The Only Colors - 2017 Holiday Bowl: Michigan State vs. Washington Statehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49231/onlycolors-fave.png2017-12-29T11:35:30-06:00http://www.theonlycolors.com/rss/stream/165941612017-12-29T11:35:30-06:002017-12-29T11:35:30-06:00Highlights of Michigan State crushing Washington State in Holiday Bowl
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<figcaption>Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Spartans are champions of the Holiday Bowl! </p> <p id="YOStSt">The <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/">Michigan State Spartans</a> completed their rebound 2017 season with a domination of Washington State in the Holiday Bowl, 42-17.</p>
<p id="DKTVGk">After the Spartans struggled amid a 3-9 campaign in 2016, Mark Dantonio and his crew reminded everyone that his program is still one of the best in college football. Another 10-win season for Dantonio was capped off by a shellacking of Mike Leach’s Cougars on Thursday, a game Michigan State dominated for all four quarters while sending their seniors out in style.</p>
<p id="I4u7Ow">Here are the highlights of win No. 10 on a fun 2017 season, courtesy of MSU Athletics: </p>
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https://www.theonlycolors.com/2017/12/29/16830298/highlights-michigan-state-spartans-washington-state-holiday-bowl-2017Jason Marcum2017-12-29T10:46:40-06:002017-12-29T10:46:40-06:005 Spartans who stood out in the Holiday Bowl
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Holiday Bowl-Washington State vs Michigan State" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/jB5V8fNBMerfOvG20Ahj3NxfvJ8=/3x0:4017x2676/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58144999/usa_today_10502505.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Michigan State dominated Washington State in San Diego </p> <p id="4zk0TH">Oh man, did the <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/">Michigan State Spartans</a> look great last night or what? The Spartans destroyed the <a href="https://www.cougcenter.com/">Washington State Cougars</a> by a score of 42-17 and earned their 10th win of the season. </p>
<p id="IJjwgU">It was the 100th career win for head coach Mark Dantonio and his sixth ten-win season at the helm of Michigan State football — the program had just two 10-win seasons in its history prior to his arrival. </p>
<p id="3EQtMW">There were several Spartans whose performance stood out in last night’s win, but here are five players who stood out in the Holiday Bowl. </p>
<h3 id="TDoRou">1. <span>Brian Lewerke</span>, QB </h3>
<p id="fMzugI">Lewerke, who was named the offensive MVP, had a great game. He missed a couple of throws in the early going, but once he settled down he looked great. Making plays with both his legs and his feet, Lewerke completed 13 of 21 passes for 213 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions, while adding 73 yards on 14 carries on the ground. Lewerke protected the ball, made good throws and was deadly when throwing deep. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Michigan State QB Brian Lewerke connected on four deep shots for 2 TDs last night in the Spartans Holiday Bowl victory over Washington State. <a href="https://t.co/5cMhOuupk3">pic.twitter.com/5cMhOuupk3</a></p>— PFF College Football (@PFF_College) <a href="https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/946760986714886144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2017</a>
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<h3 id="5jNCo9"> 2. <span>LJ Scott</span>, RB </h3>
<p id="78sf9A">Scott was a man on a mission from his first snap, taking his first carry of the game 17 yards. He finished with 18 rushes for 110 yards and two touchdowns, while averaging 6.1 yards per carry. Much to the delight of Spartan fans, Scott announced in a post-game interview that he will be returning for his senior season, which seems like the right decision after a bit of a disappointing season overall. He will be a force in 2018. </p>
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<p lang="und" dir="ltr">#2018 <a href="https://twitter.com/ljscott_03?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ljscott_03</a> <a href="https://t.co/9wThgWKama">pic.twitter.com/9wThgWKama</a></p>— John (@FromEastLansing) <a href="https://twitter.com/FromEastLansing/status/946617647998947331?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2017</a>
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<p id="Sa5wor">3. <span>Cody White</span>, WR </p>
<p id="YuklL2">White has become a freshman sensation and he looks to be a star on this offense for years to come. White only caught three passes for 41 yards, but two of them were for touchdowns and the other one was a nice jumping catch on the sideline. He set an MSU true freshman record, finishing the year with 490 receiving yards. We should all be excited to see what he can do in 2018. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Now with 31 yards tonight so far on two catches in the <a href="https://twitter.com/HolidayBowlGame?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HolidayBowlGame</a>, Cody White has set a new MSU true freshman record for most receiving yards in a season, now with 480 yards so far and still counting! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HolidayBowl?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HolidayBowl</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoGreen?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoGreen</a></p>— Spartan Football (@MSU_Football) <a href="https://twitter.com/MSU_Football/status/946578078234320898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2017</a>
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<h3 id="0foD1d">4. <span>Felton Davis III</span>, WR</h3>
<p id="pbM9mr">Davis had an egregious drop on a fourth down play in the first quarter, but after that he went into beast mode. Davis finished the game with four receptions for 118 yards and a touchdown, which came on a beautiful 49-yard bomb from Brian Lewerke. Davis just out-muscled the Washington State defensive backs on a couple of his grabs and burned the confused defense on the long touchdown. He’s back next year, y’all. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">When you have a first half like Michigan State did, you get to blow kisses to the crowd <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FOXFieldPass?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FOXFieldPass</a> <a href="https://t.co/UPdxyJlCRD">pic.twitter.com/UPdxyJlCRD</a></p>— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/FOXSports/status/946585329120641024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2017</a>
