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Michigan State Football: 5 reasons Spartans will upset Ohio State in Week 11

By Connor Muldowney

COLLEGE PARK, MD - NOVEMBER 03: Connor Heyward #11 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates with Tyler Higby #70 and Brian Lewerke #14 of the Michigan State Spartans after scoring a touchdown against the Maryland Terrapins during the first half at Capital One Field on November 3, 2018 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD - NOVEMBER 03: Connor Heyward #11 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates with Tyler Higby #70 and Brian Lewerke #14 of the Michigan State Spartans after scoring a touchdown against the Maryland Terrapins during the first half at Capital One Field on November 3, 2018 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /
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Michigan State football faces the daunting task of taking down the No. 10 team in the country and second-best in the Big Ten, Ohio State.

A few weeks ago, no one was giving Michigan State a chance to beat Michigan — which it didn’t — and following that loss, the Spartans were considered casualties in the Big Ten race.

Fast forward to Week 11 and Michigan State is still (technically) in the Big Ten East race and 100 percent in line to contend for a Rose Bowl berth. The latter is more likely, especially if the Spartans can win out, beating Ohio State, and Michigan makes the playoff — making the Spartans’ loss to the Wolverines look even better and keeping them out of the Rose Bowl.

Michigan State needs to take a big step on Saturday, beating No. 10 Ohio State in East Lansing — something it hasn’t done since 1999. Hard to believe it’s been that long since MSU beat Ohio State in East Lansing, but it seems like the Spartans are due.

Here’s why the Spartans can silence the critics and pull off the big upset of Ohio State.

5. Secondary is improving by the week

Believe it or not, it’s been five weeks since the Spartans have allowed a 300-yard passer. You have to go all the way back about a month to the Northwestern game to find a quarterback who reached the 300-yard plateau as Clayton Thorson’s outburst seemed to be the turnaround.

Since then, the Spartans are giving up an average of about 189 yards per game through the air — about 45 yards below their season average (which already includes those contests).

The secondary has turned things around and it’s getting better each week. Against Dwayn Haskins, it’ll have to play its best game of the year and the defensive line will help out, getting a ton of pressure on the Heisman contender up front.

Haskins could have a long day against this improving secondary, especially if they remain opportunistic.

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