Preview of Wisconsin Game

Well, here is another opportunity for the Spartans to turn their season around. After several disappointing weeks in a row, I shouldn't have any hope. And yet I do. Here's why.

Offense

I'm really optimistic about the O this week. I feel like they are so close to putting things together. They get Dion Sims back this week, we're finally seeing some consistency out of the receivers, and even the O-line is starting to look functional.

Make no mistake, Wisconsin's defense is decent, so the Spartans will still struggle to score points. But they should score enough points to win the game if the following things unfold:

Maxwell plays like he did against OSU.
The receivers are better (even slightly better) this week than they were last week.
Bell gets to 100 yards.
Sims and Lawrence Thomas grab 9 catches between them.

Defense

I am hoping that what we saw on defense last week against Michigan is a sign that the defense is starting to peak. I realize they were playing with a lot of emotion because it was a rivalry game. But this is another rivalry game, and so I expect the same level of intensity.

If the D can play like last week, Wisconsin won't score much more than Michigan did. That will give the Spartan O a solid chance to win the game.

Special teams

This will be a close game, so mistakes on special teams will be very costly. There can be no fumbles.  And perhaps most importantly, Conroy must hit his field goal attempts.

Coaches

They are not making good decisions in close games. They have to recognize when the passing game is not working. If you have the lead late in the game, and if you have not been completing over 50% of your passes, then forget about being balanced and unpredictable. Do not throw on first or second down. It's better to try your luck running the ball against a 9-man front, than to try to get lucky by going for a pass that has a low probability of being completed. At least if you're running the ball, you're killing some clock.  If you're driving the ball late in the game and you're about to take the lead with either a field goal or touchdown, run the ball as much as possible to kill the clock.

Prediction

MSU starts to turn its season around this week.

Final score: MSU 17  Wisconsin 13