are you going to East Lansing for the big game this weekend, or do you know somebody who is?
Nappy posted a thread yesterday attempting to crowd-source East Lansing tips and recommendations. BucksFanXC reached out to me and said he's willing to guide anyone in EL as he'll be around campus all day, so feel free to email him for whatever.
Spread the word, or contribute if you know any East Lansing survival tips/hustle spots. It's always a good idea to stick together on enemy territory, after all. (I hear shivvs only trail Faygo in popularity among Spartan students.)
OSU'S OFFENSE A DIFFERENT BEAST THIS YEAR. Since Ohio State lost Carlos Hyde and Braxton Miller, two cheater players, it's no surprise Tom Herman and his boss have tinkered with the execution of their shared offensive philosophy.
Buckeye fans seem to be clamoring for Ohio State to come out bucking with both barrells... but, even as a proponent of that bold strategy, I admit it's a risky proposition given the volatile atmosphere, their rookie QB, and Jim Tressel's dark apprentice on the opposing sideline. One mistake could cost Ohio State the game and their season goals. The stakes are that big.
The offense's third down performance will be critical, and hitting Meyer's goal of "at least two first downs" on every drive will be paramount. But third downs — especially on third and peanuts — have been a problem for Ohio State this year, and that's a trend that must be broken.
From Austin Ward of ESPN:
Without bruising tailback Carlos Hyde in the backfield this season, though, the Buckeyes have taken a step back in both short-yardage and red-zone efficiency, which could be a major factor against a defense that has already proven successful in shutting them down. Most notably, Ohio State’s touchdown rate inside the 20-yard line has dropped to 69 percent, a number that needs to improve -- particularly for a game in which points could be at a premium.
“That's certainly an area that we're going to take a look at and obviously we had one last year we didn't convert on a fourth down,” Meyer said. “So that's a big part of the game now.
“Teams also give us some pretty tough looks to run into and I think we've got to be [better]. We've tried to do a little throwing in certain situations.”
But let it be known: I hope Urban and Herman let it rip. If Ohio State goes down swinging, then that's an L I'll take humbly. I'd rather that than death by a thousand Daves.
GAMBLING!!!!!!! Michigan State and Ohio State are the cream of the Big Ten crop, and that's why, in the end, Spartan Stadium's atmosphere is seen as a (potential) deciding factor.
I don't gamble but even as an idle bystander, Saturday's banger is a tough affair to prophesy. Thankfully, there's the OddsShark:
The Buckeyes have been favored in every game they've played before this one, putting together an impressive 7-1 SU and 6-2 [Against-the-Spread] record so far. The issue with the Buckeyes' schedule to this point is that the team hasn't played anyone of substance; and in their road game against Penn State, J.T. Barrett looked shaky on offense. Ohio State may have another gear to kick into, but it hasn't been tested against a team of Michigan State's caliber thus far. The Buckeyes are 1-3 ATS over their last four road games.
OddsShark Computer Prediction: Ohio State 30.4, Michigan State 29.6
[..]
Michigan State enters this game with a perfect 12-0 SU record in its last 12 games at home and is also 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games at home. By the numbers, very little separates these two teams as Ohio State has scored 45.6 points per game and allowed 19.9 points per game while Michigan State has scored 45.5 points per game and allowed 20.3. But with a great home field advantage and an inexperienced quarterback on the other side of the ball, Michigan State looks good to edge out a win and cover.
Et tu, OddsShark? This is why I only trust/use stats when it's in agreement with the opinion I'm trying to prove.
ONE TIME FOR MYSTICISM . Laugh if you want to, and it may be due to my Marionaire/gypsy blood, but I'm a big believer in mysticism. Part of it is because I detest numbers and the other is I'm baffled by rudimentary science. As the Year of Luigi has laid bare, however, the Universe works in mysterious, unscientific ways.
Just listening to the Urban post practice interviews back in house and he is loose. Quick with a smile ... like he knows something.
