2009 Spartan Football Preview Game Summaries

2009 Football Season is Forecasted to be a successful one.. SpartyMSU posted the Win/Loss matrix, now its time to look at a brief preview of the season.  Note: Coming up next,  we will look at the 2009 Michigan State Spartans team, after that begin posting previews and forecasts of each game…

Many of the E-mails I have received this week indicated that several of you doubt the forecasted success of the Spartans, and some of you even questioned our manhood…  and we really can’t do some of the anatomical suggestion that were made.. Some of you take this stuff way too serious….

 It’s the vitriol that was stirred up we found most amusing. Please, look to the left of this posting, the Address is right there, Keep it coming.. We’re Scotch Taping the best and most obnoxious letters to the SpartyMSU office wall.. and will post some (just to share the giggles) after the season begins and our prognostications are vindicated on the gridiron.. Please keep sending the Emails and comments, we want to cover the wall…

So, here we go.. 2009 Summary Preview Game by Game..
with the Best guess - Forecast details to begin next week…

 


Spartan Opponents

Home against Montana State; Sept. 5, 2009
Montana State should be an easy win for the Spartans. Montana State has been struggling to build a team that fits the description of Student/Athletes. After years of the team’s poor academic performance, NCAA sanctions, the coaches were replaced. This rebuilding effort has come at a cost. The price is providing an early season win for the Spartans. The only question will be the weather.
Score: Montana State 10 – Spartans 35

Home against Central Michigan; Sept. 12, 2009
Central Michigan: The Chippewa’s are a good team. In fact, they could be the top MAC team, if not the second best (Western Mich. is talented as well). They have many returning starters (7 on offense and 10 on defense) and can field a good team.   While some Spartan defensive linemen have left, the returning players can make-up the difference against a suspect offensive line for the Chips. The Chip QB (LeFevre for Heisman?) can throw and Antonio Brown can catch. This is an issue to watch. The Chippewa defensive front is strong, but passing will be available for the Spartans (Chippewa pass defense was 118 out of 120 teams last year). In the end, a well prepared Spartan team should handle the Chippewa’s. Spartans are now 2-0 to start the season.
Score: Chippewas 24  - Spartans 42



Away at Notre Dame; Sept. 19, 2009
Here is a rivalry to cherish. Last year game with the Spartans was a mess for Notre Dame: 3 fumbles, 3 missed field goals, 3 sacks, and allowed 3 touchdowns. This string of three’s was Notre Dame’s Holy Trinity of futility. This year, the ND defense returns five starters, and they have a new Defensive Coordinator. Yet, these guys do have some talent and will be able to choreograph a better defensive effort then they did in 2008. But, the pass rush will be slow, more like altar boys strolling down the aisle to the Apse, than a threatening rush. The ND Linebackers (i.e., Smith and Te’o…. Te’o is spelled like it sounds) and the safeties are good.
On the other side of the ball, the ND offense will be able to score a little more than last year, since the front line is incrementally better. However, Hoover (MSU DE) will spend plenty of quality time with Clausen, sharing a sunny South Bend afternoon in the backfield. The Spartans are also incrementally better, yes losing Ringer and Hoyer hurts, they have been replaced and the schemes retooled for success.  Face it, we own South Bend, having won 6 straight times… This will make it 7.

News Flash: SpartyMSU’s Byzantine network of unsubstantiated rumor operatives have found it curious  that Jimmy seems to likes the bars and possibly can be a bit of a trouble-maker. If Jimmy can focus on football more than a game of beer pong, he might provide some much-needed offensive spark. Come on Jimmy, starting trouble then telling bouncers.. You know who I am…. But probably not true, but… Remember you do represent the University of Notre Dame.
The final score will be 24 – 17, and the Spartans are now 3 – 0. 

Away at Wisconsin; Sept. 26, 2009
Wisconsin has a good fight song and they like cheese. SpartyMSU likes to say something nice about every team, and that is the best we can say about a team with a young defense that has only two seniors. If McFadden could play every position, they’d be good. Instead, MSU will run through the Badger defense like mice through Swiss. Their best returning player is their kicker. For the love of Brats, how can these guys be competitive? MSU will put up big points. The Spartan defense will do well to let Wisconsin’s Oglesby guard one side of the line and attack from the young side. Worry not, the Spartans are now off to a 4-0 start and the final score will be 28-15 (Spartans only giving up five field goals).

Home against Michigan; Oct. 3, 2009
Michigan’s offensive line is Ann Arbors only bright spot. After this observation, Dick Rodriguez will have trouble in East Lansing. Historically, rookie UM coaches for the Wolverine rodents (weasels) lose in their first UM/MSU match-up. Rodriguez was no exception and he’ll keep the rodent’s (skunk bear’s) losing streak alive by losing a second game to the Spartans. Even if we let the rodents (vermin) score a few touchdowns, Spartans will not have a problem with the Annabel’s defense.
Sad that this storied team, ScUM’s only two Big Ten wins last year came by sheer luck, yet they might incrementally improve to 3 wins this year, maybe 4 in total for 2009.

However, none of those wins will happen in East Lansing. The only strong players returning are Obi and Brandon. Combined with new coordinators, they got nothing. The best thing about this match-up will be savoring a Spartan victory over the rodents (varmints) on a bright, sunny day.
Holy cow!! The Spartans are 5-0 after a 41 – 20 win (Spartans getting an extra 7 points on a late score).

