Game 10: OHIO STATE v MICHIGAN STATE

GAME 10    OHIO STATE v MICHIGAN STATE

November 21, 2015                Ohio Stadium              Columbus, OH

Michigan State Spartans

Location: East Lansing, MI

Stadium: Spartan Stadium (72,027)

Coach: Mark Dantonio (9^th year): 84-32 at MSU/102-49 overall, 50-23 v B1G, 2-6 v OSU

Series: OSU 29, MSU 14

Last Meeting: 11/18/2014: OSU 49, MSU 37

Last MSU win: 12/7/2013: MSU 34, OSU 24 (B1G Championship)

Coach Meyer: 48-3 at OSU/152-26 overall, 34-2 v B1G, 2-1 v MSU

2014 Michigan State Spartans (11-2)(7-1)               2014 Ohio State Buckeyes (14-1)(9-0)

45        Jacksonville State                      7                    34        at Navy (Baltimore)                17

27        at Oregon                                46                    21        Virginia Tech                           35

73        Eastern Michigan                    14                    66        Kent State                                  0

56        Wyoming                                 14                    50        Cincinnati                                28

27        Nebraska                                 22                    52        at Maryland                             24

45        at Purdue                                31                    56        Rutgers                                     17

56        at Indiana                                17                    31        at Penn State (2OT)                 24       

35        Michigan                                 11                    55        Illinois                                     14

37        Ohio State                               49                    49        at Michigan State                     37

37        at Maryland                            15                    31        at Minnesota                             24

45        Rutgers                                      3                    42        Indiana                                     27

34        at Penn State                           10                    42        Michigan                                  28

42        Baylor                                      41                    59        Wisconsin                                  0

            (Cotton Bowl)                                                              (B1G Championship)

                                                                                    42        Alabama                                   35

                                                                                                (Sugar Bowl)

                                                                                    42        Oregon                                     20

                                                                                                (National Championship)

2015 Michigan State Spartans (9-1)(5-1)                 2015 Ohio State Buckeyes (10-0)(6-0)

37        at Western Michigan              24                    42        at Virginia Tech                      24

31        Oregon                                    28                    38        Hawaii                                       0

35        Air Force                                 21                    20        Northern Illinois                      13

30        Central Michigan                    10                    38        Western Michigan                  12

24        Purdue                                     21                    34        at Indiana                                27

31        at Rutgers                               24                    49        Maryland                                 28

27        at Michigan                             23                    38        Penn State                               10

52        Indiana                                    26                    49        at Rutgers                                 7

O31

38        at Nebraska                             39                    28        Minnesota                               14

24        Maryland                                  7                    28        at Illinois                                   3

N21      at Ohio State                                                               Michigan State

N28      Penn State                                                                   at Michigan

            The long-awaited marquee matchup of the 2015 B1G Conference football season has arrived and Ohio State faces their first top ten opponent.  Both teams control their own destiny to get to Indianapolis for the B1G Championship game. 

MICHIGAN STATE OFFENSE v OHIO STATE DEFENSE: There has been a great deal of concern, and indeed, Michigan State’s chances of victory may hinge upon, the health of Spartan quarterback Connor Cook.  He was banged up last week in MSU’s win against Maryland, but evidently will give it a go against the Buckeye defense.  Cook has been known as an excellent game manager throughout his career as he directed the Spartans to their B1G Championship win over Ohio State in 2013, and a huge comeback win against Baylor in their bowl win last year.  Cook owns a 32-4 record as the starter, and his only losses in conference play came against Ohio State last year and Nebraska two weeks ago.  He is also a finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and a semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien and Maxwell Awards.  He is also MSU’s all-time leader in touchdown passes with 68 and in his two career games against the Buckeyes, Cook has completed 49-of-85 passes for 662 yards, five touchdowns, and only one interception.  Cook will look to test the Ohio State secondary by throwing to senior WR Aaron Burbridge, who is making a strong case to be named B1G Receiver of the Year after Spartan great Tony Lippett took home that honor last year.  Burbridge, who is just the seventh Spartan

