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The Michigan State Spartans somehow have the best odds of any team in the country to win the national title, according to Vegas, and that has many people shaking their heads. However, the Spartans are determined to show everyone just why that is by winning out and finishing the regular season with an 11-1 record. This week may be a trap game, however.
While the Indiana Hoosiers are one of the least talked about teams when it comes to Big Ten titles, they can be one that disrupts other’s chances at winning the conference crown. With a 3-3 record, the Hoosiers have yet to record a conference win this season as this week marks their toughest game of the season.
Michigan State has one of the best rushing offenses in the nation, ranking 18th, while also producing one of the top scoring offenses nationally, ranking fourth in the country. This is a far cry from the lethargic offense that the Spartans experienced at the beginning of the 2013 season and all of 2012. Connor Cook has had a rough couple of starts for the Spartans, however, as the junior quarterback’s accuracy has been waning, now down to 58 percent, while passing for 1,309 yards and 13 touchdowns; he has also added two touchdowns on the ground. His favorite target, Tony Lippett, has been dynamite in the receiving game, catching 32 passes for 663 yards and eight touchdowns — recording a touchdown catch in eight straight games. Tight end Josiah Price has been as reliable as they come, catching 12 passes for 161 yards and three touchdowns. Jeremy Langford has been solid in the run game, accounting for 555 yards and four touchdowns of 5.3 yards per carry.
With Nate Sudfeld likely out for the season with a shoulder injury, the Hoosiers will be forced to rely upon freshman Chris Covington who started the season as a linebacker for the team. Covington passed for just 31 yards and an interception on 3-12 passing while filling in for the injured quarterback last week. Prior to his injury, Sudfeld led the 100th-ranked passing offense with 1,151 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions while completing 61 percent of his passes. Shane Wynn was easily, and will continue to be, the top target, catching 27 passes for 424 yards and two touchdowns. Indiana will have to rely heavily on the run, however, as the offense ranks seventh in the nation in rushing yards per game — it’s going to be tough going against one of the best run defenses in the country. Tevin Coleman leads all Big Ten rushers with 1,060 yards and 11 touchdowns on an astounding 8.8 yards per carry while D’Angelo Roberts is second with 408 yards and five scores.
Defensively, the Hoosiers have struggled this season. Indiana ranks toward the bottom of the nation in yards allowed per game, giving up just over 415 per contest with a weak secondary. The Hoosiers have also struggled to keep teams out of the endzone, ranking 90th in points allowed. Michigan State is one of the better units in the nation, ranking 12th in total yards allowed per game with a bit of a struggling secondary, but one of the best run defenses in the nation. The Spartans also rank a mediocre 45th in points allowed per game. The crowd at Memorial Stadium will be raucous, hoping for a huge upset in week eight.
Michigan State will travel to Indiana to take on the Hoosiers at 3:30 p.m. EST on Saturday, Oct. 18. The game will be broadcasted on ABC, ESPN or ESPN 2.
PREDICTION: Michigan State 41, Indiana 24
Want to see the Hoosiers take on the Spartans in week eight? Check out ScoreBig for tickets.
Connor Muldowney is a columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connormuldowney, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. You can also reach him at [email protected].
