I’m excited to get back to what happens on the football field when it comes to Michigan State football. It has been a tumultuous week off the field so it will be interesting to see how these players and coaches will respond, albeit a tall task against an offensive juggernaut and top-10 team in Washington.
As we all know, quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has feasted on past Spartan teams whether it was with Indiana in 2020 or last year in Seattle. This defense is better but haven’t faced a real test this year.
Offensively, the Spartans should be able to move the ball as the Huskies’ defense gives up plenty of yards and is last in the Pac-12 in sacks.
Let’s take a look at other things the Spartans need to know in order to upset Washington.
1. Score on the first drive
In the first two games, the Spartans failed to cash in on any of their first two drives. If this team has any chance of winning, it’s not going to be a defensive battle.
Michael Penix Jr. and the offense are elite, and the Spartans will have to match which means scoring at every opportunity and keeping the Washington offense off the field.
Run the ball, convert on third down, and take the easy yards. I’m getting a little sick of these long throws to the outside on 3rd-and-3 early in the game. Noah Kim has had so much more success making the short throws and then easing into the long plays; he looked way better last week than in Week 1, leading to the B1G Offensive Player of the Week award.
Whether it’s a field goal or a full-blown touchdown, just don’t start slow for the third week in a row.
2. Batted balls at the line of scrimmage on defense
The best way to disrupt the passing game? Don’t even let the pass get near the receiver.
Batting the ball at the line of scrimmage is such a drive-killer and is exactly what the Spartans will need to beat Heisman hopeful Michael Penix Jr. Even if the receiver is wide open, which will happen from time to time in this game, getting a mitt on the ball is a surefire way that a pass can’t go for a big gain.
The defensive line is long enough to knock down a pass or two and swing the momentum of the game, especially with a raucous crowd at Spartan Stadium.
3. Look like a focused team
I know this sounds vague, but I think it’s important. If they look disorganized, lackadaisical, and uninterested, the rest of the season is going to be brutal. The fans are coming out in droves for a primetime matchup and to show support for a team that’s been put in a horrible spot through no fault of their own.
The drunkenness energy of the crowd should fuel the hype for this team especially with the Rose Bowl team being honored and Mark Dantonio back on the sideline.
This has been a miserable week to be a Spartan and the students, alumni, and fans need something to cheer about. Even if they lose, at least show heart and tell the rest of the Big Ten that this isn’t a doormat season, and any week you play the Spartans, you’re preparing for a dogfight.
Prediction: Look, this game is going one of two ways. The Spartans rally around their new coach and the duo of Harlon Barnett and Dantonio still has a little magic left and the Spartans use the underdog card to perfection to beat another top-10 team like the old days.
That, or they are going to get bombed by 30.
From the grumblings around the internet, Mel Tucker wasn’t the most present head coach so now the team is cohesive enough to become greater than the sum of their parts. Me? I think Dantonio and Barnett have been telling the team about the negative press clippings and rallying the troops to a shocking upset.
On the flip side? Players are already looking at other schools to potentially transfer and coaches are on Zillow looking for houses for when they all get jobs in the Sun Belt Conference.
Final score: MSU 35, Washington 34 or Washington 38, MSU 13