As of right now, the Michigan State Spartans have signed twenty prospects. They rank #31 in the ESPN recruiting rankings and are considered a team on the cusp of breaking into the Top 25. The only teams ranked ahead of MSU in the Big Ten Conference are the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Of course it is still early and this could all change, but as of now, this MSU recruiting class looks to be one of the best in the country. Most importantly, the Spartans again signed the number one prospect in Michigan for the second year in a row, while also receiving their second ESPN top 150 recruit in as many years. Inside linebacker Lawrence Thomas (ranked #150, #8 linebacker) has the ability to come in and make an impact as a true freshman, especially considering what the Spartans lost at linebacker this past season. A huge commitment for the Spartans, as Coach Dantonio continues to build solid recruiting classes, year after year. Here is a look at the other signees:  

Lawrence Thomas

-ILB Renaissance H.S. (MI)

Juwan Caesar

-WR Miami Coral Park Senior High (FL)

Darien Harris

-OLB DeMatha Catholic H.S. (MD)

Roger Williamson

-ATH Paul L. Dunbar H.S. (OH)

A.J. Sims

-ATH Brookwood H.S. (GA)

Jack Allen

-OC Hinsdale Central H.S. (IL)

Donavon Clark

-OT Finneytown H.S. (OH)

Onaje Miller

-RB Sexton H.S. (MI)

Taiwan Jones

-ATH Anchor Bay H.S. (MI)

Matt Ramondo

-DT Mayfield Senior H.S. (NM)

Shilique Calhoun

-DE Middletown North H.S. (NJ)

 Edward Davis

-OLB Southeastern H.S. (MI)

Joel Heath

-DE Mount Healthy H.S. (OH)

Damon Knox

-DE Muskegon H.S. (MI)

Connor Cook

-QB Walsh Jesuit H.S. (OH)

Mark Scarpinato

-DT Marquette University H.S. (WI)

Brandon Clemons

-OG Delaware Valley H.S. (PA)

Arjen Colquhoun

-Safety W.F. Herman Secondary School (CAN)

Trae Waynes

-Safety Mary D. Bradford H.S. (WI)

Paul Lang

-DE Mount Lebanon H.S. (PA)

The Michigan State football team ended their season on a sour note, losing to Alabama 49-7 in the Capital One Bowl on New Year’s Day. Despite this, it was a very successful season in which the Spartans accomplished things that have not been done in a very long time. MSU won eleven games for the first time in the program’s history, as this was only the third time the Spartans have reached the double digit win plateau. Michigan State also won a share of the Big Ten Title for the first time since 1990, but was snubbed from a Rose Bowl berth based on their final standing in the BCS. MSU beat Penn State in Happy Valley for the first time since the Nittany Lions joined the Big Ten in 1990. The last stat being the biggest of all, as now Michigan State has turned the corner and knows how to win big games. I almost forgot also that MSU beat Michigan for the third straight year, something that has not been done since 1966-1968. All of these feats should give Spartan fans everywhere hope for the future, as MSU was considered by many to be a year away from having this kind of season.

Michigan State will have some momentum going into next season, but now they will be the hunted, instead of the hunter. It will be another completely different role for these Spartans, as they are used to being the underdogs and not the favorites. The pressure will be much greater next season, in which expectations will be sky high considering what the Spartans bring back on both sides of the ball. Kirk Cousins, B.J. Cunningham, Keith Nichol, Keshawn Martin, Larry Capper, Edwin Baker and Le’Veon Bell will all be back for an offense that finished 6^th in the Big Ten in total offense. They will have weapons at every position, creating mismatches all over the field that will drive defensive coordinators crazy next year. I did not even mention the starters coming back on the offensive line, but who needs to when you will have these kind of athletes giving opposing defenses fits on Saturdays this coming fall.

On defense, the defensive line should be the strength of a unit that also finished 6^th in the Big Ten in total defense. Defensive tackle, Jerel Worthy should assert himself as one of the best in not only the Big Ten, but in all of college football next year. Also returning up front are defensive tackles Blake Treadwell, Kevin Pickelman and defensive ends Tyler Hoover, Denzel Drone and Johnathan Strayhorn. The linebackers will take a hit as they lose two players, Greg Jones and Eric Gordon, who were the heart and soul of this defense for the past three years. The good news, last year’s 5 star recruit William Gholston will get more playing time and STAR linebacker Chris Norman is back after getting a year of starting experience under his belt. The secondary should be better next year, which is always a positive considering it is normally one of the weakest units on either side of the ball. Cornerbacks Johnny Adams and Mitchell White return, as well as safety Trenton Robinson.

