Talking CFB: A Simple Way to Improve The Program MSU Needs to Schedule Easier OOC Opponents

by **steveschneider** 2022-11-14, 08:50

Tip of the cap to UofM they get it right. They make sure their schedule is a cake walk and this strategy pays off in dividends. Their stats are inflated vs weak opponents so on data tables they are towards the top which the selection committe will see. They also benefit from a horrible conference and have made their schedule down to one game that matters...the game. Also, their easy schedule will most likely help their RB get an invite to NY for the Heisman Trophy.

MSU needs to stop scheduling University of Washington, or University of Miami and go for an easy/winnable game where you can avoid injuries and develop depth in garbage minutes. Sure we can win these games but there is more downside than up. The goal for MSU going forward should be to get to 3-0 in OOC games and then run the table up to the Michigan game. The Big Ten has a historically bad record traveling out west for games and Spartan Rocky has me convinced that the trip out west drained our team and hindered preparation vs Minnesota. At the very least I'd rather have started this season 3-0 and be at 6-4 right now with a chance to have a nine win season.

by **NigelUno** 2022-11-14, 09:25

Yes. In hindsight, we should have scheduled a for sure win.

In reference to UM, the committee already publicly dinged them for their weak non-conference schedule. If they win out, it won't matter. If they lose, then it will come into play vs. other 1 loss teams (Tennessee, USC maybe, Georgia if they get upset by LSU). A win vs. UCLA would look pretty good on their resume.

by **duffy munn** 2022-11-14, 09:43

Scorching hot take fucking Steve

by **NigelUno** 2022-11-14, 09:51

duffy munn wrote:Scorching hot take fucking Steve

Let’s try decaf on that 2nd cup next time.

by **duffy munn** 2022-11-14, 10:03

NigelUno wrote:
duffy munn wrote:Scorching hot take fucking Steve
Let’s try decaf on that 2nd cup next time.

Decaf is pointless. Kinda like NA beer.

by **steveschneider** 2022-11-14, 10:06

NigelUno wrote:Yes. In hindsight, we should have scheduled a for sure win.

In reference to UM, the committee already publicly dinged them for their weak non-conference schedule. If they win out, it won't matter. If they lose, then it will come into play vs. other 1 loss teams (Tennessee, USC maybe, Georgia if they get upset by LSU). A win vs. UCLA would look pretty good on their resume.

In hindsight yes but also looking forward time to implement this strategy. I see MSU fans ripping UofM for their weak schedule all over twitter and the occasional pundit rip them as well but it is the right tactic. The committee has dinged them but they beat OSU it won't matter.

by **steveschneider** 2022-11-14, 10:06

duffy munn wrote:Scorching hot take fucking Steve

I'll take that as we are in agreement. Talking CFB: A Simple Way to Improve The Program MSU Needs to Schedule Easier OOC Opponents 969504605

by **Turtleneck** 2022-11-14, 10:12

NigelUno wrote:
duffy munn wrote:Scorching hot take fucking Steve
Let’s try decaf on that 2nd cup next time.

Talking CFB: A Simple Way to Improve The Program MSU Needs to Schedule Easier OOC Opponents 9ace92f7-2331-43de-bfb1-e5692e7f0744_1.4f71c631775816745e804ce16c40266d

by **NigelUno** 2022-11-14, 10:21

steveschneider wrote:
NigelUno wrote:Yes. In hindsight, we should have scheduled a for sure win.

In reference to UM, the committee already publicly dinged them for their weak non-conference schedule. If they win out, it won't matter. If they lose, then it will come into play vs. other 1 loss teams (Tennessee, USC maybe, Georgia if they get upset by LSU). A win vs. UCLA would look pretty good on their resume.

In hindsight yes but also looking forward time to implement this strategy. I see MSU fans ripping UofM for their weak schedule all over twitter and the occasional pundit rip them as well but it is the right tactic. The committee has dinged them but they beat OSU it won't matter.

Correct. An undefeated team will get in the CFP no matter what. But a 1 loss UM (or OSU for that matter) will get judged on non-conference.

Say...you have a choice between a 1 loss OSU (with a win over ND) and 1 loss Clemson (who has a loss to ND). Guessing OSU might get the nod (if they lost a close game to UM).

That's not something we have to worry about at the moment.

Next year, we get Washington at home. @ BC in 2024. Home BC in 2025.

I'm fine with keeping those games.

by **duffy munn** 2022-11-14, 10:22

steveschneider wrote:
duffy munn wrote:Scorching hot take fucking Steve

I'll take that as we are in agreement.

No we are not. As a fan I have no desire to watch MSU play Buffalo. Even if it means we can get to bowl game more easily. The fans deserve to get something for what they pay for at SS. I loved George's scheduling. Seeing us play USC, FSU, ND, Miami and Nebraska ( when they were Nebraska) was cool.

