I doubt many who follow MSU football figured the Spartans would finish 6-6 in the regular season.  That's 4-4 in the Big Ten, tied for 6th place and remember the pre season polls had MSU 3rd in the league.  So what happened?

     All of that publicity about the quarterbacks and who will be the replacement for Javon Ringer, etc., all of that was fine and good for chat.  But it wasn't the main issue of where this season would head.  Defense is the key in football at every level and in the Big Ten the best three defensive teams were at the top, just as they are in the national polls.

     MSU's defense is average on a good day with an exception or two along the way.  Ironic that MSU had two defensive backs listed honorable mention all Big Ten and I guess I'm missing something, but then all Big Ten teams have strange picks every year anyway.

     Michigan State better hope linebacker Greg Jones does not turn pro because if he does the defensive until will look like an expansion team next fall.  To me it is absolutely the number one priority between now and next opening day.  And there is a lot to work on too.  I don't know how much better MSU can get defensively for next season, but even with somewhat of a soft schedule, especially in the non conference, every game will have tough moments if the defensive until can't get someone else's offense off the field.

     I thought this was a 6-6 team even though many games could have gone either way.  The final three Big Ten games yielded 42, 37 and 42 points, normally all losses.  But Purdue squandered the game in West Lafayette on November 14th giving MSU a chance to play in a bowl game.

     But whether it's Texas Tech, Oklahoma or someone else, MSU will be an underdog in a bowl and Texas Tech could pass the Spartans silly if the two meet January 2nd in San Antonio in the Alamo Bowl.