Michigan State Exposed Against Iowa

Well the Spartans had a big game last Saturday, but it looked like they missed the memo. They did not show up to play in Kinnick. Am I surprised they lost? No. Am I surprised at 37-6? Absolutely. This is the biggest football game in the last 50 years for the Spartans, but you couldn't tell by the way they came out and played.

Iowa dominated every aspect of this game. There is no positive nugget here for Sparty to hang his hat on. Michigan State was exposed as a good team having a magical season, instead of a real national championship contender. The effort put out in this game was absolutely pathetic.

Kirk Cousins's interceptions were mind boggling. Going into the game, Kirk had four interceptions all year. He threw three and they all were bad passes. On the first two, I couldn't figure out what he was trying to do. The first one, which was this ridiculous touchdown. It was double coverage, the route wasn't open, and he never took his eyes off the receiver. Uncharacteristic mistakes by Cousins hurt any chance the Spartans had at winning.

As inept as Kirk and the offense was that game, the defense was just as bad. I felt like I was watching Michigan. Terrible run gap coverage, no pass rush, and terrible coverage, all the qualities of the defense in Ann Arbor. Greg Jones, Who? Exactly. He was no where to be found that game. Ricky Stanzi made him miss on a tackle while on the run... that's embarrassing. Another play he just stood there hesitating til he got blocked, and then how bout his coverage on that wheel route by the running back? Yeah that was quality coverage... but not really.

MSU was in the spotlight, number five ranked team in the country, undefeated, last real test of the season, cinderella story, here at a Augusta... But it struck midnight as the cliche goes. What makes me angry and should make Spartan nation angry is that they didn't even show up. They didn't play their hearts out and lose a close one, they took Saturday, October 30th off. They were unprepared and it showed. It was just pathetic.

Good news is Rose Bowl dreams are in reach. If Wisconsin, Iowa, and MSU win out, Sparty's in the Rose Bowl. If Wisconsin, MSU and OSU win out... I have no idea who's in it. The tie breaker used to be longest Rose Bowl drought, which would be us, but I don't know if it's still done that way... Regardless, if Sparty wins out, they should be Rose Bowl bound.