<p>This is one game where you can truly throw records out of the window. You can be almost certain MSU is going to play as hard as they can. Beating Michigan would pretty much make their season at this stage. Hopefully, Hart and Henne should be back at 100%. Given the fact that they have been rested for a couple of weeks, I think they should be good to go. However, my fear is that they will be rusty, particularly Hart, who hasn't played in 3 weeks. </p>
<p>One thing is certain, Michigan isn't going to rise too much in the polls this week. Last weekm we jumped 5-8 spots in the polls. This week, I expect a more modest 2-3 spot rise if we win convincingly, which isn't a given. Obviously, #4 Orgeon is playing at #6 ASU. One of those teams will lose and drop out of the top 10. Other potential upsests include #2 Boston College vs FSU, #5 Oklahoma vs Texas A&M, #8 Kansas vs Nebraska and #9 Missouri at Colorado. There is also a very intriguing matchup between #10 Georgia and Troy. I realize Troy doesn't sound like much, but they are a solid team and could take Georgia by surprise. But like I said, I don't think there will be too many upsets this week. Even if Michigan finds a way to beat MSU handily, we will still be ranked between #10 and #14 in the polls.</p>
<p>MSU coach Dantonio has stated from day 1 that this game his #1 priority. In the spring, he even put clocks up in the practice facilites and locker rooms that displayed how long it was until the UM-MSU game.</p>
<p>Any question that MSU will come out in a spread offense?</p>
<p>As expected, this game was rough, close and ugly. I was disapointed in our offense, but truth be told, I expected Henne and Hart to be rusty. Still, toward the end of the game, Henne started clicking again. They will improve over the next two games.</p>
<p>I think so. Hart played mostly in the first half. In the second half, he was limited to just two or three rushes. Henne was off most afternoon, but that could just be the result of rust. At any rate, I expect to see them improve over the next couple of games. They will have to play a lot better if we are to have a chance at Wisconsin and vs OSU.</p>
<p>"I was just laughing," Hart would later say about the crazed crowd when MSU was leading. "I thought it was funny. They got excited. It's good. Sometimes you get your little brother excited when you're playing basketball and let him get the lead, then you just come back and take it back."</p>
<p>That Hart quote has been all over the place, and I just hate it. I mean, I get that it's funny, but it's not the kind of thing you want to say to a reporter and have quoted all over. It sounds too arrogant to me. We won the game, we don't need to also be snide about it. </p>
<p>I am sure the press loves it, since Michigan statements tend to be very vanilla.</p>
<p>Come on Hoedown, that's just some healthy rivalry talk. Hehe! Ok, so Hart was out of line. I am sure Carr will have a talk with him about that. I can imagine the players were on a natural high after such a win. One thing you and I definitely agree on is the nature of Michigan's statements; Vanilla indeed. That's another thing I love about Michigan football.</p>
<p>Yeah, on one of the football blogs I read, they were marveling at how the video of Henne tripping was on youtube before videos of amazing plays. I mean, that thing was posted really quickly. Hee.</p>