Ohio St. can enhance resume, knock Spartans out of East race

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Some things to watch in the Big Ten during Week 12 of the season:

GAME OF THE WEEK: Michigan State at Ohio State. Now the real fun starts in the East Division. Defending national champion Ohio State closes the regular season with the Big Ten’s most anticipated games, against the Spartans and Michigan. Winning out sends the Buckeyes back to the Big Ten championship game and strengthens their playoff seeding. A loss puts a huge dent in their conference and national title hopes. For Michigan State, a loss here ends any chance to win the Big Ten.

BEST MATCHUP: Michigan rushing defense vs. Penn State freshman RB Saquon Barkley. The Wolverines gave up 307 yards on the ground to Indiana last week, the most since Ohio State ran for 393 against them two years ago. Michigan remains No. 8 in the nation against the run (103.2 yards per game). But was its struggle against Jordan Howard (238 yards) and the Hoosiers a one-week aberration? The 5-foot-11, 222-pound Barkley is averaging 6.3 yards per carry and coming off a bye week after running for 120 yards and 2 TDs vs. Northwestern.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Iowa’s Jordan Canzeri (256), Akrum Wadley (204) and LeShun Daniels (195) have each rushed for at least 195 yards in a game. Iowa is the first FBS team since LSU in 1997 to have at least three different players run for 195 yards in a game in the same season. Only Ohio State (254 yards per game) is averaging more than the Hawkeyes’ 222 rushing yards in conference games.

LONG SHOT: Northwestern has won two of its last three against Wisconsin but is a 10-point underdog for its visit to Madison. QB Clayton Thorson will have to pull the Wildcats out of an offensive funk if they’re going to move into a second-place tie in the West with Wisconsin. Thorson was benched for a couple series in the second half of a 21-14 win over Purdue last week while the Badgers are coming off a bye.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Michigan State QB Connor Cook injured his right shoulder in the first half against Maryland last week and didn’t play the second half. Backup Tyler O’Connor did fine while playing about 40 snaps against the Terrapins. But this game is against Ohio State, and the Spartans need Cook at his best, or close to it, to win in Columbus.

FILE – In this Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015, file photo, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer encourages team members during warm ups before an NCAA football game against Illinois in Champaign, Ill. Ohio State Plays Michigan State on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015. (AP Photo/Bradley Leeb, File)
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2015/11/web1_107156245-8bb0fcd3f68748cbbeec5c14779bc7bb.jpgFILE – In this Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015, file photo, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer encourages team members during warm ups before an NCAA football game against Illinois in Champaign, Ill. Ohio State Plays Michigan State on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015. (AP Photo/Bradley Leeb, File)

FILE – In this Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015, file photo, Michigan State’s Gerald Holmes (24) celebrates during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against Maryland in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis, File)
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2015/11/web1_107156245-f2f422afdd1e4dc3a7b6f854a42114e5.jpgFILE – In this Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015, file photo, Michigan State’s Gerald Holmes (24) celebrates during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against Maryland in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis, File)

By Eric Olson

AP College Football Writer

Michigan State vs Ohio State Capsule

By The Associated Press

No. 9 Michigan State (9-1, 5-1 Big Ten, No. 9 CFP) at No. 2 Ohio State (10-0, 6-0, No. 3 CFP), 3:30 p.m. (ABC)

Line: Ohio State by 13.

Series record: Ohio State leads 29-14.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

A Michigan State loss ends its hopes of winning the East Division and playing in the Big Ten championship game, as well as a shot at the College Football Playoff. Ohio State is three wins from reaching the CFP semifinals and a chance to defend its national championship.

KEY MATCHUP

The Michigan State defensive front against the Ohio State line. The Buckeyes looked vulnerable in pass protection last week vs. Illinois, especially RT Chase Farris, leaving quarterback J.T. Barrett as a target. Michigan State boasts DE Shilique Calhoun (8 1-2 sacks, 11 tackles for losses this season) and DT Malik McDowell (3 1-2 sacks, 11 TFLs).

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Michigan State: Connor Cook, the quarterback from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, who was not recruited by Ohio State, has a 32-4 record as a starter, including 21-2 in Big Ten play. Cook injured his shoulder and did not play the second half against Maryland last week but no one expects him to sit this one out.

Ohio State: WR Mike Thomas. Devin Smith torched the Spartans for a 44-yard touchdown pass among his 129 receiving yards last season. But Thomas, the current big-play receiver, also had a big game with 91 yards, including a 79-yard TD reception. He has caught a pass in 26 straight games.

FACTS & FIGURES

Ohio State has 23-game winning streak. Michigan State ended OSU’s 24-game win streak with a 34-24 victory in the 2013 conference title game. That is coach Urban Meyer’s only loss to a Big Ten opponent (30-1) while at Ohio State. . This will be only the third trip to Ohio Stadium for MSU coach Mark Dantonio, a former Ohio State assistant under Jim Tressel (2001-03). The Buckeyes won 24-17 in 2007, but the Spartans prevailed 10-7 in 2011.

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