College Football 2020, Week Eleven!

Well, the Spartans were on their home field, but they had NO offense at all and were shut-out by #10 Indiana (24-0). Not unexpected, but a very disappointing showing by Michigan State. The only consolation for the Spartans: they are tied with Michigan with records of 1-3, but hold the tie-breaker by their head-to-head victory! Surprisingly enough, the University of Tulsa is undefeated in the American Conference (1/2 a game behind Cincinnati; TU is 4-0, Cincinnati is 5-0 inconference). Go TU! Next up for the Spartans: on the road to face the Terrapins of Maryland. Go Green!

The Big Ten now has four (4) teams ranked in the AP top-25: Ohio State (#3), Indiana (#10), Wisconsin (#13), and Northwestern (#23).

The upsets this week included:
SMU (#19) losing to unranked Tulsa by four (4) points.

The close calls this week (games that were won by a touchdown or less) included:
Miami (#9) defeating unranked Virginia Tech by one (1) point.
USC (#20) defeating unranked Arizona by four (4) points.
Northwestern (#23) defeating unranked Purdue by seven (7) points.

Top-25 match-ups won by the higher-ranked team included:
None.

College Basketball 2020, Week One!

Yes, the college basketball season has official started, and the Spartans of Michigan State were ranked #1 in the pre-season poll.  Michigan State’s first opponent was Kentucky (#2) who they faced in the State Farm Champions Classic.  The Spartans did not have enough offense to pull out the win, alas.  Michigan State did bounce back from this loss with a resounding win yesterday against Binghampton.   The Big Ten conference currently has four (4) teams in the AP top-25: Michigan State [#1, likely to drop], Maryland [#7], Ohio State [#18], and Purdue [#23].  An exciting start to the college basketball season with five top-25 teams being upset (three from the top-10).

Next up for the Spartans: on the road at Seton Hall (Gavitt Tipoff Games).  Go Green!

The upsets this week included:
Michigan State (#1) losing to Kentucky (#2).
Kansas (#3) losing to Duke (#4) by two (2) points.
Florida (#6) losing to unranked Florida State.
Baylor (#16) losing to unranked Washington by three (3) points.
Purdue (#23) losing to unranked Texas by four (4) points.

The close calls this week (won by six points or less [two scores] or in overtime) included:
St. Mary’s (#20) defeating unranked Wisconsin by two (2) points in overtime.
VCU (#25) defeating unranked North Texas by three (3) points.

Top-25 match-ups won by the higher-ranked team included:
None.

College Football 2019, Week Five!

The Spartans were at home hosting the Hoosiers of Indiana this week and were able to come away with a hard-fought victory.  The Spartans were back in the top-25 this week and there are currently six (6) teams from the Big Ten ranked in the top-25: Ohio State [#5], Wisconsin [#8], Penn State [#12], Iowa [#14], Michigan [#20], and Michigan State [#25].

Next up for the Spartans, on the road to Columbus to face the Buckeyes of Ohio State.  Go Green!)

The upsets this week included:
California (#15) losing to unranked Arizona State by seven (7) points.
Kansas State (#23) losing to unranked Oklahoma State.

The close calls this week (games that were won by a touchdown or less) included:
Clemson (#1) defeating unranked North Carolina by one (1) point.
Texas A&M (#23) defeating unranked Arkansas by four (4) points.

Top-25 match-ups won by the higher-ranked team included:
Notre Dame (#10) defeating Virginia (#18).
Washington (#17) defeating USC (#21).

Time for Some Bohemian?!

Here is a fresh new version that I discovered . . . for orchestra (courtesy of Indiana University).  Hmm, perhaps it was originally intended to be an orchestral piece?  Beautifully done!

Source: https://youtu.be/aCFnzSCzoYA

College Football 2018, Week Four!

The Spartans are coming off of their “bye” week and traveled to Indiana to open their Big Ten season.  The Spartans were able to pull away for the victory.  The Big Ten continues to have five teams ranked in the AP top-25 poll: Michigan State [#24], Michigan [#19], Wisconsin [#18], Penn State [#10], and Ohio State [#4]).

Next up for the Spartans, at home versus the Chippewas of Central Michigan.  Go Green!

The upsets this week included:
Virginia Tech (#13) losing to unranked Old Dominion.
Mississippi State (#14) losing to unranked Kentucky.
Oklahoma State (#15) losing to unranked Texas Tech.
TCU (#17) losing to unranked Texas.
Boston College (#23) losing to unranked Purdue.

The close calls this week (games that were won by a touchdown or less) included:
Oklahoma (#5) defeating unranked Army by seven (7) points in overtime.
Stanford (#7) defeating Oregon (#20) by seven (7) points in overtime.
Washington (#10) defeating Arizona State by seven (7) points.

Top-25 match-ups won by the higher-ranked team included:
Alabama (#1) defeating Texas A&M (#22).
Stanford (#7) defeating Oregon (#20) by seven (7) points in overtime.

College Football 2015, Week Eight!