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<h3 id="XaCSiT">5. <span>Chris Frey</span>, LB </h3>
<p id="ts7Kfb">Frey won defensive MVP honors, and finished his college career with a six-tackle performance. He also recovered a fumble, which gave MSU the ball at the Wazzu 27-yard line. The offense quickly turned that great field position into six points. We’ll miss Frey’s leadership and ability in 2018, but what a great career he had and it was nice to see him go out with a 10-win season after Michigan State’s miserable campaign his junior year. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">QB #14 Brian Lewerke and LB #23 Chris Frey are your 2017 Holiday Bowl most valuable players! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoGreen?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoGreen</a> <a href="https://t.co/4679GytGGn">pic.twitter.com/4679GytGGn</a></p>— Spartan Football (@MSU_Football) <a href="https://twitter.com/MSU_Football/status/946615998752288768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2017</a>
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<h3 id="uGUNLp">Honorable mention: <span>Joe Bachie</span>, LB</h3>
<p id="7r8SpG">Bachie was his usual self, recording six tackles and flying around the football field. He didn’t do anything too eye-popping, but he did have a clutch onside kick recovery when the momentum was swinging toward Washington State. Remembering that he is just a sophomore and will be quarterbacking the defense for the foreseeable future is all I need to know about this unit’s potential going forward. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Wazzu fumbles. Chris Frey recovers. Joe Bachie says first down MSU. <a href="https://t.co/47ICkOsZE6">pic.twitter.com/47ICkOsZE6</a></p>— Jay Sarkar (@WLNSJaySarkar) <a href="https://twitter.com/WLNSJaySarkar/status/946595515143041026?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2017</a>
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<p id="vqj0VL">It was a great way for the Spartans to end their surprising 2017 run. I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself, but with the talent this team is returning next season, MSU should be primed to make a run in the Big Ten East in 2018. </p>
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https://www.theonlycolors.com/2017/12/29/16829778/5-spartans-who-stood-out-in-the-holiday-bowlRyan O'Bleness2017-12-28T19:00:01-06:002017-12-28T19:00:01-06:00Michigan State vs Washington State Game Thread
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Maryland at Michigan State" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/OuoQvdcA782hSrisJcInvKaf2FQ=/0x0:3333x2222/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58130915/usa_today_10422805.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Spartans look to end their 2017 season with a win in the Holiday Bowl. </p> <p id="lKG2vW">The <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/">Michigan State Spartans</a>’ final game of 2017 is tonight, as they’ll face the <a href="https://www.cougcenter.com/">Washington State Cougars</a> in the Holiday Bowl.</p>
<p id="ubHIOm">Michigan State is making its first appearance in the San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl, which takes place at SDCCU Stadium on Thursday, Dec. 28. </p>
<p id="LRz1l4">The Spartans closed the regular season on a two-game winning streak with victories over Maryland and Rutgers to enter the Holiday Bowl with a 9-3 overall record, including a 7-2 mark in conference play to tie for second place in the Big Ten East Division. </p>
<p id="FMqbvi">The Cougars are also 9-3 overall and went 6-3 in conference play, finishing third in the Pac-12 North Division.</p>
<p id="etacqa">Michigan State is making its 27th all-time appearance in a bowl game and its 10th under head coach Mark Dantonio, the most bowl games of any coach in program history.</p>
<p id="5K3Bs2">The two teams will face off at 9:05 p.m. EST/6:05 p.m. PST, and the game will be televised nationally on FS1. Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt and Jenny Taft will be on the call. </p>
https://www.theonlycolors.com/2017/12/28/16826000/michigan-state-spartans-washington-state-cougars-2017Jason Marcum2017-12-28T11:00:05-06:002017-12-28T11:00:05-06:00The Only Questions: Q&A with Washington State
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Stanford at Washington State" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/NJOpBVMyn-q9imUVrsPX6G125Y4=/0x0:2462x1641/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58131035/usa_today_10411282.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>James Snook-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Spartans travel to San Diego to face the Cougars in the Holiday Bowl</p> <p id="y6TjZ4">Hello Spartan fans! We’re back for the bowl season. Michigan State has been matched up against the Washington State Cougars. </p>
<p id="1FSdAe">Both teams finished in the Top 25 (unlike some) and are one victory away from a ten win season. If Michigan State wins, it would be Mark Dantonio’s sixth in eleven years. </p>
<p id="BrAWf2">In order to better our fans knowledge of WSU we have brought in <a href="https://www.cougcenter.com/authors/jeff-nusser">Jeff Nusser</a>, one of the best managing editors the <a href="https://www.cougcenter.com/">CougCenter</a> has to offer. </p>
<p id="PrlCPX">He was able to provide us with extremely insightful answers that will most certainly help anyone get ready for kickoff. </p>
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<p id="G0FYw9"><strong>Let's get to know the Washington State Cougars. Mike Leach is in his sixth season as head coach. So far in 2017 he has led the Cougars to a 9-3 record with wins over USC (their only conference loss) and Stanford. Both of them finished in the Top 25. But let's rewind just a bit, back in 2014 Washington State finished 3-9. Since then they are 26-12. What has been the key to these last three years? What expectations do you have moving forward? And how does the fan base currently feel about their football team? </strong></p>
<p id="m_1995552256968405144inbox-inbox-016DjA"><strong> </strong>When Leach took over at WSU, the Cougs were coming off the worst four-year stretch in the history of the school. The talent level was far below what was needed to compete in the Pac-12 on a weekly basis, and even though Leach got us to a bowl game in his second year, it really took a few years to restock the cupboard — not just in terms of ability, but in terms of guys who wanted to truly buy into how Leach wanted to do things. When things started to turn, you could see both the elevated talent level and the toughness Leach preaches start to come through.</p>
