Gameday!

Welcome back!  And just in time for another installment of Nightgame Notre Dame No Shame in the Game.

And LeVeon is gonna be the night train.  He may start off slow, but by the end of the 3rd quarter, he'll be running downhill.  Bell for 110 yards on 33 carries, with a 4th down conversion.

The big test will be whether the offensive line can give Bell the line of scrimmage.  If he's caught in the backfield as he takes the ball, he isn't quick enough laterally to avoid the tackle.  Although he's strong enough to shed tacklers he has to get his feet going before the second man arrives.  Second, the line has to protect Maxwell long enough to run medium length routes.  Not necessarily deep, but it can't come down to all tight end and running back dumps or heaves for receivers to run under.  Maxwell will need time.

I'm also anxious to see if White (NT) and Allen (LB) can pick up their game.  White takes over in the middle  this season as the dominant force now that Jerel Worthy is in the NFL.  Last season Allen was the sack leader for a very good defense, with 11, but has yet to come up with a tackle for loss this season.  White could help with that by drawing more attention.  Also, there is reason to believe the defense has been pretty vanilla so far, limiting the LB blitzes in early games to keep a few tricks in the bag.

I'm also anxious to see how Rush (DE) and Gholston (DE) can limit Notre Dame's athletic QB Golson.  Although his skill set is similar to that of Russel Wilson (not a marriage of athletic gear families) I think it might actually lead to more sacks if Golson leaves the pocket.

Manti Te'o had a rough week, and it doesn't get any better matching up with Bell and Sims.  MSU players call Spartan Stadium "The Woodshed."  My guess is both QB's get sacked today at least twice.  Because I think Golson will move outside the pocket, that could lead to a defensive back or defensive end picking up a fumble and running it up the sideline.  Whereas Maxwell is much more likely to take his hits in the pocket, in a pile, with any potential fumble recovered by a lineman.  I like MSU to win the turnover battle.

Trick plays?  Sure.  How about "Twitter Giants?"  MSU tweets its way to a win by sending out the All Tweet Team, captained by you're complaining about playing time already? Deanthony "Aretoo" Arnett.  The trick is when they tell Arnett to go in the game for a triple reverse qb throwback ... and then throw the ball to Fowler on a slant whilst Arnett roams around in the backfield staring at his map.

Make it:

MSU - 28
ND    - 17