Spartans Must Avoid Letdown against Desperate Illini

The Spartans will head into Illinois on Saturday to face an Illini team that is not only down and out, but desperate for a win. So desperate, in fact, that head coach Ron Zook has benched his four-year starting quarterback, Juice Williams. Junior QB, Eddie McGee, will take over for the Fighting Illini, making his first career start against a MSU team that is coming off of an emotional overtime victory.

 

Mark Dantonio will look to build on his team’s confidence following last weekend’s win over in-state rival Michigan. Defense could play a key factor in this game for Michigan State. The offense looks like it is starting to gel, and Cousins should be able to score some points for the Spartans. However, Greg Jones will have to lead his defense by putting pressure on the inexperienced McGee, forcing him into making decisions that he has yet to make.

 

Cousins, whose injury kept him from finishing the game against Michigan, should be able to expose a defense which has given up a lot of points over the course of this year. Hopefully, the Spartans can establish a running game with Caper and Winston, who seem to be the frontrunners lately, so that they can open up an effective passing game.

 

I look for a good game from the Spartan offense, and a defense that will do just enough to avoid a letdown.

 

MSU- 27  Illinois-17