Nebraska @ Michigan State preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 29, 2011 ) Michigan State 3, Nebraska 24

Michigan State kept alive its long shot hopes of winning the Big Ten Legends Division title with an overtime victory at Wisconsin last week, but the Spartans have zero margin for error as they brace for a visit from division leader Nebraska on Saturday. Michigan State must beat the Cornhuskers to have any chance at the Legends title, but Nebraska has won five of its last six and two straight since it was annihilated at Ohio State 63-36 on Oct. 6. The game will be a contrast in styles, pitting a high-powered Cornhuskers' offense that leads the Big Ten in scoring against a rugged Spartans defense that ranks fifth nationally in total defense at 267.4 yards per game.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC. LINE: Nebraska -1

ABOUT NEBRASKA (6-2, 3-1 Big Ten): The Cornhuskers moved atop the Legends Division with a 23-9 victory over Michigan last week - a win helped by an injury to Wolverines star quarterback Denard Robinson. Running back Ameer Abdullah continues to play superbly in place of the injured Rex Burkhead, racking up his fourth 100-yard game of the season against Michigan. Burkhead has missed three full games and is listed as day-to-day with an knee injury that he aggravated against Northwestern. Dual-threat quarterback Taylor Martinez has thrown for a career-high 16 touchdowns and is completing 66 percent of his passes - up from last season's 56.3 percent. He's also rushed for 461 yards and six touchdowns.

ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE (5-4, 2-3): After a double-overtime loss to Iowa and a last-second defeat against Michigan, the Spartans rebounded with a 16-13 victory at Wisconsin that snapped the home team's 21-game winning streak. The most promising aspect of the victory was a 12-play, 75-yard touchdown drive in the final minutes by an offense that ranks 108th nationally in scoring at 19.2 points per game. Bruising running back Le’Veon Bell rushed for 77 yards to go over 1,000 for the season. Quarterback Andrew Maxwell had pedestrian numbers against Wisconsin, but did complete nine of his last 11 passes. Defensive end William Gholston wreaked havoc with one sack and 4.5 tackles for losses.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Nebraska leads the all-time series 6-0, including a 24-3 home victory last season that marked Michigan State's only conference loss.

2. Michigan State's last five games have been decided by a total of 13 points and the Spartans have been limited to 16 points or fewer four times in that span.

3. The Cornhuskers own the top rushing attack in the Big Ten at 264.1 yards per game, but Michigan State ranks seventh nationally against the run (91.2).

PREDICTION: Nebraska 20, Michigan State 19