It will be interesting to see what kind of recruiting class Coach Dantonio brings in this year, as he has become a very good recruiter in Michigan, claiming the number one player in the state for the last two years. MSU should be a favorite for the Big Ten Title next year, but it never hurts to keep bringing in athletes that can come in and compete right away.

The Michigan State Spartans will look to cap off an amazing season this weekend as they take on the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Capital One Bowl on Saturday. This New Year’s Day bowl will feature the classic Big Ten versus SEC matchup to see which conference reigns supreme over the other. This has always been a heated battle as to which conference is the best, and this year should provide us with the answer after all is said and done. Both teams had aspirations of a national championship or BCS bowl berth, but stumbled along the way to set up this game between two teams that will begin a home and home series starting in 2016. The 7^th ranked Spartans finished the regular season 11-1, only the third time in the program’s history a team has reached the 10 win plateau. Even though they had the most wins ever for a Michigan State team, the Spartans were left out of the BCS picture because for some reason three teams from the same conference cannot get BCS berths in the same year, but an 8-4 Big East team is guaranteed a spot if they win their conference crown (I know, I do not get it either and never will!). Meanwhile, 15^th ranked Alabama finished the season 9-3, losing three tough games to SEC foes, including a devastating and heartbreaking loss to their bitter rival Auburn, the last week of the season.

There are many stories inside this game and the biggest one of all is the Spartans taking on their former coach in Nick Saban. For those of you who do not remember, the now Crimson Tide coach decided to bolt for LSU after the 1999 season, leaving the Spartans with no coach for the 2000 Citrus Bowl. He said he was staying and that he was not going anywhere, but once the next best coaching job came along, Saban showed no loyalty and abandoned Michigan State players and fans. I know that true Spartan fans have never forgiven him and still dislike him to this day for the fact that he did this to the program. I hold a personal grudge against him, even though I was very young when it happened, and I hope that the Spartans stick it to the old ball coach to show him what he is missing here in Spartan country.

Another story that is cliché but is always talked about around this time of the year is whether a bruising Big Ten team can hang with the speed of an SEC team. News flash, the Big Ten has speed, maybe just as much as the SEC, but because the style of football is different in these conferences, everyone assumes that Big Ten teams are big and slow and SEC teams small and fast. This is not the case and I do not know what the Big Ten needs to do to change this misperception about their teams. Ohio State got beat in those championship games against SEC opponents because they were an inferior team, not because they lacked the speed or skill to hang with these teams. Big Ten teams beat SEC schools all the time and it is about time that people realize that MSU, OSU and Wisconsin have just as fast of players as Alabama, Auburn and LSU.

The most important key to this game for the Spartans and Crimson Tide will be how each defense will stop the other’s offense. Both teams have excellent skill players on the offensive side of the ball and it will be very interesting to see how both defensive coordinators game plan for such athletes. For Michigan State, it starts with Kirk Cousins. He has been phenomenal this year, throwing for 2,705 and 20 touchdowns, while limiting his interceptions to only 9. Cousins is the team’s leader by far and he has proved it time and time again, leading the Spartans to numerous comeback victories. He has really grown up and matured this year as a football player, and Alabama will need to put pressure on him or they will be in for a long day. Cousins’ top target B.J Cunningham will be out for the game, as he injured his foot during practice in December. He will be missed greatly, as not only a big play threat for the Spartans, but also a possession guy who will make the key catch for a first down. Wide receiver Mark Dell will need to step it up as a result of the Cunningham injury, and he is more than capable of doing so, ranking 9^th in the Big Ten this year in receiving yards. But if MSU is to win this game, they will need to run the ball effectively to open up the passing attack. Running back Edwin Baker had a breakout year, in which he rushed for 1,187 yards, good for 3^rd in the Big Ten, while also scoring 13 touchdowns for the Spartans. He will need to be the workhorse in controlling the clock, as I look for him to get 20 plus carries on Saturday.

