Week 7: Michigan State at Northwestern

Possibly the conference’s most intriguing matchup of the week will be played in Evanston where undefeated Northwestern will put its recently ranked club against Mark Dantonio’s determined Spartans. The Wildcats can wipe away the ‘pretender’ label with a win, but to do that they must stop a Michigan State rushing attack that has rolled over opponents in four of the team’s last five wins.

Northwestern is trying to match the 1962 Wildcats’ magical 6-0 start. To do so they’ll need to do a better job of eating clock to keep the ball out of Javon Ringer’s hands; Northwestern ranks 10th in the conference in time of possession (27:06 per game). Northwestern must also do a better job is winning control over field position. Punter Stefan Demos has struggled, and Michigan State is too dangerous of an offense to give a short field to.

Michigan State’s passing game is slowing coming alive, which will help this team to remain competitive as the thick of its schedule begin. Three of Brian Hoyer’s four passing touchdowns have come in the last two outings. This week fans can expect more of Hoyer’s arm against a Northwestern defense which has allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete better than 60 percent of their attempts so far this season.

Notes:

Junior defensive lineman Trevor Anderson has collected five sacks for Michigan State. The Cincinnati transfer has given Dantonio the boost he was looking for upfront.

One Wildcat to watch is senior wideout Rasheed Ward, whose 10-catch performance against Iowa was a pleasant surprise. If Ward is able to offer a more consistent presence opposite Eric Peterman it will help the Northwestern passing game immensely.

Northwestern scored its first conference win of the 2007 season against Michigan State, 48-41. C.J. Bacher hit Omar Conteh on a 12-yard pass for the only points in overtime.

Key Player (Spartans) — Javon Ringer, RB

Even when Ringer was slowed down last week he was what made Michigan State’s engine go. Northwestern’s run defense gave up 7.6 yards per carry to Iowa’s Shonn Greene two weeks ago, so a big day is probably in store for Ringer.

Key Player (Wildcats) — C.J. Bacher, QB

No defense has been passed on more than Michigan State, and only Minnesota has surrendered more passing yards. A big day for Bacher would do wonders for Northwestern in this game.

Spartans by 11