Football: Potential trap games for Ohio State
Michigan State
Michigan State has upset Ohio State in some key moments in the past seven matchups between the two teams.
The Buckeyes lost to the Spartans for the first time since the millenium flipped from the 1900s to the 2000s in 2011 when Michigan State won 10-7 in Columbus. Two years later, Michigan State kept a previously undefeated and second-ranked Ohio State from a likely BCS Championship Game appearance with a 34-24 upset in the 2013 Big Ten Championship. Another two years pass, and Michigan State, again, kept Ohio State out of the College Football Playoff with a stunning walk-off field goal in Columbus to win 17-14 in 2015, later going on to win the Big Ten.
One thing has remained constant though about the losses for the Buckeyes: they’ve never come in East Lansing, Michigan.
Despite winning three of the past seven meetings, the Spartans have not defeated Ohio State in front of their home fans since 1999. In fact, since the first matchup in East Lansing, Ohio State has won 16 of 21 clashes in front of a green and white-clad crowd. Michigan State’s longest home winning streak against the Buckeyes is just two games, while Ohio State is currently running a six-game winning streak.
But this rivalry between the two teams has gotten interesting in recent years. Whenever Ohio State has appeared to be a clear favorite, Michigan State always finds a way to make it close or even come away with the upset.
No. 4 Ohio State will enter the matchup this year as the heavy favorite over No. 21 Michigan State barring a collapse by the Buckeyes or an unexpected resurgence by the Spartans, who already sit at 2-1 on the year.
Michigan State has not looked the part of a dominant team this season. Quarterback Brian Lewerke is completing 66 percent of his passes, but has a 5-to-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio. The running backs are averaging just 3.3 yards per carry and have only scored four rushing touchdowns.
However, in previous meetings, Michigan State has almost always been considered the underdog. Rarely, if ever, have the Spartans appeared to be the clear favorite.
Yet they seem to always be that one team that gives Ohio State trouble when everything is going right for the Buckeyes. Ohio State has a clear path to a championship? Michigan State seems to get in the way, or at least provide the Buckeyes with a worthy challenge.
Even in 2016 when Michigan State entered the Nov. 20 matchup with a 3-7 record and 1-6 conference record compared to Ohio State’s 9-1 and 6-1 marks, it was only a failed two-point conversion with 4:41 remaining and a later interception that kept Michigan State from beating the Buckeyes.
On paper, Ohio State should handle the Spartans. The Buckeyes are viewed as a national title contender and the Big Ten frontrunner. The Spartans are viewed as a fringe top-25 team.
But in Spartan Stadium on Nov. 10, Ohio State could again be on upset watch.
Entire article:
https://www.thelantern.com/2018/09/football-potential-trap-games-for-ohio-state/