For Alabama’s offense, it all starts with last year’s Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram. He had somewhat of a down year because of a knee injury early on in the season, but he is still very dangerous every time he touches the ball, especially at 100% which he should be for this game. He only had 816 rushing yards this season, but he averaged 5.6 yards per carry and 11 touchdowns. Michigan State must stop the two headed monster of Ingram and Trent Richardson and force Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy to beat them. I believe he is the weak link on this offense and is prone to making mistakes when he has guys in his face. McElroy threw for 2,767 yards and 19 touchdowns, but was sacked 30 times, the most by any quarterback in the SEC this season. The Crimson Tide’s quarterback was helped out all year by having such a talented wide receiver that catches everything. Julio Jones, a likely first round draft pick in this coming NFL draft, was 2^nd in the SEC in receiving yards with 1,084. He has all the tools: speed, hands, size, in which he will be the toughest matchup for the Spartan defense on New Year’s.

There will be great matchups all over the field when these two teams take the field. If the Spartans can contain the Alabama athletes and get a big play on special teams from their explosive returner Keshawn Martin, the Spartans should win this game…

Michigan State 27 Alabama 24

Michigan State made a bowl game for the 4^th year in a row, as they will be heading to Orlando, Florida to play in the Capital One Bowl on January 1st for the 2^nd time in four years. It should be a great matchup, in which the Spartans will be tested against the defending National Champions, the Alabama Crimson Tide. This game will provide MSU with several opportunities, including: getting a gauge as to how good this team really is, proving themselves on national television against one of the most storied programs in the history of college football, gaining momentum for next year if they were to beat a “superior” SEC team, and sticking it to Nick Saban, who bolted from East Lansing for the next best thing (LSU), not even staying to coach the Spartans in the Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Day in 2000. It was a very cowardly move, one that showed how disloyal Saban is and has been, and one that Spartan fans have never, and will never, forget.

Somehow Alabama is favored by eleven and a half points, even though the Big Ten Conference was clearly the best in the nation this year. The conference finished with 3 teams in the top seven of the BCS standings, sending two of those teams to BCS Bowls and the third to a New Year’s Day bowl game. Wisconsin finished 4^th in the BCS and will play in the Rose Bowl, while Ohio State finished 6^th, and will play in the Sugar Bowl. I hate to bring this up again, but State got screwed, as they finished 7^th in the BCS, but were unable to secure a BCS bowl because three teams from one conference are not allowed in, even if they may be amongst the best seven teams in the country. Instead, we have an 8-4 Connecticut team (no disrespect to the Huskies, you earned it by winning the brutal gauntlet that is the Big East) who will be playing in the BCS Fiesta Bowl, rather than an 11-1 Big Ten Champion Michigan State team. I hope that MSU comes out with a chip on their shoulder as a result of this ridiculous system that is in place and takes it to an Alabama team that comes from a conference that is over-rated this year.

Numerous Michigan State players were recognized for their play during the 2010 season with All Big Ten Honors. The coaches selected placekicker Dan Conroy and linebacker Greg Jones to the first team. Also selected to the second team were tackle D.J. Young, punter Aaron Bates and defensive back’s Trenton Robinson, Johnny Adams and Chris L. Rucker. Those who received honorable mention from the coaches were quarterback Kirk Cousins, running back Edwin Baker, wide receiver Mark Dell, offensive lineman Joel Foreman, tight end Charlie Gantt, safety Marcus Hyde and defensive tackle Jerel Worthy.

The media selected Conroy, Baker and Jones to the first team. Gantt, Hyde and linebacker Eric Gordon were selected to the second team, while Adams, Cousins, wide receiver B.J. Cunningham, Dell, Foreman, Robinson, Rucker, Worthy and Young were All Big Ten honorable mention.

Finally, Coach Mark Dantonio was named Big Ten Coach of the Year. He definitely deserved this award after leading the Spartans to a school-record 11 victories in 2010. Not only did he lead MSU to its’ first Big Ten Championship since 1990, but he is really beginning to solidify this Michigan State program as one of the best in the country. He made some of the gutsiest calls I have ever seen, including one fake field goal and one fake punt, the first to win a ballgame in overtime, and the other to set up a game tying touchdown in the fourth quarter. Most importantly, Coach Dantonio improved to 3-1 against little brother, in which MSU is now the dominant school in Michigan, hands down.

