Last season the Owls put up a competitive fight against the Spartans, but couldn’t hold on as Michigan State ran the ball for 225 yards. Michigan’s running game was led by running back Edwin Baker, who accumulated 183 yards with only15 carries. Baker will return as the starting running back, and head coach Mike Dantonio will surely utilize him against against the Owls’ defense, which allowed the Gators 197 rushing yards in week 1.
The Spartans return 6 starters on each side of the ball, including senior quarterback Kirk Cousins who already holds program records in passing efficiency (146.7 rating) and completion percentage (64.3 percent).
The only weakness in the Spartans’ offense is their offensive line. With three new starters up front protecting Cousins, defensive coordinator Kurt Van Valkenburgh may want to dial up a heavy dose of blitz packages in an attempt to force pressure on Cousins and Baker.
In the Spartans two losses from the 2010 season, their opponents (Iowa and Alabama) scored first and made Michigan State one-dimensional, forcing Cousins to put the team on his shoulders and lead them down the field. Cousins is accurate, but only displays moderate arm strength and throws interceptions when trying to force big plays.
On defense, the Spartans are young in the secondary and have two new starters (sophomores Darqueze Dennard and Isaiah Lewis) paired with senior free-safety Trenton Richardson, who led the team last season with four interceptions.
Owls’ quarterback Graham Wilbert had only completed one pass for 41 yards in his college career before starting against the Gators. That one completion was against the Spartans last season.
While the Owls may go with a heavy dosage of the running game, the Spartans’ defensive strength is their line, which will return three starters. The only new member is William Gholston, cousin of NFL veteran Vernon Gholston, a 2008 first-round draft pick of the New York Jets.
The Owls will have to find a serviceable medium between the running and passing game in order to maintain control on the field. If the offense can’t move the ball and puts the defense in bad field position, it will be a long game, as the Spartans experience on offense will break the game open.
More importantly, if the Owls let Michigan State run over them in the first quarter, Spartan Stadium and its 75,000-plus fans will be roaring — with the Owls left in the dark.
Michigan State 34 Florida Atlantic 13
