Thanksgiving Show Notes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-Agxg_m-fY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWg0Fl-ZgDo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HNUrnCWHVI&disable_polymer=true

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezUNyTsG4RI

1. Around the Sports World

1) Thanksgiving weekend is simply awesome for sports

2) MSU basketball in Phil Knight Classic / UM in Maui

3) College Football Fly Around

- Rivalry Weekend --- favorite rivalry games?

- 3 BIG GAMES

• Iron Bowl / Apple Cup / USF vs. CFla

- #GetPaid 2017 - 119-94-9 for +17.5 / 12-13-2 for +0.5

- Wash St. +10 at Wash, 4* / Virginia +7 vs. VTech, 3*

- Arkansas +11 vs. Mizz, 2* / Cal +7.5 at UCLA, 2*

1. Review/Preview

* Lions Review

- As I said in the show last week...likely won’t be pretty, but they will find a way

- Undefeated on the road in the division for the first time in franchise history

- Overcame ANOTHER brutal start with a huge 2nd quarter where they scored 21 points and that ultimately was the difference in the game Game Balls = Stafford, Stafford, Stafford, and Stafford (no run game / minimal protection / adequate WR’s / wins games) ---- oh, and Prater

Kick in the Morningwheg’s = Run defense (222 yds), rush offense (24-65), first and third quarters

* Lions Preview

- The biggest football game in Matt Stafford’s Lions career? Probably not. He’s played in playoff games, the last 3 games last year were pretty big, but this one is in the discussion

- Lions won the game in October 14-7 100% on the back of their defense. Gave up only 284 yards of total offense, 15 first downs and turned them over 3 times

- The Vikings roll into the motor city 5th in the NFL in total defense, that is not a surprise. They are also 5th in the NFL in total offense, at 373 yards per game. That is on their backup QB, backup RB, and a completely overhauled offensive line. There may not be a bigger story in the NFL this year than the Minnesota Vikings offense.

- One reason for that = Case Keenum. 66% of balls for 2,100 yards, 12 TD’s / 5 INT’s. That is above expectations. However, recently, Keenum, over the last 6 games has 9 TDs and 5 INTs.

Keys

1. Minnesota is 8th in the league in rush offense. We just gave up 200 yards rushing to the Browns and Bears. That is going to cost us a win at some point and this could be it

2. How much better does #9 play than Case Keenum. It was just a little the first time. If it’s just a little again, I’m not sure we can win.

3. First and third quarters. It has to improve. Another developing achilles heel that has to fall primarily on the coaching staff

4. Will the real offensive line please stand up. It’s been a shell of what was expected. Lang banged up all year. Wagner hurt and then doesn’t play well, Decker hurt and rusty.

• Lions 21 / Vikings 20 --- it’s our time to make a run

* Michigan Review

1. Probably should have won the game...pivoted on the 3rd and 20 when Jalen Kelly-Powell got burned. Only in the game because Hill is out and it rears it’s ugly head.

2. Shocked at how ill prepared they are at QB. Peters is doing an admirable job but not ready. When he goes out JOK is just awful. It’s to the point where I feel bad for him. Does not want to be out there and not capable of doing anything. That’s all on Harbaugh. How he doesn’t have these guys ready is shocking.

3. Defense was plenty good enough. That said the offense has to do something. Anything. It’s really frustrating as this team could have taken advantage of an ill equipped BigTen and been at least 10-2.

4. The fact Speight did not play this season, in meaningful games, kept this offense from improving. Had he stayed in then this team likely would have improved and could have at least one if not two games. It’s not an excuse but it is reality. The fact they don’t have a good backup is on the staff.

* Michigan Preview

1. Not sure I see how this happens...It certainly can’t with JOK at the helm. No chance. Peters must play and play well.

2. Offensive line must get a push and not put Michigan in 3rd and long

3. Michigan defense must turn JT over and score.

4. S/T must also factor in. Need a big play.

Prediction: Ohio State 34-20...Michigan can’t score and Ohio State gets two late touchdowns to make it look like a beating.

* Spartans Review

- 2 star performance

- MSU bounced back with a win...that’s about all there is to say. Brutal conditions, which has kind of been the theme for MSU this year, really bad weather games. Jumped out to a 17-0 lead, kind of shut it down, Maryland started fighting back and made it a little bit of a game

- MSU won the game with 51 carries for 271 yards, including a career-high 29 for LJ (147)

- Held Maryland to 204 yards of total offense, including 83 on the ground

Game Balls = OLine and RB’s / Kenny Willekes with 2 sacks, 9 tackles, 3 TFL, what a year for the 0 star

Brady Hoke Award = Lewerke, 2/14 for 20 yards / red zone errors = fumble + penalties

* Spartans Preview

- MSU hits the road to Piscateway, NJ to take on Rutgers as the Spartans hope to flip last year’s 3-9 into a 9-3. BTW, Sagarin ratings came out this week, MSU has played the 4th hardest schedule in the USA. Pretty tough

- MSU on the road this year, won by 4 at UM, lost at NWestern, blown out at OSU. Rutgers isn’t any of those teams, but MSU hasn’t won a game by more than 10 points since September 9th. This isn’t the kind of team built to really blow anyone out

- Having said that, it should be a good matchup for MSU. Of all the stats Rutgers is best at, it’s running the ball, at 6th in the B1G at 160 yards per game, which is right at MSU’s strength. Rutgers is 14th in the B1G in total offense and 10th in total defense. They are coming off a blow-out at the hands of the Hoosiers.

- It’s the kind of game where it looks like MSU wins in a blow-out, but that hasn’t happened since Bowling Green. It didn’t even happen at home against Maryland

- FINISH THE RACE

• You have a chance to go 9-3, the teams you lost to are (26-7 and the WORST is likely to finish at 9-3), but maybe even more important 6-2 in the Big 10 and one of the best divisions in football, the Big Ten East

• You are 2-1 against Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan

• By kickoff you will know if you are playing for co-champs of the B1G East (trophy?)

• You will likely finish ahead of Michigan in the division / tied with Penn State and all their preseason accolades

• Don’t turn it over, limit penalties, stop the run, run the ball, FINISH THE RACE

• MSU 27 / Rutgers 14 in a game that’s uncomfortably close for awhile