Up or down Penn State?

So, Penn State losing on Saturday wasn't really a great thing for the Spartans. Now we don't control our destiny as much, because we lose in head-to-head tiebreaker with Ohio State IF we can beat Penn State in Happy Valley.

But really, what are our chances in Happy Valley? Will Penn State come out flat in its next two games now that its national title hopes are dead or will the Nittany Lions be so angry that anyone in their way will be trampled?

How does Penn State's loss affect MSU's chances in two weeks?

Comments

[SpartyOn]

This sound very familiar. Remember the 1999 MSU/PSU game? Penn St was a national title contender two weeks prior to their matchup with us. When the game finally came around, they were on a 2 game losing streak. (sans Arrington, if memory serves). Now I don't expect Penn St to lose to Indy next week, but they definately won't have quite the same focus as they are now "resigned" to having to play in the rose bowl.

[max8700]

Gonna be weird for MSU fans to be rooting for U-M to beat OSU in a couple of weeks. That PSU loss was not good for the Spartans' Rose Bowl chances!

[dmbtierney]

Just as important to beating PSU and OSU losing is someone has to beat Oregon St. otherwise, they clinch a Rose Bowl bid, probably put USC in as an at-large team, effectively eliminating two B10 teams in the BCS. Too many things have to happen for MSU to get a BCS bid--January 1st in Tampa seems most likely, with Orlando next.

[bradford]

the rose bowl would be nice, but isn't it really more about at least tying for the big ten title? thats my hope anyway and if msu loses a tiebreaker for the rose bowl so be it. doesn't change the fact that msu would have won the big ten this year.

keep in mind that ohio state has to play at illinois this week. ill hasnt been very consistent, but they're certainly capable for beating the sweater vest. so, it might not come down to having to root for michigan.

the odds of indiana beating penn state are real, real slim. even if penn state comes out completely flat. but, wins by indiana and illinois guarantee a share of the title for msu. that makes my favorites teams this week the hoosiers, illini, and wildcats.

[George]

Someone earlier stated that it would be weird to root for Michigan to beat Ohio State so that we would have a chance to go to the Rose Bowl. In no shape or form will I ever root for those Weasles. There is no shame to be co-companions with Ohio State if we can win in Happy Valley. The Capital One or the Champ Bowl is good enough for me. Go State!

[Ben Green]

I think the Spartan's have a shot. But that's what I thought the week after they beat Northwestern and played Ohio State.

It will be tough to beat Penn State no matter that Penn State lost to Iowa or not. They want a BCS bid. They have talent.

But I'm impressed that the Spartans have a never give up mentality. Kudos to Dantonio. They will be healed and with 2 weeks prep time they should be prepared.

If I were betting on the game I'd have to go with Penn State. Hope I'm wrong.

[Sparty of Kansas]

MSU has done a great job this year. THeir work ethic is a credit tot he players and coaching staff. Coach Dantonio has done a wonderful job. Class act.
Having said that, PSU will beat us. There still is a gap between MSU, and the PSU and OSUs of the world. I would love for them to win, but lets get realistic. OSU spanked us big time, and they could do nothing vs PSU. HOyer is going to have to have the game of his life, and the Spartan D is going to have to contain the speed and versalitlty of the PSU offense for a full 60 minutes for MSU to have any shot. Dont think that is going to happen in 08.
Nonetheless, the coaching staff and players deserve alot of kudos for this year.

[Fred]

1999, yes.

The key is that MSU still wins a share of the Big Ten title if they beat Penn State. That should be motivation enough for the Spartans to play well.

At their best, MSU can beat PSU. Unfortunately, we don't really know what that "best" is right now ...

[JMoist]

Thank you George... there are zero circumstances out there that would ever lead me to root for scUM... ZERO!

[Ike]

When was the last time MSU won in Happy Valley?

[Jason Wirtz]

IF we don't end up in the Rose Bowl, where will we land?

[sparty2sparty]

A true Spartan would never root for u fem no matter what!

Go Spartans!!

[max8700]

Here's the bowl tie-ins for the Big Ten, to answer a previous question:

First place/Big Ten champion: Rose Bowl
2nd place: Capital One bowl, Orlando
3rd place: Outback Bowl, Tampa, Florida
4th place: Alamo Bowl,San Antonio, Texas
5th place: Champs Sports Bowl: Orlando, Florida
6th place: Insight Bowl, Tempe, Arizona
7th place: Motor City Bowl: Detroit, Michigan

So, assuming OSU wins out and MSU loses to PSU,it'd be PSU in the Rose, OSU in the Capital One and MSU in the Outback.

The only catch: A BCS bowl can select a 2nd Big Ten team if they already have exhausted their own bowl tie-ins. So if OSU got picked for the Orange, Sugar or Fiesta, MSU could move up a slot. But taking into account OSU's recent bowl performances, and with a plethora of other good teams likely to be available (Texas, Oklahoma, Florida-Alabama loser, etc.), I don't think that's likely.

