Why Michigan State will win the playoff: Built to beat anyone

Why Michigan State will win the playoff: Built to beat anyone 

EDITOR'S NOTE: FOX Sports college football columnists Stewart Mandel and Bruce Feldman think a handful of teams have a legitimate shot at hoisting the College Football Playoff trophy this season. This week, they'll make a case for each of those squads.
MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS
1. What we like: Start with a proven stud QB. Connor Cook is big, athletic, smart and seasoned. The 6-4, 220-pound senior is 16-1 against Big Ten teams and 3-0 as a starter in postseason games. Cook has shown he can read defenses and get deep into his progressions and can also adeptly handle pressure. According to Pro Football Focus, he threw 16 TDs and just one INT when blitzed. Another plus for him and the Spartans is they return four starters on the O-line, anchored by center Jack Allen and OT Jack Conklin. Junior Josiah Price is one of the Big Ten's best tight ends.
MSU is also loaded on the D-line, too, sparked by All-American DE Shilique Calhoun and gifted DTs Lawrence Thomas and Malik McDowell. Mark Dantonio also can rotate a bunch of athletic big bodies in along the front, which figures to be the best one the Spartans have had in years. When you can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the trenches -- and have a big-time QB -- you can beat anyone. Better still, Dantonio knows how to win big games. He's 4-1 in his past five games against top 5-ranked opponents.

LooseGoose wrote:Better still, Dantonio knows how to win big games. He's 4-1 in his past five games against top 5-ranked opponents.

That's an impressive stat.

Giant Moose wrote:

LooseGoose wrote:Better still, Dantonio knows how to win big games. He's 4-1 in his past five games against top 5-ranked opponents.

That's an impressive stat.

#ReachHigherPlease

This is going to be a slog of a year, I think.

Adam Rittenberg ‏@ESPNRittenberg 4m4 minutes ago
So few Top 10 teams have this combination. Not enough people talking about Spartans as a contender.



Bruce Feldman ‏@BruceFeldmanCFB 6m6 minutes ago
Connor Cook Terrific O-Line Terrific D-line Superb coach > Why #MichiganState can win the national title: http://foxs.pt/1UOsXdR

LooseGoose wrote:Adam Rittenberg ‏@ESPNRittenberg 4m4 minutes ago
So few Top 10 teams have this combination. Not enough people talking about Spartans as a contender.



Bruce Feldman ‏@BruceFeldmanCFB 6m6 minutes ago
Connor Cook Terrific O-Line Terrific D-line Superb coach > Why #MichiganState can win the national title: http://foxs.pt/1UOsXdR

Aren't we the only Top 10 team that has Connor Cook?

Giant Moose wrote:

LooseGoose wrote:Adam Rittenberg ‏@ESPNRittenberg  4m4 minutes ago  
So few Top 10 teams have this combination. Not enough people talking about Spartans as a contender.



Bruce Feldman ‏@BruceFeldmanCFB  6m6 minutes ago  
Connor Cook Terrific O-Line Terrific D-line Superb coach > Why #MichiganState can win the national title: http://foxs.pt/1UOsXdR

Aren't we the only Top 10 team that has Connor Cook?

Yes and that narrows the list considerably.  

I think Feldman was referring to "stud" QB in reference to 'Bama and others still looking for a starter.

Giant Moose wrote:

LooseGoose wrote:Adam Rittenberg ‏@ESPNRittenberg 4m4 minutes ago
So few Top 10 teams have this combination. Not enough people talking about Spartans as a contender.



Bruce Feldman ‏@BruceFeldmanCFB 6m6 minutes ago
Connor Cook Terrific O-Line Terrific D-line Superb coach > Why #MichiganState can win the national title: http://foxs.pt/1UOsXdR

Aren't we the only Top 10 team that has Connor Cook?

1 out of 10 = "so few"

Giant Moose wrote:

LooseGoose wrote:Better still, Dantonio knows how to win big games. He's 4-1 in his past five games against top 5-ranked opponents.

That's an impressive stat.

Yes, yes it is. 

Don't forget about Meechigan though, they have Harbaugh

Brock Middlebrook wrote:Don't forget about Meechigan though, they have Harbaugh

solid UM reference in a thread about why we'll win the National Championship.

GO GREEN!

Dream Big!

Robert J Sakimano wrote:

Brock Middlebrook wrote:Don't forget about Meechigan though, they have Harbaugh

solid UM reference in a thread about why we'll win the National Championship.

GO GREEN!

chills.. +1

Giant Moose wrote:

LooseGoose wrote:Better still, Dantonio knows how to win big games. He's 4-1 in his past five games against top 5-ranked opponents.

That's an impressive stat.

Not really when you factor in all the OSU losses. Not sure how true it really is

Blanch32 wrote:

Giant Moose wrote:
That's an impressive stat.

Not really when you factor in all the OSU losses.  Not sure how true it really is

You mean the 2-4 record including 2-2 in the last 4 meetings once his program was more fully in place?   Yeah, you're right - he really does suck, let's fire him!!

Blanch32 wrote:

Giant Moose wrote:
That's an impressive stat.

Not really when you factor in all the OSU losses. Not sure how true it really is

All one of those losses to OSU in the last five times we've played a top five team. Fucking fire Coach D already.

Also, article says MSU hasn't won @ OSU in its last 5 attempts, not exactly true

Robert J Sakimano wrote:

Brock Middlebrook wrote:Don't forget about Meechigan though, they have Harbaugh

solid UM reference in a thread about why we'll win the National Championship.

GO GREEN!