The unranked Spartans visit the Horseshoe this weekend playing an undefeated #1 ranked Buckeye Team. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before.

The All-Time series is extremely lopsided. 12-25 in favor of OSU. It is the Spartans second worst winning percentage against a BigTen team(UM is #1)

This will be the third head to head meeting between Coach Mark Dantonio and Jim Tressel. The two previous games came when Dantonio was coach at Cincinnati and they were certainly a sight for sore eyes. Cincinnati was blown out both times. The history between the two dates back to 1983 when both worked for then OSU coach Earle Bruce. Years later, Tressel brought in Dantonio to work with him at Youngstown St and then Ohio State. It was a good match as they won National Championships at both schools.

Although there has been blood with MSU and OSU in the past(screw you Woody Hayes), it seems like the relationship will take on a more friendly role in the coming years.

Beating the top-ranked team

MSU has played the #1 team in the nation 17 times in their history. They are 3-13-1.

The 3 wins came courtesy of a 1974 win over the Buckeyes, a 1990 win over the Wolverines, and a 1998 win at the Horseshoe.

1974

Spartans won a tough defensive battle 16-13. Instead of going for the tie at the end of the game, OSU elected to try and pound it in at the goal line. They were stopped and thought they could get off another snap but time expired. Watch this clip and pay close attention to the end.

1998

The video tells the story

One of the all-time classic pictures of a fans misery was taken after that game. I still laugh every time I see it.

Prediction

Michigan State is one of those teams that is capable of beating any team in the BigTen and losing to any team in the BigTen. They can play as awful as they played against Northwestern or as perfect as they played against Indiana.

Both offenses are playing well this year averaging 35 or more points a game. The difference is the defense. OSU has the #1 points defense and the #1 yards defense in the country. MSU, well they have struggled in some games giving up big plays.

A lot of this game will rest on the beat up offensive line giving Ringer room to run and giving Hoyer enough time to make plays in the air. I have no faith that the defense can keep the Buckeyes under 30.

Deep down, Im not that impressed with Ohio State. If you can limit your mistakes against them, you have a chance.

Either Im smoking crack or drinking the Green Kool-Aid….

300 Spartans-38

Crying Buckeye Fans-37