Michigan State to try and keep up with Ducks

The fifth-ranked Spartans host seventh-ranked Oregon tonight in one of the most anticipated nonconference games of the year.

Two top-10 teams collided, and the Spartans emerged victorious.

Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook avenged a 2014 loss to Oregon with a 31-28 home win over the Ducks on Saturday night, giving the Spartans a strength-of-schedule advantage for any potential College Football Playoff bid, and putting a solid performance on film for NFL scouts at the same time.

Monday was bounce-back day for the Ducks after Saturday’s loss at Michigan State. The running game averaged less than three yards per carry, the defense allowed counterpunches after every Oregon touchdown and Adams, in just his second start with the Ducks, took the brunt of the criticism. “We can’t let this affect us”.

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) – Deshaun Watson threw for 248 yards and three touchdowns in Clemson’s his first game since all-ACC receiver Mike Williams fractured a bone in his neck. Last season the Offensive Line had some issues with injury early in the season, but big plays by the Defense, including an interception of Cook by Cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu sealed the game for the Ducks.

With 300 recruits on hand, ESPN’s College GameDay and a sellout crowd, Spartan Stadium was the place to be on Saturday night. This week, we speak with Jay Rood, who serves as vice president of race and sports for MGM Resorts properties in Las Vegas. In particular the Big Ten Conference played much better than they did last week. More likely than not, these positions reflect opinions based somewhat on last week’s results.

Michigan State withstood a furious comeback from Oregon to win the top-10 matchup. “This is the game that pays dividends at the end of the season”.

Line: Notre Dame by 12½.

This is obviously all very premature, but Michigan State’s defense against Oregon on Saturday suggests that few teams outside the one from Columbus will be able to put up points on the Spartans when they’re fully engaged. Wide-out Josiah Price caught two passes for 23 yards and a touchdown and receiver MacGarrett Kings Jr. made six receptions for 48 yards. “I’ve got to take care of the ball – no interceptions, no fumbles”. The key here will be to see if Riley learns from his mistake.

“Coming into this game we talked to the guys about how they’ll go for it on fourth down just about at any time, so you need to expect after a third down stop to play another play”, Tressel said. The favorite in this series is 4-1 ATS over the last five meetings between these two schools.

Vernon Adams threw deep down the left sideline, and for a moment, it looked as if Oregon might steal this game with a dramatic late rally.

Oh, and the Spartans are still really good defensively despite the departure of longtime defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi to become head coach at Pitt. The Oregon offense is averaging 44.5 points and 581.5 yards per game playing at a fast pace. On the final drive, with a chance to win, he missed a wide-open Marshall for what would have been the go-ahead touchdown, then took a costly sack that helped seal the game for Michigan State, avenging last year’s Spartans loss in Eugene.