Cupcakes are for pussies. Anyone, any place, anytime.

by **Other Teams Pursuing That** 2022-11-14, 10:32

I disagree, Steve. I’d rather watch them play cool non conference games.

by **steveschneider** 2022-11-14, 10:39

duffy munn wrote:
steveschneider wrote:

I'll take that as we are in agreement.

No we are not. As a fan I have no desire to watch MSU play Buffalo. Even if it means we can get to bowl game more easily. The fans deserve to get something for what they pay for at SS. I loved George's scheduling. Seeing us play USC, FSU, ND, Miami and Nebraska ( when they were Nebraska) was cool.

Cupcakes are for pussies. Anyone, any place, anytime.

The game has changed a lot in the last 30 years. I'll take 3-0 to start the year and set are selves up for being undefeated vs UofM in October. Scheduling cupcakes isn't for 'pussies' it's a winning tactic. College football has a beauty pageant element....even Bret Bielema was looking smart going 7-1 against a bunch of cupcakes.

by **NigelUno** 2022-11-14, 10:41

Other Teams Pursuing That wrote:I disagree, Steve. I’d rather watch them play cool non conference games.

BC isn't exactly a powerhouse, but that might be a fun trip.

And we get ND in 2026 and 2027 (unless conference realignment messes it up).

I'd rather play someone in the South than the West though. For sure.

Georgia Tech. Auburn. LSU. Somebody like that.

by **Motown Spartan** 2022-11-14, 10:42

I wonder how Steve would be as a sports radio host.

by **NigelUno** 2022-11-14, 10:45

steveschneider wrote:
duffy munn wrote:

No we are not. As a fan I have no desire to watch MSU play Buffalo. Even if it means we can get to bowl game more easily. The fans deserve to get something for what they pay for at SS. I loved George's scheduling. Seeing us play USC, FSU, ND, Miami and Nebraska ( when they were Nebraska) was cool.

Cupcakes are for pussies. Anyone, any place, anytime.

The game has changed a lot in the last 30 years. I'll take 3-0 to start the year and set are selves up for being undefeated vs UofM in October. Scheduling cupcakes isn't for 'pussies' it's a winning tactic. College football has a beauty pageant element....even Bret Bielema was looking smart going 7-1 against a bunch of cupcakes.

Their cupcakes included teams in the Big Ten West also.

by **NigelUno** 2022-11-14, 10:45

Motown Spartan wrote:I wonder how Steve would be as a sports radio host.

Excellent. You have to have opinions to get people to call in.

by **steveschneider** 2022-11-14, 10:46

Motown Spartan wrote:I wonder how Steve would be as a sports radio host.

I can answer that for you. It would be awesome.

by **steveschneider** 2022-11-14, 10:48

NigelUno wrote:
steveschneider wrote:

The game has changed a lot in the last 30 years. I'll take 3-0 to start the year and set are selves up for being undefeated vs UofM in October. Scheduling cupcakes isn't for 'pussies' it's a winning tactic. College football has a beauty pageant element....even Bret Bielema was looking smart going 7-1 against a bunch of cupcakes.

Their cupcakes included teams in the Big Ten West also.

True but I think this years 7-1 Illinois is exhibit 1-a of the power of a weak schedule...it had people saying even Bret Bielema was smart. I rest my case your honor.

by **Trapper Gus** 2022-11-14, 10:51

duffy munn wrote:
steveschneider wrote:

I'll take that as we are in agreement.

No we are not. As a fan I have no desire to watch MSU play Buffalo. Even if it means we can get to bowl game more easily. The fans deserve to get something for what they pay for at SS. I loved George's scheduling. Seeing us play USC, FSU, ND, Miami and Nebraska ( when they were Nebraska) was cool.

Cupcakes are for pussies. Anyone, any place, anytime.

If football was a contact sport like basketball, I would agree. But as Duffy said, it is a colision sport. Even playing the cupcakes MSU lost two of their top defensive players for an extended time. Playing a higher level team is more wear on the top players.

Other than that it depends on the team goals. If it is exciting games the sure, schedule the better teams, if it is a NC then cupcakes.

by **Trapper Gus** 2022-11-14, 10:54

NigelUno wrote:
Other Teams Pursuing That wrote:I disagree, Steve. I’d rather watch them play cool non conference games.

BC isn't exactly a powerhouse, but that might be a fun trip.

And we get ND in 2026 and 2027 (unless conference realignment messes it up).

I'd rather play someone in the South than the West though. For sure.

Georgia Tech. Auburn. LSU. Somebody like that.

Agree, west coast trips are tiring for the team, stick to east of the mountains.

by **Motown Spartan** 2022-11-14, 10:55

NigelUno wrote:
Motown Spartan wrote:I wonder how Steve would be as a sports radio host.

Excellent. You have to have opinions to get people to call in.

Coming up at the top of the hour, Paulina Gretzky…hot or not? Let’s hear from the audience.

by **NigelUno** 2022-11-14, 10:58

steveschneider wrote:
NigelUno wrote:

Their cupcakes included teams in the Big Ten West also.

True but I think this years 7-1 Illinois is exhibit 1-a of the power of a weak schedule...it had people saying even Bret Bielema was smart. I rest my case your honor.

