Michigan State Vs. Indiana Preview
No. 12 Michigan State (8-2, 5-1 Big Ten) vs. Indiana (1-9, 0-6), 12:01 p.m. (Big Ten Network)
Line: Michigan State by 28.
Series Record: Michigan State leads 40-15-2.
WHAT'S AT STAKE
Michigan State leads the Legends Division by a game and can clinch a spot in the inaugural Big Ten championship game with a victory and a Nebraska loss. The Hoosiers will try to play spoiler and win back the Old Brass Spittoon. Indiana hasn't beaten the Spartans since 2006.
KEY MATCHUP
Indiana QB Tre Roberson vs. Michigan State's defense. Roberson is the first true freshman to start at quarterback for Indiana. This might be his biggest test yet when he goes up against the Spartans, whose defense is ranked fourth in the nation against the pass.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Michigan State: QB Kirk Cousins. The fifth-year senior will play his final home game. He's coming off a terrific performance at Iowa in which he threw for 260 yards and three touchdowns.
Indiana: RB Stephen Houston. The redshirt sophomore has rushed for 633 yards this season, the most for an Indiana RB since Chris Taylor ran for 740 in 2005.
FACTS & FIGURES
Michigan State has not lost a home game since Nov. 21, 2009. ... Indiana is the only team in the six BCS automatic qualifying conferences that has not beaten a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent this season. The Hoosiers topped South Carolina State on Sept. 17 for their lone victory. ... Michigan State's outgoing seniors have won a school-record 34 games. ... Cousins is 24-11 as a starter, putting him ninth in the nation in career wins among active QBs.
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