<p id="w3iyQE">The biggest thing, though, has to do with the arrival of Alex Grinch at defensive coordinator. The defense had been patently atrocious in those first three years under previous coordinator Mike Breske, and 2014 proved that Leach wasn’t going to be able to just win with a ridiculous offense. We knew that WSU had to at least get a serviceable defense, and Grinch has brought us that — and then some. The Cougs were 99th in total defense in Breske’s final season; Grinch took them to 84th then 62nd then 14th in his three seasons. It’s no coincidence that the Cougs have won nine, eight and nine games in those seasons, and there’s a reason Ohio State wants to lure him away with what is presumed to be a big raise, even though he won’t be a coordinator any longer.</p>
<p id="Ibw6fp"><strong>How do you feel about Mike Leach after six years? Will he continue to be the long term option at the head coaching position?</strong></p>
<p id="m_1995552256968405144inbox-inbox-pZZp2T">Very pleased. This is the second-best three-year run in the history of the school, and although next year is likely to be a step back, it doesn’t feel like the program is going to fall off a cliff as it has in the past — Leach just signed 19 guys who represent the best recruiting class we’ve had at least 15 years, and maybe ever.</p>
<p id="m_1995552256968405144inbox-inbox-p2s1Yp">As for the second part of the question? That’s a lot tougher to answer. Our fans would love to keep him around for the long haul, but it remains to be seen if that’s what Leach wants. Conventional thinking had been that Leach was happy in Pullman, but circumstances changed a little when the president and athletics director who brought him in each departed over the course of the last couple of years — President Elson Floyd died of cancer in June 2015, and Bill Moos left for Nebraska this past October. Both were ardent supporters of Leach, and there have been rumors of friction with the new president, Kirk Schulz, culminating with Leach reportedly agreeing to become the next coach at Tennessee.</p>
<p id="m_1995552256968405144inbox-inbox-Pncgd4">In the end, Phillip Fulmer did us a solid and pulled the rug out from under the Tennessee deal, and Leach ended up with a raise to stay in Pullman — that means most of the band will be together for at least another year, with the notable exception of Grinch. That’s great news, as we transition to a new set of core players. Whether Leach sticks for longer than that? I’m guessing it largely depends on whether anyone else is willing to pay him a bunch of money to coach their team, as it’s become clear that he <em>really </em>likes money. Only one issue: Even with WSU’s incredible — by WSU standards — success over the past three years, and even with all the vacancies this past month, nobody (except for a desperate AD who was about to get fired) came after him.</p>
<p id="E7EtP2">Is he content to stay in Pullman for the long haul? Again, we always thought the answer was yes, but recent evidence suggests otherwise. Personally, I’m just hoping he doesn’t get upset and leave behind a smoldering pile of ashes like he did at Tech when he finally does move on.</p>
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Michigan State at Rutgers" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/useqb0DrjOQa_y0JCjrTxxy0anE=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9939495/usa_today_10437054.jpg">
<cite>Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="vb87qQ"><strong>Luke Falk vs. Brian Lewerke. What are your thoughts on both quarterbacks and who will be more effective on the football field come Thursday?</strong></p>
<p id="m_1995552256968405144inbox-inbox-JChK07">I’m not going to lie: I know nothing about Lewerke beyond what his stats say, and his stats tell me that he and Falk actually are remarkably similar. With Falk running the Air Raid, the counting stats obviously are vastly different, but when you look at yards per pass, touchdown to interception ratio, and the consistency of their performance ... they look a lot more alike than they do different.</p>
<p id="m_1995552256968405144inbox-inbox-twkljq">That probably surprises you, given the praise that’s heaped on Falk in the context of his career accomplishments — he owns every major conference and school passing record. But the truth is that he hasn’t actually been very good this year; he was benched <em>twice</em> this season for ineffective play, for goodness sake. He’s inexplicably regressed this season, and if it weren’t for the defense, there’s a pretty good chance this is a six- or seven-win team.</p>
<p id="U919Lr">I’m not optimistic he’ll suddenly break back out of his shell against Michigan State. The Spartans have a heck of a defense — the kind with which he has struggled mightily over the past two seasons. Frankly, I’m terrified we’ll see a repeat of last season’s Holiday Bowl, when Minnesota got physical with our receivers and Falk stood paralyzed in the backfield, indecisive — and inaccurate when he finally did throw the ball. It’s something we’ve seen too many times in the past 14 months or so when WSU goes up against a strong defense, particularly away from home. </p>
<p id="N7Wefv"><strong>What is the match up you will be paying most attention to?</strong></p>
<p id="J0GvUl">Probably WSU’s outside receivers against MSU’s corners. The Cougs have lost both their starters for this game, as Isaiah Johnson-Mack and Tavares Martin Jr. have each announced their intention to transfer. They combined for 191 targets — nearly 30 percent of WSU’s total. Stepping into their place are a true freshman (Tay Martin) and a sophomore (Dezmon Patmon) who combined for 86 targets. They’re both talented, and both played much better as the year went along, but ... yeah, that’s a big drop off, and it’s also big when you consider that the third stringers will be taking their second-string snaps, as WSU plays a minimum of eight wide receivers in a game.</p>
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Michigan State at Rutgers" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/J2QBD74KOpu3u4A1GqMc2EBkxQA=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9939499/usa_today_10437436.jpg">
<cite>Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="uRVSVt"><strong>Washington State gives up 146.2 rushing yards per game while the Spartans average 162.9. Will the Cougars stop MSU from having their way on the ground? If so how?</strong></p>
<p id="m_1995552256968405144inbox-inbox-uTQLUq">On the whole, the Cougars have been outstanding against the run this season. That average is skewed quite a bit by two really awful games against Arizona and Washington, in which they gave up more than 300 yards to each. In the other 10 games, WSU didn’t allow more than 164 yards and averaged 111 — that includes limiting Bryce Love and Stanford to just 93 yards.</p>
