Michigan State-Maryland Preview Capsule
By The Associated Press
No. 12 Michigan State (7-2, 4-1 Big Ten, No. 12 CFP) at Maryland (6-3, 3-2), 8 p.m. EST (BTN)
Line: Michigan State by 12 1/2
Series Record: Michigan State leads 4-1
WHAT'S AT STAKE
Michigan State was all but eliminated from participating in the College Football Playoff last week after losing to Ohio State 49-37, but the Spartans still have a shot at capturing the Big Ten East Division and can appear in a high-level bowl game by winning out. Maryland is also bowl eligible, but this would serve as a signature win and greatly enhance the Terrapins' bowl placement.
KEY MATCHUP
Michigan State's relentless offense against Maryland's inconsistent defense. The Spartans are 33 points short of matching the school record for points in a season (434 in 2011) and need two touchdowns to equal the mark for offensive TDs in a season (54, 1978). Both records could be met against a defense that gave up 40 points to West Virginia, 52 to Ohio State and 52 to Wisconsin.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Michigan State: QB Connor Cook leads the Big Ten with 247.3 yards passing per game, is second with 19 TD passes and third in total offense (253.9 yards per game). Against the Buckeyes last week, he threw for a career-high 358 yards.
Maryland: WR Deon Long will likely become QB C.J. Brown's main target because the team's leading receiver, Stefon Diggs, is serving a Big Ten-mandated, one-game suspension for his part in a pregame skirmish between the Terps and Nittany Lions at Penn State. Long has 35 catches for 389 yards and a touchdown.
FACTS & FIGURES
First meeting between the teams since 1950. ... Michigan State is 21-9 in Big Ten road games under coach Mark Dantonio. ... Maryland K Brad Craddock is 14 for 14 on field goal tries, including 9 for 9 from beyond 40 yards. ... MSU senior RB Jeremy Langford has rushed for at least 100 yards in 13 straight Big Ten games. ... Maryland CB Will Likely is tied for the Big Ten lead with five interceptions. His 141 yards on interception returns is the third-highest total in school history. ... Brown's father, Clark, was a starting quarterback at Michigan State in the 1980s.
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