The Michigan State Spartan football team went into Happy Valley this weekend and won for the first time there in 45 years! They beat Penn State 28-22, to stake their claim of the Big Ten Championship since 1990. Now, it is a waiting game as to what bowl the Spartans will attend, but it is looking like they will be shut out of a BCS Bowl, even though they achieved 11 wins for the first time in the history of the program. MSU will definitely make a New Year’s Day Bowl, probably the Capital One Bowl in Orlando, Florida, where they will have been 2 out of the last 3 years. They should play a very talented SEC team, possibly LSU, Alabama or Arkansas, which will be a real test for the Spartans, and a good measuring stick for how good this team really is. Now, on to the crappy system we call the Bowl Championship Series or BCS.  

The system in place right now is absolutely terrible and needs to be changed. A one loss Michigan State team will not make a BCS bowl, but a Big East team, possibly Connecticut, which was drilled by Michigan earlier on in the season, will make it. How can the system be this flawed to allow this, considering that Michigan finished 8^th in the Big Ten, and took it the Husky team that will play in a game they have no business being in. No team from the Big East Conference should ever be automatically qualified for a BCS Bowl, because it takes one spot away from a better team that is more deserving (Cough, MSU).

Not to mention, everyone is all over Wisconsin, saying they are the best team in the Big Ten, and that they belong in a BCS Bowl. The only thing wrong with this is that Michigan State beat Wisconsin convincingly (Damn right Coach Dantonio!), the only loss that the Badgers suffered all year. How can Wisconsin be thought of so highly and Michigan State not be, as the Spartans beat Wisconsin by 10 points in October. Finally, two Big Ten teams, including Wisconsin will be taken over MSU as a result of the BCS rankings, even though Michigan State had the toughest schedule of the three (Ohio State included). You can talk about Michigan State only beating one ranked team all year, but they beat the team some consider to be amongst the best in the country (ranked 4^th this week), while also taking care of business in their other 10 wins against quality opponents. Michigan State’s schedule ranked 33^rd in the country, while Wisconsin had the 75^th hardest and Ohio State the 55^th.

It is really a shame that a one loss Big Ten team as good as the Spartans will be left out of the place that the best teams are supposed to be playing in. I know that true Spartan fans will not underappreciate this season, even though MSU will not be making the trip to Pasadena. This team accomplished something very special, in which they should be commended and praised for the way they played all year. I am very proud to say that I am a Spartan, even though we got screwed and everyone knows it.

Tenth ranked Michigan State visits Happy Valley this weekend with a share of the Big Ten Title on the line. The Spartans have never beaten Penn State away from East Lansing, so the task ahead for MSU will be a tough one. It is a different experience for Michigan State, considering they have not been in this situation of playing for a Big Ten Championship this late in the season since 1990. I really am not sure if that will be a good or bad thing for this Spartan team. On one hand, they can just approach this game as just another one, and come out loose and aggressive. Or on the other hand, they may come out tight and passive because of what is at stake. I believe this team is “different” from previous Spartan teams, in which they will come out with the confidence and swagger of a team that belongs in this situation. Michigan State will also need some help to clinch a Rose Bowl berth this weekend. Spartan fans everywhere will be rooting for Michigan (?) this Saturday to upset the eight ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. The only way that MSU would go to Pasadena, is if our defensive juggernaut rivals beat OSU in Columbus, or win against them for the first time in six years. I myself was swayed this week and will be rooting for Michigan to pull off the victory. I feel that the Wolverines do not have a chance, but if I have to cheer them on so that the Spartans can go the Rose Bowl, then this is a sacrifice I am willing to make, for the betterment of the team.

When Michigan State has the ball: The Spartans must be able to establish some kind of run game against the Nittany Lions, to take some pressure off of Kirk Cousins. He has really been carrying the team the past month, because the MSU run game has never been able to get it rolling like they did at the beginning of the year. I truly believe that Cousins has proved he is an elite quarterback, in which he has shown great intestinal fortitude throughout the year, never backing down from a challenge. He leads the 5^th ranked pass offense in the Big Ten with 2,553 yards and 18 touchdowns. I expect a big play from Keshawn Martin this week. He is coming back from an injury that caused him to miss three games, and I look for Coach Dantonio to get him more involved on the offensive side of the ball. Whether it is through a trick play or just getting the ball into his hands on a sweep or quick stop, offensive coordinator Don Treadwell must find a way to get him the ball in open space. He is a dangerous weapon for the Spartans and someone else that Penn State must game plan for. Finally, Michigan State’s wide receivers must take advantage of a Penn State secondary that does not cover very well. I know it does not show in the statistics, but the games that I have seen Penn State play this year, their secondary has not played well at all. The athleticism and rout running ability of Spartan wide receiver’s Mark Dell and B.J. Cunningham should  give the Nittany Lion’s defensive backs fits all day, in which you know Cousins will find them if they are open.   

