It’s hard to believe that we’re already in Week 6 and Michigan State football is coming off a bye with two weeks to prepare for a second straight road game.
Nebraska is next up on the schedule, and Michigan State knows it needs to have a near-perfect performance in Lincoln on Saturday afternoon in order to overcome the sellout crowd and one of the best home atmospheres in college football to pick up a huge win.
It’s time to get bold ahead of an important Week 6 matchup at Nebraska.
1. Makhi Frazier breaks 100 yards
If there’s one area in which Nebraska struggles mightily, it would have to be against the run. The Cornhuskers allow over 170 yards per game on the ground, a complete 180 from their passing defense which ranks No. 1 in the nation.
Nebraska has given up chunks of yards to running backs from Cincinnati, Akron, Michigan, and even Houston Baptist. Heck, the Wolverines averaged 8.7 yards per carry against Nebraska in Week 4.
Makhi Frazier has been getting better each week, and assuming he’s healthy and good to go on Saturday afternoon, I think he records his second 100-yard game of the season. Michigan State will need to run to set up the pass, and Frazier will make the Cornhuskers pay with some big runs.
2. Aidan Chiles throws two touchdown passes
How could this possibly be a bold prediction for a guy who averages over two touchdown passes per game? Well, because Nebraska hasn’t allowed a single touchdown pass all season and the Cornhuskers also have the No. 1 passing defense in college football.
Nebraska allows under 80 yards per game through the air, but I see Chiles smashing that number and also throwing the first — and second — touchdown pass against the Cornhuskers this year.
His final line? I’m going to say 212 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Not a bad day at the office for the junior dual-threat.
3. Michigan State stays within a score throughout
Nebraska heads into Saturday’s game as a near two-touchdown favorite, and most sportsbooks have the Cornhuskers at around 11.5-point favorites. However, I’m not counting the Spartans out.
Yes, the defense has been bad lately. And no, I don’t think it can stop Dylan Raiola and the Cornhusker passing attack, but Nebraska doesn’t have much of a run game which could play into the Spartans’ favor. Making Nebraska one-demensional should help, and I think we see a motivated effort on Saturday afternoon in Lincoln from the Spartans.
Chiles will have himself a game, along with Frazier, and the Spartans put up nearly 30 points and have a chance to win late, but a turnover on downs with minutes left decides the winner. Unfortunately, Nebraska takes this one by one score.