College Football Predictions: 5 Reasons Michigan State Will Beat Nebraska

No. 11 Michigan State will travel to Lincoln to visit the No. 14 Nebraska Cornhuskers Saturday. The last time these two teams faced each other in the regular season was back in 1996 (Nebraska won, 55-14), and Nebraska is 5-0 in the series.

This is a big game for these two ranked teams. Nebraska knows what is at stake. If it doesn't beat the Spartans, it will lose the Big Ten. Michigan State is looking to continue its winning streak in the conference and winning three consecutive games against ranked teams. Whoever wins on Saturday will take control of the Legends Division, which Michigan State currently leads at 3-0, with Nebraska in second at 2-1.

With Michigan State coming off a big win against Wisconsin, it has the fire and momentum going into this game. Here are five reasons why the Spartans will beat the Cornhuskers on their home field.

First-Half Team

The Michigan State Spartans have been a strong first-half team, outscoring their opponents 119-48, while the Nebraska defense allows more passing touchdowns in the first half. If Kirk Cousins and the Spartans offense can get on a roll early in the game, they will earn a strong lead by halftime.

Against Wisconsin, Nebraska allowed the Badgers to score four touchdowns in the first half. The Huskers cannot afford to make this mistake against the Spartans if they want to stay in the game.

Defense

Michigan State leads the Big Ten in rushing defense, passing defense, pass efficiency defense and total defense. The Cornhuskers offense will be challenged.

The Michigan State defense has allowed on average 89.0 rushing yards a game, whereas Nebraska has rushed for an average of 200 or more yards per game.

If the Spartans shut down their rushing, they will have to resort to passing. The Cornhuskers produce an average of 171 passing yards, which is more than what the Spartans passing defense allows. If they don't find a balance between the rushing and passing, the Spartans defense may overwhelm them.

Kirk Cousins

Kirk Cousins helped his team pull off an amazing win last week against Wisconsin and there is no doubt he will do it again this week.

As the winningest Spartan quarterback with 22 career wins so far, Cousins has a 146.7 quarterbacking rating, ranking 35th in the nation. He has thrown for 11 touchdowns and four interceptions this season.

He may find himself struggling against Nebraska defense, but the Cornhuskers allow an average of 377 yards of offense per game. Also, Nebraska must find a way to stop the Cousins-Cunningham connection, as B.J. Cunningham has 48 catches for 723 yards this season.

If Cousins can get his offense down to the red zone, he and the Spartans will be lighting it up.

Rushers

Nebraska has allowed more rushing touchdowns in the second half this season. With LeVeon Bell and Edwin Baker, who have a combined eight rushing touchdowns, the Spartans will be getting in some running yards and touchdowns in this game.

In the Wisconsin game, five of the seven touchdowns scored against the Cornhuskers were rushing touchdowns. If Cousins fails to find a connection to a receiver in the end zone, there is no doubt Bell and Baker will be handed the ball to break away through Nebraska's defense for a touchdown.

With Bell, Baker and Larry Caper, the Spartans may continue to use a three-TB rotation in the game. Coach Mark Dantonio said he believes they are all strong starters, it's just a matter of who gets hot in the game.

It'll be interesting to see who gets hot against the Cornhuskers.

Finishing Strong

As shown in the previous two weeks against Michigan and Wisconsin, the Spartans proved they are a football team that does not give up the fight. They were behind 14-0 in the first quarter against the Badgers and everyone responded.

The defense, offense and special teams stood up. They hung in there and fought hard each time they went out in the field. They answered when needed. Nebraska knows this. It knows what it's facing. 

The question is if Nebraska will be able to stop them.