It was a very good season in East Lansing for first year coach John L. Smith. Smith came over from Louisville to take on a troubled program that hit rock bottom last season. Michigan State finished off last year losing six of their final seven games, including getting totally embarrassed by Penn State in the season finale 61-7.
There were a number of problems at Michigan State last season, but the main issue was the substance abuse problems of QB Jeff Smoker. Smith gave Smoker a second chance and he delivered by leading the Spartans to an 8-4 season and the bowl game here in San Antonio.
Smoker and Michigan State erased last year?s ugly memories by starting the season winning seven of their first eight games. The only blemish was a home loss to LA Tech 20-19, a game that they should have won, being favored by 12 points.
After running their middle of the season streak to five games with a hard fought upset road win at Minnesota 44-38, the Spartans put their season on the line with a home date against archrival Michigan. A win over the Wolverines and who knows what may have happened. The Sportsbooks gave Michigan State a great chance, as they were only four point home dogs. However, the Spartans fell behind early and they could never catch the powerful Wolverines losing 27-20.
Michigan State couldn?t recover from that Michigan loss as they proceeded to lose the next two games, both on the road, to Ohio State and Wisconsin. The loss to the Buckeyes was relatively close, losing by 10 points as 6-point dogs. However, in Madison it was ugly as the Badgers buried the Spartans 56-21, not ever close to the 3.5-point number.
Michigan State was able to pull it together in the season finale as they mopped up on Papa Joe and Penn State 41-10. Finally delivering an ATS win as 4.5-point favorites.
The story in Cornhusker land is very well know as Frank Solich was dismissed. Defensive coach Bo Pelini is directing the Huskers in this bowl game. It wasn?t a surprise as Nebraska backers weren?t happy with their 7-7 record last season, and although they improved to 9-3 this season it wasn?t enough.
The hammer started to drop when Nebraska went to Texas and lost to the Longhorns 31-7. Then it was lights out when Kansas State came to Lincoln and beat up the Cornhuskers 38-9. At the time Kansas State was struggling having won only four of the last seven. However, maybe the loss wasn?t that bad considering what Kansas State did to Oklahoma.
At any rate, the administrative bosses in Lincoln were looking for an excuse to get rid of Solich, and the loss to Kansas State at home gave them the opportunity. Quite frankly, they had been talking up Bo Pelini early on so the firing was no big surprise. It?s almost a lock that Pelini gets the job, especially if he can deliver a bowl win.
The last two seasons Nebraska has flopped in their bowl games. Last year, despite their 7-6 record they elected to take the Independence Bowl bid. They never showed up in Shreveport as they lost to Mississippi 27-23 as 6.5-point favorites. In 2001 the 11-1 Cornhuskers played Miami Florida in the National Championship game. If you recall, there was a lot of controversy surrounding Nebraska?s invitation as they were upset in the Big 12 Championship game by Colorado 62-36. The doubters were right, as Nebraska was blowout by Miami Florida 37-14 as 8.5-point dogs.
There were a number of problems at Michigan State last season, but the main issue was the substance abuse problems of QB Jeff Smoker. Smith gave Smoker a second chance and he delivered by leading the Spartans to an 8-4 season and the bowl game here in San Antonio.
Smoker and Michigan State erased last year?s ugly memories by starting the season winning seven of their first eight games. The only blemish was a home loss to LA Tech 20-19, a game that they should have won, being favored by 12 points.
After running their middle of the season streak to five games with a hard fought upset road win at Minnesota 44-38, the Spartans put their season on the line with a home date against archrival Michigan. A win over the Wolverines and who knows what may have happened. The Sportsbooks gave Michigan State a great chance, as they were only four point home dogs. However, the Spartans fell behind early and they could never catch the powerful Wolverines losing 27-20.
Michigan State couldn?t recover from that Michigan loss as they proceeded to lose the next two games, both on the road, to Ohio State and Wisconsin. The loss to the Buckeyes was relatively close, losing by 10 points as 6-point dogs. However, in Madison it was ugly as the Badgers buried the Spartans 56-21, not ever close to the 3.5-point number.
Michigan State was able to pull it together in the season finale as they mopped up on Papa Joe and Penn State 41-10. Finally delivering an ATS win as 4.5-point favorites.
The story in Cornhusker land is very well know as Frank Solich was dismissed. Defensive coach Bo Pelini is directing the Huskers in this bowl game. It wasn?t a surprise as Nebraska backers weren?t happy with their 7-7 record last season, and although they improved to 9-3 this season it wasn?t enough.
The hammer started to drop when Nebraska went to Texas and lost to the Longhorns 31-7. Then it was lights out when Kansas State came to Lincoln and beat up the Cornhuskers 38-9. At the time Kansas State was struggling having won only four of the last seven. However, maybe the loss wasn?t that bad considering what Kansas State did to Oklahoma.
At any rate, the administrative bosses in Lincoln were looking for an excuse to get rid of Solich, and the loss to Kansas State at home gave them the opportunity. Quite frankly, they had been talking up Bo Pelini early on so the firing was no big surprise. It?s almost a lock that Pelini gets the job, especially if he can deliver a bowl win.
The last two seasons Nebraska has flopped in their bowl games. Last year, despite their 7-6 record they elected to take the Independence Bowl bid. They never showed up in Shreveport as they lost to Mississippi 27-23 as 6.5-point favorites. In 2001 the 11-1 Cornhuskers played Miami Florida in the National Championship game. If you recall, there was a lot of controversy surrounding Nebraska?s invitation as they were upset in the Big 12 Championship game by Colorado 62-36. The doubters were right, as Nebraska was blowout by Miami Florida 37-14 as 8.5-point dogs.
