Couch and The Rube

We returned from a week away, digging into our hot takes and yours – on this Michigan State basketball team, what MSU should do to reach its ceiling, how good Purdue really is, Zach Edey and Joey Hauser as NBA players, MSU's quarterback situation, the NFL playoffs, refs being ass and more.

We dug into your Twitter questions – on Michigan State basketball, the future at center with Mady Sissoko, Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper, on Pierre Brooks, MSU's chances at an NCAA tournament run, on the Lions draft and Jared Goff, the Spartans' QB situation, how U-M is covered and more. Plus, we pick this week's NFL playoff games with Harry.

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on Michigan State basketball's changed ceiling and ability to reach the NCAA tournament if Malik Hall is out for a considerable length of time, on MSU's loss to Purdue, including how the game was called by the refs and how the Spartans' defended Zach Edey on the final possession, on Kirk Cousins and Jared Goff, NFL bets, Spartan hockey and women's basketball, local media personalities and more.

Off the top: What to make of MSU's basketball team after its win at Wisconsin, why the Spartans might be Big Ten contenders and what gives this team a chance. Then, our NFL playoff picks with Harry. Plus, answers to your Twitter questions – on MSU basketball, the future of the roster, how it compares to other recent MSU teams, the Spartan football program and coaching staff, and more.

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on the Lions' plowing over the Packers and Aaron Rodgers, on the bittersweet feelings from Sunday night, the hopes for the Lions future, on Michigan State's win over Michigan, the state of the team, A.J. Hoggard's development and more. Plus, a couple stories worth telling and another litteral mic drop.

We dug into your Twitter questions – on Michigan State's matchup with Michigan, on guarding Hunter Dickinson and Dickinson's antics, on the freshman in MSU's program that'll have the best career, on Keon Coleman and Elijah Collins, on the Lions and hopes this weekend, marriage advice and more.

Off the top: We dug into Elijah Collins hitting the transfer portal and MSU basketball's win over Nebraska and looming matchup with Michigan. Then, a good conversation with The Athletic's Colton Pouncy on what he misses about the MSU beat, life covering the Lions and this Sunday's showdown with the Packers. Plus, we pick the NFL games and college football championship game with Harry Gagnon.

In our first show of 2023, we dug into our hot takes and yours – on the Lions' heading to Green Bay take down the Packers and Aaron Rodgers and the significance of the game for the organization and for Jared Goff, on MSU basketball heading into the teeth of Big Ten play (including a game Saturday against Michigan), on the Wolverines' blown opportunity against TCU in the College Football Playoff, the Mel Tucker-Ryan Day comparison and more.

In our final show of 2022, we dug into your Twitter questions — on MSU football's recruiting class, Mel Tucker's staff, Juwan Howard's future, Hunter Dickinson the antagonist, what Malik Hall's return will mean for MSU's lineup, whether Santa finally believes in the Lions, best and worst gifts we've received and given and more. Including, the story of Santa Rube.

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on the latest happenings with MSU football recruiting and what it means, on all the emotions being stirred by the surging Detroit Lions, on MSU hoops, the fantastic World Cup final and more.

We dug into your Twitter questions – on MSU football's recent recruiting surge and what to make of the latest commitments, on reasons to be both bullish and realistic on Spartan athletics, on the Lions' playoff chances and what we think of Jared Goff long-term, favorite Christmas movies, World Cup projections and more. Plus, we pick the NFL games, including the Lions-Jets, with Harry Gagnon.

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on the sudden joy of being a Lions fan, their playoff chances and what to do with Jared Goff, on the state of Michigan State basketball, on Mel Tucker's relatively small MSU football recruiting class as signing day nears, and more.

We dug into your Twitter questions – what to really make of MSU's basketball team, MSU football recruiting, on Spartan fans dealing with U-M's football success, Mazi Smith, hypocrisy, the Blue Curtain, updated World Cup picks and more. Plus, another actual mic drop.

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on the state of Michigan State's basketball team, whether Izzo made mistakes in building this roster, what this MSU team can still become, why Michigan football's shot at a national title is adding to the Spartans' misery, the state of Mel Tucker's program, why the surging Lions and Jared Goff, man bras, flawed quick takes and more.

We dug into Tom Izzo's response to the Big Ten's fine of MSU and reprimand of Michigan. Then talked MSU football — why a bowl game, at this point, isn't important, and what is important for the program moving forward. Later, we talk MSU hoops — what we learned at the PK85. Plus, we pick this week's football games with Harry Gagnon.

A good conversation on Michigan State hoops and Big Ten basketball with The Athletic's Brendan Quinn, after we pick this week's college football and NFL games with Harry (and talk about our World Cup bets).

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on Michigan State football's loss to Indiana, what it says about Mel Tucker and his staff, Spartan basketball's win over Villanova, the Lions playing meaningful football on Thanksgiving, and more

Off the top: We dug into MSU's win over Kentucky in the Champions Classic and what to make of the Spartans. Then we pick this week's NFL and college football games with Harry Gagnon, before we preview MSU's football game against Indiana with the Indy Star's Zach Osterman. Plus, your Twitter questions (before and after the Osterman conversation)

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on MSU's showing against Gonzaga, Mady Sissoko's emergence, the backup center issue, the value of an MSU football bowl game, Payton Thorne, John U. Bacon's blog, real hope for the Lions and more.

We dug into the latest on the MSU-Michigan tunnel skirmish as lawyers get involved, and talked Michigan State hoops and what we saw from the Spartans in their open. Then Harry Gagnon joined us to pick the college football and NFL games. Plus, Twitter questions.

