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could be worse

4th in the West is much worse

Sparty has a far better chance at beating OSU than Michigan does. 

Sparty has a far better chance at beating OSU than Michigan does.

Sparty's passing game more of a threat than Jimmy's running game?

MSU injury report looks pretty similar to last week.  Interior DL is the only injury depletion issue.  Gerald Owens missed last week and is questionable to go this week.  Mike Panasiuk left the game, and didn't return/  Would put them down 2 in the 2 deep, but if converted OT Kyonta Stallworth can keep up the work he showed against Penn State, that will certainly be well received.  Kid had 4 career tackles, and had been largely written off by the fan base, buried on the depth chart, after converting from the position he was brought in at (as a 4*).  Then went had had 6 tackles in about 3 quarters in the rotation against Penn State.  

The offense is less of a problem.  They've been good all year and had a lot of success against Iowa.  Iowa had a smart gameplan and were able to recognize and jump some routes that turned into interceptions.  That's not necessarily surprising - OSU is in year one of a new system and it will evolve.  They had good counters and were able to get some wide open guys, so I don't think there is any systemic problems with the offense (unlike last year).  The defense though...

You can talk about evolving systems all you want.Those were fundamental sandlot mistakes & throws twice into double coverage.Read & react the game is to fast to analyse every scheme and formation.Follow the damn ball when all else fails.They got worked/woodshedded/waterboarded all in one afternoon and that's all there really is to it

Two weeks ago it felt like reality had finally set in.  The Buckeyes had seized control of the East Division, and Michigan State couldn't win every close game forever, and was about to begin a three game slide with Penn State and Ohio State to follow.  But the Spartans bounced back and upset Penn State, while Ohio State, who had decimated all of the unranked teams on the schedule, were annihilated in Kinnick.  So we are back to sort of where we have been more often than not since 2013, with the winner of MSU-OSU controlling their own destiny.  Ohio State limps back home to the friendly confines of the Shoe, but in this series, that might not be the best thing.  The Buckeyes have won six straight in East Lansing, their last loss coming in 1999; while Michigan State has won the last three played outside Spartan Stadium, two in a row in Columbus, plus the 2013 Big Ten Championship Game.  One thing this series has frequently produced over the past six matchups, three wins by each, is defensive struggles.  The winning team has failed to break 17 in 4 of those 6 matchups, including a 10-7 Michigan State win in 2011.  J.T. Barrett had his coming out party against Michigan State in 2014, lighting the Spartans up deep over and over, which hasn't really been his game since.  That might be a good thing, because unlike the last three incarnations of Dantonio's defense, this one excels guarding the deep ball.  It's been the underneath stuff, particularly exploiting the tackling deficiencies that has proven most successful.  Ohio State's secondary leaves much to be desired.  It was thought the nation's best defensive line would help cover some of that up with an unrelenting pass rush.  Instead the Buckeyes are only tied for 5th in the conference in sacks.  For all the run game struggles, the Spartans line has done a good job keeping Lewerke upright, and when they haven't he has quickly developed a sense of when to bail.  The playcalling, even in adverse weather, last week shows the level of confidence in the Michigan State run game.  The offensive line is generating nothing, and when they do, L.J. Scott has repeatedly put the ball on the ground.  For better or worse, the Spartans' three headed backfield is down to just Scott, with Gerald Holmes barely playing with an injury, and Madre London relegated to spot duty, not even registering a touch last week.  If Scott avoids fumbles, he's the only one of the three that can make something of the nothing his line is providing.  For Ohio State, Barrett needs to get back to being Barrett.  Dantonio's plan is likely going to be to take away the backs and force Barrett to beat them, as has been the plan against Ohio State since Meyer arrived.  The Spartan front seven is stout against the run, and for as bad as the back four are in tackling, the front seven has been that good.  The problem is they lack the athleticism to get out in space.  Even in the loss last week, Ohio State averaged 5.4 ypc.  As well as Barrett had been playing, 4 picks seems tough to repeat.
OHIO STATE 34, MICHIGAN STATE 26

Making my first trip to Ohio Stadium this Saturday. Any parking/food tips from the resident buckeye fans I need to know?