Maryland Game a Must Win for Michigan State

Written by RNG Staff Writer

Spartans’ fans thought their 36-28 victory over Notre Dame in Week 2 was a massive win and a sign of things to come for the 2016 season. Unfortunately for the Michigan State faithful, head coach Mark Dantonio’s squad ended up descending to a new low last week hitting a four-game losing streak. Looking at the college football betting lines, it is difficult to believe that the Spartans can actually turn things around this season with games left to be played against Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State.

The four-game losing streak has not been easy on the players or the fans. In Week 3, Wisconsin did not merely beat the Spartans, they were pretty much manhandled by the Badgers dropping the game 30-6. The Wisconsin defeat was shocking but then MSU lost 24-21 to Indiana in overtime causing even more concern. BYU also pushed them around losing 31-14 in East Lansing. The skid continued last week with a third home loss this season coming at the hands of Northwestern. Adding insult to the 54-40 trouncing, it was homecoming for the Spartans.

Now MSU fans want to know, how can Dantonio possible salvage the Spartans’ season?

This might be an auspicious week for MSU heading to College Park to take on the Terrapins. Maryland (4-2, 1-2) has lost back-to-back to Penn State (38-14) and Minnesota (31-10) only averaging 12 points in those two games. Maryland gives the Spartans a unique opportunity to try and bounce back righting the proverbial ship in the back half of the season.

Even if the Spartans win this week, it is difficult to see their fortunes changing for the better down the line. Looking at their schedule, from Michigan to Ohio State and Penn State, it will take everything the Spartans possibly have to keep their bowl eligibility hopes alive.

The Spartans have performed really well over the past three seasons finishing with an AP ranking of No. 6 in 2015, No. 5 in 2014, and No. 3 in 2013. The Spartans have dominated the Big Ten winning 36 of 41 games over that three-year span, so the 2-4, 0-3, start to the 2016 comes as a big shock to college football fans, not just in Michigan, but across the country.

The goal to win a Big Ten Championship is gone but the fight to become bowl eligible still remains making the game against the Terps in College Park critical. The Spartans’ hope for the rest of the season hangs in the balance. Needing four wins over the final five games, if they cannot come out victorious, their bowl aspirations might be a done deal.

With the Michigan game looming on Oct. 29, one week after the Maryland game, the Spartans can ill afford to look past the Terps. Based on past seasons, MSU should collect wins against Illinois in Champaign and at home against a woeful Rutgers squad. The game against Ohio state will be played at home giving the Spartans somewhat of an advantage against one of the best teams in the nation.

MSU fans have not had to live through a season like this since 2006 when John L. Smith posted a 4-8 season. That was also the last time the Spartans had a four-game losing streak. But even Smith did not have this bad of a start to a season. The last time MSU began 2-4 was in 1994 under George Perles giving way to an up and coming coach in Nick Saban in 1995.

Dantonio usually brings home winners having just one losing season in 2009 when he finished 6-7, three years into his rebuilding project. The period from 2010 to 2015 has seen the Spartans perform splendidly, winning a share of three Big Ten titles. Dantonio has taken the Spartans to nine bowl games, more than any other coach in MSU history with four bowl wins, also the most in school history.

Some of the problems the Spartans are facing are out of their control. Michigan State is currently struggling with injuries and defections. But they are also struggling to lock down a decent quarterback. Even with all their problems, MSU cannot afford to lose to a Maryland team they have owned since the Terps joined the Big Ten posting an all-time 6-1 record against.

Michigan State kicks off against Maryland at 7:30 p.m. ET with the Big Ten Network providing the coverage. The Spartans are a three-point favorite against the Terps. Time will tell if they can beat the odds turning around a tough start to the 2016 season.

Photo credit: Detroit Free Press; No. 7 Tyler O’Connor drops back to pass against Ohio State (2015).