The video gaming experts obviously had no clue when they predicted how good the MSU football team would be this year.
Against an Indiana team that comes into MSU as an underdog for Homecoming, the Hoosiers ran up the score against the Spartans, 62-17, to win the Old Brass Spittoon on PlayStation 2.
The Spartans are now 1-6 in Videogameland (somehow related to Candyland), and with Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio State and Wisconsin around the corner, the Spartans might not win another video game this season, challenging the Detroit Lions' and Tigers' terrible records.
Starting quarterback Matt LoVecchio played less than one quarter, but that was enough for his team to grab a comfortable lead over the Spartans.
In that time, the transfer from Notre Dame threw two touchdown passes to Glenn Johnson and one to Courtney Roby, going 6-of-12 for 239 yards before leaving the game with an injury.
The Hoosiers then extended their lead to 41-0 at halftime under backup quarterback Graeme McFarland. McFarland threw touchdowns to Roby, Johnson and Tyke Spencer in his time against the Spartans.
McFarland went 23-for-46 with 317 yards passing and four interceptions.
The one bright spot for the Spartans came on a second half defensive play in the Indiana endzone. Cornerback Roderick Maples intercepted a McFarland pass and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown.
The running game was a nonfactor on both sides of the ball. The only scoring on the ground came on a 2-yard Jaren Hayes second-half touchdown run. Overall, the Spartans ran for 2 yards while the Hoosiers ran for 114, with starter Brian Lewis leading the way with 53 yards.
The Indiana defense tormented MSU all game, with five interception and five sacks. Cornerback Duane Stone returned one 26 yards for a touchdown while cornerback Buster Larkins returned another 76 yards for a score. Stone had two interceptions.
The Spartans' quarterbacks had a miserable game against the stingy Hoosiers defense, led by Canadian Martin Lapostolle (he graduated from Cegep du Vieux in Montreal, alma mater of Spartans Ziehl Kavanaght and Sam Champagne).
Jeff Smoker was 27-of-69 for 370 yards and four interceptions. Backup Drew Stanton came in for one passing play and threw an interception.
Ziehl "The Real Deal" Kavanaght was the Spartans' leading receiver, catching seven passes for 111 yards.
Aaron Alexander caught six passes for 93 yards and Kyle Brown had five receptions for 90 yards. The Spartans' defense was led by Mike Labinjo, who had five tackles for a loss and a sack.
The Spartans will return to Xbox next week in hopes of their second win of the season when they travel to Illinois.
