[Spartandawg]

Michigan State caught a real break in its conference schedule this year.

MSU missed the three strongest teams in the opposite division -- Ohio State (12-1), Wisconsin (9-3), and Penn State (7-5).

Instead, MSU played the three weakest teams in that division -- Indiana (5-7), Illinois (4-8), and Purdue (1-11).

MSU's non-conference schedule was not challenging. MSU played NotreDame and three weaklings -- Western Michigan (1-11), South Florida (2-10), and Youngstown State (FCS, 8-4).

MSU played 1 game against BCS top 25 teams (Ohio St.), compared to 5 for Stanford (Oregon, Arizona State twice, UCLA, U,S,C).

MSU played 1 game against Sagarin top 20 teams, compared to 6 for Stanford.

According to Sagarin, NotreDame was MSU's second toughest game, while NotreDame was Stanford's 7th toughest game.

Sagarin ranks MSU's strength of schedule #56, while Stanford's strength of schedule is ranked #4.

The Sagarin ratings for MSU's opponents:

11    Ohio State
25    NotreDame
28    Iowa
37    Michigan
50    Nebraska
51    Minnesota
55    Indiana
66    Northwestern
73    Illinois
111  Youngstown State
144  South Florida
155  Purdue
187  Western Michigan

By comparison, the Sagarin ratings for Stanford's opponents:

4    Oregon
8    Arizona State
8    Arizona State
12    Washington
13    UCLA
20    U,S,C
25    NotreDame
30    Washington State
32    Utah
36    Oregon State
87    San Jose State
121  Ca'l
156  Army

I'm surprised how incorrect the Sagarin rankings are.  Almost to the point of being offensive.  ???   

[Spartandawg]

Michigan State caught a real break in its conference schedule this year.

MSU missed the three strongest teams in the opposite division -- Ohio State (12-1), Wisconsin (9-3), and Penn State (7-5).

Instead, MSU played the three weakest teams in that division -- Indiana (5-7), Illinois (4-8), and Purdue (1-11).

MSU's non-conference schedule was not challenging. MSU played NotreDame and three weaklings -- Western Michigan (1-11), South Florida (2-10), and Youngstown State (FCS, 8-4).

MSU played 1 game against BCS top 25 teams (Ohio St.), compared to 5 for Stanford (Oregon, Arizona State twice, UCLA, U,S,C).

MSU played 1 game against Sagarin top 20 teams, compared to 6 for Stanford.

According to Sagarin, NotreDame was MSU's second toughest game, while NotreDame was Stanford's 7th toughest game.

Sagarin ranks MSU's strength of schedule #56, while Stanford's strength of schedule is ranked #4.

The Sagarin ratings for MSU's opponents:

11    Ohio State
25    NotreDame
28    Iowa
37    Michigan
50    Nebraska
51    Minnesota
55    Indiana
66    Northwestern
73    Illinois
111  Youngstown State
144  South Florida
155  Purdue
187  Western Michigan

By comparison, the Sagarin ratings for Stanford's opponents:

4    Oregon
8    Arizona State
8    Arizona State
12    Washington
13    UCLA
20    U,S,C
25    NotreDame
30    Washington State
32    Utah
36    Oregon State
87    San Jose State
121  Ca'l
156  Army

I'm surprised how incorrect the Sagarin rankings are.  Almost to the point of being offensive.  ???