Michigan State vs. Indiana: Staff Predictions

In the lead up to Michigan State vs. Indiana, the Hoosier State of Mind staff answered some questions about the game and offered their predictions.

Question: Over/under 80 rushing yards for IU’s Tevin Coleman

Kyle Grand: Under, but not by much. The Hoosiers are going to give the ball to Coleman again and again, but I don’t see any way he can have a big game against the Spartans. With such an inexperienced QB under center, Michigan State is going to stack the box and make Zander Diamont beat them. It should be a long day for Coleman and the IU offense.

Will Logan: Over. Everybody including Coleman himself has been disappointed in the lack of attention No. 6 has received for the year he is having. How do you put yourself on the map? By putting up big time numbers against a national title contender on ESPN (yes the original ESPN – no 2, U, or NEWS attached). This is also his chance to separate himself from Nebraska’s Ameer Abdullah who was held under 50 yards rushing by the Spartans.

Jessica Hunt: Tevin Coleman leads the nation in rushing yards at 1060, which comes to be about 177 yards per game. Michigan State will be the best team the Hoosiers have and will face all season, but count on Coleman to get at least 100 yards, thus, take the over.  With third-stringer and true freshman Diamont at the helm of an offense featuring a young receiver corps, there is even more reason to believe the Hoosiers will stick with the familiarity and success of Coleman. I would even venture to say Coleman will get more touches than usual given the circumstances, which would speak to the efficiency of the Spartan defense if it takes Coleman more touches to get his usual numbers.

Question: What must the Hoosier defense do to give the offense a fighting chance?

Grand: Create some turnovers. The Hoosiers have to become ballhawks (only created five turnovers in 2014). Go for strips, try to break on passes to get interceptions, anything! Indiana has to steal some possessions from Sparty.

Logan: Get after Connor Cook. He’s only been sacked three times this year (all against Oregon), which is the lowest for any QB in the country. If he has all day to find Tony Lippett, it’s over for the Hoosiers.

Hunt: Well, at least the defense has been consistent in the fact they are consistently subpar–it’s when the offense has underwhelmed that the Hoosiers have gotten into the loss column. If the defense happened to be selected for a new television series where the defense of a struggling large conference team switches with the defense of an upper echelon SEC squad for a weekend, then yes, the Hoosiers may have a fighting chance. If the Hoosiers are +3 tomorrow in the turnover margin, then they may be in this game.  Don’t bet on it, especially since MSU is second in the nation in turnover margin at +11.

Prediction:

Grand: Michigan State 38, Indiana 14 – This game will most likely be over by midway through the third quarter. Like Nebraska and Purdue, the Hoosiers can probably muster some offense in the fourth quarter when MSU has taken its foot off the break. The signs (freshman QB making his first start, questionable defense) are pointing to a huge victory for the Spartans.

Logan: Indiana 24 Michigan State 17. Michigan State’s numbers in their two road games have been completely mediocre (see Game Preview). They’ve got hated rival Michigan next week and the one game (in their minds) that stands between them and a playoff birth the following one (Ohio State). It’s homecoming. Tevin needs a good day. See y’all at Kilroys after the game.

Hunt: Indiana 17, Michigan State 38. Give the points, and take the under.  Will Logan has lost his mind.