Michigan State vs Purdue football preview

Spartans host Boilermakers looking to improve to 9-2

Emotions will rule the day at East Lansing Saturday. Michigan St.’s program says good-bye and thank you to another senior class when the Spartans host Purdue.

This group of 16 has seen so much. It began with Septembers turning into nightmarish Novembers. A coaching change soon followed. But now, the program appears to have a better foundation with coach Mark Dantonio who is completing his second year.

At 8-2 and 5-1 in the Big Ten, the Spartans are one of three teams alive in the conference championship race. At the very least, they are in position to play in a New Year’s Day bowl game.

“It is just amazing to me how fast it has gone by,’’ senior quarterback Brian Hoyer said. “In the big sense of things though, we are playing for a lot more than the seniors on Saturday.’’

This program also continued to reveal its character last week against Wisconsin. Down 24-12 with more than 9 minutes to play in the fourth quarter, the Spartans rallied with 13 points and got the game-winning 44-yard field goal from Brett Swenson with seven seconds to play. The Spartans did it with only 25 yards rushing.

While Michigan St. has soared, Purdue has crashed in coach Joe Tiller’s final season. The Boilermakers (3-6, 1-4) are in danger of not getting to a bowl for only the second time in Tiller’s 12 seasons. A loss seals their fate.

Inconsistency and turnovers have led the way. Tiller has carried an estranged relationship with quarterback Curtis Painter who has been inconsistent and injured. Painter has split time with Justin Siller, who converted from running back three weeks ago.

However, the Boilermakers finally had something to smile about last week when they pulled out the 48-42 win over Michigan on a late touchdown pass. Siller looked comfortable throwing for 266 yards and three touchdowns.

But it still is Purdue. And the one thing about this series is that everything has been tight. The overall series is tight. The games have been tight. Purdue has won its last two trips to East Lansing and captured seven of the last nine meetings. Four of the last five meetings have been decided by 10 points or less.

While the Spartan defense will get challenged, Hoyer can be the difference maker. He wasn’t very good against Wisconsin as he completed only 19 of 44 attempts, but the idea is to lead the team to points. He did that.

Senior running back Javon Ringers had his worst game of the year with 54 yards, so the Spartans know they are going to have to get him back into form so he will be the playmaker they need. At 1,427 yards, he needs only 21 to set a person best record.

“The program asks for you to give it all you got,’’ Ringer said. “so my impression of it has not really changed at all.’’

Once the Spartans get through the early emotions, they should be able to create enough havoc on the Purdue offense to force some turnovers and prevail.

It would be the perfect setup. Michigan St. gets its bye next week before it closes its season Nov. 22 at No. 3 Penn State. A chance at sharing the conference championship could be on the line.

Prediction: Michigan State 27, Purdue 23

MSU Notable:

• Senior running back Javon Ringer has been named as one of 15 semifinalists for the Maxwell Award. It is awarded to the Collegiate Football Player of the Year. Ringer leads the nation with 18 touchdowns and is second in rushing at 142.7 yards per game. He is now the program’s all-time all-purpose yards leader with 5,156.
• Coach Mark Dantonio is also one of 15 semifinalists for the George Munger Award for College Coach of the Year.

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