Michigan State vs. Purdue Scouting Report and Prediction

Michigan State vs. Purdue Scouting Report and Prediction   A look at this week’s opponent… Purdue comes into the game having beaten UM and OSU, and

Michigan State vs. Purdue Scouting Report and Prediction

 

 

A look at this week’s opponent…

Purdue comes into the game having beaten UM and OSU, and narrowly losing to Oregon and Notre Dame. These are all great sentiments for a team under a new coach. Can they get that all-important fifth win with one to go afterwards for bowl eligibility?

 

Coach Hope made many in the media take attention earlier this summer at the Big Ten meetings. He talked about his expectations and about Purdue going to a bowl. He has done nothing less than a very good job in year one with a depleted program, and the Boilermakers will give MSU all they want.

 

When MSU has the ball…

The Spartans are led by Kirk Cousins who is one of the most efficient QBs in the nation and number one in the Big Ten. The Spartans’ offense has yet to unleash Cousins, and in my opinion, that has hurt them at times this season.

 

Cousins is young and will make mistakes that come with youth, but he is also a highly intelligent QB that is a game changer. Lost in the disappointing defeat at the hands of the Golden Gophers was what I think was the MSU play of the year. Cousins turned (making a 360 degree complete circle) to avoid pressure and threw a strike off of his foot. It was an amazing play.

 

We know that the Spartans’ first objective, in every game, is to establish the rush. I not only agree with that philosophy, I think it is the smartest in football. What I do slightly disagree with is that sometimes you have to come after an opponent and use the pass to set up that attack.

 

Another question is who will run the ball? Will we see Caper or does he get another week off to recover from a severe concussion? It will be great for his future if they can avoid using him and get the win.

 

Purdue has been attacked successfully with the tight end all season, and hopefully for the second week in a row, they will utilize the best TE group in the Big Ten. The Spartans will be faced by a less than stellar Purdue DL that does have one star. The Spartan OL will need to have their best game of the year. 

 

As always, the Spartans will look to establish the power running game, balanced with the pass. With a Purdue defense that has a tendency to over-pursue, the Spartans should be able to use the TE and screen game, and of course, the down field attack with success.

 

When MSU is on defense…

The Boilermakers change almost week to week from being a primarily running team to a passing team. Some games, they pass 20 times and some close to 60. Whereas the Spartans have the objective every game of establishing the running game, Purdue takes what the opponent gives them.

 

DC Pat Narduzzi will have his work cut out for him. The More the Spartans can stay in their base defense the better they will be. If they are caught selling out to stop the run or the pass, Purdue will attack.

 

If Narduzzi stays the course and the Spartans base defense contains Purdue, then the Spartans win.

 

Intangibles…

Hunger!

 

In 2007 led by a strong senior class, the Spartans were in the same spot they are now. That class of seniors willed this team to a win. This team simply doesn’t have that large and at some spots productive of a senior class. We all know that there are talented seniors on this team, just not as many as any coach would like. On a young team how strong is their influence? Are the younger players on this team hungry enough having been to two bowl games.

 

This has been a tough year. It started before the season even started and this game will tell us a lot about this team and essentially their legacy. Can the youth on this team take their signals from the seniors, and can ALL of the seniors display the fire and hunger of their predecessors?

 

I have nearly 30 things that I assess when I make predictions and break down games. These two teams are tied. I have NEVER in all of my years been so torn on pick. I truly believe that if they played this game 10 times each team would win five. 

 

Prediction…

Purdue is young, but they are also talented. They remind me of a guy on fire at a craps table in Vegas. Youth is inherently inconsistent. Is it time for their luck to run out? Please do not misconstrue that my youth comments are meant as disrespect. They are meant as a point of reality.

 

Purdue is good and getting better, but this game comes down to one intangible I can’t get away from. Under Mark Dantonio, his teams have NEVER quit and when their back is against the wall, they have fought hard.

 

Dantonio has been here before as his seniors have. They will lead the way and the younger members of this team will learn a valuable lesson.

 

I see the Spartans winning 37-35.