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Michigan State Football: 5 reasons the Spartans will beat Illinois
Oct 29, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver R.J. Shelton (12) leads his teammates onto the field before a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Here are the five reasons why Michigan State football will beat the Illinois Fighting Illini Saturday.
Saturday is a big day for Michigan State football. At the beginning of the season, if I told you that the Illinois game at the beginning of November could be the difference between going to a bowl game and sitting at home, you probably would have called me crazy.
However, the Spartans need to win this one on the road in order to stay in contention for six wins and a guaranteed spot in a bowl game. Sure, playing a postseason game in December isn’t as exciting as playing on New Year’s Day, but Michigan State has to take what it can get at this point.
No one thought the Spartans would get off to a 2-6 start, especially after winning the first two games of the season against Furman and No. 18 Notre Dame. The team has been a colossal disappointment, but after a promising performance against No. 2 Michigan last week, the tides might be turning.
The Spartans played with confidence and they could use that this weekend against a fellow 2-6 squad in Illinois.
Here are the five reasons Michigan State will win Saturday.
5. Offensive line beginning to gel
Oct 8, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Tyler O
As hard as it is to believe, Michigan State’s offensive line is starting to gel. It wasn’t evident against Maryland two weeks ago, but playing the best defensive line in the Big Ten last weekend, the Spartans held their own.
Getting young guys involved like Thiyo Lukusa and Tyler Higby has been important for the progression of this team and they have played well. Add the two freshmen to a group with Kodi Kieler and Brian allen and you have four-fifths of an impressive unit.
Michigan State wasn’t letting Michigan bull-rush the backfield last week and the offensive line even opened up huge holes in the run game for LJ Scott. He finished with his second straight 100-yard game and he looks to be on pace for 1,000 yards this season.
If the line continues to play like it did against the Wolverines, the Spartans are going to have a big game against the Illini, both on the ground and through the air.
Sep 2, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Donnie Corley (9) carries the ball against the Furman Paladins during the first half at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
4. Donnie Corley’s ability to play both ways
Donnie Corley changed numbers before the Michigan game and people almost didn’t recognize him on the field. Who is No. 29? I saw that multiple times on social media and I was even taken back by it, but I knew right away that meant he would be playing some defense as well.
Why did he need to change his number just to play defense? Well, Montae Nicholson also dons that number and you know he’s earned the right to keep his over a true freshman. If the two ever wanted to play on the same side of the ball, Corley would have to change his digits.
Playing cornerback will obviously help the Spartans and the defensive backfield keeps getting younger, which is a good sign. In fact, next season there will be only one senior starter in the secondary and that will be Nicholson. Justin Layne, Vayante Copeland and Tyson Smith or Josh Butler will likely all start as well.
Corley will push for playing time, but Dantonio has said that he’s a receiver first. However, we will get to see why he changed numbers again on Saturday, defending against the Illini while also putting up big numbers on offense.
The dual-threat ability of the young kid will prove to be a big deal and he will make some critical plays on the defensive side of the ball to give MSU momentum. He’s also going to grab a touchdown pass and finish with over 100 yards.
Oct 29, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive lineman Malik McDowell (4) stands on the field between plays during the second half of a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
3. Defensive line finally gets consistent pressure
It’s almost unfathomable how poorly the Spartans’ defensive line has played this season. Getting very little pressure on opposing quarterbacks and getting gashed in the run game by Maryland, BYU and Northwestern, the Spartans look to be in desperate need of an uptick in production up front.
Malik McDowell is arguably the best defensive lineman in the conference. However, he is double-teamed more often than not, stymying his ability to make an impact on the game. The rest of the line doesn’t take advantage of the fact that offenses are focusing solely on him.
However, Illinois’ offensive line isn’t great. The Fighting Illini rank in the middle of the pack nationally when it comes to sacks allowed this season with 15. That’s not exactly a promising number for teams that are looking to have a sack party, but the Spartans can make something happen with that.
Arguably, the Fighting Illini haven’t faced a lineman like McDowell this season and he might do some damage. Moreover, the freshman defensive linemen such as Josh King and Auston Robertson could be in for big days.
Don’t forget about Raequan Williams who has had a decent season to this point, but needs to finally break out. Also, I’m a firm believer that Demetrius Cooper will break out of his season-long slump.
Expect a big day from the defensive front.
Oct 29, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Tyler O
2. Tyler O’Connor will play well enough
The term “well enough” doesn’t necessarily mean something lives up to the expectations, but rather it is just adequate enough to get the job done. That’s exactly the type of game Tyler O’Connor will have against Illinois on Saturday afternoon.
O’Connor is filling in now that Brian Lewerke suffered a broken tibia against the Wolverines. It was a devastating blow for the Spartans seeing as the redshirt freshman looked to be the best option for Michigan State under center. He played just about a quarter against the Wolverines and passed for 100 yards and a touchdown before the injury.
Handing the reins back to O’Connor was probably the easiest choice for Mark Dantonio even though he does have Damion Terry as well.
Still, O’Connor started the season as the team’s No. 1 guy and he is even a captain and fifth-year senior. His inability to lead the offense down the field more than one or two times per game seemed to drag the Spartans down and that’s why Terry and Lewerke got snaps over him in recent weeks.
Now it’s his turn to prove himself in his final four college games. He’s going to play just well enough, mistake-free football to lead the Spartans past the Illini. I’m talking 200 yards with a touchdown.
Oct 22, 2016; College Park, MD, USA; Michigan State Spartans running back LJ Scott (3) celebrates his touchdown run against the Maryland Terrapins at Byrd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
1. LJ Scott will go off yet again
No, one player can’t make a difference between winning or losing, but he sure can put the game out of reach with his legs. LJ Scott is one of those supremely talented players who can change the outlook of a game, and he has done it in the past and will do it again on Saturday.
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Michigan State has a history of talented running backs under Mark Dantonio. First it was Javon Ringer, then Edwin Baker followed by Le’Veon Bell and Jeremy Langford. Now, it’s Scott’s turn to be the Spartans’ top running back and make an impression on the record books.
Scott has made major strides over the past two weeks. After six games of running into piles and not cutting it outside, he has looked like a different, more elusive back. He recorded his longest career run against Maryland a couple of weeks ago (48 yards) and followed that up with his second consecutive 100-yard game against Michigan.
It’s time for another first this Saturday against Illinois. He’s going to finish with over 100 yards for the third time in a row and the fifth time in his young career. The sophomore is going to surpass the 150-yard mark and finish with two scores.
Illinois is going to have a tough time stopping the Spartans’ premier running back and that will help lead to some play-action success for O’Connor. Little do people realize, Scott’s dominance on the ground leads to success through the air.
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