South Florida @ Michigan State preview

With the Michigan State defense showing it's ready to go, the offense will look to follow suit Saturday as the Spartans host South Florida. Michigan State recorded two defensive touchdowns in its 26-13 season-opening victory over Western Michigan last Friday, and will look to running back Jeremy Langford to lead an offense in transition. First-year South Florida coach Willie Taggart is looking for more passion from his team, which was humbled 53-21 by McNeese State at home in its opener.

“I know we’re a better team than what we put out on Saturday,” Taggart told reporters. “Our guys have to regroup and correct the mistakes we made.” Marcus Shaw provided one of the Bulls' lone bright spots with 145 rushing yards, but he'll be in tough against a stout Michigan State defensive line that has ranked in the top 10 in the nation the past two years and surrendered just 11 rushing yards on 27 carries in its opener.

TV: Noon ET, ESPNU. LINE: Michigan State -23.5

ABOUT SOUTH FLORIDA (0-1): Taggart will have to make a decision on his starting quarterback after Matt Floyd was intercepted twice and Bobby Eveld came off the bench to throw two touchdowns against McNeese State. The Bulls will also look to get game-changing wide receiver Andre Davis more involved after he totaled 30 yards on four catches. Taggart said his players strayed from their defensive scheme when things got tough, which only led to more big plays by McNeese State.

ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE (1-0): The Spartans have yet to settle on a quarterback, as well; Andrew Maxwell was given the start last weekend and completed 11-of-21 passes while backup Connor Cook was 6-for-16. Langford rushed for 94 yards on 20 carries in his first career start, but Michigan State’s receivers will have to be better after dropping several passes. The Spartans defense will look for a repeat performance after registering three interceptions, nine tackles for losses and five sacks versus Western Michigan.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Michigan State has held teams to fewer than 100 yards rushing 36 times in 80 games under head coach Mark Dantonio.

2. South Florida DE Aaron Lynch had five tackles, a career-high six QB hurries and a sack against Michigan State while with Notre Dame in 2011.

3. The teams are meeting for the first time, though Dantonio was 2-1 against USF when he was at Cincinnati.

PREDICTION: Michigan State 31, South Florida 14