<p id="tpaf8T">WSU features a light, penetrating defensive line that tries to disrupt running plays before they can get going. The key to that is first team AP all-American Hercules Mata’afa, who racked up 21.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks from his interior line position, despite standing just 6-foot-2 and 252 pounds. He’s practically unblockable at times, but there’s just one problem: He’ll be sitting out the first half after picking up a targeting penalty in the second half of the Apple Cup. Frankly, there’s a chance the whole thing falls apart if the opponent doesn’t have to worry about Mata’afa.</p>
<p id="7u0AXR"><strong>Give me an X-factor from each side of the ball and explain their importance.</strong></p>
<p id="m_1995552256968405144inbox-inbox-2pElJm">On offense, I’ll actually go with Falk. How he plays largely will determine the effectiveness of the WSU offense, given that the Cougs will drop back to throw about 70 percent of the time. Will he come out and show the world why he was once considered a top NFL Draft prospect?</p>
<p id="soVlQn">On defense, I’ll go with inside linebackers Jahad Woods and Isaac Dotson. It’s probably cheating a little bit to take both, but if WSU is going to slow down MSU’s rushing attack, both are going to need to have big games. Additionally, each has a penchant for making big plays; there’s a good chance WSU will need a couple of those in order to swing the game.</p>
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Washington State at Washington" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_8juBgIV6sH66uts5njiA44tAQc=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9939507/usa_today_10437808.jpg">
<cite>Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="iGhwgK"><strong>What are three things that will help lead Washington State to victory?</strong></p>
<p id="m_1995552256968405144inbox-inbox-s6zWgM">I think we’ve covered the first two pretty extensively at this point: 1) WSU needs good Luke Falk to show up, and 2) WSU needs to contain Michigan State’s rushing attack and make the Spartans a passing team.</p>
<p id="qfdjFV">The third one has to do with WSU’s special teams, which have been prone to blunders throughout Leach’s tenure in Pullman. In what figures to be a close game, a big mistake on special teams could cost the Cougars dearly, so they’ll need to be sound in that phase. </p>
<p id="TiN1ej"><strong>Prediction time: Final score? Who wins? Why?</strong></p>
<p id="PltdOF">I’m guessing this will be another low-scoring affair — the Vegas total of 46 even seems optimistic to me. I’ll go 24-17 Michigan State. Falk has too long of a track record of playing poorly against these types of opponents, and the WSU defense probably will struggle a little early without Mata’afa.</p>
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Michigan State at Rutgers" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Vjv7dP_F-NPofq4ysGWyvN0OGzo=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9939525/usa_today_10436817.jpg">
<cite>Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="cIF1by"><strong>On behalf of everyone here at The Only Colors I would like to extend a huge thank you to Jeff and the CougCenter for giving us amazing content and participating in our Q&A. </strong></p>
<p id="KGqp3F"><strong>We appreciate it!</strong></p>
<p id="sOqeG0"><strong>Go Green!</strong></p>
https://www.theonlycolors.com/2017/12/28/16825870/the-only-questions-q-a-with-washington-stateMcLain Moberg2017-12-28T07:30:02-06:002017-12-28T07:30:02-06:00Holiday Bowl Preview: Michigan State vs. Washington State
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Michigan State at Rutgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/uqj5MTFJDfrcIqU7F1P19V1e4m0=/0x0:3408x2272/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58127669/usa_today_10436811.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Let’s go bowling </p> <p id="rWusV2">It’s been more than a month since we last saw the <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/">Michigan State Spartans</a> on the football field, but today marks Michigan State’s first bowl appearance in nearly two years. The Spartans will do battle with the air raid offense and “speed D” defense of the <a href="https://www.cougcenter.com/">Washington State Cougars</a> at 9 p.m. EST (that’s 6 p.m. for those of you who will be attending the game in San Diego). </p>
<p id="Ys5OK1">So, there’s only one final game left for the surprising Spartans in 2017. That also means you only have to get through one last lengthy preview of mine this season. Let’s get right to it. </p>
<h3 id="YKAK4n">Tale of the Tape:</h3>
<p id="slaKYE"><strong>Michigan State:</strong></p>
<p id="RLX19S"><strong>Record</strong> — 9-3, (7-2 Big Ten)</p>
<p id="PLozzW"><strong>Offense</strong> — 378.3 total yards per game (8th in Big Ten), 215.4 passing yards per game, 162.9 rushing yards per game, 23.1 points per game</p>
<p id="7AewSK"><strong>Defense</strong> — 297.8 yards allowed per game (4th in Big Ten), 196.5 passing yards allowed per game, 101.3 rushing yards allowed per game, 20.3 points allowed per game</p>
<p id="htHg67"><strong>Washington State</strong>:</p>
<p id="SWVlt9"><strong>Record </strong>— 9-3 (6-3 Pac-12)</p>
<p id="lnPDXn"><strong>Offense</strong> — 446.4 total yards per game (4th in Pac-12), 374.8 passing yards per game, 71.7 rushing yards per game, 31.4 points per game</p>
<p id="oH8KQn"><strong>Defense</strong> — 313.6 yards allowed per game (2nd in Pac-12), 167.4 passing yards allowed per game, 146.2 rushing yards allowed per game, 24.4 points allowed per game</p>
<p id="Pjdt2F"><strong>Takeaways</strong>: The first thing that may surprise you about this is that Washington State, known for its offense, is just as well-versed on defense. The Cougars are small on defense, but use speed, agility and athleticism to cause chaos. While the Cougars are the best passing team in the Pac-12, and No. 4 overall offense, they are also the second-ranked defense in their conference, and No. 1 against the pass. WSU is of course as one-dimensional as it gets on offense, averaging just 71.7 rushing yards per game (last in Pac-12). For the Spartans, the offense is going to try to use its size to bully the Cougars. Before the season finale at Rutgers, MSU’s offense was sputtering. A quick start from the offense, and not allowing the vaunted Washington State offense to score a lot in the early-going on defense, should do wonders for the confidence of the young Spartans.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="Ri1LTl">
