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Michigan State Football: Preview, prediction vs. Nebraska in Week 12

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 10: Darrell Stewart Jr. #25 of the Michigan State Spartans tries to avoid the tackle of Kendall Sheffield #8 of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first half at Spartan Stadium on November 10, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 10: Darrell Stewart Jr. #25 of the Michigan State Spartans tries to avoid the tackle of Kendall Sheffield #8 of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first half at Spartan Stadium on November 10, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Michigan State football heads into the final away game of the season against Nebraska with its tail between its legs. Can things change?

The last time Michigan State and Nebraska faced off, the Spartans were leaving Lincoln with a sour taste in their mouths. They had just watched their undefeated season, and potentially even their playoff hopes, cut short thanks to a controversial last-minute touchdown by the Cornhuskers.

Nebraska won the game, but Michigan State still managed to find a way to the College Football Playoff. Michigan State has won in Lincoln once before (2013) and it looks to repeat that effort in 2018 despite the tough season it has experienced thus far.

The Cornhuskers, too, have had a rough year, winning just three games in Scott Frost’s first 10 games as the head coach. They’ve won three out of four, but those have come against a struggling Minnesota team, Bethune-Cookman and lackluster Illinois. Michigan State would be Frost’s first signature win as head coach.

Adrian Martinez leads the Cornhuskers as a true freshman quarterback with plenty of talent while the Spartans would go with a healthy Brian Lewerke, if that was truly the case. Instead, it may be another shuffle back-and-forth between the usual starter and Rocky Lombardi. Maybe it’s time to shut Lewerke down for the year and make sure his shoulder doesn’t get any worse.

Here’s how you can watch Saturday’s big game:

Date: Saturday, Nov. 17
Time: 12 p.m. ET
Location: Lincoln, Neb.
Venue: Memorial Stadium
TV: FOX
Live Stream: FOX Sports Go or FuboTV

Keys to Victory

Michigan State’s biggest issue on offense is the passing game. Luckily, Nebraska’s pass defense has been nothing short of mediocre this season and the Spartans could actually have a shot to get a quarterback some confidence heading into the final week of the regular season. Don’t settle for just running with Connor Heyward and La’Darius Jefferson, let the quarterbacks air it out against this porous secondary.

Defensively, the Spartans must find a way to slow down the aerial attack of Adrian Martinez and those talented receivers. If the secondary can continue its upward trend and hold Martinez to under 200 passing yards, there’s a good chance this one will go the Spartans’ way. Devine Ozigbo is having a breakout year in the backfield, but no one is worried about Michigan State’s run defense.

Betting Odds

Courtesy of OddsShark

Line: Michigan State -1.5
Over/Under: 48.5

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Prediction

I’m having a tough time deciding what the outcome of this one will be. No, I don’t think the Cornhuskers are the better team. I actually think if Lewerke was healthy, this could be a two-touchdown victory, minimum. However, the quarterback situation is a mess — as is the offense. Michigan State will do enough defensively to halt any momentum the Cornhuskers gain at home and a key interception late in the game by Justin Layne will be the difference.

Final Score: Michigan State 30, Nebraska 21

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