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Countdown to kickoff: MSU vs. Northwestern

By: Cash Kruth Posted: 10/11/08 3:25pm

Evanston, Ill. — We’re here in the Ryan Field press box anxiously awaiting kick off between Northwestern and your No. 23 Michigan State Spartans.

It’s a beautiful day in Evanston and an even more beautiful setting, with Lake Michigan is in front of us and the Chicago skyline far off in the distance to the right. Northwestern may struggle in many sports, but from what I’ve seen they definitely have one of the most beautiful campuses in the Big Ten.

As for the football game, historically, matchups between MSU and Northwestern have been high-scoring affairs, but I think today’s game is going to buck tradition. Sure, the Wildcats run the spread offense, which MSU has struggled against as early as two weeks ago, but I’m a firm believer in MSU’s defensive playmakers, i.e. senior strong safety Otis Wiley, junior free safety Danny Fortener and sophomore linebacker Greg Jones.

Offensively, Northwestern has allowed over 100 rushing yards per game, which plays into MSU’s greatest offensive threat, senior running back Javon Ringer.

A quick note — sophomore cornerback Chris L. Rucker, who suffered a gruesome injury to his left arm against Iowa — if you saw the play, you know gruesome is the right word — not only made the trip to Evanston, but is dressed and warming up.
Rucker, who is warming up with a protective sleeve, is listed along with junior cornerback Jeremy Ware as starters at one of the corners.

As far as predictions go, I went with MSU 34, Northwestern 24 in our progs on Friday. I’ll keep that prediction as of now, but if Rucker is able to play and produce any where near what he has been, I’ll go MSU 34, Northwestern 17

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