<h3 id="fL3F3K">Series History</h3>
<p id="lY9Wb9"><strong>All-time record:</strong> Michigan State leads 5-2</p>
<p id="xJTTl6"><strong>Last Spartans win</strong>: Sept. 26, 1970 (28-14)</p>
<p id="NRzTsJ"><strong>Last Cougars win</strong>: Sept. 17, 1977 (22-21)</p>
<p id="guLwCy"><strong>Biggest Spartans win</strong>: 54-6 (1954)</p>
<p id="6SbVbB"><strong>Biggest Cougars win</strong>: 25-13 (1942)</p>
<p id="2cYvBa"><strong>Current Streak</strong>: Washington State with one win</p>
<p id="nTrcJj"><strong>Longest winning streak</strong>: Michigan State won five in a row from 1946-1970 </p>
<p id="TCji2m"><strong>Quick takeaways</strong>: These two programs have met seven times in the past, but have not seen each other in 40 years. The Spartans have won five of those contests, which all came in succession from 1946 through 1970. Wazzu won the first ever meeting in 1942 and the last meeting in 1977. Only two of the games were played in Washington: one in Spokane (1942) and one in WSU’s current home of Pullman (1947). MSU and WSU split the Washington meetings, while the Spartans won four of five in East Lansing. Today’s Holiday Bowl will be the first time the two teams have met at a neutral site, and the first time they’ve met in a bowl game. </p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="L2Cigd">
<p id="mXKUIW"><strong>Previous Matchups</strong>: </p>
<p id="4lTSQR"><strong>Michigan State</strong>: Michigan State ended its regular season on a high note. The Spartans destroyed Rutgers 40-7 and sailed into bowl season with confidence. MSU out-gained Rutgers 431 to 112 in terms of total yardage. The Spartans leaned on the rushing attack, running a ridiculous 58 times for 209 yards, while the defense held the Scarlet Knights to a mere 14 yards on 12 attempts. <span>Brian Lewerke</span> was efficient with 221 passing yards, 53 rushing yards, two total touchdowns and zero turonvers.</p>
<p id="psZZZT"><strong>Washington State</strong>: Wazzu was thrashed by its in-state rival, Washington, in the Apple Cup. The Huskies took down the Cougars 41-14, and forced WSU into four turnovers. Washington State finished the game with -24 yards rushing on 14 attempts, while <span>Luke Falk</span> played poorly with three interceptions and a total QBR of 17.2, per ESPN. Washington out-gained the prolific Cougars offense by a tally of 421-345, and Washington State never led. </p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="2r4rIO">
<h3 id="3Qlr6z">Key Players</h3>
<p id="L2LXRD"><strong>Michigan State</strong>:</p>
<p id="7hnckn"><span><strong>Brian Lewerke</strong></span>: 124.7 QB rating, 2,580 passing yards, 58.8 percent completion rate, 17 TDs, seven INTs, 489 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns</p>
<p id="rNN8ju"><span>LJ Scott</span>: 183 rushes, 817 yards, 4.3 yards per carry, six TDs, 18 catches for 121 yards and one receiving TD</p>
<p id="BvqrQV"><span><strong>Felton Davis III</strong></span>: 51 catches, 658 yards, 13 yards per catch, eight TDs</p>
<p id="jN6U15"><span><strong>Joe Bachie</strong></span>: 94 tackles, 8.5 tackle for loss, 2.5 sacks, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery </p>
<p id="oLCNBi"><span>Khari Willis</span>: 71 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, three passes defended, one fumble forced, one INT</p>
<p id="lJzEhU"><strong>Washington State</strong>: </p>
<p id="EfJuA1">QB: Luke Falk: 137 QB rating, 3,593 yards, 67 percent completion rate, 30 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, </p>
<p id="zethnZ">RB: <span>Jamal Morrow</span>: 86 rushes, 522 yards, 6.1 yards per carry, 56 catches, 479 receiving yards, nine total touchdowns<br><br>RB: James Williams: 89 carries, 381 yards, 4.3 yards per carry, 61 receptions, 417 receiving yards, four total touchdowns<br><br>DL: <span>Hercules Mata’afa</span>: 43 total tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, two fumbles forced, one fumble recovered<br><br>S: <span>Jalen Thompson</span>: 69 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, four interceptions, two pass breakups, three fumble recoveries</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="ddJZQD">
<h3 id="JYoO9t"><strong>Game Info</strong></h3>
<p id="see2Qj"><strong>Time:</strong> 9 p.m. EST</p>
<p id="eUhcVU"><strong>TV Channel</strong>: FS1</p>
<p id="YlRFNP"><strong>Location</strong>: SDCCU Stadium, San Diego </p>
<p id="9QWqP8"><strong>Weather expectations: </strong>65 degrees, clear skies </p>
<p id="uX3GDX"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/odds"><strong>Odds</strong></a>: Michigan State -1.5</p>
<p id="bQhrFk"><strong>Over/Under</strong>: 47</p>
<p id="s2Yqzu">Rival blog: <a href="https://www.cougcenter.com/">CougCenter</a></p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="c9EozW">
<p id="PaphZd"><strong>Expectations: </strong></p>
<p id="qsI7Er">A couple things seem to bode well for the Spartans going into the Holiday Bowl game. First, Wazzu will be without its top two wide receivers in <span>Tavares Martin Jr.</span> and <span>Isaiah Johnson-Mack</span>. Though it helps, that is not as big of deal as the next point, as WSU has plenty of capable receiving threats. The Cougars will also be without <span>Hercules Mata’afa</span> for the first half (he was called for targeting in his last game). In addition to having one of the coolest names in college football, Mata’afa earned first team All-American and All-Pac-12 honors. He is a game-wrecker, recording 21.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks this season. I think the clear advantage goes to the Spartans offense here, and not having to deal with two talented receivers certainly helps the defense. </p>
<p id="OoSeKN">With that Said Wazzu is still a plenty talented team, and the game hinges on the play of Luke Falk. If MSU can force WSU into turnovers and keep the air raid attack grounded, it will be a Spartans domination. That is a lot easier said than done, though, as Falk can pick defenses apart. MSU also believes its big offensive line and running backs can bully the smaller Pac-12 defenders after facing Big Ten maulers all year, but again, the WSU defense is feisty and athletic, and better than you think. I am looking forward to seeing the unit in action. I expect a close game here, but I’ll take the Spartans by a late field goal.</p>
<p id="wahE1J">Can MSU defeat this tough WSU team? Let us know. </p>
<div id="YWWPEH"><div data-anthem-component="poll:824338"></div></div>
<p id="BceVbA"></p>
https://www.theonlycolors.com/2017/12/28/16823930/holiday-bowl-preview-michigan-state-vs-washington-stateRyan O'Bleness2017-12-27T18:11:28-06:002017-12-27T18:11:28-06:00The Only San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Podcast
