Oregon Ducks

Six Points: Oregon Ducks vs. Michigan State Spartans

Published Sep. 11, 2015 11:00 a.m. ET

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Oregon and Michigan State meet on Saturday in perhaps one of the most important non-conference games of the 2015 season. The Ducks ride in high after a national championship appearance and a 46-27 victory in 2014 over the Spartans. However, the Spartans are favored to get revenge against the Ducks. Here are three keys to victory for both schools:

Oregon Ducks

1. Royce Freeman must establish the running game

Oregon has struggled against defenses with stout defensive lines. You need not look further than the national championship game against Ohio State last season. However, the Ducks feature one of the best running backs in the nation in Royce Freeman. Freeman is a bruising back who had a breakout performance against Michigan State last year. In that game, Freeman ran for 89 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries.

The Ducks rushed for 485 yards last week against Eastern Washington, the third-highest total in school history. In order for the Ducks to beat the Spartans in East Lansing, they will need for Freeman to carry a heavy load. If Oregon's offense churns out yards on the ground, they'll have put themselves in a position to take down the Spartans.

2. Win the turnover battle

Vernon Adams Jr. played marvelously in his first start as a Duck last week, going 19-of-25 for 246 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 94 yards. However, Adams lost a fumble and almost threw two picks. That sort of carelessness will not help Oregon's upset bid. 

In last year's matchup, Oregon won the turnovers battle 2-0, which helped the Ducks secure victory. Oregon ranked No. 1 in turnover margin in 2014. Who was ranked No. 2? Michigan State. Both teams forced 34 turnovers, while the Ducks lost 11 and the Spartans lost 15.

If Ducks are to have any shot at beating a Michigan State team that doesn't turn the ball over much, they'll need to make sure that they secure the ball themselves. In a matchup between teams that are protective of the football, the turnover margin will go a long way in determining which team walks wins. 

3. Secondary must improve quickly

Oregon's pass defense was ranked No. 111 in 2014 despite having three outstanding upperclassmen in the defensive backfield: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Erick Dargan and Troy Hill. Those players are now gone. As a result, Oregon's pass D was atrocious against Eastern Washington. In total, the Ducks allowed 438 yards and five touchdowns through the air.

The Ducks struggled to contain Michigan State's aerial assault last year, as well. MSU QB Connor Cook, a Heisman contender this season, threw for 343 yards and carved up Oregon's defense. However, Cook also threw two picks, which was indicative of Oregon's opportunistic 2014 defense.

Cook has to be chomping at the bit to throw at Oregon's secondary after seeing last week's film. Stopping Cook. would be an unrealistic expectation. However, if the Ducks can find a way to slow down the attack a little bit, force a turnover and, most importantly, make open-field tackles, they will increase their chances.

Michigan State Spartans

1. Don't blink

After the Spartans rebuilt secondary gave up 365 yards passing in their opener, the pressure could be on the MSU offense to keep up with Oregon's traditionally high-scoring attack. 

MSU coach Mark Dantonio said this week he believes his team is up to winning a shootout against Oregon, and that makes sense given the success the Spartans had moving the ball themselves against the Broncos and the fact they have a senior quarterback in Connor Cook who has already won two major New Year's Day bowls. 

But for all his talent, Cook can run hot and cold at times, and he is still working on finding his new No. 1 receiver after the departure of Big Ten WR of the Year Tony Lippett via graduation. On the plus side, he spread the ball around to seven different receivers in the opener, and many of his targets are veterans who have played significant snaps already in their college careers. 

2. Get after the quarterback 

Michigan State's defensive line looked vicious against WMU, piling up seven sacks while also allowing Bronco running backs to net only 53 yards on 14 carries. The unit led by senior end Shilique Calhoun can help out the MSU secondary significantly if it can keep new Oregon quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. on the run much of the night. Four different Spartan defensive linemen had a sack against WMU while linebacker Riley Bullough had three, and MSU will need to continue getting that kind of pressure whether it is blitzing or not. 

3. Avoid special teams mishaps 

Michigan State had some uncharacteristic special teams problems throughout last season, and there were more reasons for concern in the first game as Western Michigan's Darius Phillips returned the opening kickoff 70 yards and then went all the way for a touchdown on another attempt later in the first quarter. 

On the bright side, Michael Geiger made his only field goal attempt as he returns from offseason hip surgery, and freshman punter Jake Hartbarger averaged 47.2 yards on his four kicks. He had a long of 55 and downed two inside the 20. 

Marcus Hartman covers the Big Ten East and Notre Dame for FOX Sports. You can follow him on Twitter at marcushartman. Jason Gold is a writer covering the Pac-12 for FOXSports.com. Follow Jason on Twitter @TheSportsGuy33.

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