Michigan State at Notre Dame: Rivalry Game of the Week

Michigan State and Notre Dame are going in two different directions.

The Spartans cruised past Youngstown State and Florida Atlantic while Notre Dame is licking its wounds from tough losses to South Florida and Michigan.

But, when these two schools meet on Saturday, they know that the season officially begins now, especially for the Spartans, who are facing their first real challenge of the season.

This will be the 75th time the Spartans and the Fighting Irish have faced each other, and the Irish have won 45 times. However, the Spartans have won the last 10 of 14 meetings, including a barn burner last year.

Will this year’s game be the same way? Will there be a wild finish that will leave one team heartbroken? By the way the Spartans and the Irish have played each other before, there’s no reason not to think that way.

What Happened Last Year

To say last’s years game was a wild one would be an understatement. The game was tied at 28 at the end of regulation and the Irish scored first in over time thanks to a 33-yard field goal by David Ruffer.

The Spartans looked to tie the game with a field goal of their own. But instead they went for a fake and holder Aaron Bates threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Gantt to win the game.

The win put the Spartans at 3-0, and they would end the season with an 11-2 record and a loss to Alabama in the Capital One Bowl.

With the loss, Notre Dame dropped to 1-2 and but would win seven of its next 10 games including a win in the Sun Bowl against Miami.

Spartans on Offense

It’s going be tough for the Irish to stop the Spartans offensive attack—they are one of the most balanced offensive teams in the country.

Quarterback Kirk Cousins is off to a solid start to the 2011 season, completing 34-of-42 of his passes with 405 yards and three touchdowns.

Cousins would probably have bigger numbers if the running game wasn’t strong. Le’Von Bell has 114 yards and three touchdowns in two games and Edwin Baker has 147 yards and one touchdown.

Cousins favorite target is B.J. Cunningham, who has 14 catches for 203 yards and one touchdown. Also, Keshawn Martin is dangerous on the outside and also on special teams, as he is a feared kick returner.

The offensive line is led by Joel Foreman, who is considered by many to be one of the best offensive guards in the country.

Spartans on Defense

The Spartans defense has been stout, as they have only surrendered six points in the last two games. Linebacker Max Bullough leads the team with 19 tackles, and that also puts him fifth in the Big 12.

Defensive tackle Jerel Worthy will be another player the Irish will have to keep a close eye on. He has been disruptive so far this season and looks to do the same on Saturday.

Johnny Adams and Trenton Robinson anchor the secondary, and both were named to the all-conference team last year. Adams had two pass breakups against Youngstown State, and Robinson is listed as the No. 1 senior safety in college football.

Irish on Offnese

Under the spread offense led by head coach Brian Kelly, the Irish look to get off to a fast start and take their opponent early in the game. At quarterback, Kelly has two guys with a ton of experience in Dane Christ and Tommy Rees. So Far, Rees has gotten the majority of snaps and has been solid, throwing for 611 yards and five scores through two games.

Running back Cierre Wood has lived up to the hype so far. He has rushed over 100 yards in each game the Irish have played, and he can get better.

Michael Floyd leads the receiving unit, and he has been all over the field the last two games. Floyd has caught 25 passes for 313 yards and two scores. Tyler Eifert and Theo Riddick are two other receivers to watch.

The offensive line for the Irish is as experienced as it gets. Braxton Cave, Zack Martin, Chris Stewart and Trevor Robinson started all 13 games last year and they are the only players for the Irish on the offensive side of the ball to do so.

Irish on Defense

The defense has had its issues the last couple of games when it comes to stopping teams from scoring. However, out of the 58 points the Irish have surrendered, 35 of the points have come in the fourth quarter.

The Irish will look to stop a high-powered Spartan offense and linebacker Manti Te’o will lead the unit. Te’o lead the team in tackles (14) and has one sack. He will have to play well if the Irish want to stop Cousins and company.

Harrison Smith can play either safety or linebacker, and he is also the team’s captain for this season. He is second on the team in tackles and is the only player in Notre Dame history to record 200 tackles, 15 tackles-for-loss and 15 pass-breakups in a career.

Ethan Johnson leads a senior-led defensive line and is the active leader for the Irish in sacks. He has played in all 38 games for the Irish and has made 28 starts.

Final Analysis

Notre Dame is desperate for a win. The Irish feel they let both games against South Florida and Michigan slip away, and they know they are a better team than the last two weeks.

As far as the Spartans go, they are looking to pick up where they left off last year with an 11-win season and a trip to a New Year’s Day bowl. But a win over their rival will give them some momentum before they start the conference leg of their schedule.

Notre Dame is favored to win because the game is at South Bend. But based on the way this series has been played since the beginning of the rivalry, there’s no telling what’s going to happen when both schools go to battle on Saturday.