<figure>
<img alt="National Funding Holiday Bowl - Minnesota v Washington State" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xlWk1Y-Yy5Q1Awq2QMWi4rSMrNw=/0x0:3114x2076/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58125105/630591312.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>This podcast is not sponsored by San Diego County Credit Union, but wouldn't that be CRAZY!?</p> <p id="CrnEZh">On the final Only Podcast of 2017, Austin and John chat about...</p>
<p id="q7PLGH">2:30 -- Recruiting: Football lands two in '19 and Tom Izzo makes another offer</p>
<p id="JRBdII">18:30 -- Hoops: Long Beach, Long Faces</p>
<p id="UZibgP">24:00 -- Football: Holiday Bowl Preview Bonanza! </p>
<p id="RUHnUQ">58:00 -- Predictions</p>
<p id="6ZABAq">1:05:00 -- Prop Bet/One Big Question</p>
<div id="uTaqpO"><iframe width="100%" height="400" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?visual=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F375521459&show_artwork=true"></iframe></div>
https://www.theonlycolors.com/2017/12/27/16824246/the-only-san-diego-county-credit-union-holiday-podcastAustinCSmith2017-12-14T09:24:36-06:002017-12-14T09:24:36-06:00Washington State by the Numbers
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Football: Washington State at Arizona" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/eSK732AsojvFW2eBIbje8wMLUh4=/0x0:2792x1861/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57979663/usa_today_10375530.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Cougars throw the ball more than anyone, and their defense is led by a guy named Hercules.</p> <p id="QDE0KH">Michigan State fans probably would have preferred a New Year’s Day bowl against an SEC opponent, but a top-20 matchup with a Pac 12 school is a pretty good consolation prize. The Spartans first ever trip to the Holiday Bowl will be their eighth all-time meeting with Washington State, and the first time the two schools have played since 1977. </p>
<p id="o9DM3k">Unless you were a regular viewer of Pac 12 After Dark, you may not be very familiar with the Cougars of Washington State. Never fear, we have you covered, with stats galore and some other fun tidbits as well.</p>
<p id="xvroj2"><strong>Offense</strong></p>
<p id="18BkhH">If there is one thing Mike Leach coached teams tend to do it is score points and throw the ball around. This Washington State team is no different. The Cougars average 31.4 point per game (41<sup>st</sup> nationally), and 446.4 yards of total offense (32<sup>nd</sup> nationally). However, they are 68<sup>th</sup> in yards per play with a 5.59 average. </p>
<p id="GXfXO2">As was mentioned, most of the offense comes through the air. Wazzu is second nationally with 374.8 passing yards per game. They attempt more passes per game, 55.3, than anyone else in the country. In fact they average 6.4 more passes per game than the next closest team. Despite all the yards, the Cougars are 90<sup>th</sup> in yards per attempt at 6.8 per pass. That is only 0.4 yards per attempt better than Michigan State. </p>
<p id="HAtzst">So as you might expect, Washington State isn’t much of a ground threat. In fact they are second to last in the country in rushing yards per game with a 71.67 per game average. They have the fewest rushing attempts per game with 24.58 rushes. They are also second from the bottom in yards per rush, averaging less than three yards per attempt. </p>
<p id="VuO5JY"><strong>Quarterback</strong></p>
<p id="vnOKF5">The Cougars offense is led by senior quarterback Luke Falk. If you aren’t familiar with Falk, well you probably should be. He is the all-time Pac 12 leader in pass attempts, completions, completion percentage, yards, and touchdowns. And, maybe most impressively, he doesn’t even crack the conference’s top-25 in all-time interceptions. </p>
<p id="5nd4zV">As for this season, Falk attempted and completed more passes than any other quarterback in the country. He was seventh in completion percentage, 13<sup>th</sup> in yards, 10<sup>th</sup> in touchdowns, and 11<sup>th</sup> in yards per game. Lots of volume led to his totals but as a result his efficiency numbers weren’t great. He was 84<sup>th</sup> in yards per attempt and 54 in passer rating. He threw 13 interceptions this year, the most he has thrown in a season. </p>
<p id="cOsVy6">Unlike his counterpart in the game, Falk is not going to beat you running. That is pretty evident when you see his -147 yard rushing total for the season and a long run of 16 for the year. That number is so bad because Washington State allowed the fourth most sacks of any team in the country. Wazzu quarterbacks were sacked 44 times this year, an average of 3.67 per game. When you throw the ball 534 times, you are going to take some sacks. </p>
<p id="gDnirI"><strong>Running Backs</strong></p>
<p id="mPUK0f">As mentioned above running isn’t the Cougars strong suit. Their leading rushing is senior Jamal Morrow with 522 yards and four touchdowns on 86 carries. Sophomore James Williams leads the team in carries with 89, and totaled 381 yards. </p>
<p id="9PhdR2">But the running backs are quite active in the passing game. Williams caught 61 passes this year for 417 yards and three touchdowns. Morrow hauled in 56 passes for 479 yards and five scores. Combined the two of them had 117 receptions for 896 yards and eight touchdowns. That is 18 more catches than MSU’s top two receivers combined for this year. </p>
<p id="5eMMWt"><strong>Wide Receivers </strong></p>
<p id="8ES0ox">This is where things have gotten weird for Washington State in the last week. The Cougars top two wide receivers have both left the program in the last week. Tavares Martin Jr. was dismissed from the team for violating a team rule. Martin claimed he was dismissed after asking for his release, while Mike Leach says the dismissal came first. Either way, Martin led the team in catches, receiving yards, and touchdowns this year.</p>
<p id="TtP9IN">Similarly, Isiah Johnson-Mack is no longer with the team after being granted his release to transfer. Johnson-Mack says he wants to play closer to home. Johnson-Mack was second on the team in receiving yards, tied for second in touchdowns, and third in receptions. </p>
<p id="849bfO">With the loss of Martin and Johnson-Mack, who were high school teammates, Wazzu loses 130 receptions, 1,386 yards, and 14 touchdowns worth of production. </p>
<p id="1h0RTx">That leaves the two running backs, Morrow and Williams, as the leading receivers in terms of receptions.</p>
