Spartan Avenue
Fansided

Michigan State Football: Can Spartans shock Buckeyes in Week 6?

By Stephen Robb

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Michigan State football travels to Columbus, Ohio, to begin the October gauntlet. Can the Spartans sneak another win over Ohio State?

The last meeting in Columbus did not go well for Michigan State from the start as it got drubbed 48-3. Last year, going into the fourth quarter, the Buckeyes were up 9-6, but the tired Spartan defense reluctantly relented 17 points after some costly turnovers by the offense.

The games in the Mark Dantonio era have typically been close with 2008 and 2017 being the only blowouts. Michigan State defeated the Buckeyes in 2013 to win the Big Ten and then, in a regular season matchup, upset Ohio State in Columbus to win the East in 2015.

However, over the last few years the meetings have gone the Buckeyes’ way.

I thought last year’s squad had enough talent to defeat OSU and I’ll go on a limb and write the same for this year. Why? The Spartan offense cannot get any worse than the way it played last season against the Buckeyes — there’s only room to improve. The offensive line put more weight on and many of the young players received playing time.

Also, I believe the defense could be better than last year’s team.

Defensive line coach Chuck Bullough has a system for creating turnovers and he mentioned that by year two is when the “light bulb” goes on for players. Michigan State will create some turnovers and OSU can be turnover prone — case in point, the Purdue game of 2018 and the 2017 Iowa game.

The Buckeyes will have quarterback transfer Justin Fields under center. I believe Fields has potential to be really good, but that interception in their spring game did not impress. The Spartan defense is already licking its chops to get after Fields.

Ohio State always has talent. However, what I have not seen from them is “determination” (besides 2018 game against Michigan).

Next. MSU Football: Game-by-game predictions for 2019. dark

The talk from this Michigan State team is similar to 2017. The starters are older, wiser and more experienced. The payback tour for this team that started against Arizona State will continue in Columbus, Ohio. A Fields interception for a touchdown ends the game.

Final Score: Michigan State 24, Ohio State 17

Home/Spartans Football