Michigan State vs. Rutgers Prediction, Game Preview

C’mon, Michigan State (5-0), enough is enough. Really? You’re going to struggle against Purdue? If the Spartans can’t obliterate a downtrodden Rutgers (2-2) team, then it’s really going to be time to worry. The Scarlet Knights are trying to fight through a coaching suspension a slew of injuries and off-the-field problems, but as the Spartans showed last week, they’re vulnerable. Check out the Michigan State vs. Rutgers prediction and game preview.

Michigan State vs. Rutgers Game Preview

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, Oct. 10
Game Time: 8:00 pm
Venue: High Point Solutions Stadium, Piscataway, NJ
Network: BTN

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Why You Need To Care

The Spartans are still unbeaten, but at some point they have to put together a full sixty minute performance. They were shaky against Western Michigan, the 30-10 win over Central Michigan wasn’t nearly as strong as the final score might indicate, and the Purdue win last week was really, really weak with the team falling asleep in the second half. The talent is there, and it’s a grind of a season, but with Michigan coming up next, it’s showtime. It all has to start working.

Rutgers is merely trying to survive, but it helped to get Kansas last week to make everything seem okay. Considering all the issues, the wheels haven’t totally come off, but with three road games in the next four – going to Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan – wrapped around a home game against Ohio State, this could be a very, very rough next month.

Why Michigan State Will Win

Rutgers might be getting better again soon, and star WR Leonte Carroo is returning, but it’s still been a struggle to come up with any semblance of consistency. The stats are misleading with games against Norfolk State, Kansas and Washington State – the offense just isn’t that good. This is a mistake-prone Scarlet Knight team that’s having problems defensively against guys who can throw, so if Connor Cook is going to get going and come up with a consistent day, this would be it against a secondary that gives up way too many big plays. The Kansas win was a mirage – this is still a wounded Rutgers team trying to find its way.

Why Rutgers Will Win

Can the passing game work? With Carroo off suspension and coming back, the Rutgers passing attack that cranked up 200 yards or more in every game is supposed to work. There have been too many interceptions – five – but Chris Laviano has been effective so far and is doing what he can to keep the team on an even keel. It’s possible to throw against the Michigan State secondary that’s allowing teams to hit more than 60% of their passes, and at home, Laviano has to get hot right away and put the pressure on the Spartans.

Player Who Matters

The parts are there for Michigan State – they all have to work for a full sixty minutes. One of the bright spots has been the rise of the young running backs with freshman Madre London coming up with a steady 4.7 yards per carry, while the physical LJ Scott came up with 146 rushing yards against Purdue with two scores while showing off a little bit of speed. When push comes to shove, the offense will revolve around Connor Cook and the passing game, but the more the Spartans can grind it, the better.

What’s Going To Happen?

Every week we keep waiting for Michigan State to be Michigan State, and it doesn’t happen. We know what the Spartans are at this point – they’re going to go through the motions and come up with an underwhelming win. However, don’t expect the Purdue-like drama.