The Michigan State Spartans will look to continue their winning ways as they take on the Indiana Hoosiers in a Big Ten matchup. Michigan State (7-0 (3-0)) comes in ranked seventh in the nation while Indiana (4-3 (0-3)) comes in unranked and losers of three straight.
Michigan State is coming off an extremely emotional and improbable win against arch-rival Michigan last week by the score of 27-23. The Wolverines looked like they had the game won and all they had to do was get a punt off to secure the game but then everything fell apart. Punter Blake O'Neill fumbled the snap and then tried to punt it again but couldn't, the fumble was picked up by Jalen Watts-Jackson who returned it for a touchdown as time expired.
Michigan State will have to recuperate quickly as they will be taking on the best passing offense in the Big Ten but the good news for the Spartans is that they are 7-1 in games immediately following the Michigan game under head coach Mark Dantonio.
Connor Cook is Michigan State's guy and he has been playing very well the past couple of weeks as he has thrown for 300 yards in back to back games after averaging less than 200 yards per game in his first five. Somehow the Spartans' playoff hopes are still alive and they need to continue winning to stay in the hunt, style points would be helpful too.
While Michigan State has yet to lose Indian has lost there last three games, all coming in conference, after winning their first four. Indiana's offense is explosive led by quarterback Nate Sudfeld who has thrown for more than 1700 yards while completing 63 percent of his passes. Sudfeld has added 11 touchdowns and only three interceptions so far this season.
Sudfeld's favorite target on offense is Ricky Jones who leads the team in receptions (32) receiving yards (624) and receiving touchdowns (4). Running back Jordan Howard is also having a nice season with more than 700 yards on 5.7 yards per carry and four touchdowns.
Indiana has put up some very impressive offensive numbers this season but it's their defense that has been the major problem. Indiana is allowing more than 500 yards of total offense per game and last week they were beaten by Rutgers despite scoring 52 points as they allowed Rutgers to score 55.
Indiana really has their work cut out for them this week as they are taking on a Michigan State team that has given them fits in recent years. The Hoosiers have lost to the Spartans five consecutive times by an average margin of 30 points and they also have failed to beat a ranked Big Ten team on the road in their last 18 attempts. Their last win of that sort was back in 2001 against Michigan State.
The game kicks off at 3:30 P.M. Eastern time. To watch the live broadcast head over here. For the Michigan State radio broadcast go here and for the Indian radio broadcast go here.