<p id="vXrIFq">Needing to step up and fill the gap will be junior Kyle Sweet, and freshman Renard Bell. Sweet had 50 catches for 481 yards and two touchdowns, while Bell had 525 yards on just 36 receptions, a 14.58 yards per catch average that led the team. Neither Bell nor Sweet bring much size to the game, as Bell is just 5-8, 162 pounds and Sweet is 6-0, 193 pounds. They are more slot receivers than big outside threats.</p>
<p id="lbmWIN">The players that will really need to step up are sophomore Dezmon Patmon (6-4, 212 lbs.) and freshman Davontavean Martin (6-3, 182 lbs.). Those two bring more size to the outside receiver spots and both averaged more than 11 yards per catch while hauling in a total of 55 passes for 656 yards and four touchdowns. </p>
<p id="pXQzUR"><strong>Offensive Line</strong></p>
<p id="BgOJbr">We mentioned that the Wazzu offensive line allowed the fourth most sacks in the country this year, but part of that is a product of the system. When you are throwing the ball that much, sacks are an inevitable part of it. </p>
<p id="9zMaaK">The Cougars did have two offensive lineman receive All-Pac 12 honors this year. Fifth-year senior left guard Cody O’Connell is one of the best in the country. O’Connell was named first-team All-Pac 12 this year, and was a unanimous All-American selection last year as well as an Outland Trophy (best interior lineman) finalist. </p>
<p id="77tj1I">Right tackle Cole Madison was named second-team All-Pac 12 this year and is a three year starter for the Cougars. </p>
<p id="tTW4Iz"><strong>Defense</strong></p>
<p id="WENiI7">On to the other side of the ball now to check out the Washington State defense which was 47<sup>th</sup> in scoring allowing 24.4 points per game. They were 15<sup>th</sup> in total defense allowing 313.6 yards per game and 28<sup>th</sup> in yards per play at 5.02. </p>
<p id="UyAcSr">They were the ninth best passing defense in terms of total yards, allowing 167.4 yards per game through the air and 13<sup>th</sup> in yards per attempt at 6.1 yards per pass.</p>
<p id="glcn7I">Teams had a little more success on the ground as the Cougars were 42<sup>nd</sup> in total rush defense at 146.17 yards per game and 55<sup>th</sup> in yards per attempt allowing 4.17 yards per carry. For a comparison, MSU averaged 162.92 yards per game on 3.92 yards per carry. </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="NCAA Football: Nevada at Washington State" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/X_DSc7260Ab4rIHeFXiy9k_62wE=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9868889/usa_today_10300262.jpg">
<cite>James Snook-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
</figure>
<p id="jaEF55">Washington State was also very good at getting to the quarterback. The Cougars had 36 sacks this year, tied for 13<sup>th</sup> most in the country. They averaged exactly three sacks per game. Leading the way in that department was defensive tackle Hercules Mata’afa, who was ninth in the nation with 9.5 sacks on the year.</p>
<p id="0XQHkV">Mata’afa, who hails from Hawaii, was just named the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year. He was also first-team All-Pac 12 and a picked up several first-team All-American honors as well. Mata’afa has lived in opposing backfields this year, as he has 21.5 tackles for loss to go along with his 9.5 sacks. </p>
<p id="d3FqzS">NOTE: As was pointed out by several people both here and on twitter, I forgot to include that Mata’afa is suspended for the first half of the game after being ejected for targeting in the second half of Wazzu’s loss to Washington in their season finale. </p>
<p id="2hvhq6">Senior linebacker Frankie Luvu chipped in 6.5 sacks this year while adding 10.5 tackles for loss as the rush specialist linebacker. He also had a fumble return for a touchdown. </p>
<p id="oASbX9">The team’s leading tackler was safety Jalen Thompson, who was second-team All-Pac 12. Thompson had a nice year with 69 total tackles. He also led the team with four interceptions, picked up 5.5 tackles for loss, and recovered a fumble. </p>
<p id="B0U30n">The Cougars defense was very opportunistic this year, forcing 27 turnovers, the sixth most in the country. However, the Wazzu offense turned the ball over 29 times, the fourth most in the country. </p>
<p id="9X6LOw"><strong>Special Teams</strong></p>
<p id="JgVV5j">The Cougars special teams are led by one of the best kickers in the Pac-12 in Erik Powell. The senior was named second-team All-Pac 12 this year converting 19 of 23 field goals (82.6%) and 44 of 45 extra points. He had a long of 56 yards against Arizona and also connected twice from 52 yards out. </p>
<p id="VjQ6au">Oh and did we mention he is also the team’s main punting specialist? He averaged 42.53 yards per punt on 19 punts this year and dropped four punts inside the 20 yard line. </p>
<p id="eNQT1x">Receiver Kyle Sweet is actually the team leader in terms of punt attempts with 32, and averaged a solid 38.44 yards per kick. </p>
<p id="wIUq9B">The return game hasn’t been great for Wazzu. They check in at 112<sup>th</sup> nationally in kick returns, averaging 18.63 yards per return. Receiver Renard Bell and defensive back Robert Taylor have essentially split the duties.</p>
<p id="zNkVgJ">Punt returns aren’t any better as Washington State is 118<sup>th</sup> in that department averaging 4.14 yards per return, just two spots ahead of MSU. Running back Jamal Morrow has 19 of the 22 punt returns for Wazzu and averages 3.63 yards per return.</p>
<p id="BJH3s8">On the flip side, the coverage units are a mixed bag. They are 101<sup>st</sup> in kickoff returns allowing 23.38 yards per return, although they haven’t allowed a kickoff return touchdown. However the punt return unit ranks eighth nationally allowing just 2.89 yards per return on just 18 attempts. </p>
<p id="dNkYlS"><strong>Overall </strong></p>
<p id="CJAeoH">This is a very good football team. They have wins over #25 Boise State, #15 Stanford, and #8 USC. The one thing all those wins have in common is that they were at home, where Wazzu went 7-0 this year. On the road they were 2-3, where they lost to Cal, Arizona, and Washington by a combined score of 136-54, allowing at least 37 points in all three games. </p>
<p id="ujHnwN">Wazzu has some very good individual players can that be issues on both sides of the ball. Luke Falk is seasoned at quarterback and if given time, will pick any team apart. Mata’afa is a beast in the interior of the defensive line and can disrupt an offense almost all by himself. </p>
<p id="NCHopj">Defensively this will be a big test for MSU’s pass defense. They have faced spread offenses this year, but nothing like the pass heavy Washington State attack. Expect the Cougars to try and exploit the Spartans linebackers in coverage with their backs out of the backfield. MSU will need to get pressure on Falk, if they do, he is prone to mistakes. </p>
