College Football
Previews - NCAA Football Handicapping - Preview 2006 Betting
Michigan
St. Spartans 2006 Preview
Online
Predictions By:
Matt Fargo Michigan St. Spartans Football
Preview Matt Fargo remains the NUMBER
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Spring practices are in the books and fall camps will be
here before you know it so that means getting
an early jump on the 2006 NCAA football season.
Knowing the teams now will save you time in August
and Matt Fargo is here to help you get a grasp
of what to expect this upcoming year. We go from
worst to first in this 2006 College Football Preview.
Fargo’s Take
- Michigan St. once again had a fine start
to the season last year but faltered down the
stretch and missed out on a bowl game for a second
straight season. The Spartans have gone 1-3 in
their final four games in each of the last five
years and that includes all three seasons that
head coach John L. Smith has been at the helm.
That is a problem and another finish like that
could ultimately be the finish of Smith. The Spartans
offense was one of the best in the country last
season, finishing 5th in total offense and 18th
in scoring offense. The problem was with the defense
as Michigan St. had trouble stopping anyone toward
the end of the season. The Spartans have enough
experience to get back to their winning ways and
the end of the schedule works in their favor for
once. They have won more than six games only once
in the past six years so it will be up to Smith
to give this team some confidence in November.
Returning Starters
on Offense – 7 The potent Michigan
St. attack has a chance to be even better this
season as all of the main cogs to the unit return.
Led by quarterback Drew Stanton, the Spartans
averaged 33.8 ppg but it was that very same offense
that faltered down the stretch. They scored 42
or more points in each of their first four games
but managed that output only once in their final
seven contests. Stanton has six of his top seven
receivers back but only two of his offensive linemen
return. The good news is that there is experience
coming in at those vacant spots while the depth
is also very solid. The biggest surprise came
from freshman running back Javon Ringer, who led
the team with 817 yards despite a nagging knee
injury. He is back to full health and could be
ready for a breakout season.
Returning Starters
on Defense – 6 The defense has gotten
worse in each of the last three seasons but that
trend actually has a chance to reverse itself
out. There are some playmakers coming back and
all three units should show improvement. All three
starters are back at linebacker and while the
defensive line must replace three starters from
last season, there is some solid depth for the
front four. The secondary was a big liability
last season but could actually turn into a strength
if strong safety Nehemiah Warrick, a JUCO transfer,
lives up to his potential that he showed in the
spring. Two senior cornerbacks are also back there
so the 85th ranking in passing defense is sure
to improve. The defense was said to have the best
spring since Smith arrived in East Lansing and
it will have to carry that into the regular season.
Schedule
- The Spartans never have an easy schedule with
Notre Dame always on the slate as well as rival
Michigan never being absent as well. Michigan
St. upset Notre Dame last season and gets the
Irish at home this year. The other non-conference
games are against Idaho and Eastern Michigan at
home and a tough trip to Pittsburgh before hosting
Notre Dame. The Big Ten schedule starts with a
game against Illinois before facing Michigan and
Ohio St. in back-to-back weeks, the former being
on the road. Three of the final five games are
on the road but none of them are impossible and
all have a chance to be won. The road games are
at Northwestern, Indiana and Penn St. with the
game against the Nittany Lions being the biggest
challenge.
You can bet on…
Smith got a bye after last season but another
losing season will not be tolerated and if it
occurs, he will be gone. It shouldn’t happen
though as a lot of things are in the Spartans
favor. The Big Ten is as tough as ever but with
Iowa and Wisconsin off the schedule, Michigan
St. has a chance to be a sleeper team in the conference.
The Spartans are just 17-29-2 against the number
since 2002 including a horrendous 4-11 ATS mark
in non-conference action. They will be tested
versus the spread in their first two games against
Idaho and Eastern Michigan and avoiding the Spartans
in both of those could be the way to go since
they are just 4-11 ATS when laying double-digits
at home.
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