Nebraska at Michigan State Preview and Prediction
by Pete Fiutak, CollegeFootballNews.com
Nebraska (5-3) at Michigan State (2-6)
Saturday, November 4 - 12:00 PM (ET) - FOX Sports 1
Why Nebraska Will Win
Very, very, very quietly, Nebraska has won three straight and five of the last six games as it moves into position to be one win away from a bowl game. Even crazier for the program that struggled over the last few years, it's deep in the mix for the Big Ten West title.
How is it happening? Defense, defense, defense. Michigan was able to rip off rushing yards in chunks, but that's been it. No one else has been able to get to 100 yards on this bunch, the nation's fifth-best run D.
Michigan State's running game was able to move a big against Minnesota last week, but it has yet to get to 170 yards on the season and doesn't have the passing attack to make up for it. The team needs Nebraska mistakes to pull this off, and .........
Why Michigan State Will Win
.....Nebraska will be more than happy to give away the football.
That part of the equation hasn't stopped. It was bad to start the season, the mistakes stopped for a little bit, and then they picked back up with nine giveaways over the last three games. The team was able to overcome them with great defense, but Michigan State will get its opportunities.
For all of the problems the team is having, it's taking the ball away. Three takeaways against Minnesota, three against Rutgers, and at last one in every game. Now it's up to the offense to stop doing its part to feed into the problems -- the MSU turnovers have to stop.
The O didn't commit to the ground game against Minnesota, but there were a few good moments, the line hasn't been bad in pass protection, and if there can just be a few early scores and some positive momentum, the O should be able to take care of everything else.
Basically, Michigan State needs a repeat of the Rutgers game, only without the collapse.
What Will Happen
From 1969 to 2003, Nebraska was a regular on the bowl game circuit in a time before there were a gajillion post-season exhibitions to play in. The idea of the Cornhuskers not being in the national title mix was unthinkable, much less simply going to a bowl game.
This program hasn't been to a bowl in seven years?! The drought since 2016 will end here as the Husker defense holds up late in a low scoring fight.
Michigan State, once again, will have its moments and opportunities, and it'll all collapse.
Prediction
Nebraska 20, Michigan State 16
Spread
Nebraska is favored on the road by 3 points. The O/U is set at 34.5 points.
