Linking Laconically Is in a Bye Week Daze

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• Freshman Keith Appling could be thrust into bigger role for Spartans | detnews.com | The Detroit News
  Could be seeing a lot of action at the point, with Lucious's suspension and Lucas's ongoing recovery.  Also: Izzo officially undecided on whether to redshirt Alex Gauna, but it sure seems like it's going to happen.
• the kenpom.com blog :: Game On
  New KenPom feature: projected offensive and defensive efficiencies for all Division 1 teams.  He's projected MSU as 8th nationally in both offensive and defensive efficiency; both ratings would be a significant step up from last year, when MSU finished the season 28th on offense and 30th on defense.  The juiciest part of the projections: they allow for season predictions.  KenPom sees losses at Duke, Syracuse, Illinois, Purdue, Wisconsin, and Ohio State.  (Although, we have a 40% or better chance at each of those other than Duke and Ohio State.)  As always, the team's actual mileage will almost certainly vary.
• Keshawn Martin, Chris Norman expected to return next week for Spartans | detnews.com | The Detroit News
  And Chris McDonald, too.  All good things.
• Michigan State Athletics :: Bowl Ticket Information
  PDF file.  Cutoff date to pad your RYF priority is December 5th.
• The State News : Dantonio to recruit, see family more during bye week
  And hopefully relax, too.
• Big Ten Bradley-Terry Projections: Three Weeks To Go - Off Tackle Empire
  SpartanDan's ratings give MSU a 78.47% chance of finishing the conference season 7-1.  I'll take it.  Full ratings here, as always.
• Is the Big Ten's BCS streak in jeopardy? - Big Ten Blog - ESPN
  As in, the Big Ten might only get one team into the BCS, which would be a first.  Of course it'd be this year.  Of course.
• Note on Rose Bowl selection process - Big Ten Blog - ESPN
  "The first time the Rose Bowl loses the Big Ten or Pac-10 champion to the BCS national title game, it must select an eligible team from a non-AQ league. This only would happen once during the four-year cycle. [ . . . ]  If TCU goes to the national title game, the Rose Bowl would not have to select Boise State, or vice versa. However, the Rose Bowl could select TCU or Boise State as an at-large selection and fulfill its obligation to take a team from a non-AQ league once during the four-year cycle."
• Yahoo Sports: Rivals.com Ranking - Rivals.com Rivals100 2011
  MSU LB commit Lawrence Thomas #13 nationally (!).  Other targets: Ohio CB Doran Grant #33, MI WR DeAnthony Arnett #60.
• The State News : Trustees extend contracts of Izzo, Merchant, Comley
  Comley's the only controversial decision, as the program has had some rough times since the 2007 championship.  I'm not totally wild about that extension.  I'll console myself with this.
  
• Lions sign Dave Rayner to fill in for Jason Hanson | freep.com | Detroit Free Press
  Hopefully won't suffer the same fate as other former Spartans who have worn Honolulu Blue in recent years.  (Rogers, obviously, and Stanton and Peterson to some extent.)