An abbreviated version of the Pre-Snap Read.
The Pre-Snap Read: Michigan State vs Wake Forest
By Jim Comparoni
Publisher
SpartanMag.com
NEW YORK CITY - It doesn’t appear that Michigan State will have a problem being motivated for Friday’s New Era Pinstripe Bowl against Wake Forest. The problem will be trying to outscore a quality Wake Forest team that is fired up for a chance to move its program up another rung on the national ladder.
At 6-6, Michigan State doesn't seem like a first-rate scalp for the Deacons to cherish. But Michigan State still has some shine to its national brand after Mark Dantonio's six 10-win seasons and four Top 15 finishes in the last seven years.
For the first time since 1948, Wake Forest has had four straight winning seasons. Wake Forest is going for its third nine-win season in school history.
Wake Forest was 7-1, ranked No. 19 in early November and made its first-ever appearance in the College Football Playoff rankings.
Wake Forest lost three of its last four games as injuries knocked the Demon Deacons off course for a possible New Years Six bowl bid, which eventually went to Virginia out of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Now, Wake Forest wants its good season to end on a terrific note by beating Michigan State.
Michigan State wants one last chance to prove to themselves that they were better than their 6-6 record. I’m not sure they’re actually better than 6-6, but that’s their intention.
“Our will is about as high as it can be,” said senior quarterback Brian Lewerke. “I have one more game, the seniors have one more game, and we want to come out of here with a win.
“I didn’t have the best season. I want to show I’ve made improvements since the last game.”
THE OVERVIEW
The ACC has a poor football reputation this year, and it’s been that way for the past handful of seasons. In watching some of Wake Forest’s games, I think the reputation is warranted.
Wake Forest is a quality team which does a lot of good, troubling things on offense. But the defense has been leaky.
In watching Wake Forest’s 39-30 overtime loss at Syracuse in the last game of the regular season, the two teams lacked physicality on defense, didn’t tackle well, and were shaky with assignments. It was months ago, but I can see how and why Maryland destroyed a Syracuse team which began the season ranked in the Top 25 but finished 5-7.
Wake Forest is good in some areas on defense. But in terms of total, 11-man football on that side of the ball, they spring leaks. The question is whether Michigan State was the firepower on offense to do much about it.
The Pre-Snap Read: Michigan State vs Wake Forest
By Jim Comparoni
Publisher
SpartanMag.com
NEW YORK CITY - It doesn’t appear that Michigan State will have a problem being motivated for Friday’s New Era Pinstripe Bowl against Wake Forest. The problem will be trying to outscore a quality Wake Forest team that is fired up for a chance to move its program up another rung on the national ladder.
At 6-6, Michigan State doesn't seem like a first-rate scalp for the Deacons to cherish. But Michigan State still has some shine to its national brand after Mark Dantonio's six 10-win seasons and four Top 15 finishes in the last seven years.
For the first time since 1948, Wake Forest has had four straight winning seasons. Wake Forest is going for its third nine-win season in school history.
Wake Forest was 7-1, ranked No. 19 in early November and made its first-ever appearance in the College Football Playoff rankings.
Wake Forest lost three of its last four games as injuries knocked the Demon Deacons off course for a possible New Years Six bowl bid, which eventually went to Virginia out of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Now, Wake Forest wants its good season to end on a terrific note by beating Michigan State.
Michigan State wants one last chance to prove to themselves that they were better than their 6-6 record. I’m not sure they’re actually better than 6-6, but that’s their intention.
“Our will is about as high as it can be,” said senior quarterback Brian Lewerke. “I have one more game, the seniors have one more game, and we want to come out of here with a win.
“I didn’t have the best season. I want to show I’ve made improvements since the last game.”
THE OVERVIEW
The ACC has a poor football reputation this year, and it’s been that way for the past handful of seasons. In watching some of Wake Forest’s games, I think the reputation is warranted.
Wake Forest is a quality team which does a lot of good, troubling things on offense. But the defense has been leaky.
In watching Wake Forest’s 39-30 overtime loss at Syracuse in the last game of the regular season, the two teams lacked physicality on defense, didn’t tackle well, and were shaky with assignments. It was months ago, but I can see how and why Maryland destroyed a Syracuse team which began the season ranked in the Top 25 but finished 5-7.
Wake Forest is good in some areas on defense. But in terms of total, 11-man football on that side of the ball, they spring leaks. The question is whether Michigan State was the firepower on offense to do much about it.
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