Let's not blow sunshine, lets face some facts. Sparty's offensive line is way way bigger than EMU's front seven. They should be able to pound away and pound away and ultimately pull away in the second half. Javon Ringer is a darn good running back, probably the best Eastern will face all year. The hope for EMU is to say hold Ringer to around 100 yards and a TD and make Brian Hoyer, he of the many many many interceptions, beat you. If Ringer goes off for 190 yards and more than one score Jeff Genyk's guys are in trouble. On offense, the Spartans do have some deficiencies that a smart game plan could take advantage of. Sure the MSU guys are bigger and faster and stronger but they have lost a lot of pass rushing ability and Andy Schmitt is a smart veteran QB who can keep control of any situation. Terrence Blevins gives EMU a bona fide ground threat that Michigan State will have to attend to.
If Eastern has an advantage it's on special teams where MSU has been lacking recently and certainly was in their opener to Cal. Eastern can also afford to open up the playbook a little more, gamble a little. While this is a measuring stick game to see where Jeff Genyk's program in it's fifth campaign, it's one EMU can afford to be loose going into. If they are ahead say 21-20 in the fourth quarter then they can worry about getting tight.
All this being said, and even hoping against hope we've got to be honest
Michigan State 33
Eastern Michigan 17
We'd give anything to be wrong. So would Ann Arbor.