<p id="NgDNgs">On offense MSU will need to come up with a game plan to attack the edges, rather than trying to run right at Mata’afa in the middle of the line. Wazzu has solid pass defense numbers, but they were picked apart by some of the better quarterbacks. The two worst losses were when teams got the ball moving on the ground, as they allowed over 300 yards on the ground to Arizona and Washington. </p>
<p id="gDoKVL">This will be a very interesting matchup, which I could see turning into a high scoring game, or being a tight low scoring affair. Either way I expect it to be very competitive, as long as MSU’s offense doesn’t come out flat. Should be fun as MSU plays part in Pac 12 After Dark during bowl season. </p>
https://www.theonlycolors.com/2017/12/14/16776402/washington-state-by-the-numbersMattHoeppnerTOC2017-12-11T12:02:57-06:002017-12-11T12:02:57-06:00Michigan State Bowl History
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Football: Cotton Bowl-Michigan State vs Alabama" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/gKU5HrxJpiTqgq74jFApYE12nHc=/0x0:3073x2049/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57937821/usa_today_9044944.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Spartans are going bowling for the 27th time overall and the 10th under Mark Dantonio.</p> <p id="DQ3pA1">After a one year hiatus, Michigan State is going bowling again. Despite the fact the Spartans were hosed out of a New Year’s Day bowl, they still find themselves in a top-25 matchup in a bowl game with quite a bit of history. So before MSU and Wazzu kick off in San Diego, let’s take a look back at MSU’s bowl history.</p>
<p id="pPUitN"><strong>Overall Bowl Numbers</strong></p>
<p id="1nEGcH">This will be the 27<sup>th</sup> bowl appearance for Michigan State. They are 11-15 all-time in bowl games. The Holiday Bowl will be the 17<sup>th</sup> difference bowl game the Spartans have appeared in. Their most appeared in bowl game is the Rose Bowl, with five appearances. They also have more wins (4) in the Rose Bowl than any other bowl game. </p>
<p id="gK375L">MSU has played in three of the New Year’s Six bowls, with five Rose Bowls, two Cotton Bowls, and an Orange Bowl appearance. The Orange bowl was MSU’s first ever bowl game, coming all the way back in 1938. MSU lost 6-0 to Auburn in that game. </p>
<p id="4f6OZk">The Spartans also have the distinction of being one of only four schools to play in a Cherry Bowl. The precursor to the Motor City Bowl, the Cherry Bowl was only played twice, with Michigan State and Army playing in the first game in December of 1984. That game also has the distinction of being the first ever bowl appearance for Army, who defeated the Spartans 10-6 in front of over 70,000 fans at the Silverdome. </p>
<p id="ZQSyGH"><strong>Mark Dantonio Era</strong></p>
<p id="wBiykJ">The Holiday Bowl will be the 10<sup>th</sup> bowl game for the Spartans in 11 seasons under Mark Dantonio. No other MSU football coach has taken the Spartans to more bowl games. Dantonio is 4-5 in his previous nine bowl games, starting off 0-4 before winning four in a row to get back to .500 before dropping the last game in the College Football Playoff. The four bowl wins are also the most in school history.</p>
<p id="LzW6wm"><strong>MSU vs Pac 12 </strong></p>
<p id="pkW5D7">This will be the ninth time that Michigan State matches up with a Pac 12 team in a bowl game. The Spartans are 5-3 in their previous eight matchups with the Pac 12 in bowls, including a win in their last matchup over Stanford in the Rose Bowl. </p>
<p id="fGgY01">This will be the first bowl matchup against Washington State for MSU. In fact, this will be the first time these two schools have played each other since September of 1977. The two teams have played a total of seven times, with MSU winning five of those games. Washington State won the most recent game 23-21 in 1977. </p>
<p id="tjNnNb"><strong>Holiday Bowl</strong></p>
<p id="Awka4p">This will be the first Holiday Bowl appearance for Michigan State. The game has been around since 1978, with the Big Ten having a tie in from 1991-1994 and then returning in 2014 when the conference signed a six year tie-in deal. </p>
<p id="wGw8pw">BYU has appeared in the most Holiday Bowl games, with 11 appearances. They also have two of the most memorable Holiday Bowl moments. The first came in 1980 when BYU, led by Jim McMahon at quarterback, erased a 20 point deficit in the final two minutes of the game to shock SMU in what became known as the “Miracle Bowl.”</p>
<p id="dhJgAN">In 1984 the #1 ranked BYU Cougars knocked off Michigan 24-17 to finish the season undefeated and were named national champions. It is the only time the national championship was determined at the Holiday Bowl. </p>
<p id="VSF7kf">Nebraska has the most Holiday Bowl appearances of any current Big Ten team with four, but most of those came when the Huskers were in the Big 12. Iowa has three appearances, and Michigan and Ohio State have each been to the game twice. </p>
<p id="a3RcsT"><strong>MSU in California Bowls</strong></p>
<p id="47Wdwn">The Holiday Bowl will be the third different California bowl game that Michigan State has played in. It will be their seventh overall appearance in a bowl game in California. They are 5-1 all-time in California Bowl games, with a 4-1 mark in the Rose Bowl and a win in their only appearance in the now defunct Silicon Valley Bowl. </p>
<p id="xCFHjb"><strong>MSU Bowl records</strong></p>
<p id="r638k1">That Silicon Valley Bowl game produced the most prolific individual passing, rushing, and receiving performances in Michigan State bowl history. Jeff Smoker threw for 376 yards, T.J. Duckett ran for 184 yards, and Charles Rodgers had 270 receiving yards. </p>
<p id="lUEL8g">Smoker threw three TD passes in that game as well, tied for the most by an MSU quarterback in a bowl along with Bill Burke (2000 Citrus) and Bobby McAllister (1989 Gator). Plaxico Burress (2000 Citrus) and Andre Rison (1989 Gator) hold the record for receiving touchdowns with three, and Jeremy Langford (2015 Cotton) and Blake Ezor (1989 Aloha) have the only 3 rushing TD performances in MSU bowl history. </p>
<p id="i8J6Zt">On the defensive side, Percy Snow holds the record for most tackles in a bowl game with 17 in the 1988 Rose Bowl win over USC. Julian Peterson had three sacks in the 2000 Citrus Bowl to set the MSU record in that category. Darqueze Dennard is one of four MSU players to record two interceptions in a bowl game. Mike Iaquaniello did it twice, in back-to-back bowl games in 1989 and 1990. </p>
https://www.theonlycolors.com/2017/12/11/16762742/michigan-state-bowl-historyMattHoeppnerTOC