Last Updated on September 28, 2010 6:58 pm by Anthony Rome
Wisconsin vs. Michigan St Preview
East Lansing, MI – Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio expects to return two weeks after a mild heart attack, but his 24th-ranked Spartans may have a hard time delivering their coach a stress-free victory Saturday.
Bet College Football Week 5 Odds
Against No. 11 Wisconsin, Dantonio would take any kind of win.
Both the Spartans and Badgers hope to turn unbeaten starts into Big Ten success as they begin conference play in East Lansing, where Michigan State seeks its first 5-0 start in 11 years.
Oddsmakers from online sports book BroburySports.com have made Wisconsin –2 point spread favorites for Saturday’s game against Michigan State. Current NCAA Public Betting Information shows that 69% of more than 1,443 bets for this game have been placed on Wisconsin -2.
The 54-year-old Dantonio had surgery Sept. 19 to put a stent in a blocked blood vessel leading to the heart, one day after leading the Spartans (4-0) to a dramatic 34-31 overtime victory over Notre Dame.
Offensive coordinator Don Treadwell took over coaching duties for last Saturday’s 45-7 win over Northern Colorado, but Dantonio hopes to coach from a box above the field this weekend.
“I’m going to ease back into this much like anybody would after any injury,” Dantonio said Tuesday. “I’m going to listen to our doctors, but I am going to ease back into this and do something daily with our football team.”
Dantonio saw plenty of good things from his team watching last weekend’s blowout from home. Quarterback Kirk Cousins went 16 of 20 for 290 yards and two touchdowns, and freshman Le’Veon Bell carried 11 times for 92 yards and three TDs.
Linebacker Greg Jones was named Big Ten co-defensive player of the week after grabbing two interceptions and forcing a fumble against the overmatched Bears.
“Every game is hopefully a stepping stone to bigger and better things,” running back Edwin Baker said. “We need to do everything well against (Big Ten opponents) – run the ball, pass the ball, everything.”
Baker and Bell have combined for 845 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground, but the Badgers (4-0) may have an even more menacing tandem of backs.
While junior John Clay notched his 10th consecutive game with at least 100 yards and a touchdown during a 70-3 win over Austin Peay last Saturday, freshman James White was even better, carrying 11 times for 145 yards and four scores.
Quarterback Scott Tolzien was also sharp against the lowly Governors, going 15 of 17 for 217 yards and three TDs, but the Badgers are prepared for much tougher challenges.
“We were talking about that on the sidelines,” White said. “Clay and (senior running back) Zach Brown were telling me that it’s a lot different when Big Ten play comes. These guys are bigger, faster, stronger, things like that. They’re out to win the Big Ten championship just like we are.”
This is the seventh straight year that Wisconsin has entered conference play unbeaten, but things haven’t always gone as well in the Big Ten.
The Badgers are 13-11 in Big Ten games over the last three years, including 4-8 on the road. They blew an 11-point fourth-quarter lead and lost 25-24 at Michigan State on Nov. 1, 2008.
Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema is hopeful things will be different this time around.
“I really do believe this group, especially the 70 guys that’ll hop on the plane with us, they really do believe in what we do,” Bielema said. “There is no wandering eyes, there’s no `Here we go again,’ it’s just `OK, let’s just do what we do.”
Michigan State has its own history to overcome. The Spartans were coached by Nick Saban when they last began 5-0 in 1999, and they’ve lost 14 of 15 against ranked opponents dating back to 2005.
Dantonio doesn’t want to be the center of attention leading up to the game.
“I think it’s very, very important that we focus on Wisconsin – that the focus go from Mark Dantonio and that night to Wisconsin and what we have to get done this weekend,” Dantonio said.
Stopping the run may be the most important task for Michigan State. Clay, who ranks fifth nationally in rushing, has run for at least 100 yards in both of his previous games against the Spartans.
Tolzien, however, threw for four touchdowns in a 38-30 home win last year over Michigan State, and he may have injured wide receivers Nick Toon and David Gilreath back in the lineup. Tight end Lance Kendricks has been Tolzien’s favorite target the last two games, totaling 13 catches for 234 yards and two touchdowns.
Bet College Football Week 5 Odds