TOC Weekly Picks

After losing to Michigan, the Spartans need to bounce back quickly against a Purdue team that is coming off a win over Ohio State. Purdue has a very good offense that can give the Spartans trouble, so MSU needs to be ready to play. Check out our staff picks for this week’s action.

Matt Sheehan

Purdue 23, Michigan State 13

I’ve seen enough of MSU’s offense last week to know they won’t score nearly enough points. I’ve seen enough of MSU’s screen pass defense my whole life to know that Rondale Moore is going to feast on Saturday.

Indiana at Minnesota

Wisconsin at Northwestern

Bethune-Cookman at Nebraska

Iowa at Penn State

Illinois at Maryland

Ryan O’Bleness

Michigan State 20, Purdue 17

Yes, Purdue just beat down the almighty Ohio State, but this is also the same team that lost to Eastern Michigan at home. I know Michigan State’s offense is struggling and dealing with an insane amount of injuries right now, but I also see a team that will be eager to get back on the winning track versus a team that may be dealing with the hangover of a big-time emotional win the week prior. Plus, Mark Dantonio has never lost to Purdue (7-0).

Indiana at Minnesota

Wisconsin at Northwestern

Bethune-Cookman at Nebraska

Iowa at Penn State

Illinois at Maryland

David Harns

Michigan State 24, Purdue 23

I don’t know how they’ll do it, but Dantonio’s Spartans seem to do best when the odds are stacked against them and their backs are against the wall and writers are using cliches because it doesn’t make any logical sense to pick the Spartans in this game.

Indiana at Minnesota

Wisconsin at Northwestern

Bethune-Cookman at Nebraska

Iowa at Penn State

Illinois at Maryland

Zach Manning

Purdue 23, Michigan State 17

The MSU offense is a mess and has shown no signs of getting better. Purdue, on the other hand, is averaging 35.7 points per game and has won four straight games. The defense will always keep the Spartans in the game, but I think the Boilermakers make enough plays to outlast the Spartans.

Indiana at Minnesota

Wisconsin at Northwestern

Bethune-Cookman at Nebraska

Iowa at Penn State

Illinois at Maryland

Kyle Thele

Michigan State 20, Purdue 17

With a quarterback who can actually throw – either a healthy Brian Lewerke or Rocky Lombardi – The Spartans will actually have something resembling an offense. With that being said, I still don’t expect much output from the injury-riddled unit. I think the offense can put together two real scoring drives, one for a touchdown the other a field goal. After that, it will be up to the defense. David Blough is having a great season, but he has a tendency to attempt risky passes. With a strong pass rush, the Spartans should be able to force a turnover or two.

Indiana 24, Minnesota 21

Wisconsin 27, Northwestern 17

Bethune-Cookman 17, Nebraska 31

Iowa 14, Penn State 27

Illinois 13, Maryland 17

McLain Moberg

Purdue 21, Michigan State 17

After seeing the game against Michigan I’m not sure how the Spartans are going to score. As of a few days ago Dantonio wasn’t sure if Lewerke would be under center and they are missing plenty of other guys on offense as well. Purdue is going to attack the Spartan secondary (like Northwestern did) and I see it working on more than one occasion.

Indiana at Minnesota

Wisconsin at Northwestern

Bethune-Cookman at Nebraska

Iowa at Penn State

Illinois at Maryland

Matt Hoeppner

Purdue 28, Michigan State 13

Purdue’s offense is built to beat MSU’s defense. They pass the ball a lot and have a game breaker in Rondale Moore. Purdue does a lot of what Northwestern does, except faster. That doesn’t bode well for MSU defensively. It does appear that the Spartans will get a couple of their corners back in Scott and Butler, which will help, but it’s tough to keep this Boilermaker offense down, just ask Ohio State.

I also have almost no confidence in the MSU offense to be able to produce after what we saw last week. If Lewerke plays, who knows what he will be able to do. If he doesn’t play, who know what the backups will provide. Without Felton Davis and Cody White the MSU passing game has no establish playmakers. That leaves the Spartans offense even more predictable then it already was before all the injuries. The lack of offense will once again force the defense onto the field and lead to them getting worn down late in the game.

Purdue snaps their seven game losing streak against MSU and gets their first win against Mark Dantonio.

Indiana at Minnesota

Wisconsin at Northwestern

Bethune-Cookman at Nebraska

Iowa at Penn State

Illinois at Maryland