No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Michigan State Spartans Inside the Numbers Preview
Posted by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
The battle of attrition within the Big Ten resumes in Week 14 of the college football season as No. 4 Ohio State (4-0) travels to East Lansing to take on the Michigan State Spartans (2-3) in an East Division showdown. With a win, Michigan State can play spoiler to a Buckeyes College Football Playoff berth heightening the stakes for Ohio State on the field.
Ohio State’s eight-game race to through the 2020 conference-only schedule has taken some hits. With no room to maneuver before the Dec. 20 selection of the four college football playoff teams, any game that has to be delayed due to COVID protocols is scratched; the Buckeyes have already missed games against Maryland and Illinois. When we saw OSU last on Nov. 21, they took down an upstart No. 9 Indiana squad 42-35 at home. Against the Hoosiers, OSU put together a 21-point second quarter to break the game open fending off Indiana’s frantic push for an upset. In the win, the Buckeyes produced 607 yards of total offense.
To put a finger on Michigan State’s season thus far is seemingly impossible. The Spartans started off with a 38-27 home loss to Rutgers and then went on the road for a 27-24 upset of then- No. 13 Michigan. Lopsided losses to Iowa and No. 10 Indiana were righted with a 29-20 upset of No. 8 Northwestern last week. In the win, field goal kicker Matt Coghlin earned his scholarship kicking 22-, 44-, and 48-yard field goals. The final kick with 3:35 gave MSU a 23-20 lead which was added to when Kalon Gervin recovered a fumble in the end zone for an end of game padded score.
The Buckeyes are their usual juggernaut on offense, but the defense, especially against the pass, has not played at a dominating level. The OSU pass defense is seeing teams throw for 291 yards against them. The trouble for MSU, where will the points come from? The offense has been inconsistent with the run and the pass, and turnover prone with nine interceptions tossed and six fumbles lost putting extra pressure on a solid Spartans’ defense.
Ohio State (4-0) vs. Michigan State (2-3)
Kickoff: 12:00 p.m. ET
TV: ABC
Spread: Ohio State -24
Breakdown
OSU Strength of Schedule: 19th
MSU Strength of Schedule: 5th
*Via USA Today
Offensive Breakdown
OSU Points Per Game: 45.2
MSU Points Per Game: 18.00
OSU Rushing Yards Per Game: 233.2
MSU Rushing Yards Per Game: 98.0
OSU Passing Yards Per Game: 302.0
MSU Passing Yards Per Game: 233.40
OSU Total Offense: 535.2
MSU Total Offense: 331.4
OSU Third Down Conversion Percentage: 31-57 – 54%
MSU Third Down Conversion Percentage: 32-84 – 38.10%
OSU Red Zone Offense: 19-24 – 17 touchdowns
MSU Red Zone Offense: 7-7 – 5 touchdowns
OSU Key Offensive Players
RB Master Teague III: 73 carries for 380 yards, 6 TDs
QB Justin Fields: 90-113-3, 1,208 yards, 13 TDs; 3 rushing TDs
WR Garrett Wilson: 31 rec. for 513 yards, 4 TDs
WR Chris Olave: 26 rec. for 389 yards, 4 TDs
MSU Key Offensive Players
QB Rocky Lombardi: 79-146-8 for 1,057 yards, 8 TDs
RB Connor Heyward: 52 carries for 179 yards
RB Jordan Simmons: 42 carries for 147 yards
WR Jalen Nailor: 16 rec. for 379 yards, 2 TDs
WR Jayden Reed: 22 rec. for 252 yards, 3 TDs
Defensive Breakdown
OSU Total Defense: 389.5
MSU Total Defense: 370.2
OSU Points Allowed Per Game: 26.0
MSU Points Allowed Per Game: 31.00
OSU Passing Yards Allowed Per Game: 291.0
MSU Passing Yards Allowed Per Game: 238.20
OSU Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game: 98.5
MSU Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game: 132.0
OSU Defensive Third Down Conversion: 18-49 – 37%
MSU Defensive Third Down Conversion: 31-83 – 37.5%
OSU Red Zone Defense: 12-14 – 86% – 9 touchdowns
MSU Red Zone Defense: 19-26 – 16 touchdowns
OSU Key Defensive Players
LB Pete Werner: 24 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack, and 1 FF
LB Tuf Borland: 19 tackles, 2.5 TFL, and 1 sack
SS Marcus Hooker: 14 tackles, 1 INT, and 1 PBU
MSU Key Defensive Players
LB Antjuan Simmons: 53 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 1 sack, and 1 FR
LB Noah Harvey: 37 tackles, 4.5 TFL, and 2 QB hurries
CB Shakur Brown: 18 tackles, 5 INTs, and 4 PBU
Photo credit: The Lantern; Ohio State QB Justin Fields