4 Reasons Michigan State Spartans Will Be Big Ten Conference Champions

No. 13 Michigan State and No. 15 Wisconsin will meet in the Big Ten's first-ever conference championship game in Indianapolis on Saturday night.

The Badgers will be looking for payback after the Spartans crushed their national championship dreams with an improbable last-second Hail Mary toss that handed Wisconsin its first loss of the season back on Oct. 22. 

The boys from Madison managed to right the ship after a rough end to October, winning the Leaders Division with a 6-2 conference record. The Badgers not only have unfinished business to take care of against Michigan State, they'll also be looking to get back to the Rose Bowl and make up for their postseason loss to TCU last season. 

Michigan State has its own goal of making it to Pasadena, though, and the Spartans will certainly give Wisconsin another tough test. 

This seems to be a pretty even matchup on paper, but here's a look at four reasons the Spartans could ultimately prevail on Saturday night.

1. The Defense

Michigan State ranks in the top 10 nationally in both scoring defense and total defense, allowing just 15 points and 277 yards per game.

The Spartans have a difference-maker on all three levels of the defense with guys like DT Jerel Worthy, LB Denicos Allen and S Trenton Robinson, and you’ve also got other potential playmakers like DE William Gholston, LB Max Bullough and CB Johnny Adams, who can all make an impact.

The Michigan State defense kept Wisconsin largely in check in the first meeting, holding the Badgers to just 17 points through three quarters before giving up two late touchdowns.

QB Russell Wilson and RB Montee Ball may be one of the most dangerous offensive tag-teams in college football, but they’ll have their work cut out for them in Indianapolis.

2. Kirk Cousins

Michigan State QB Kirk Cousins hasn’t exactly had an All-American type of campaign this season, but he has been one of the most undervalued performers of the year.

The senior signal caller has been one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the nation this season, as he’s completed 64 percent of his passes, thrown for 2,735 yards and hit 21 touchdown strikes compared to just six interceptions.

Cousins is a calm and poised leader, who never gets overwhelmed by the moment, and he’s the type of steady, game-managing quarterback that fits in perfectly as the leader of Michigan State’s balanced offensive attack.

3. The Backfield

Michigan State’s two featured running backs, LeVeon Bell and Edwin Baker, have combined to rush for 1,418 yards and 14 touchdowns this season, and they’ll both be key factors on Saturday.

Wisconsin is only giving up 133 yards on the ground per game, and the Badgers only gave up 109 rushing yards in the first meeting back in October.

The Spartans will need a bigger effort out of Bell and Baker this time around, and if both backs can produce as expected, Michigan State’s offense should be in good shape.

4. The Pressure

During Bret Bielema’s six-year coaching tenure at Wisconsin, the Badgers have been one of the most dominant home teams in college football, but there have been more than a few instances when we’ve seen Bielema’s team struggle away from home in a pressure-packed environment.

We saw the Spartans capitalize on that homesickness in October, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see Wisconsin come out a little flat once again in Indianapolis, knowing there’s a Rose Bowl berth on the line.