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Michigan State Football: 5 reasons Spartans will beat Oregon in Redbox Bowl

By Connor Muldowney

TEMPE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 08: Head coach Mark Dantonio of the Michigan State Spartans reacts during warm ups to the college football game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Tempe, Arizona. The Sun Devils defeated the Spartans 16-13. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
TEMPE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 08: Head coach Mark Dantonio of the Michigan State Spartans reacts during warm ups to the college football game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Tempe, Arizona. The Sun Devils defeated the Spartans 16-13. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – NOVEMBER 24: Cornerback Josiah Scott #22 celebrates with linebacker Antjuan Simmons #34 and safety Khari Willis #27 of the Michigan State Spartans after intercepting a pass by quarterback Giovanni Rescigno #17 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the fourth quarter at Spartan Stadium on November 24, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State defeated Rutgers 14-10. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – NOVEMBER 24: Cornerback Josiah Scott #22 celebrates with linebacker Antjuan Simmons #34 and safety Khari Willis #27 of the Michigan State Spartans after intercepting a pass by quarterback Giovanni Rescigno #17 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the fourth quarter at Spartan Stadium on November 24, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State defeated Rutgers 14-10. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

2. MSU’s defense is elite

Has Oregon faced a defense quite like Michigan State’s this season? It can be argued that Washington’s defense is slightly better, but the Spartans have had the No. 1 run defense in the country for most of the year and the secondary has been doing nothing but improving as the season has progressed.

Justin Herbert hasn’t seen the type of pressure the Spartans are gearing up to bring and the defensive line has been a surprising bright spot for the green and white.

Michigan State’s defense is elite again and it has kept this team in a multitude of games despite injuries suffered at key positions on offense.

Guys like Kenny Willekes, Raequan Williams and Mike Panasiuk will dominate the trenches while Joe Bachie and Andrew Dowell will roam the middle of the field like heat-seeking missiles at linebacker and Josiah Scott, Khari Willis and David Dowell will patrol the back-end with one of the most improved secondaries in the nation since Week 1.

Unfortunately, Justin Layne will be out for this one as he’s preparing for the NFL draft, but that one guy won’t take away from just how elite this defense has been, especially in the final month or two of the year.

If Michigan State is going stymy Oregon, it’ll be due to the defense’s stinginess.

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