Michigan State Football: 5 bold predictions vs. Northwestern in Week 6

EVANSTON, IL - OCTOBER 28: Brian Lewerke #14 of the Michigan State Spartans rolls out to look for a receiver against the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field on October 28, 2017 in Evanston, Illinois. Northwestern defeated Michigan State 39-31 in triple overtime. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

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EVANSTON, IL – OCTOBER 28: Joe Bachie #35 of the Michigan State Spartans tackles Flynn Nagel #2 of the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field on October 28, 2017 in Evanston, Illinois. Northwestern defeated Michigan State 39-31 in triple overtime. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

4. Spartans hold Wildcats to under 30 yards rushing

It’s going to be a long day for the Northwestern offense, especially if the run game can’t get off the ground — no pun intended. Clayton Thorson can dink and dunk this secondary all day long, but if he can’t get anything going on the ground behind him, there will be no hope for anything but a one-dimensional, predictable attack.

With Jeremy Larkin retiring suddenly due to a neck injury and Thorson more hesitant to tuck and run after tearing his ACL last bowl season, the Wildcats don’t exactly have a run game.

John Moten IV, who is Larkin’s replacement, has just 25 carries for 57 yards and two touchdowns this season and that’s not going to improve against the Spartans’ front-seven.

Michigan State’s defense has been nothing short of elite against the run this season and Northwestern will be the next victim. The Wildcats will fall short of 30 yards on the game which is slightly below the Spartans’ season average.

The longest run of active running backs on the roster is just 17 yards — not a recipe for success.

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