We beat Illinois though.

by **steveschneider** 2022-11-14, 10:58

Trapper Gus wrote:
NigelUno wrote:

BC isn't exactly a powerhouse, but that might be a fun trip.

And we get ND in 2026 and 2027 (unless conference realignment messes it up).

I'd rather play someone in the South than the West though. For sure.

Georgia Tech. Auburn. LSU. Somebody like that.

Agree, west coast trips are tiring for the team, stick to east of the mountains.

I read an article from Seattle about the Huskies match-up with MSU and it outlined top to bottom how bad the Big Ten conference is at traveling out west. We found out this September that hydration and compression socks aren't going to help make up for the 3 hour time zone difference.

by **steveschneider** 2022-11-14, 10:59

NigelUno wrote:
steveschneider wrote:

True but I think this years 7-1 Illinois is exhibit 1-a of the power of a weak schedule...it had people saying even Bret Bielema was smart. I rest my case your honor.

We beat Illinois though.

It cuts both ways that was looked at as an impressive win for the Spartans.

by **Motown Spartan** 2022-11-14, 11:04

What about when USC and UCLA are in the B1G? West coast trips will become the norm.

by **NigelUno** 2022-11-14, 11:12

Motown Spartan wrote:What about when USC and UCLA are in the B1G? West coast trips will become the norm.

Maybe not. You could add USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington to the West...move Purdue and Illinois to the East (and play 8 game division only conference schedules), or add 6 teams and play 9 game conference schedules.

by **kingstonlake** 2022-11-14, 11:21

I don’t think it’s right to jam season tickets holders for $$ and a shitty non conference home schedule. Then tell them if they want to see a good game they can spend another $4000 in January and travel to Orlando, Tampa, or Miami to see that game.

by **steveschneider** 2022-11-14, 11:32

MSU Attendance

vs Western Michigan 73,928 99%
vs Akron Attendance: 70,079 93%

by **Trapper Gus** 2022-11-14, 11:48

Motown Spartan wrote:What about when USC and UCLA are in the B1G? West coast trips will become the norm.

Just another reason adding them to.the B1G makes little sense.

by **Trapper Gus** 2022-11-14, 11:51

kingstonlake wrote:I don’t think it’s right to jam season tickets holders for $$ and a shitty non conference home schedule. Then tell them if they want to see a good game they can spend another $4000 in January and travel to Orlando, Tampa, or Miami to see that game.

It depends on the program's goals.

A. Exciting football every game
B . National Championships

It this era of college football you can have one or the other.

by **steveschneider** 2022-11-14, 11:56

Trapper Gus wrote:
Motown Spartan wrote:What about when USC and UCLA are in the B1G? West coast trips will become the norm.

Just another reason adding them to.the B1G makes little sense.

by **kingstonlake** 2022-11-14, 12:02

Trapper Gus wrote:
kingstonlake wrote:I don’t think it’s right to jam season tickets holders for $$ and a shitty non conference home schedule. Then tell them if they want to see a good game they can spend another $4000 in January and travel to Orlando, Tampa, or Miami to see that game.

It depends on the program's goals.

A. Exciting football every game
B . National Championships

It this era of college football you can have one or the other.

Ohio St…..
Georgia…..
Penn St….
Utah…..
Tennessee…..
BYU…..
Washington….
Texas A&M…..

by **Dendrobates** 2022-11-14, 14:43

Other Teams Pursuing That wrote:I disagree, Steve. I’d rather watch them play cool non conference games.

This.
I get it. And I want MSU to be qualified for a playoff game. But they're no where close to it now as it is.
I enjoy seeing them play different teams.
But maybe it won't matter as much with the new conference.

by **duffy munn** 2022-11-14, 15:52

Motown Spartan wrote:I wonder how Steve would be as a sports radio host.

Poorly. Very poorly.

by **NigelUno** 2022-11-14, 16:00

duffy munn wrote:
Motown Spartan wrote:I wonder how Steve would be as a sports radio host.

Poorly. Very poorly.

At any rate....

by **steveschneider** 2022-11-14, 16:33

duffy munn wrote:
Motown Spartan wrote:I wonder how Steve would be as a sports radio host.

Poorly. Very poorly.

I'm interpreting this as you would be a listener.

by **Trapper Gus** 2022-11-14, 16:35

kingstonlake wrote:
Trapper Gus wrote:

It depends on the program's goals.

A. Exciting football every game
B . National Championships

It this era of college football you can have one or the other.

Ohio St…..
Georgia…..
Penn St….
Utah…..
Tennessee…..
BYU…..
Washington….
Texas A&M…..

Remind me which of those teams won the NCG in the modern play off era. OSU & ?

by **The Pantry** 2022-11-14, 17:48

Still haven't read steve's posts since he came back. This thread title makes me glad.

by **NigelUno** 2022-11-14, 18:10

by **Other Teams Pursuing That** 2022-11-14, 18:22

Guys can we not?

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