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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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LINCOLN, NE – NOVEMBER 17: Head coach Mark Dantonio of the Michigan State Spartans walks on the field with the team before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE – NOVEMBER 17: Head coach Mark Dantonio of the Michigan State Spartans walks on the field with the team before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /

1. Spartans play better as underdog

Is there any doubt that this statement is true? Michigan State has fared better as an underdog for years now and it’s all due to the fact that Mark Dantonio knows how to get his guys pumped up for big games where no one is giving the Spartans a shot.

Here we are again. The Redbox Bowl is being considered Oregon’s to lose and the Spartans are just there to fill a spot, but that’s when the “experts” who predict the Ducks to run away with the win begin to look silly.

Over the years, Dantonio-coached teams have out-kicked their coverage, so to speak. Some of the less talented teams that he’s had over the years have exceeded expectations and have taken down some Goliaths in the process — Ohio State in 2015 without Connor Cook is a prime example of that.

Getting some guys who have been injured for good chunks of the season will help — Brian Lewerke, LJ Scott, Josiah Scott — but so will the fact that no one is picking Michigan State to win this one and some are even giving the Ducks a major advantage in terms of predicted final scores.

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Don’t believe everything the experts tell you — this Michigan State team is still hungry and the underdog status does work wonders.

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