First off, I'm not unbiased, nor have I claimed to be. :lol2:

 

Secondly, I'm of the opinion that Michigan State is a slightly above average football team. They beat the crap out of a team that barely beat atrocious Notre Dame the week prior. The same Notre Dame team that just lost at home to Duke. Sorry if I don't find that impressive.

See I think MSU still owns Michigan until further notice. So if MSU is a slightly above average team, which I don't believe they are, then what does that make Michigan. I think MSU has the 4th best coach in college football behind Saban, Urban, and Shaw. I'm obviously not unbiased either, but I really am trying to be objective here.

A couple of thoughts to answer some of the questions presented:

 

1. I think Michigan State is going to be down this year by their standards, I have said that consistently. Not the same Sparty team this year, in my opinion. Their win over an average Notre Dame team didn't change that.

 

2. Just because Michigan hasn't beaten anyone good yet, doesn't mean they can't. Means they haven't had the chance. I believe that line of thought will be null and void on Saturday night.

 

3. I've watched Wisconsin 2x, and honestly, I think they have been very fortunate. I think Wisconsin is good enough to beat good teams, especially at home (or at Lambeau), but if you watched the Michigan State game, I personally felt like that was more about Sparty's self-destruction than the Badgers. I simply think Wiscy is over-valued right now. Again, I may look crazy on Saturday night, but I don't think so.

 

4. Michigan's bobby and joe's are just better than Wisconsin's, and I give Michigan the edge at coach as well. Mix in the venue and the atmosphere, and I think you see this game become Michigan's jumping-off point for 2016.

 

5. I loathe Michigan at a level that makes this entire post difficult for me to stomach.

 

6. @GrantNKY, you put Dantonio in a MUCH DIFFERENT place than I do in terms of his position among his peers. I think he is good, to be sure, but the 4th best coach in America? Wow! That is aggressive.

A couple of thoughts to answer some of the questions presented:

 

1. I think Michigan State is going to be down this year by their standards, I have said that consistently. Not the same Sparty team this year, in my opinion. Their win over an average Notre Dame team didn't change that.

 

2. Just because Michigan hasn't beaten anyone good yet, doesn't mean they can't. Means they haven't had the chance. I believe that line of thought will be null and void on Saturday night.

 

3. I've watched Wisconsin 2x, and honestly, I think they have been very fortunate. I think Wisconsin is good enough to beat good teams, especially at home (or at Lambeau), but if you watched the Michigan State game, I personally felt like that was more about Sparty's self-destruction than the Badgers. I simply think Wiscy is over-valued right now. Again, I may look crazy on Saturday night, but I don't think so.

 

4. Michigan's bobby and joe's are just better than Wisconsin's, and I give Michigan the edge at coach as well. Mix in the venue and the atmosphere, and I think you see this game become Michigan's jumping-off point for 2016.

 

5. I loathe Michigan at a level that makes this entire post difficult for me to stomach.

 

6. @GrantNKY, you put Dantonio in a MUCH DIFFERENT place than I do in terms of his position among his peers. I think he is good, to be sure, but the 4th best coach in America? Wow! That is aggressive.

Who consistently does more with less talent than Dantonio? MSU isn't sending players to the draft they are sending them to the workforce. I think if Dantonio ever had some good talent MSU would have won a NC by now. Who would you put above him besides the 3 I already mentioned?

I could accept Jimbo and Swinney. Outside of those 6 coaches I think there is a pretty decent drop off.

Urban Meyer

Nick Saban

Jimbo Fisher

Tom Herman

David Shaw

Dabo Swinney

Jim Harbaugh

Bobby Petrino

Kevin Sumlin

 

That's the top tier of coaching IMO.

 

I put Dantonio on the same level as guys like Butch Jones, Kyle Whittingham, Mike Riley, Mike Gundy, etc. Very good, but not the upper echelon.

Urban Meyer

Nick Saban

Jimbo Fisher

Tom Herman

David Shaw

Dabo Swinney

Jim Harbaugh

Bobby Petrino

Kevin Sumlin

 

That's the top tier of coaching IMO.

 

I put Dantonio on the same level as guys like Butch Jones, Kyle Whittingham, Mike Riley, Mike Gundy, etc. Very good, but not the upper echelon.

Surely you can't be serious? Butch Jones? Mike Riley? Dantonio wins 10 games every year! He's Mack Brown at Texas without Vince Young and less talent. Kevin Sumlin who has won absolutely nothing, Herman who I love btw is still only at Houston right now, Bobby Petrino (prisoner of the moment much?), and Harbaugh I sort of knew you would put him up there.

Urban Meyer

Nick Saban

Jimbo Fisher

Tom Herman

David Shaw

Dabo Swinney

Jim Harbaugh

Bobby Petrino

Kevin Sumlin

 

That's the top tier of coaching IMO.

 

I put Dantonio on the same level as guys like Butch Jones, Kyle Whittingham, Mike Riley, Mike Gundy, etc. Very good, but not the upper echelon.

 

Not sure if you're serious about the bolded? Compare the resumes of Dantonio and Sumlin and its no comparison.

 

Lets be honest the tiers of coaches are Saban and Meyer at the top. Everyone else is debatable.

Surely you can't be serious? Butch Jones? Mike Riley? Dantonio wins 10 games every year! He's Mack Brown at Texas without Vince Young and less talent. Kevin Sumlin who has won absolutely nothing, Herman who I love btw is still only at Houston right now, Bobby Petrino (prisoner of the moment much?), and Harbaugh I sort of knew you would put him up there.

 

That's the level I put him at. I think they're every bit the coach he is.

 

Why would Harbaugh not be in the upper echelon? All he's done is win at the college level.

Not sure if you're serious about the bolded? Compare the resumes of Dantonio and Sumlin and its no comparison.

 

Lets be honest the tiers of coaches are Saban and Meyer at the top. Everyone else is debatable.

 

Sumlin may be a bit of a reach, I'll give you that. I just really like him.

Surely you can't be serious? Butch Jones? Mike Riley? Dantonio wins 10 games every year! He's Mack Brown at Texas without Vince Young and less talent. Kevin Sumlin who has won absolutely nothing, Herman who I love btw is still only at Houston right now, Bobby Petrino (prisoner of the moment much?), and Harbaugh I sort of knew you would put him up there.

 

He should put Harbaugh in there. He's a top 5 coach in America.

He should put Harbaugh in there. He's a top 5 coach in America.

 

His hatred of Michigan won't allow him to think rationally about Harbaugh.

I've watched every Michigan game and just because they haven't played a top 10 team yet, doesn't mean they aren't really good. The Wolverines have all the weapons to make a BCS bowl game this season.

That's the level I put him at. I think they're every bit the coach he is.

 

Why would Harbaugh not be in the upper echelon? All he's done is win at the college level.

What exactly has he won?

Harbaugh has an Orange Bowl victory to his resume and thats it. Brady Hoke has a Sugar Bowl to his resume is he on the same level as Harbaugh?

What exactly has he won?

 

In the grand scheme of things, nothing. Which is exactly what Dantonio has done....

Harbaugh has an Orange Bowl victory to his resume and thats it. Brady Hoke has a Sugar Bowl to his resume is he on the same level as Harbaugh?

 

Well, he's also got a couple Conference Championship games and a Super Bowl appearance on his resume too...I know, I know, that's NFL.