We’re getting closer and closer to Saturday and so far it sure looks like the Ohio State football team is still on track to play at Michigan State on Saturday. The game seemed to be up in the air after the Buckeyes made the decision to cancel the game at Illinois last weekend due to a spike in positive COVID-19 testing results.
However, the team has gotten back on the practice field and continues to prep for the Spartans, and that can only be good news at this point.
Now that we hopefully have all that out of the way and the decks are cleared, and most importantly it looks like everyone is relatively healthy, there’s an actual football game to discuss. The Spartans have had a mostly down, yet somewhat up year with three losses and two victories. However, the two wins came against rival Michigan and an undefeated Northwestern, so hope is in the frigid air up in East Lansing.
But this is Ohio State were talking about with athletes to burn. The Spartans got blitzed by Iowa and Indiana so you tend to like the chances of OSU going up there and making some noise.
Here are five reasons the Buckeyes take care of business on Saturday against Michigan State.
NEXT … Motivation
Ohio State is especially motivated
Respect is earned not given.#GoBuckeyes #Fight pic.twitter.com/sF4FdS0zre
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) December 2, 2020
The Buckeyes weren’t able to wash a somewhat bad taste out of their mouth after letting Indiana back in the game two weeks ago. Instead of going on the road to Illinois and admineristing a public flogging to the Illini to change the national narrative, Ohio State dealt with its own mild coronavirus outbreak and had to cancel the game and pause football activities for a few days.
Since then, it has seen the College Football Playoff rank it behind a one-loss Clemson team, hear about how it hasn’t shown enough to be ranked No. 4, all while still trying to play enough games to reach the Big Ten Championship Game and Playoff.
If the team wasn’t hungry before, you can only imagine what’s going on in the team facility and practice field now. It’s going to be a bunch of caged lions ready to make a statement. The Spartans just happen to be the team in the way.
NEXT … Michigan State turnovers
The Spartans have a penchant for turning the ball over
Rutgers and Michigan State are now up to eight combined turnovers and two turnovers on downs.
Michigan State, after recovering a Rutgers fumble, just came up short on 4th & 2 from the Rutgers 21.
Rutgers' lead is 28-20.
— Yahoo Sports College Football (@YahooSportsCFB) October 24, 2020
There’s been a lot written about the talent drop in East Lansing over the last couple of years. And while that’s true, there’s still enough talent on the frontline of the roster to do some damage in the league. The issue is that quarterback Rocky Lombardi and the offense has been more charitable in giving than the late Mother Theresa.
You can’t pull off upsets against a much more talented team if the playing field is slanted the other way, and the Spartans have shown time and time again that undisciplined play and turnovers have been their undoing.
Ohio State’s going to get some pressure in the backfield, and there’s a good chance you’ll see a few ill-advised decisions.
NEXT … Ohio State’s passing game
Michigan State can’t stay with the Buckeyes on the outside
Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker said everyone in the Big Ten has the Ohio State game canceled because the #Buckeyes are “maybe one of the best teams in the country.” He said you come to Michigan State to play in those big games. pic.twitter.com/AI9VVrO31g
— Patrick Murphy (@_Pat_Murphy) December 1, 2020
Spartans head coach Mel Tucker alluded to what one of his big fears are when going against Ohio State. It doesn’t just have one playmaker at the wide receiver position, but several that can wiggle free and create a bad day for defeneses.
Michigan State doesn’t have the defenses of yore that it had under Mark Dantonio and are in the middle of the pack in many statisitcal categories. The running game has to be good for Ohio State too, but the defensive backs for the Spartans don’t wow you like years before and the Buckeyes are going to be able to exploit some matchups down the field.
NEXT … Ohio State’s offensive line vs. the Michigan State defensive line
Michigan State won’t get a ton of pressure on Justin Fields
Michigan State safety Xavier Henderson said Ohio State has explosive receivers and Justin Fields has an arm. He said the key to stop big plays in the Buckeye passing game is taking good angles and getting the receivers to the ground. pic.twitter.com/AN4WyUMzUf
— Patrick Murphy (@_Pat_Murphy) December 1, 2020
Part of making magic through the air has to do with Justin Field’s ability to have a clean pocket, remain upright and go through his progressions. On that note, it’s shouldn’t be anything like the Indiana game where he was dealing with blitzing from all angles and guys in his face more than what he’s probably seen during his time at Ohio State.
The Spartans are averaging less than two sacks a game, not exactly forcing quarterbacks to speed things up and force quick decisions. There will be some moments of durress for Fields, but the veteran and talented offensive line should be able to hold up and give him the time he needs to be Superman again.
NEXT … Ohio State has a big advantage in the rushing game
Ohio State should control the ground
Michigan State had 295 rushing yards in its first four games combined, followed by 195 vs. Northwestern.https://t.co/hSVfLqwZw4
— Matt Wenzel (@mwenzel2) November 30, 2020
A quick look at the calendar says it’s December folks. Unless you live in Florida, south Texas, or in the Southwest, that means the mercury has dipped and there’s a frost in the air. That’s especially true in the upper Midwest which my sense of direction tells me East Lansing, Michigan, resides.
The weather forecast doesn’t look horrible, but looks to be about 40 degrees duging game time. That’s still ground game territory in these parts. Not that either team will abandon the pass, but your hands are drier and more slippery than an early fall day.
November has always been about being able to runt the ball in the Big Ten, and that’s even more true in December. On that note, the Spartans are dead last in the league in yards rushing per game, compared to the Buckeyes’ ranking as the best in the conference. Michigan State was better last week against Northwestern on the ground, but the body of work is what it is.
That’s a huge, huge advatage outdoors in the frozen tundra if tou will.
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