Michigan State Football: 5 bold predictions vs. Maryland in Week 12

Michigan State football will host Maryland on Saturday evening and here are our five bold predictions for the Big Ten matchup.

With two games remaining on the 2017 Michigan State football schedule, the Spartans are looking to reach nine regular season wins and potentially add a 10th in a bowl game — preferably in Florida. However, Maryland and Rutgers stand in the way of that possibility.

Sure, the Big Ten East title is still possible if Ohio State collapses in epic fashion, but the Spartans need not rely on that happening and just focus on bettering themselves. It starts on Saturday evening against the Terrapins.

Maryland took down the Spartans a season ago in Mark Dantonio’s worst as Michigan State’s head coach and they’re looking for revenge against the Terps. The teams are on opposite sides of the spectrum this year, but will that matter?

Here are my bold predictions for the Week 12 matchup.

5. Maryland running backs held under 75 yards

Last year, Lorenzo Harrison and Ty Johnson ran wild against the Spartans in College Park en route to a 28-17 Maryland victory. The Spartans then fell to 2-5 on the year and it was then when everyone realized that a bowl game may not be in the cards.

In fact, Johnson had 115 yards on just nine carries and Harrison finished with 105 yards and a touchdown on 17 touches. They seemingly did whatever they wanted against the Spartans, but that’s not going to happen on Saturday evening.

The Spartans have one of the best run defenses in the country, ranked third before the Ohio State drubbing, and you can bet they will be playing an angry brand of football. Getting demolished up front and in the second line of defense, the front-seven is going to hold this duo to under 75 yards and a touchdown.

Can’t get much better than that after allowing over 300 rushing yards to the Buckeyes.