Michael Smith
Guest
Ohio State vs Michigan State, What Will Happen? Who Will Win?
Michael Smith via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
(Image courtesy of Columbus Dispatch)
Hello everyone, welcome as I preview the biggest game of the year (so far) for Ohio State. This Saturday the Michigan State Spartans visit the Shoe to take on The Ohio State Buckeyes.
This is game the Big 10 has waited for all year long. Both teams had this game circled on the calendar since the beginning of the season. The winner of this game could clinch the Big 10 East division, depending on what happens in Happy Valley.
Michigan State was suppose to come into this game undefeated, but was upset by Nebraska a few weeks ago. However, a win over the defending undefeated National Champions would put Michigan State right back into the College Football Playoff picture.
The Michigan State offense is led by Senior QB Connor Cook. Ohio State fans know him well. It was Cook who led the Spartans to the infamous upset of undefeated #2 ranked Ohio State in the Big 10 title game 2 years ago. It seems Cook has been at Michigan State forever.
Cook comes into this game with very impressive stats. On the year he has thrown for 2,482 yards with 21 TDs and just 4 INTs. Cook not only has impressive stats, but he is a leader as well. He is tied for 1st among active QBs in Div 1-A football with 32 wins. He has lost only 4 games in his career.
Cook’s main target is WR Aaron Burbridge (6’1″, 208). He is by far Michigan State’s leading WR with 65 catches for 1,021 yards and 6 TDs on the year.
Michigan State’s running game started very strong this year, but has tailed off as the season has progressed. The Spartans are led by 3 RBs; L.J. Scott, Madre London, and Gerald Holmes. They have combined to rush for over 1,300 yards and 14 TDs. The Spartans have rushed 391 times this season, averaging 3.9 YPC. London actually leads the team in rushing attempts at 99 (4.1 YPC), with Scott having 94 attempts 5.5 YPC).
Michigan State averages 33 points per game (5th in Big Ten) and 406 yards of offense per game (5th in Big Ten).
Ohio State’s defense, who has been rock solid lately, will really need to put on their best performance this Saturday. Michigan State’s offense will be the most talented Ohio State will face in the regular season this year. However, Michigan State does come into this game banged up. The Spartans offensive line is hurt and we all know that Connor Cook had to leave the game last week with a shoulder injury.
Ohio State will need their talented defensive line led by the beast Joey Bosa to get in Cook’s face all game and get some pressure. Ohio State also might throw some blitzes at the Spartans as well. If Cook is not 100% having him to throw quickly might make him miss open WRs if there are any.
It will come down to how healthy Connor Cook really is.
The weather will have a big impact on this game as well. Something I will get into more detail later on.
Ohio State’s offense comes into the game back where they were at the beginning of the year. Struggling to get big plays and big scores.
However, one player that hasn’t struggled this year, or last, or ever it seems, is Zeke Elliott. Elliott had another 100 yard rushing game last week vs Illinois and it doesn’t look like anyone can slow him down. With the weather forecast of temperatures in the mid-50’s with an 8-% chance of rain, we could see a healthy dose of Elliott on Saturday.
J.T. Barrett returned from suspension last week but didn’t play like Barrett does. He only had 150 yards passing, fumbled twice, and had an INT. Lots of people blamed the offensive line for the poor passing performance. The offensive seemed to open wide holes for the running game, but couldn’t block well in Ohio State wanted to pass the ball.
That will need to improve as Michigan State has one of the best DL in the entire country, led by Shilique Calhoun. He is to Michigan State what Joey Bosa is to Ohio State. The Buckeyes will need to keep him off of Barrett. That being said one of Michigan State’s biggest weaknesses is their secondary. The Spartans come into this game ranked 86th in the country in passing defense. They’ve also given up 29 pass plays over 20 yards on the season, the most in Div 1-A football.
With numbers like that you would expect Ohio State would come out passing the ball all over the field to Michael Thomas, Curtis Samuel, and Braxton Miller. And I’d totally agree. If things were perfect I’d want Ohio State to line and up and throw and throw. Barrett torched Michigan State last year (300 yards, 3 TDs) in the Buckeyes 49-37 win in East Lansing.
I am fully expecting the same type of game this year as well, with a similar score, but there’s one major factor that needs to be factored into this game. The weather.
I mentioned it earlier in the preview and now I’ll go fully into it. The weather forecast for the game is not pretty. The high temp for the game is OK at 54 degrees, but the major problem is the 80% of rain during the game. This will limit what both teams can do throwing the football. This will also make both teams run the football more and make ball security an issue as well. Ohio State has the better running game, but Michigan State is better at not turning the ball over.
PREDICTION
This year is completely opposite of last year. Michigan State has revenge on their minds this year as they come into Columbus. As I said earlier I, was ready to predict a high scoring game. I think the weather will be a big factor, though. Which team runs the ball and wins the turnover battle will win this game. Look for Zeke to break one late to end it.
OHIO STATE 35 MICHIGAN STATE 24
The post Ohio State vs Michigan State, What Will Happen? Who Will Win? appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
Continue reading...
