Michigan State and Northwestern both open Big Ten play, with Northwestern trying to defend its Western Division crown.
The Wildcats have won eight straight regular-season Big Ten matches and 15 of the past 16. They have also beaten Michigan State three years in a row, averaging 40.6 points a match against the Spartans.
Northwestern’s offense is trying to overcome injuries to important players, however. Quarterback T.J. Green was lost to the season in Northwestern’s opening match loss to Stanford.
Clemson move Hunter Johnson take over at quarterback, and he had a last weekend, even passing for 165 yards on passing.
Coach Pat Fitzgerald sounds like he is expecting Johnson to be a game manager, not the celebrity.
“He took what the defense gave him. He did not try to force anything,” Fitzgerald said in his weekly press conference.
Northwestern is banged up at running back. Isaiah Bowser suffered a knee injury in the opener. He has been practicing but missed the UNLV game.
Jesse Brown went in the UNLV game, leaving the errands who ran for 141 yards
Even the Spartans come to Evanston with one of the best defenses in the nation.
Michigan State is letting 23.3 yards per game on the floor, good for the No. 2 rushing defense.
The Spartans are the No. 3 overall protection, at 216 yards per game allowed.
They’re also fifth in sacks (4.3 per game), twelfth in scoring (11.3 points permitted ) and No. 20 at turnovers, together with 6.
Head coach Mark Dantonio isn’t happy, however, saying that the D wants to”be perfect” and hammering them for allowing a late touchdown drive by Arizona State in the past week’s 10-7 loss.
On offense, the Spartans are directed recipient Darrell Stewart, second in the league in catches, and by Brian Lewerke, who ranks second in the Big Ten in passing.
The offensive line is a issue. The Spartans are in their fourth left handle, having lost AJ Arcuri and Cole Chewins earlier in the year.
Kevin Jarvis went down and will miss seven or six weeks with a knee injury.
The line seems sky high for a road group, however with Northwestern’s crime confronting and hobbling the Spartan D, it’s tough to see that the Wildcats putting up enough points to pay. Look to win by double digits.
Free Pick: Michigan State -9.5 (-112) with BetOnline
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