I feel as if “This is Sparta” could be yelled at the beginning of the slugfest between Ohio State and Michigan State.I know that it’s just football, but I feel as if this game will be played in Gladiator or Spartan fashion (no pun intended). Since the other team in Michigan resembles the Bad News Bears, it is safe to say that the matchup against Michigan State and Ohio State has been the marquee matchup in the Big Ten over the past few seasons. The game between the two teams may not have one hundred years of history, but as of late the game between the Spartans and Buckeyes is the most important. This Saturday in East Lansing, Michigan, the Ohio State Buckeyes will face off against the Michigan State Spartans in a battle for Big Ten supremacy. Both teams are undefeated in conference play, and the winner of this contest would likely have a place in the Big Ten Championship game. Over the past two years, the record between each other is 1-1. Last season, the Spartans defeated the Buckeyes when it mattered the most in the Big Ten Championship game. In that game, the Buckeyes lost 34-24, and by losing the game it placed them in the Orange Bowl instead of the National Championship game. The Spartans played spoiler to the Bucks last year, the Buckeyes will look to play the role of spoiler this season.
The Spartans are currently ranked 7th in the AP poll, and they have a legitimate shot of making the first annual college football playoffs. All of the pressure will be on Michigan State to win as they are trying decide their postseason fate. With the Spartans already defeating Michigan and Nebraska, Ohio State remains their last tough game of the regular season, and the same could be said for the Buckeyes in regards to facing the Spartans. Quarterbacks Connor Cook and J.T. Barrett will be relied on heavily, and the game will be decided on how well the quarterbacks play. In the Big Ten Championship, Connor Cook unexpectedly outplayed Braxton Miller as he had his coming out party by throwing over 300 yards to go along with 3 touchdowns.
Since that game, Cook has been one of the best quarterbacks in the country, and this season he’s been just as good. The Buckeyes defense has improved since last season, so it will be interesting to see how he plays against them with all of the pressure on him. With J.T. Barrett entering the game, he is sort of in the same territory as Cook was last season going up against Braxton Miller. In Barrett you have an unheralded player that has minimal pressure on his shoulders, but the problem he is playing against one of the toughest defenses in the country. A lot of people are expecting the Buckeyes to lose, so it will be essential that Barrett is loose and not uptight in the biggest game of his young career. It will be vital that offensive coordinator Todd Herman utilizes his tight ends as well as making the easy throws to get the playmakers the ball in space. Having Barrett make the easy plays will be key as the Spartans Defense will look to feast on the freshman quarterback under the lights.
Saturday will be an old-fashioned Big Ten slugfest. Head Coaches Urban Meyer and Mark Dantonio will have both teams well prepared, they know that this game can propel their team as one of the best in the country.