When Penn State has the ball: Penn State has done two things it never has in the history of their program under Head Coach Joe Paterno: start a true freshman quarterback and start a walk-on quarterback. The latter, walk-on Matt McGloin, will look to manage the game as he has all year, against the 3^rd ranked scoring defense in the Big Ten. He is 4-1 as a starter, in which he has thrown for 1,205 yards and 11 touchdowns, to only 3 interceptions. I am not sure that the Penn State coaches will put the game in McGloin’s hands this week, considering they have the all-time leading rusher at PSU, Evan Royster, at their disposal. Royster is a very tough runner between the tackles, but he also possesses the speed to run away from defenders. He has rushed for 831 yards this season and 4,229 yards for his career. The first and most important priority for the Spartan defense will be to stop Royster, and force McGloin to beat them. Hopefully, it will be tough sledding for the PSU running back, considering he is going up against the 3^rd ranked rush defense of the Spartans, which is only giving up 125 yards per game. I look for Greg Jones and Eric Gordon to make plays all over the field, and force Penn State into becoming a one dimensional offense.

Michigan State has not been in such a monumental game in a very long time. The Spartans must get off to a fast start and not fall behind like they have in recent weeks. If they can weather the storm that is the first half and keep it close going into the fourth quarter, then I think Michigan State will pull off their first victory in Happy Valley…

Final Score: Michigan State 28 Penn State 24

Michigan State had another comeback victory this weekend against Purdue to improve to 10-1 on the year. They defeated the Boilermakers 35-31, after falling behind 28-13 early in the 4^th quarter.  It was another stellar performance from a Spartan team that is beginning to make this comeback thing a habit. They definitely make it hard on themselves, but they always seem to get the job done in the clutch. Saturday was no different, as the Spartans rallied late to win the game on Senior Day. As a result, Michigan State is still tied for first place in the Big Ten with Ohio State and Wisconsin. Ohio State must lose in order for the Spartans to have any shot of going to the Rose Bowl. This means that Spartan fans everywhere will have to root for their hated rival this weekend. I know for myself that this will be very tough, and I am not even sure that I will be pulling for Michigan because it just seems sacrilegious. Not only must the Buckeyes lose, but Michigan State must take care of business in Happy Valley, where they have never won a game. This will be a very difficult road test for the Spartans, but I truly believe that if there is a team that can handle this daunting test, it is this MSU team.

Kirk Cousins again showed why he is one of the best quarterbacks in the country during crunch time. He was absolutely brilliant in the 4^th quarter, throwing for 2 touchdowns, while also running one in from 3 yards out. He showed the toughness and grit that a quarterback should have on an elite team, and this is very exciting considering we get him back for another year. He played through pain on Saturday, in which he showed exactly the kind of leadership that is expected of such a great quarterback. The play of the day though belonged to the punt return team, as they blocked a punt with just under five minutes to go in the game. Defensive back Denicos Allen came through the Purdue line untouched and took the ball right off the foot of the Boilermaker punter. The Spartans recovered the ball at the Purdue 3 yard line and scored on the next play to take their first lead of the day with about four minutes to go in the game.

Cousins finished the game with 276 yards on 28 completions. He accounted for 4 touchdowns on the day, 3 through the air and 1 on the ground. His top target on the afternoon was Mark Dell, who had 108 yards on 8 receptions and 2 touchdowns. The senior wide receiver was active all day, making key catches at critical times in the game. B.J. Cunningham also had a solid day, catching 6 balls for 51 yards and 1 touchdown. The run game never really got going, as a result of the Spartans falling behind so early. Edwin Baker led the rushing attack with 90 yards on 16 carries. He ran very hard all day and if MSU was able to get the lead, he would have had a monster day, considering he averaged 5.6 yards per carry yesterday.