to reach the 1,000-yard receiving milestone in a single-season, leads the Big Ten in receiving yards (1,201; 102.1 ypg.) and receptions (65; 6.5 pg.).  Burbridge has recorded seven 100-yard receiving games this season.  But, if Ohio State’s secondary pays too much attention to Burbridge, they could get burned by his cohort on the other side, MacGarrett Kings.  The senior wideout ranks third on the team with 32 catches for 450 yards and five touchdowns, with 23 of his catches going for either a first down or a score.  Kings will also run an occasional reverse, so the Ohio State defense will have to be aware of his position on every play.  Junior TE Josiah Price has been playing an ever expanding role as a receiver, ranking fourth on the team with 15 catches for 182 yards.  His five TD receptions put him second in that category and 11 of his 15 receptions have been for a first down or a score.  Michigan State, which has one of the deepest and most talented offensive lines in the nation, has featured six different starting lineups in the first 10 games of the season due to injuries up front. The Spartans have been forced to display their versatility and use their depth at all fi ve positions.  Amid all of the lineup changes, MSU has still only allowed 13 sacks all season – third fewest in the Big Ten and 23rd fewest in the country.  The line is led by seniors Jack Allen and Donavon Clark at center and RG respectively.  Last year, Allen was a Rimington Trophy Finalist and he has picked up where he left off in 2014 by being a candidate for that award again as well as the Outland Trophy.  Clark, a fifth-year senior, is in his second season as a starter, also has experience at both tackle spots.  Juniors Jack Conklin (LT), Benny McGowan (LG) and Kodi Kieler (RT) round out the patchwork offensive line that has fared well despite the injuries.  MSU’s runners will depend on them Saturday, such as LJ Scott, Madre London, and Gerald Holmes.  Holmes should get the start, but all three will probably see action as the Spartans will hope to establish a rushing threat.  Scott is the leading ground gainer with 519 yards and nine scores, while Holmes has 392 with six touchdowns.  London, with 405 yards and three touchdowns figures to be the quickest of the three and may see his share of swing passes thrown his way as a counter to the Ohio State pass rush.  

                                             QB Connor Cook

MICHIGAN STATE DEFENSE v OHIO STATE OFFENSE: The MSU defense, long considered the strength of this team, has not been as dominant as in the past couple of years.  However, they have their share of playmakers, especially among the front seven.  Led by fifth-year senior Shilique Calhoun, the MSU defensive line is one of the fiercest in the country.  Calhoun has already made semifinalist for the Lombardi, Bednarik, and Lott awards and is an almost sure first-rounder in next year’s NFL draft.  He ranks second on the team with 34 tackles.  Calhoun is not alone on that Spartan defensive front; lining up next to him is senior DT Joel Heath who is coming off an injury.  Heath has chipped in 27 tackles , including five for losses and two sacks.  Sophomore Malik McDowell and senior Lawrence Thomas round out this outstanding defensive line.  McDowell leads Spartan defensive lineman with 35 tackles, ranks second on the team in tackles for loss (10.5 for 43 yards) and third in sacks with 3.5.  Thomas has chipped in 29 tackles, including three for losses for 15 yards and two sacks for 13 yards.  Michigan State once again has an excellent line backing corps.  Junior Riley Bullough, who is in his first year as the starting middle linebacker, leads the team and ranks 12th in the Big Ten in tackles (79; 7.9 avg.).  He also has two fumble recoveries and ranks second in sacks with 4, and third in tackles for loss with 6.5.  Senior Darien Harris and sophomore Jon Reschke will line up beside him.  Harris ranks second on the team with 65 tackles and also has 5.5 tackles for loss while Reschke has pitched in 61 tackles with four for loss and a sack.  Starting safety RJ Williamson’s injury has hurt the Spartan secondary, but they have some fine players back there.  Cornerback Darian Hicks, a good shut-down corner, has recovered nicely from his bout with mononucleosis, and has 17 tackles and three pass break ups in his seven games of action thus far.  Senior Arjen Colquhoun, the starting corner on the other side, has chipped in 31 tackles and is tied for the team lead with seven pass break ups and two forced fumbles.  Sophomore Montae Nicholson (SS) and junior Demetrious Cox (FS) round out the secondary.  Nicholson ranks fifth on the team with 52 tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss, while Cox is in his first season as a full-time starter and has also played at corner and has 54 tackles. 

                                                   DE Shilique Calhoun

SPECIAL TEAMS: Experienced kicker Michael Geiger is 8 for 12 in field goals with a long of 47, while freshman Jake Hartbarger has won the punting job.  Hartbarger has done well, averaging 42.6 per punt with a long of 60 yards.

SUMMARY: The stunning, last-second loss to Nebraska (which, to be fair to the Spartans was caused by incredibly bad officiating) seems to have taken something away from the Spartans, as they seemed to sleepwalk through their victory over Maryland last week.  However, they have been pointing to this game since the last time these teams met in what decided the B1G East Division winner.  This year’s game has just as much riding on it; both teams have control of their own destiny with a win.  At first glance, the double-digit point spread in favor of Ohio State may seem a bit much, but considering their injuries along the offensive line, a banged-up quarterback that may not be at one hundred percent and a resurgent Ohio State defense playing their final home game of the season, the spread looks about right.  In fact, if Michigan State can’t establish any kind of a running attack, they’ll be in for a beating and providing OSU’s offensive line and Barrett’s mobility keeps him from getting sacked, Ohio State will win by double digits.

                                      OHIO STATE 34, MICHIGAN STATE 17