Game 15: #17 Michigan St at #8 Kansas St

If you missed the introduction post about the Playoff, no problem! Read it here: http://short-sideoption.blogspot.com/2012/02/ok-cowboy-cardinal-and-duck-fans-this.html

 

#17 Michigan St at #8 Kansas St is up today, but first here are the reality bites:

Here’s a good podcast from Brett McMurphy covering further expansion possibilities as well as the likely Plus 1 model College Football will adopt:  http://eye-on-collegefootball.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/24156338/35032425

MGOBLOG wrote a good article here describing the reason playoffs are being considered, declining advertising numbers during bowl games.  Read more here:  http://mgoblog.com/content/real-reason-were-talking-playoffs

Dan Wetzel from Yahoo writes a good article here about how the powers that be need to keep it simple when talking playoff formats, read more here:  http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news;_ylt=At5wSjqAyLWLVh7l9UKuzlMcvrYF?slug=dw-wetzel_college_football_playoff_keep_simple_022912

ESPN writes an interesting article about how the ACC could be involved in saving some of the rivalries that died this last year from expansion, read more here:  . http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/7633311/next-round-realignment-renew-rivalries

Nick Saban has agreed to offer 4 year scholarships starting next year, read more here:   http://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1337082

Now on to the playoffs!

Game 15:  #17 Michigan State at #8 Kansas State

December 24, 2011

Kickoff:  11:00 am

Location: Manhattan, Kansas

Weather: 39 degrees, clear, 6 mph wind

EA Sports Ratings:        Kansas St, Overall: B+, Offense: B, Defense: B

                                       Michigan St, Overall: B+, Offense: A-, Defense: B+

After all the high flying score fests we’ve had in this virtual playoff so far, this would be a throw back game.  Both these coaches will run the ball and play good defense to win ball games.  Instead of trying to run by each other, these two teams would stand toe to toe and trade blows to see which one blinks first.  Mark Dantonio vs Bill Snyder is definitely an old school vs old school match up that would make a playoff that much more fun to see. 

1^st Quarter:

            -Kansas St takes the opening drive and marches into FG range scoring with a

 Anthony Cantele 44 yard FG.                                                                                        (3-0 KSU)

            -Michigan St takes its first possession and responds with a 6 yard TD pass from

 Kirk Cousins to Brian Linthicum.                                                                                    (7-3 MSU)

            -Michigan St forces Kansas St to punt, then takes its next drive down the field

 for a 1 yard Edwin Baker TD run.                                                                                  (14-3 MSU)

2^nd Quarter:

            -Colin Klein leads KSU down the field to open the 2^nd qtr and they get on the board

 with a 5 yard TD pass to Broderick Smith from Colin Klein.                                             (14-10 MSU)

            -On the ensuing drive, Edwin Baker gets in the endzone again with a 3 yard TD run.       (21-10 MSU)

            -On the last drive of the half, Michigan St scores with an 8 yard TD pass to

 Brian Linthicum from Kirk Cousins.                                                                              (28-10 MSU)

3^rd Quarter:

            -Michigan St takes the opening drive of the 2^nd half and drives it down the field to score

 with a 1 yard TD pass from Kirk Cousins to Donald Spencer.                                   (35-10 MSU)

-Kansas St responds on its first drive with a 1 yard TD run from Colin Klein.            (35-17 MSU)

-After trading punts, Michigan St scores the final points of the 3^rd qtr with a 9 yard TD

 pass from Kirk Cousins to BJ Cunningham.                                                                 (42-17 MSU)

           

4^th Quarter:

            -Kansas St tries to get back in the game with a 1 yard TD run from Colin Klein.           (42-24 MSU)

            -Michigan St ends the game with a 39 yard FG from Dan Conroy.                                 (45-24 MSU)

                       

Kansas St Stats:

Passing:           Colin Klein, 20/29, 241 yards, 1 TD

Rushing:           Colin Klein, 18 att, 57 yards, 2 TD

Receiving:        Chris Harper, 9 rec, 111 yards

                          Tramaine Thompson, 4 rec, 36 yards

Defense:           1 Sack

Total Offense:   323 yards

Passing:            241 yards

Rushing:              82 yards

Michigan St Stats

Passing:           Kirk Cousins, 30/47, 405 yards, 5 TD

Rushing:           Edwin Baker, 30 att, 185 yards, 2 TD

Receiving:        BJ Cunningham, 12 rec, 169 yards, 1 TD

                          Keshawn Martin, 8 rec, 138 yards, 1 TD

Defense:           1 Sack

Total Offense:   648 yards

Passing:            431 yards

Rushing:            217 yards

Box Score

           

                                    1Q        2Q        3Q        4Q        T 

Michigan St                   14       14        14          3       45

Kansas St                      3          7          7           7       24

Next Game:  #9 South Carolina at #1 LSU

I will post a new game every weekday before noon.