The Mike P'review of IU-MSU

It is time for my weekly "Mike P’review" of the upcoming IU game. This week’s game is against the Michigan State Spartans. The Spartans started of the season on a roll, winning their first 4 games by a combined 131-62. They have now lost two straight. The first game was expected, on the road to a Big Ten power house that is Wisconsin. There is not many would have gave MSU a chance in that game. So it is not that MSU lost, but how they lost that is important. In the 4th quarter they had just scored 10 unanswered points to tie the game at 34 all. Wisconsin then went on a 10 play, 64 yard drive that used up 5:53 seconds before kicking the game winning field goal. This is not a melt down like they had last year when they allowed Notre Dame to come from behind and win, but this maybe the beginning of the 3rd straight year they have imploded, when you couple the Wisconsin loss and them losing to Northwestern in OT this past Saturday.

Let’s take a look at how IU will match up with MSU this weekend.

Defense:
IU is looking at a team who likes to run the ball, and from the stats so far this season, they do it very well, rushing for 1331 yards and 15 TD’s on the season. They are coming in to this game averaging 221.8 yards per game on the ground, this MSU team has only fumbled 5 times this season, and has lost 3 of those. The passing game is something to pay attention to also, gaining 230 yards per game and 11 TD’s in the air while only being picked of 3 times in 6 games. This could be a day for the IU d-line to tee of on a QB, with MSU giving up 14 sacks this season. Tracy Porter needs to man up on Devin Thomas and limit his production. Thomas is their top receiver and has an average of 21.7 yards per catch. The key though will be the linebacker’s ability to pick up the screen. Javon Ringer is 2nd on the team with 20 catches out of the back field for 213 yards, while gaining 752 yards on the ground.

Offense:

So far this year MSU has shown that you can’t run very well on them. They have only allowed 114.7 yards rushing per game. So what does this mean for IU? It means they go to the air. They are giving up 242 yards per game in passing. I think the high powered IU offense can give MSU fits and really exploit them, allowing the rushing game to open up, especially if Bryan Payton gets the carries. The offensive line will have to be ready this week. MSU is a threat to sack the QB, having done it 24 times already this season. The pressure will be on Kellen Lewis this week. Lewis will have to make things happen with his feet, scrambling to buy some time, and using the QB draw to his advantage, something they seem to have got away from the last few weeks. I am giving the receivers a break for some of the drops on Saturday due to the extreme heat, but this week they have to make the completions and limit the amount of drops. If they can do that, and protect the ball, it is a very real possibility IU comes back for Homecoming with a 6-1 record and already bowl eligible.

GO HOOSIERS!