Michigan State has won 10 games for only the second time in their storied history. This has been a magical season thus far and I believe the only appropriate way to end it is with a trip to Pasadena, California…

Highly touted, but disappointing freshman William Gholston will be out for the rest of the year. He came in as Michigan State’s only 5 star prospect ever, in the history of the program. He did not play that much, as a result of all the depth the Spartans had at linebacker. I thought he would come in and make a difference this season, but he could never get it going. Coach Dantonio said they could have waited until after their bowl game to have surgery on Gholston’s shoulder , but they want to have him back for spring ball because big things will be expected of William next season. Gholston finished with 13 tackles and 4 quarterback hurries.

Twelfth ranked Michigan State welcomes the Purdue Boilermakers to East Lansing this weekend. MSU still has a shot at going to the Rose Bowl, as long as they win their last two games. Iowa losing last week helped the Spartan cause, and this week MSU fans will be rooting for the Hawkeyes, or the team that handed Michigan State its’ only loss of the year. If Iowa beats Ohio State and MSU wins out, then the Spartans would tie Wisconsin for the Big Ten title and head to Pasadena based on the head to head victory against the Badgers. Many things must fall into place for the Spartans to go to the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1990, but one thing is clear, they must only worry about what they can control in taking care of business on the field. Purdue will be a tough test for the Spartans, but a game that Michigan State should win.

The bye week was very important for the Spartans, as they should be at full strength this weekend. MSU will welcome back Keshawn Martin from an ankle injury. He missed the last three games, and it showed with the lack of big plays provided by the Spartans. He will not only be a boost to the Spartan offense, but also to the special teams, where he is a threat to score every time he touches the ball.  Mark Dell will be at one hundred percent this weekend, after injuring his knee against Minnesota two weeks ago. He has really stepped up his game this year and this has a lot to do with him being healthy all year. He has 41 receptions for 653 yards and 4 touchdowns on the season. Also, the Spartans will welcome back offensive lineman Chris McDonald and linebacker Chris Norman, both of whom missed the last game against the Golden Gophers.

When Michigan State has the ball: The week off was definitely beneficial for quarterback Kirk Cousins, who was hopefully able to get his mind right for the ever important stretch run for the Spartans. He has struggled the last few games, even though he still is completing 65% of his passes and has thrown for 15 touchdowns and 2,277 yards on the year. I look for him to get on track, even against a defense that is ranked first in the Big Ten in sacks and tackles for loss. The leader of this group is All American defensive end Ryan Kerrigan. He is a complete stud at defensive end, as he leads the nation in tackles for loss with 25 and is second in sacks with 12. The Spartan offensive line and running backs must know where he is on every snap or he will make them pay, in which he is the Big Ten’s all-time leader in forced fumbles with 14 for his career. If Cousins is unable to find his groove, Edwin Baker should be able to pick up the slack. He is averaging 98 yards a game, good for 5^th in the Big Ten. He is a very tough runner between the tackles, in which he also has the speed to run away from defenders. He is averaging 6.5 yards per carry and has 11 touchdowns on the year.

When Purdue has the ball: The Spartans will face a Purdue team that struggles on the offensive side of the ball. They managed only 17 points last week against a Michigan defense that is absolutely terrible. For example, the Boilermaker offense is ranked dead last in the Big Ten in scoring offense, pass offense, pass efficiency and total offense. Their quarterback is not much of a passer, but he can hurt you with his legs. Rob Henry only completes 50% of his passes, while throwing for only 3 touchdowns and 4 interceptions, but he has rushed for 466 yards, averaging 5.6 yards per carry. The front seven for Michigan State must stop the run first and force Henry into trying to beat them with his arm. If this is the case, the Spartan secondary must take advantage of his inaccuracy in the pass game. Three players in the secondary for MSU have 3 interceptions on the year, CB Johnny Adams, S Marcus Hyde and S Trenton Robinson. The Spartan defense as a whole has 14 total interceptions, good for 3^rd in the Big Ten. It will be tough for Purdue to run the ball against a defense that is ranked 18^th nationally against the run, only giving up 119 yards a game.

It will be Senior Day at Spartan Stadium this weekend and I do not see Michigan State having any kind of letdown on such a special day. This senior class has had many highs and lows, but they can be the one that is remembered for providing the Spartan’s first Big Ten Title in 20 years. Michigan State will force a Purdue team that is ranked second to last in turnover margin into many mistakes…

Michigan State 35 Purdue 10