Northwestern @ Michigan State preview
Spartan Stadium
Last Meeting ( Nov 26, 2011 ) Michigan State 31, Northwestern 17
Michigan State and Northwestern have had similar problems closing games out this season, which is why neither will represent the Legends Division in the Big Ten title game. The two snake-bitten teams face off Saturday as the Spartans look to become bowl eligible by recording a fifth straight victory against the visiting Wildcats, who are coming off a heart-breaking loss to Michigan. Michigan State was the preseason favorite to win the Big Ten, but four league losses by a combined 10 points have ruined those dreams. The latest was a controversial 28-24 loss to Nebraska prior to a week off. Meanwhile, Northwestern’s 38-31 overtime loss to Michigan last week all but cost it a trip to Indianapolis. The Wildcats have lost the last four meetings by an average of 12.2 points, including last season’s 31-17 setback in Evanston.
TV: 12 p.m. ET, ESPN2. LINE: Michigan State -6.5
ABOUT NORTHWESTERN (7-3, 3-3 Big Ten): The overachieving Wildcats led Michigan 31-28 with 18 seconds left before a desperate, 53-yard heave was tipped and caught by Roy Roundtree, setting up the game-tying field goal. The Wolverines won it after a defensive stop followed backup quarterback Devin Gardner’s 1-yard touchdown run. Northwestern lost star running back Venric Mark (1,176 yards, 10 touchdowns) to an undisclosed injury in overtime, but coach Pat Fitzgerald expects him to play this week. Mark had 104 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries before exiting. Overall, the Wildcats excelled against what had been the nation’s seventh-ranked defense, racking up 431 yards. Northwestern is 14th in the nation in rushing with 238.6 yards per game, but the two quarterback-system of Kain Colter and Trevor Siemian ranks only 110th in passing (164.9 yards per game). Colter was injured against Michigan, but finished the game.
ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE (5-5, 2-4 Big Ten): The Spartans are eager to get back on the field after very questionable pass interference call in the end zone helped Nebraska beat them in the final seconds two weeks ago. Darqueze Dennard had perfect coverage on Kenny Bell, but a flag was thrown and Taylor Martinez capitalized by throwing a game-winning 6-yard touchdown with six seconds left. The outcome left a sour taste in the Spartans’ mouth and negated a huge day from Le’Veon Bell, who ran for 188 yards and two touchdowns. Bell will face a stern challenge from the 24th-ranked rush defense (122.5 yards per game). The Spartans’ defense, on the other hand, is seventh in total yards (288.0) and 11th in scoring (16.3).
EXTRA POINTS
1. Northwestern has recovered 13 fumbles, the seventh-most in the nation.
2. The Wildcats may be without top CB Nick VanHoose (shoulder), who is listed as questionable.
3. Le'Veon Bell tweeted after the loss to Nebraska: “#ShoutOut to the refs… Y’all won the game tonight! Toughest team we played all year.”
PREDICTION: Michigan State 24, Northwestern 20