Coming off their momentous, last-second victory over Michigan in the Big House last week, the Spartans hosted the Hoosiers of Indiana yesterday.  Wow, it was quite the dogfight through three-and-a-half quarters before the Spartans were able to pull away late in the fourth quarter to remain unbeaten at 8-0.   As of this weekend, Twelve of the top-25 teams remain unbeaten.  Ohio State was able to maintain their rank atop the top twenty-five and the Big Ten still has four teams represented (Ohio State [#1], Michigan State [#7], Iowa [#12]), and Michigan [#15].  With some upsets among the top-25, these rankings might change when the new polls come out later today.

Next up for the Spartans: a bye on Halloween weekend, then on the road to Lincoln, Nebraska, in early November to face the Cornhuskers.  Go Green!

The upsets this week included:
Utah (#3) losing to unranked USC.
Florida State (#9) losing to unranked Georgia Tech by six (6) points on the final play of the game.
Texas A&M (#15) losing to Ole Miss (#24).
Cal (#20) losing to unranked UCLA.

The close calls this week (games that were won by a touchdown or less) included:
Alabama (#8) defeating unranked Tennessee by five (5) points.
Duke (#23) defeating unranked Viriginia Tech by only two (2) points in 4OT.

Top-25 match-ups won by the higher-ranked team included:

College Football 2012, Week Six!

Happy Monday!  The Michigan State Spartans traveled to Indiana this weekend where, despite falling behind 17-points early, they fought back to win.   The Spartans trailed most of the game despite winning the “time of possession” and coupled with a 120-yard game from Le’Veon Bell.  Michigan State finally went ahead for good with 6:35 left in the game.  Next up for the Spartans: a home game against the Hawkeyes of Iowa.  Go Green!  There were numerous top-25 matchups this weekend . . . and a few surprises in the top-10.

The upsets this week included:
Florida State (#3) losing to unranked North Carolina State by just one point.
LSU (#4) losing to Florida (#10).
Georgia (#5) losing to South Carolina (#6).
TCU (#15) losing to unranked Iowa State.
Northwestern (#24) losing to unranked Penn State.
UCLA (#25) losing to unranked California.

Some of the close calls this week included (won by a touchdown or less):
Stanford (#18) defeating unranked Arizona by only six points (in overtime).

Other ranked teams that were defeated this week (by a higher ranked team) included:
Texas (#11) losing to West Virginia (#8) by just three points.
Nebraska (#21) losing to Ohio State (#12).
Washington (#23) losing to Oregon (#2).

College Football 2012, Week Five!

My humblest apologies for posting this a day later than usual, but yesterday’s post was time sensitive.  However, I may move this weekly post to Mondays so that I can capture the late games.  Regardless, it was another wild week of college football.  There was only one upset (top-10 Stanford) but there were several (8) near upsets among the top-25.  Unfortunately, the Michigan State Spartans were just a point short of upsetting the Ohio State Buckeyes in a thriller in East Lansing.  Their second loss of the season (both against top-25 teams) has dropped the Spartans out of the top-25 rankings.

The upsets this week included:
Stanford (#8) losing to unranked Washington.

Some of the close calls this week included (won by a touchdown or less):
Georgia (#5) defeated unranked Tennessee by only seven points.
West Virginia (#9) defeated Baylor (#25) by only seven points.
Texas (#12) defeated unranked Oklahoma State by only five points.
Ohio State (#14) defeated Michigan State (#20) by only one point.
Oregon State (#18) defeated unranked Arizone by only three points.
Louisville (#19) defeated unranked Southern Mississippi by only four points.
Nebraska (#22) defeated unranked Wisconsin by only three points.
Boise State (#24) defeated unranked New Mexico by only three points.

Other ranked teams that were defeated this week (by a higher ranked team) included:
All of the “ranked team” losses were “close calls” and reported above.

Next up for the Spartans: the Hoosiers of Indiana.  Go Green!

Spartans Are Victorious!

Despite squandering an 18-point first-half lead, and finding themselves 9-points down midway through the second half, the Michigan State University Spartans put on a late 20-0 run and handed the scrappy Indiana Hoosiers their first loss of the season in the Big Ten opener for both teams.  Next up for the Spartans: the Nebraska Cornhuskers.  Go Green!

Another Light Week!

With the holidays in full swing this week, there was another lighter than usual load for college basketball.  But that doesn’t mean the number of upsets were diminished.  I mean, come on, this is college basketball . . . if you’re not bringing your “A” game each and every night, anything can happen.  The number of undefeated teams has been reduced to six (6): Baylor and Missouri from the Big 12, Syracuse and Louisville from the Big East, Indiana from the Big 10, and Murray State from the Ohio Valley.  Michigan State was able to win both of their non-conference games this week (their winning streak is now at eleven) and will open their Big Ten schedule on Wednesday against the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers.  Go Green!

Upsets for the week included:
Xavier (#9) losing to unranked Oral Roberts University.
Marquette (#10) losing to unranked LSU.
Kansas (#11) losing to unranked Davidson.
Pittsburgh (#13) losing to unranked Wagner.
Xavier (after they dropped to #15) losing to Long Beach State University AND Hawaii (by 2 points in overtime)

Ranked teams losing to teams with a higher ranking included:
Illinois (#24) losing to Missouri (#8).

And, the close calls included:
Baylor (#7) defeating unranked West Virginia by only two points (in overtime).
Missouri (#8) defeating Illinois (#24) by only four points.
Illinois (#24) defeating unranked Creighton by only four points.