 |  |
 |
|
| Tuesday, August 13 Eight home games have Spartans smiling By Herb Gould Special to ESPN.com |
||||||||||
|
Outlook: MSU, after looking like a M*A*S*H unit last season, is excited about playing healthy this season. The departure of running back T.J. Duckett is huge. But the Spartans, led by the passing combination of Jeff Smoker to Charles Rogers, have the aerial game to set up the run.
Michigan State has torn up its carpet and planted grass in an effort to hold down its injuries, which sidelined two quarterbacks, All-Big Ten defensive lineman Josh Shaw and a platoon of defensive backs. Healthy returnees, plus the experience that newcomers received during last year's medical alert, are expected to come up big this season. State also has a favorable schedule that has Spartans fans and some analysts thinking MSU could roll into Ann Arbor 8-0 on Nov. 2, although Notre Dame, Iowa and Wisconsin would disagree. Even with an occasional misstep, Michigan State appears poised for its strongest campaign since it went 10-2 in 1999. Key game: At Michigan on Nov. 2. Even in a down year, the Spartans point to the Wolverines. And after MSU's controversial 26-24 upset of Michigan last year, the Wolverines will be primed, too. This game doesn't need to be pivotal in the Big Ten race. But chances are, it will be. Keep an eye on: Smoker. A separated shoulder made for a painful finish for him and the Spartans last season. But he's regarded as the Big Ten's best QB going into the season, and Rogers, who might be the conference's best player, gives him an outstanding target. It's a good year if. . . State contends for the Big Ten title and winds up in a quality bowl. The Spartans don't need to win them all. But they do need to avoid the letdowns that have marred recent campaigns. Herb Gould covers the Big Ten for the Chicago Sun-Times. |
|
|||||||||