— BEAU BISHOP (@BeauBishop) November 6, 2014
Sure, it's just one man's improvable observation, but that's the quiet swagger with which I envision Meyer answering questions in the lead up to the Florida-OSU BCS title game. He knew his team was putting the pipe to OSU. (Gosh, Ohio State would've lost that game 98 out of 100 times, and even that might be too low of a number.)
Has Urban seen into the wind once again? Hell, I hope so. Urban Meyer is at his best in the underdog role, Ohio State is due, and the Buckeyes need to whoop Michigan State if they want to make the playoffs.
Does this have anything to do with getting Ohio State's touchdown-makers in space? No, not at all... but that's mysticism, brother.
IT'S FLIPPIN' SEASON. On Monday(?) — days are hard to track — when I told MLive.com columnist Mike Griffith it was a bad idea to count a recruiting victory over Urban Meyer before National Signing Day? This is why.
From Ari Wasserman of the Northeast Media Group:
Meyer will have a shot to plead Ohio State's case, as [Larry] Scott said he's going to visit Columbus before the end of the season – likely for the Buckeyes' home game vs. Michigan in November.
That's going to cause quite a stir.
"I think I am prepared, but I'm probably not because (Ohio State) is going to be hitting me pretty hard," Scott said. "I just am going to do what's best for me. I won't turn them down or just ignore them or anything. I'll still show them the respect and take a visit and everything if they want me up there. They want to talk to my mom as well, so I'll show the respect and take a visit."
Urban and his staff are firing on all cylinders, and the flood gates are open, baby. Cracking open Larry Scott, a prized Spartan recruit, during Michigan State week for an official visit to The Game!? Some might call it tea, but that's what I call juice.
There's a reason why bagmen reportedly pay to keep a prospect off a rival's campus. And if I were a Michigan State bagman, I'd pay top dollar to keep Scott away from Columbus, because that price might be going up after this weekend.
HIGHLIGHTS. David Trichel and the Ohio State video production team hit us with a double dose of highlight reels last night: Kent State and Cincinnati. Get some.
TOUCHDOWN, LSU! WAIT, WHAT? Speaking of video, did ESPN really just slip a "Touchdown, LSU!" into their Ohio State–Michigan State promo? Pay attention at the nine second mark:
This is sure to have no impact on tin foil hat sails in Ohio.
SULLINGER GETS #BIZZY. BREAKING: Jared Sullinger is good at basketball. (Who could've predicted that?)
It's a shame he plays for the Boston Celtics — the second worst franchise in professional sports behind the dastardly Pittsburgh Steelers — but Jared Sullinger had himself a ball game last night.
Sullinger dropped 19 points and 16 rebounds with zero turnovers, but in the end, the Celtics fell to the almighty Toronto Raptors 110-107.
In other former Basketbuck news, and I'm not kidding about this: a lifelong Marionaire tipped me off last night to Greg Oden enjoying himself at Kahoots, one of Columbus' premiere dining establishments. (There are worse ways to spend time when you're a multimillionaire and retired at 27, I suppose.)
FEDS PINCH EZ-E. Bad news out of the loading zone across from Ohio Union last night as a flagrant law-breaker, and Ohio State running back/typical Urban Meyer thug recruit, was finally brought to justice:
BREAKING: Notorious illegal parker (and OSU RB) Ezekiel Elliott has finally been caught by authorities. pic.twitter.com/LMaF8g31XG
— TFL TMZ (@TFLTMZ) November 5, 2014
In all seriousness, though, Campus Parc, a company that sounds like the antagonist conglomerate in a Robocop movie, might be making hundreds of thousands of dollars off the football team.
Also, it's been awhile since I hit a "FOLLOW" button faster than when I came across TFL TMZ.
THOSE WMDs. Thank you, Bruce Arians! Tim Couch was not a bust... Norwegian Forest Cats are bossy... #MackBrown4Michigan... Had ND got its way, it'd be playing Wake Forest this weekend... What in the hell is going on in Iowa's athletic department?
