Michigan State vs Wisconsin
It’s the first edition of the Big Ten Conference Championship Game this weekend at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
The title game will be a rematch of what might have been the best regular season game of the year in the conference. Michigan State won 37-31 on a last second Hail Mary the first time these two met.
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Michigan State vs. Wisconsin
Lucas Oil Stadium
Saturday December 3, 8:15 PM EST
NCAA Football Odds from BetOnline
Moneyline: Wisconsin (-365) Michigan State (+305)
College Football Spread: Wisconsin -9.5 (-110) Michigan State +9.5 (-110)
Over/Under: 54.5
Can the Spartans upset the Badgers a second time or will Wisconsin get revenge?
Mark Dantonio has done a terrific job turning around this Michigan State program. The Spartans had been mired in mediocrity before Dantonio came, but the past two years have been great for this team. Other than a misstep at Nebraska this year, the team was perfect in Big Ten conference play.
It was the defense that led the team this year, but the offense progressed a great deal as the season moved along. Kirk Cousins, a third year starter at quarterback, put together a terrific season for Michigan State.
Cousins threw for 2,700 yards and 21 touchdowns this year. Le’Veon Bell and Edwin Baker form a solid tailback tandem for the Spartans. B.J. Cunningham and Keshawn Martin are both capable of making plays down the field on the outside, which helps stretch the defense.
Jerrell Worthy is the anchor for this terrific defense. Michigan State ranks in the top 11 in the country in every major defensive category.
Isaiah Lewis leads the team with four interceptions. Wisconsin did put up 443 total yards against this unit last time, so they will need to improve this Saturday or things likely won’t end as well as they did last time for the Spartans. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Russell Wilson has been the perfect quarterback for Wisconsin this season. Wilson has better numbers than any other quarterback in the nation. Wilson threw for 28 touchdowns and just three interceptions this year. He also completed a ridiculous 73% of his passes. While Wilson gives this team an extra dimension on offense, it still starts with the power running game.
Montee Ball racked up 1,622 yards this season. Ball had 29 rushing touchdowns and five receiving touchdowns.
James White is a very solid backup tailback, and he averaged 5.1 yards per carry this year. Nick Toon and Jared Abbrederis are solid at the wide receiver spots. The Badgers may well have the most balanced offense in the nation. Wisconsin is averaging 45 points per game in 2011.
The Badgers defense was a pleasant surprise this season. The loss of J.J. Watt left many to believe that this unit would struggle this year, but that wasn’t the case at all. Wisconsin ranks third in the nation in pass defense.
The secondary has done a great job keeping everything in front of them this year. Wisconsin is giving up just 15.2 points per contest.
I really like what Dantonio has done at Michigan State, but I think Wisconsin is the much more complete team. The Badgers have a lot to prove here, and I think they’ll do just that.
Look for the Badgers offensive line to assert its dominance early and often.
Free College Football Pick: Wisconsin -9.5
Score Prediction: Wisconsin 38 Michigan State 20
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