Away at Illinois; Oct. 10, 2009
Ron Zook ushers in Homecoming in Champaign. Juice Williams is back, along with Arrelious Ben. Juice will have plenty of targets for throwing. These guys will be number 5 in the Big Ten this year.  The offensive line is weaker this year (one can politely call it “re-tooled”) with a questionable left side. Spartan defense should be tough for the Illini, with the Illini success coming only on big plays. The Spartan offense faces three newbies on the Illini defensive line. Dere Hicks, Martez Wilson and others are talented but so far in untested in 2009.    Here is a hidden trap for the Spartans, but with good preparation, the final should be Spartans with 20 points and Illinois with 17 points. Keep pressure on Juice and the Spartans are now 6-0.




Home against Northwestern; Oct. 17, 2009 (Homecoming in East Lansing)
This is Northwestern, Home of “Nerd “U”.
Cory Wooten is good. Quentin Davie and Nate Williams are good. Eight returning starters for D. Last year’s QB graduated (Bacher was good), but Kafka returns with some game experience (69% completion rate). Blah, Blah, Blah… Details of the Nerd U team later next month…
Spartans 42, NWU 14,  Spartans are now 7-0.

Home against Iowa; Oct. 24, 2009
Waterloo? If the Spartans can gel the offense by the 8th game of the season, and if the Hawkeyes have suffered injuries battling through a tough schedule, then the Spartans have a chance. The healthiest team wins this game.
Another angle to consider is that the undefeated Spartans are facing the Hawkeyes that have already lost to Penn State. This will appear as a potential upset, but the game is too closely matched to call a “potential upset”.  It is at Spartan stadium…
The SpartyMSU.com Department of Analysis is divided over this game. Executive management has ruled that we will have an overtime win for the Spartans, kicked by DNBTU (Swenson)! (On the banks of the red cedar, there’s a school that’s known to all, …)
Spartans are now 8-0 after a 24-21 OT win.

Away at Minnesota; Oct 31, 2009
Ever notice the similarities between Goldy and Mighty Mouse, are they the same person ?

The Spartans should be banged-up by this point in the season. However, the Gophers will be hobbling on little gopher crutches and riding little gopher wheelchairs, as well…. The Gophers are returning 18 starters, but it does not bode well that are playing one of the toughest schedules in the nation! The Gopher QB Adam Weber is good, and there are a couple decent receivers, especially Eric Decker. Minny “D”, they might not be able to recover form the loss of VanDeSteeg. In the end, it is all for naught. Spartans will play wack-o-mole (wack-o-Gopher) against the otherwise-talented Weber and Decker team. Halloween in East Lansing will see Jack-o-lanterns decorated with “9-0” after a Gopher drubbing.
Spartans 35, Gophers 17

Home against Western Michigan; November 7, 2009
Praise Western Michigan Broncos as a top team in the MAC. Is it enough? Let’s analyze.
The Broncos lost three good receivers, the secondary, and a few other key players. This makes the secondary suspect after the Broncos have contributed several to Sunday afternoon play. The offensive line is full of returning players, but in the end, SpartyMSU expects a high scoring game, with the Spartans winning, 24-37.  Spartans are now 10-0

Away at Purdue; November 14, 2009
Purdue is predicted to be at the bottom of the Big Ten, is it time to Panic ?  Is there Hope for Danny Hope.. maybe not so much.. Hope’s hope is put on hold until 2010 or later. Kory Sheets is sadly missed, Jaycen Taylor will try to fill his shoes.. In 2008 they were last in the Big Ten for rush defense, but their secondary was a bright spot, and might still be in 2009.  All 4 front linemen return in the Offensive side of the ball, but, with a Ok RB, and So-So receivers, not sure how many points they’ll put up.  Spartans cross the Wabash and head out of West Lafayette with another Victory..
Score: 28-17…  They are 11 – 0..

Last Big Ten Game of the Year is In Spartan Stadium…
Home against Penn State.
In 2008 the Spartans were embarrassed by the Big Ten Elite (OSU and PSU) In 2009,  we may lose, but won’t be embarrassed...  JoePa is old, doubt he really has his hands on the team, more likely hands on the bottle of Geritol and the remote (Switching between re-reruns of Art Linkletter and Lawrence Welk ).  Regardless, the team is talented again.  


We are playing for the bragging right for the ugliest Football trophy in the nation, Land Grant Trophy.  Even if we were to win, they can keep that piece of shit. As for the Game, I do not think the Spartans are yet ready to match up with the Nittany Lions on the field, home or away.   That being said, Penn State doesn’t exactly have a tough schedule. The toughest games will be at Illinois, Ohio State, and at Michigan State, any hiccup could spell a lesser Bowl since they did lose in the Rose Bowl last year.

On “O”,  Their Receivers are inexperienced, Lost 3 outstanding linemen.. On “D”, the corners are suspect, not too much experience at DE, and too much Ganja smoking in Apartment 4103, allegedly (from http://nittanywhiteout.com/2009/05/04/not-again-psu-players-caught-smoking-the-ganja/ ) it was Devon Still, Stephfon Green, Eric Latimore, and Johnnie Troutman, no one has been accused yet.
 This isn’t all to say the Spartans don’t have a shot, ‘cause they do. But, its a long shot.  We’ll leave it here until we post the predicted details in a couple weeks.

Maybe dropping a dime bag and Zig Zags on the line will slow the Nittany Lions down a little.. maybe.. just maybe…   Spartans Lose this tilt, 35 – 21 
Spartans end the regular season  11 – 1

2009 Football season looks to be a successful one..

Sparty On !!!