Michael Smith via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
(Image courtesy of Columbus Dispatch)
Hello everyone, welcome as I preview the biggest game of the year (so far) for Ohio State. This Saturday the Michigan State Spartans visit the Shoe to take on The Ohio State Buckeyes.
This is game the Big 10 has waited for all year long. Both teams had this game circled on the calendar since the beginning of the season. The winner of this game could clinch the Big 10 East division, depending on what happens in Happy Valley.
Michigan State was suppose to come into this game undefeated, but was upset by Nebraska a few weeks ago. However, a win over the defending undefeated National Champions would put Michigan State right back into the College Football Playoff picture.
The Michigan State offense is led by Senior QB Connor Cook. Ohio State fans know him well. It was Cook who led the Spartans to the infamous upset of undefeated #2 ranked Ohio State in the Big 10 title game 2 years ago. It seems Cook has been at Michigan State forever.
Cook comes into this game with very impressive stats. On the year he has thrown for 2,482 yards with 21 TDs and just 4 INTs. Cook not only has impressive stats, but he is a leader as well. He is tied for 1st among active QBs in Div 1-A football with 32 wins. He has lost only 4 games in his career.
Cook’s main target is WR Aaron Burbridge (6’1″, 208). He is by far Michigan State’s leading WR with 65 catches for 1,021 yards and 6 TDs on the year.
Michigan State’s running game started very strong this year, but has tailed off as the season has progressed. The Spartans are led by 3 RBs; L.J. Scott, Madre London, and Gerald Holmes. They have combined to rush for over 1,300 yards and 14 TDs. The Spartans have rushed 391 times this season, averaging 3.9 YPC. London actually leads the team in rushing attempts at 99 (4.1 YPC), with Scott having 94 attempts 5.5 YPC).
Michigan State averages 33 points per game (5th in Big Ten) and 406 yards of offense per game (5th in Big Ten).
Ohio State’s defense, who has been rock solid lately, will really need to put on their best performance this Saturday. Michigan State’s offense will be the most talented Ohio State will face in the regular season this year. However, Michigan State does come into this game banged up. The Spartans offensive line is hurt and we all know that Connor Cook had to leave the game last week with a shoulder injury.
Ohio State will need their talented defensive line led by the beast Joey Bosa to get in Cook’s face all game and get some pressure. Ohio State also might throw some blitzes at the Spartans as well. If Cook is not 100% having him to throw quickly might make him miss open WRs if there are any.
It will come down to how healthy Connor Cook really is.
The weather will have a big impact on this game as well. Something I will get into more detail later on.
Ohio State’s offense comes into the game back where they were at the beginning of the year. Struggling to get big plays and big scores.
However, one player that hasn’t struggled this year, or last, or ever it seems, is Zeke Elliott. Elliott had another 100 yard rushing game last week vs Illinois and it doesn’t look like anyone can slow him down. With the weather forecast of temperatures in the mid-50’s with an 8-% chance of rain, we could see a healthy dose of Elliott on Saturday.
J.T. Barrett returned from suspension last week but didn’t play like Barrett does. He only had 150 yards passing, fumbled twice, and had an INT. Lots of people blamed the offensive line for the poor passing performance. The offensive seemed to open wide holes for the running game, but couldn’t block well in Ohio State wanted to pass the ball.
That will need to improve as Michigan State has one of the best DL in the entire country, led by Shilique Calhoun. He is to Michigan State what Joey Bosa is to Ohio State. The Buckeyes will need to keep him off of Barrett. That being said one of Michigan State’s biggest weaknesses is their secondary. The Spartans come into this game ranked 86th in the country in passing defense. They’ve also given up 29 pass plays over 20 yards on the season, the most in Div 1-A football.
With numbers like that you would expect Ohio State would come out passing the ball all over the field to Michael Thomas, Curtis Samuel, and Braxton Miller. And I’d totally agree. If things were perfect I’d want Ohio State to line and up and throw and throw. Barrett torched Michigan State last year (300 yards, 3 TDs) in the Buckeyes 49-37 win in East Lansing.
I am fully expecting the same type of game this year as well, with a similar score, but there’s one major factor that needs to be factored into this game. The weather.
I mentioned it earlier in the preview and now I’ll go fully into it. The weather forecast for the game is not pretty. The high temp for the game is OK at 54 degrees, but the major problem is the 80% of rain during the game. This will limit what both teams can do throwing the football. This will also make both teams run the football more and make ball security an issue as well. Ohio State has the better running game, but Michigan State is better at not turning the ball over.
PREDICTION
This year is completely opposite of last year. Michigan State has revenge on their minds this year as they come into Columbus. As I said earlier I, was ready to predict a high scoring game. I think the weather will be a big factor, though. Which team runs the ball and wins the turnover battle will win this game. Look for Zeke to break one late to end it.
OHIO STATE 35 MICHIGAN STATE 24
The post Ohio State vs Michigan State, What Will Happen? Who Will Win? appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
Continue reading...