[spartanforever]

MSU is a nice university-we have abided by the rules,but sometimes we are left scratching our collective heads-at one time if you won or tied for the big ten championship,we agreed ,that you could not go to the rose bowl,if you went last year(that was back when we were winning a lot and favored to win the big ten),then they changed it back so it did not matter and woolvy and the bukeyes had a 20 yr run.

Funny how those things work their way out,kind of like our economy and monopoly.It does matter if we go to the rosebowl,but hope woolvy wins,I have nothing against them or nothing for them-we had our opportunity and we did not beat OSu.I accept our fate and it tells us what we have to do in the future,"keep our fate in your own hands."

[spartanforever]

Lets hope xmas comes, over this 2-wk,period for us in the form of some wish list recruits.we could really use those two kids from Compton California...

[LeeBee]

max8700 Good summary. However, isn't is 2nd Pick, not 2nd Place?
While is USUALLY is the same, it doesn't have to be.

[SpartinInYork]

Haven't been reviewing this blog for awhile. What happened to Mark Feather?
I'm not sure we have ever won in Happy Valley. This year would be a good year to change that!

[rob]

12,865 at Ford Field for the WMU vs. Illinois game?!! GVSU draws better than that....so do Lowell and Rockford High Schools. I don't know what is more pathetic....the lack of fan support from WMU alums in the Detroit area or the fact that Illinois agreed to play them there in the first place.

In the end though, a big loss for the Illini and the Big Ten. We will sell more seats but I sure hope we don't have the same problems. Could be another CMU all over again.

[max8700]

Hey LeeBee, you are right, it is "second pick" and not place. In the case of a tie, a bowl can select who they want, though I think there is gentleman's agreement to basically follow the regular tiebreakers. But you never know!

[Duffy Perles]

1965 - MSU 23, PSU 0 in Happy Valley. Hard for even the most optimistic Spartan fan to see a win there this year, I'm sure they'll have a white out or something and that's gotta be one of the best home crowds in the country. At least PSU can hammer IU and get some of that anger out of their system.

[Derrick in SD]

I hate to say it, but I don't want any piece of USC in the Rose Bowl- they would destroy us. Let Ohio State go get thumped, and we'll take a tough but winnable game in Orlando or Tampa.

[spartan fan]

I tend to agree with Derrick in SD.

Nice this time to be even discussing this stuff. Been a long time coming. I must admit that a few times this year I was waiting for the "inevitable" collapse. Versus UofM I was waiting for another of their patented comebacks at our expense.

Didn't happen.

I was waiting for Purdue to mount a comeback with 5 minutes to go or less. Heck, it was just 21 - zip and this is MSU, ya know!

Didn't happen!

I was waiting to see the folding of the tents when we got way behind against Wisconsin.

But we didn't fold, we kept focused and kept playing and pulled it out.

I really really really want to believe that SOS is dead, dead, dead. I think it is...finally.

Pardon me, fans and fellow bloggers, but I've been watching these guys for almost 50 years and it has been alot of the same things, save for a few glory years with Duffy. Not enough consistent highs to offset the horrible lows. I wish I had a nickle for every time we were "first and goal" and fumbled the ball. Anything can happen in this game and it usually does TO THE SPARTANS. Bad calls, inopportune holding penalties, the errant tip and pick for a score, the blocked FG attempt vs OSU when Stanton was screaming for the spike and a reset to get it right. Bobby, Muddy, Denny, John L......ahem!

Sorry if I'm guarded, but my faith is starting to improve thanks to the new mindset and the new toughness. All I really want is a contender...year after year. All I want is a return to the days when opponents FEARED us, win or lose. Somehow I'm feeling better these days.

I'll take a Jan 1 bowl game vs anyone...anywhere. It don't matter!!!

RESPECT!!!!!

[SpartinInYork]

Thanks Duffy Perles for the note on the last or only time MSU won in Happy Valley.
Should have known it was when we had the Duffy staff.
Our next Rose Bowl trip will most likely be in 2010. Next years' games on the road will be tough to repeat a 9 - 3 or 10 - 2 record.

[VA_Sparty]

If MSU gets a share of the Big Ten title it will not matter to me if we don't make the rose bowl...the Title means more!! There's no way the Big Ten is getting 2 BCS teams because the Big 12 is worthy of about 3! I don't think the Spartans can beat PSU because I agree with the writer earlier in that there is still a gap between MSU and OSU/PSU. However, I also don't expect them to get run out of the stadium like OSU did to us. I expect a close game, perhaps with a shot for MSU to win in the 4th.

[Marky Mangeeno]

Me hungry! Me eat Big Ten (plus 1)....