Michigan State Football: 5 bold predictions for Rutgers battle in Week 13
![LINCOLN, NE - NOVEMBER 17: Quarterback Rocky Lombardi #12 of the Michigan State Spartans attempts a pass against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the first half at Memorial Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) LINCOLN, NE - NOVEMBER 17: Quarterback Rocky Lombardi #12 of the Michigan State Spartans attempts a pass against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the first half at Memorial Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/347c44758486917d92de7dc8f0412b5adfadc27032e7734a91a3e6b3d1a6d8e6.jpg)
Michigan State football has one last chance to reach seven regular season wins and potentially improve its bowl outlook, but will it vs. Rutgers?
When you think Michigan State has had a disappointing season, all you have to do is look at what Rutgers has struggled through. The Scarlet Knights are just 1-10 on the year and have been ineligible for a bowl berth for weeks while the Spartans are 6-5 and looking to finish the year on a high note.
However, Rutgers wasn’t expecting a huge season when the year began, and Michigan State was — that’s the major difference.
Michigan State was a preseason contender for the Big Ten title and even had a chance to win it two weeks ago before Ohio State came to town. The Spartans struggled on offense against the Buckeyes and were downed 26-6. After that, confidence seemed to be on a downward spiral as Nebraska was able to hold the Spartans to six points, too, in a 9-6 victory.
The Spartans need something to go their way, and why not the Rutgers game? Let’s get bold.
5. Matt Dotson rebounds from worst game of career
To say Matt Dotson just had one of the worst games of his young career at Nebraska would be an extreme understatement.
The sophomore tight end struggled to hold on to the ball as well as keep his composure as he was the victim of stone hands on Saturday against the Cornhuskers, dropping what would have been the go-ahead and likely back-breaking touchdown against Nebraska.
It happened on a play that Rocky Lombardi extended with his legs, giving the Spartans a chance to score, but Dotson’s dropped swiped all momentum Michigan State would have gained.
On top of a number of drops — which were relatively uncharacteristic for the former prized commit — he also had a crucial personal foul penalty which pushed the Spartans out of comfortable field goal range and Matt Coghlin ended up missing.