Michigan State @ Indiana preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 19, 2011 ) Indiana 3, Michigan State 55

Michigan State has played one of the nation's tougher early-season schedules - and it is reflected in the team's record. The Spartans will look to avoid a second consecutive conference defeat when they visit Indiana on Saturday. Last week's home loss to Ohio State dropped Michigan State out of the Top 25, halting a run of 34 consecutive weeks in which the team had been ranked. The Spartans have dominated the rivalry against the defensively-challenged Hoosiers, winning three straight and seven of eight, including a 55-3 romp last season that clinched a berth in the inaugural Big Ten title game.

TV: 12 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network. LINE: Michigan State -15.5

ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE (3-2, 0-1 Big Ten Legends): The Spartans have struggled to get their offense untracked and have already failed to surpass 17 points three times. Part of that stemmed from playing three ranked opponents in September for the first time in 25 years, but the passing game has been maddeningly inconsistent. After watching his receivers drop 18 balls from quarterback Andre Maxwell in the past three games, coach Mark Dantonio took one step to address the shortcomings by elevating highly-touted freshman Aaron Burbridge into the starting lineup. The running game has fluctuated wildly, with running Le'Veon Bell churning out a pair of 200-yard games while being held to 77 yards or fewer three times.

ABOUT INDIANA (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten Leaders): The Hoosiers fell behind by 27 points before a late rally came up short in a 44-29 loss at Northwestern last week. A defense that was shredded for an average of more than 46 points in the final seven games last season has shown little sign of improvent, yielding 85 points in back-to-back losses to Ball State and Northwestern and getting steamrolled for 704 total yards against the Wildcats. Indiana also has major issues on the other side of the ball after starting quarterback Tre Roberson suffered a broken leg in the season opener. Cameron Coffman, a junior college transfer, has started the past two games but was relieved by true freshman Nate Sudfeld in both.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Spartans have not lost consecutive Big Ten games in the same season since October 2009.

2. Saturday's matchup will be Indiana's Homecoming. Its last win over the Spartans came on Homecoming weekend in 2006.

3. The winner of the game will be presented with the Old Brass Spittoon, continuing a tradition in the rivalry that dates to 1950.

PREDICTION: Michigan State 41, Indiana 27