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on MSU's win over Illinois, what it said about the program, on the late-game clock management decisions, on Xavier Henderson, the Lions beating Aaron Rodgers, MSU basketball, U-M football and more.

e dug into your Twitter questions – on the MSU football tunnel fallout, Michigan's culpability, what's left for the Spartans this season, on MSU hoops, the roster and rotation, expectations at the center spot and more.

We dug into the latest with the MSU-Michigan tunnel fight and how fans and the programs have reacted. Then some MSU hoops talk on the heels of the Spartans' exhibition game against Grand Valley. Followed by a good conversation with Illinois writer Jeremy Werner on the Illini and Spartans and what to expect this weekend. Plus, with pick this week's football games with Harry Gagnon.

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on Michigan State's loss at Michigan, the Spartans' disappearing offense, Jay Johnson under fire, the fight in the tunnel that ensued, U-M's role in it, the ugliness in the rivalry, the Mel Tucker era and more.

We dug into your Twitter questions – on whether it's time to be concerned about Mel Tucker's 2023 recruiting class, fair expectations for MSU next season, what it'll take for the Spartans to win Saturday at Michigan, MSU basketball, best bets this week and more, including, right at the end, story worth telling from the Rube from one of his stints in jail.

We dug into Michigan State's game at Michigan with The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner – on how the Wolverines view this rivalry, what it'll take for MSU to win and the state of the Spartans' program. Then we picked this week's college football and NFL games with Harry Gagnon. Plus, I get back on the horse with a can't-miss Premier League parlay.

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on hopes and fears for MSU in Saturday's game at Michigan, on what would be satisfying from the Wolverines' perspective, on Kenneth Walker and Blake Corum, on my horrible gambling advice, on the Lions' QB situation and how the NFL and NFL refs treat the Lions and more.

We dug into your Twitter questions – on different scenarios that'll give Michigan State a chance to upset Michigan, on Mel Tucker's recruiting ability, on which young Pistons player has the best chance to become a force, on Tom Izzo's comments Tuesday and how many games MSU basketball team needs to win during its brutal early stretch and some other fun stuff. Plus we pick the games with Harry and give our can't-miss parlays.

We dug into how the dynamics of the MSU-Michigan football rivalry have changed over the last 15 years, especially with how fans see this rivalry. Then, a great conversation with The Athletic's James Edwards on this young Pistons team on the eve of its opener.

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on Michigan State's win over Wisconsin, Xavier Henderson's impact, Mel Tucker's game management, Jay Johnson's play calling, Scottie Hazelton's redemption, what this means for the season, and what the Spartans' chances are in two weeks at Michigan. Plus lots of other fun stuff.

We dug into your Twitter questions – on why this Saturday's Wisconsin game is so significant to Michigan State's football program, on the repercussions if things continue to go wrong, on Izzo's faith in Mady Sissoko, MSU's board of trustees, our best bets this weekend and more.

Off the top, we dug into the latest with Michigan State football – what Mel Tucker and Payton Thorne said this week and an offensive line recruit de-commits. Then great insight on the Badgers and everything going on with Wisconsin's team and program from the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's Jeff Potrykus. Plus, we we pick the college football and NFL games with Harry, along with a can't-miss parlay.

We dug into what it would take for Michigan State to stay in the game with Ohio State, including a good conversation with The Columbus Dispatch's Joey Kaufman. Plus, we pick this week's college football and NFL games with Harry Gagnon.

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on the state of MSU's football team and program, confidence in Mel Tucker, how many wins are possible the rest of the season, the Lions just piling on the misery, betting Ohio State this week and more.

We dug into your Twitter questions – on frustration with Scott Hazelton and Mel Tucker's "death by inches" explanation, whether MSU football +8.5 is actually a value bet at Maryland, on Jaden Reed, Maliq Carr, Jay Johnson, Jayden Akins, burgers, donuts, hurricanes and more.

We dug into our hot takes and yours – largely on Michigan State's football team and program, the coaches, Mel Tucker's contract, the talent, and the rest of the season. Plus, takes on Dan Campbell and the Lions, and a good new story from The Rube about his 72-day stretch in the Ingham County Jail (at the 90-minute mark) as part of a strong finish to this 2 1/2-hour show.

We dug into your Twitter questions – on how MSU's football season hinges on Saturday's game against Minnesota, what it means for program momentum, the ceiling for the Spartans if things don't go well, whether it's OK to be excited about the Lions, and more.

Off the top, we dug into injuries to Jayden Reed and Jaden Akins and what that might mean for MSU's football and basketball teams. Then a good conversation with Seattle Times Washington football writer Mike Vorel. Plus, our college football and NFL picks with Harry Gagnon.

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on Payton Thorne's struggles, on Saturday's game at Washington as a defining point in this MSU football season, U-M's embarrassing schedule and QB situation, the pathetic Big Ten West, the Lions, a new tennis star, gambling losses and more.

We dug into your Twitter questions – on what this MSU football team needs to show against Akron, how things might be different for MSU's program had the 12-team playoff existed years ago, MSU's brutal basketball schedule, the original beef with Hondo, the worst Detroit pro sports signings, who's to really blame for the Tigers, good bets, Super Bowl picks and more.

Off the top, we dug into MSU's football team and what constitutes success agains Akron. Then a terrific conversation with The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner on the potential and concerns for this Spartan football team, U-M's quarterback situation and what to expect from the Lions. Plus, we pick college football and NFL games with Harry Gagnon.

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on Michigan State's football team after its performance against Western Michigan, hopes and concerns, as well as other happenings around the Big Ten and college football.